AUSTRALIA: Findon celebrate 65 years

Words by Pete Barnes.

Pics by Kayleigh Clarke

With over 90 nominations from the four South Australian clubs over five hours of racing took place before the victors in each division could be confirmed. In the Grand Final of the Open grade Salisbury based Cody Chadwick held off the
strong challenge from fellow club mate Bobby McMillan with Blake Frencken and Angus Freeman in the minor podium positions for the host club. Unfortunately both Joel Chadwick and Shane Bentley were missing due to work and holiday
commitments but without doubt their inclusion may have seen the major awards in other hands.

The Women’s event saw Lucy Millikin unbeaten in her five races whilst Holly Greenhalgh was outstanding and fully deserved the silver award. Kayleigh Clarke took bronze from Nicola Gentle and the ever increasing level of participants in this grade will be an added boost if the host nation are to achieve success during the 2023 Worlds later this year.

The Veterans event is becoming more popular as fourteen competitors nominated and in the final Brad Hoppo captured the title from Andrew Blatchford, Sam Rochester and Shane Jenkins.

It would be fair to suggest that the future of the sport Down Under is safe with Blake Frencken leading home Ryan Knights and Josh Candy in the U18s whilst Zach Pudney indicated his early potential with his first major event victory in the U9s.