A first warm night for season 2026-27, with heat and humidity set to challenge our 18 riders.
A Grade
A welcome sight with four riders in A Grade tonight with George Griffiths, Nick Woods, Nick McNair and Aaron Mulkearns setting off over 30 mins +3.
With a rapid start, the pace was on as Nick Woods in particular stretched the group with his horsepower.
The crowd rose to will Aaron back onto the group, as he found himself gapped mid-race and in an amazing show of grit, he did what the crowd wanted as he rejoined.
Nick McNair was acquitting himself well in a very entertaining race and into the final lap he was driving the pace, while George drifted backwards with an untimely flat tyre.
As they approached the line it was Aaron Mulkearns the winner from Nick McNair and Nick Woods.
C Grade
We welcomed Shepparton Cycling Club legend Myles Higgins, proudly wearing one of his many Aus Champs suits tonight, apparently he's still weighing up whether to race UCI next year in France given that he's qualified for the TT, road race, gravel race and MTB - how many bikes can you get on a plane?
Joining him were John Brian, Will Kettle, Matt Dobeli, Kaz Griffiths, Dave Faulkner and fundraising cycling celebrity Claire Goodman.
In near windless conditions, C Grade took advantage with a quick pace from the start, with Dave and Myles in particular putting the foot down.
After a particularly brutal surge on the front, Dave Faulkner found himself drifting off with Claire and Will in tow.
In an amazing effort, Will Kettle boiled and made his way back to the breakaway bunch.
With three laps to go it was Kaz who snuck away, but as the two laps to go sign went up, Matt led the charge to bridge across.
Into the final corner it was John Brian and Will Kettle who pushed past, with John the winner and Will second with Matt in third.
D Grade
Another large group of seven in D Grade with Cookie, Neil Ennis, Jerrod Davison, Dave Oman, Zenon Gawronski, Paul Oman and Terry O'Burtill racing over 20 + 3.
At times the race was a little ebbing and flowing and Zenon was the first victim as he found himself off the back, with the other six riders sharing the load out front as the race continued.
With many of the D Grade riders regularly training together, it would prove to be a very even race.
Into the final lap, after clearing the front of C Grade, it was Neil, Cookie and Jerrod out front and as they hit the line it was Cookie for the win from Neil Ennis, with Jerrod in third.
A huge thanks to Neil, Troy and co for setting up, race director H and photographer Richard, we'll see you all next week.
15°C