Balmoral Masters series brings out novice & experienced cyclists

The final event, a criterium, in the Balmoral Masters Women's Racing Series was held on June 6 at Murrarrie, Brisbane. The weather put on a great show with beautiful blue, sunny skies and a slight wind to make racing a bit challenging! As it was the final criterium in the series the head commissaire chose to run the race in an anticlockwise direction. This added an exciting element to the racing.

Paul Butler conducted a skills session for the novice riders. He concentrated on teaching about slipstreaming, effective pack riding and racing techniques.

After the novice skills session and race, the graded racing began. The B, C and D/under 17 graded races were well attended. This was a morning of exciting racing with plenty of attacks and counter attacks taking place.

At the end of racing there were presentations not only to the race winners but the series winners as well. Keep an eye out on the road for our red race winner jerseys and the yellow series winners.

SheSpoke Cycle Wear, a sponsor of the series, also presented a cycle jersey to the most consistent novice performer of the series.

According to one of the organisers of the event Lousia Montford, 'women are becoming more involved in the sport of cycling and it is only with events like this one that we can keep encouraging junior, elite and masters women into the sport which will hopefully lead to more women only events.'

The organising committee looks forward to presenting a bigger and better series next year.

For more details and photos of the series checkout the website at ww.balmoralcycling.asn.au and go the Balmoral Women's Masters tab.

Caption: Paul Butler gives the novie riders their final instructions before their first turn around the track at Murrarrie.