Golden Wheels - Dubbo riders are National Champions of Champions
DUBBO’S reputation as a road cycling Mecca was reinforced over the weekend on a cold and wet Apple Isle.
Five locals flew to Tasmania with the NSW Blues and came home with gold and silver medals in their luggage.
Our Dubbo riders hit out early with Haylee Fuller winning gold in the under-15 women’s Time Trial (TT) by a staggering 43 seconds.
“This is an event that is usually won by a handful of seconds at most. It was the most dominating display of strength by Haylee so far. She is asserting her dominance in the discipline she can now call her own,” Dubbo Cycling president Matthew Gilbert enthused. Haylee’s win was backed up by Dylan Eather who won Gold in the under-15 men’s TT.
“In a show of power in the race against the clock, Dylan claimed victory with a 15 second margin. Daniel Barber also put in a solid effort to finish fifth, just 22 seconds behind. It was a time that may equate to only a hundred metres, a great result,” Matt added.
Kurt Eather was fifth in the under-17 men’s TT, missing out by just 20 seconds in a solid performance. Luke Ensor also had a great hit out preparing for the tough road race the following day while Zara Fuller, who rode as a club rider, smashed out a great time in her first ever national level event.
“On day two, Dylan took silver in a sprint finish and the consistent Danny Barber grabbed fifth in a brutal road race that resembled a mountain stage in a European tour. It was an extremely hilly course, and in the end only two bike lengths separated the tactical pair,” Matt said. Haylee etched her name in the record books, claiming a second gold medal in the road race.
“Haylee had clear superiority to ride everyone off her wheel and take command of the race for a brace of gold medals.”
According to the proud president, Zara Fuller was right, finishing strongly in the main pack in her race.
“Zara is already confident with a year to go in the event. She has taken a lot out of this race and is not afraid to do the work and make it back next year.” Dubbo rider and the crowd favourite in Tasmania, Kurt Eather, sprinted in a manner befitting his new nickname “Road King” to win gold in the 17 men’s road race by half a wheel.
“Luke dug deep to finish with the pack having spent quite some time doing work at the front in an extremely select field of Australia’s best under-17 road cyclist’s but the stunning finish by Kurt opened the eyes of road cycling officials,” according to Matt. Unfortunately the Criterium and other races were cancelled as a result of inclement weather on Sunday. Both Luke and Kurt had qualified for the final but did not get a chance to contest a medal and the unforgiving climate cost Haylee the chance to grab a famous hat-trick.
The icing on the cake for the Dubbo Club came when Haylee Fuller and Dylan Eather were named “Champion of Champions” for their respective under-15 Men and Women Divisions.
“Kurt was unlucky not to come home with the champion of champion’s jersey for under 17 Men losing on a count back to a Queensland rider. Who knows, if the Criterium had gone ahead, we may have claimed the treble,” Matt smiled. These results are unparalleled in any in any club in Australia and highlight Dubbo Cycling’s status as a training ground for cycling excellence. Matt was lavish in his praise for the local support team behind the Dubbo club.
“Sponsors like Dubbo City Toyota and Club Dubbo and the amazing parents of all our riders is much appreciated. Our coaches Vaughn Eather and Gus Dawson generously devote long and attentive hours and continue to produce Australian Champions. They carry a proud tradition of cycling supremacy within the community,” Matt concluded.