Jack Gillard and Phil Stewart lead the "Hay Train".
Barry Walton receives some help from the Red Baron (Ross Dobson) and Tim Coates after his second fall.
Alan Moyle at Hell's Gate on Hay Plain.
Mongrel Bastards day (from left) Phil "Bobby Fislock junior" Stewart, Carly "Charlie" Gillard, Alan Moyle, Bobby Freeman, Shane Paul, Martin Parker, Jack Gillard, Rick Lavers, Steve Warden, Maurice Doughan, Barry Walton (front)
Saturday March 13 – 131km
It was a red letter day for Mongrel Bastards Day to Hay.
That was how Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge race organizer Barry Walton described the 131km trek from Balranald to Hay.
Ride captain Rick Lavers had called for the day to honour the hard-charging efforts of the Kurri Kurri Mongrel Bastards Cycle Club Inc over a number of years.
Martin Parker, Jack Gillard, Phil Stewart, Maurice Doughan and Alan Moyle are five of the Mongrel Bastards who have toured the country and Africa raising funds via their uniquely named groups.
At various stages the likes of Rick Lavers, Shane Paul, Barry Walton, Steve Warden and Bob Freeman have ridden with the Mongrels, Lavers, Walton and Warden forming their own chapter based at Tamworth’s Calala Inn.
Jack’s 27-year-old daughter Carly, re-named Charlie by the raffle runner at Hay Bowling and Golf Club Saturday night, has also ridden with the Mongrel Bastards.
A tough headwind for the big day made it an apt “mongrel bastard” of a day, Walton said, especially after he had his second fall of the 20-day marathon.
The day had started at 6am at the Balranald Caravan Park after the Balranald Pony Club women had provided us with another feast on Friday night.
Inverell school teacher, Bob Freeman, changed his usual pre-race routine to cater for another big day.
Usually he takes a berocca and some multi vitamins but ate more and stretched “for half an hour”
“On top of the 250km over the last two days another 130-odd makes it a tough three days,” he said in the pre-dawn light.
“Having a good solid dinner last night helps too.”
Tamworth handyman, Andy Bayliss, was looking forward to the 131km stage.
The 160km two days previous had been his biggest ever day on the bike.
He’s been riding four years, started riding mountain bikes to take part in a previous charity ride that was based “around Armidale”.
“Then I rode one out in the Pilliga and another ride (starting) at Glen Innes,” he said.
His pre-race routine is simple.
“I just try and make sure I’m right and the bike is right,” he said.
“Make sure I have a bit of food because this going to be a hard day, one of those days where you have to grin and bear it.”
He’s right as a North North East headwind makes it a testing time, forcing the riders to form the “Hay Train” across the flat plain.
It’s a day where bus driver, Brian Birchall, makes his ride debut.
It was a red letter day for Mongrel Bastards Day to Hay.
That was how Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge race organizer Barry Walton described the 131km trek from Balranald to Hay.
Ride captain Rick Lavers had called for the day to honour the hard-charging efforts of the Kurri Kurri Mongrel Bastards Cycle Club Inc over a number of years.
Martin Parker, Jack Gillard, Phil Stewart, Maurice Doughan and Alan Moyle are five of the Mongrel Bastards who have toured the country and Africa raising funds via their uniquely named groups.
At various stages the likes of Rick Lavers, Shane Paul, Barry Walton, Steve Warden and Bob Freeman have ridden with the Mongrels, Lavers, Walton and Warden forming their own chapter based at Tamworth’s Calala Inn.
Jack’s 27-year-old daughter Carly, re-named Charlie by the raffle runner at Hay Bowling and Golf Club Saturday night, has also ridden with the Mongrel Bastards.
A tough headwind for the big day made it an apt “mongrel bastard” of a day, Walton said, especially after he had his second fall of the 20-day marathon.
The day had started at 6am at the Balranald Caravan Park after the Balranald Pony Club women had provided us with another feast on Friday night.
Inverell school teacher, Bob Freeman, changed his usual pre-race routine to cater for another big day.
Usually he takes a berocca and some multi vitamins but ate more and stretched “for half an hour”
“On top of the 250km over the last two days another 130-odd makes it a tough three days,” he said in the pre-dawn light.
“Having a good solid dinner last night helps too.”
Tamworth handyman, Andy Bayliss, was looking forward to the 131km stage.
The 160km two days previous had been his biggest ever day on the bike.
He’s been riding four years, started riding mountain bikes to take part in a previous charity ride that was based “around Armidale”.
“Then I rode one out in the Pilliga and another ride (starting) at Glen Innes,” he said.
His pre-race routine is simple.
“I just try and make sure I’m right and the bike is right,” he said.
“Make sure I have a bit of food because this going to be a hard day, one of those days where you have to grin and bear it.”
He’s right as a North North East headwind makes it a testing time, forcing the riders to form the “Hay Train” across the flat plain.
It’s a day where bus driver, Brian Birchall, makes his ride debut.
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