Brendan Stewart
130 Riders turned out in fine weather to race Beechworth to Eldorado on Sunday 1st October. I have skin off from a practice ride of this course a couple of weeks ago so I knew what to expect and a race briefing warned everyone else "It's a bit dry and slippery out there particularly the very steep second singletrack section so use caution". This was a race people, we knew caution would be thrown to the wind.
As usual it was flat out from the gong, 130 keen MTBers sprinting to be first to the singletrack for a clear run, avoiding the inevitable hold ups and pile ups in the MTB Congo line. I got away with the lead group, we were travelling well over any residential speed limit and my heart rate was nudging 190, 4 minutes in, 32km to go! This is where the elite riders go, 4 minutes into it. Tory Thomas, out of the saddle, powers away up the hill in front. Geoff and David Schilg, Greg Boyall and Rodney Howell were still amongst it and I was not likely to see any of them again before Eldorado.
Loose and slippery it was, 60km/h+ descents required 100% concentration, rocks, roots, ruts, slower riders and any deviation from a straight line were an invitation to eat dirt. If you could speak between gasping for breath and sucking on a bottle the topic of conversation was sketchy trails, and tyre pressures "ooooooooh I think I'm running my tyres a bit high!..........schhhhhhhh....thwack!!!"
That second bit of singletrack we were warned about claimed almost all that attempted it, but good on you for having a go. I caught Dave Schilg there, bleeding but back on the bike. I was right on his wheel as we nailed the next piece of fast single track, lifting off rocks and skipping over, through and around ruts. We caught about 8 riders in 400m and passed a Rod Howell with a flat. After the Rev up Dave took off and beat me by nearly 3 minutes in the end.
From there it was a pretty standard race for me. The fitter "roadie" type MTBers pushed past me on the fire trail hills, at the same cadence as me, but at least a chain ring up. G'day mate, G'day mate, G'day mate I cheerfully wheeze as they cruise by. Then the descents, Track!!!!, On your left!!!, On your right buuuuddddddy!!! I scream as I fly by hanging on by the "aggressive directional outer knobs" of my XC race tyres.
In the end I had an excellent ride - for me. Seems time on a road bike does pay off. At Eldorado those with a good mix of fitness and skill faired well and AWCC MTBers faired better than most with the following noteable results:
| Elite Women | 1st Tory Thomas |
| 3rd Jayne Grubits | |
| 4th Alison Skinner | |
| 5th Peta Stewart | |
| U19 Men | 1st Geoff Schilg in a time good enough for 3rd in elite men |
| Vet Women | 1st Shelly Kamevaar |
| Masters Men | 1st Greg Boyall |
| Masters women | 2nd Diana Waldner-Rose |
| U17 Men | 1st Dave Schilg |
| 2nd Matt Clark | |
| U15 Women | 1st Ainslee Bennett in a time that puts here near the top 10 women overall |
| 2nd Ann Schilg | |
| U13 Men | 1st Bradley Rose |
Our women are going great and what's in the water at the Schilgs' place? Congratulations to these people and great job to the numerous other club members that raced well.