The Comox Valley Cycle Club's 2015 race season finished with its annual climb up Mount Washington on Aug. 9. The weather cooperated nicely with some cloud cover and cooler temperatures for the 24 riders that came out to test themselves against the clock and the road.
The race began with a one kilometre neutral roll up to the lower parking lot with all riders together. As the pace car accelerated away across Duncan Bay Main logging road, the timers started their watches and the group quickly broke apart on their way to the top parking lot.
The A group started out a two-man race between local pro Nigel Ellsay of Silber Pro Cycling and Vancouverite Travis Streb from the Glotman Simpson team. Ellsay won the day, setting a course record of 45 minutes and 45 seconds. Streb finished two minutes later in 47:47 followed by another out of towner Anthony Bergson in 55:43.
Club members took the next four spots and Dan Wilson, even though finishing seventh on the day, secured enough points to take the season point championship for the A’s ahead of Doug Merrick and Gary MacGregor.
The B group was led home by 15-year-old Ben Katerberg in 53:47. "This is Ben’s fist year racing a bicycle and he just kept getting stronger every time out," a CVCC spokesperson said. "His time was the third fastest on the day, only beaten by the two team riders in the A Category. The future looks very bright for this young man."
In second for the B group was Dave Opko from Texada, followed by local rivals Scott Fleming and Ray Wagner. Finishing fourth earned Wagner enough points to claim the season title for the B’s ahead of Fleming.
There were several new faces, or at least riders who had not regularly raced with the club, out to test themselves and endure the pain. One of those was Ron Cook who claimed the fastest time in the C category of 56:51.
Two others were the father and son pair of Edmund and Josh Duncan, coming third and fourth separated by only two seconds at the finish. Chris Bowman was second across amongst the C’s and secured his position as the season point champion in C category.
"A big thanks to Karen Hoover for volunteering at every road race and time trial this year," the spokesperson said. "Race director Richard Ellsay and wife Kelly for making all the races happen. Robin Parlee for volunteering at races and providing us with the unique Dynamic TT results page. Quality Foods for providing post race refreshment at all our races and all the other volunteers who helped out – without volunteers there would be no racing."
– Comox Valley Cycle Club