Pop Stewart, Norma Adams & Alf Walker Hcp 2025 - Race Report
There's something about a handicap race which draws out the optimist in all of us. Perhaps today will be our day, when the handicapper gets it right. By that I mean, let's us in with a chance to win, perhaps even a place would be nice. My confidence was high, with the 11min group of 10, the largest of the bunches, accounting for almost a quarter of the field of 45. But first I would need to survive 75kms or three gruelling laps of Balliang's infamous Granite Road circuit. The day began with a carpool out to Balliang with fellow travellers Steve (Brunswick CC), who swapped his race number for a marshal's flag and Seb (Hawthorn CC), my 11min group accomplice. If you haven't done a carpool to a race before, I thoroughly recommend it. Between the banter, the tactics and the laughs, you won't be left alone with your own thoughts, stressing about the race. Meanwhile my Brunswick teammate and fellow 11min bunch member Che Dungey, left home a 5:45am and r...