Ernie Yates Memorial Handicap Form Guide
Group 1
| Rider | Comments | Form (2021, Tour results excluded) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary O’Neill | His blood runs through the veins of a past champion. The silver fox has been caught putting in the hard yards with the Hervey Range / Castle Hill twin peaks sessions on Saturdays. Keep an eye as he nears the finish. | 1-2-3 | 4:1 |
| Steve Hedger | Claims to take a disliking to the course profile, will be tested. | 0-0-0 | 4:1 |
| Linden Hadley | An unknown to the handicappers. Dark horse, keep your eyes peeled. | 0-0-0 | 4:1 |
| Alicia Harris | The better half of Townsville Cycle Club’s power couple has spent the entire season preparing for the Track N,,ationals event that seems to be on a permanent postponement. Itching for a contest, rode strongly in the Mackay Track Carnival last week (4 Sep). | 1-2-1 | 4:1 |
| Meredith Watkins | Resuming after a long spell. Strong showings in all her starts. A dark horse for certain. | 0-1-2 | 4:1 |
Group 2
| Rider | Comments | Form (2021, Tour results excluded) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian Newitt | Moving back in grade to D Grade. If the Rule V contingent were to group together as groups begin to catch each other, don’t discount the power-house to be in a result determining move. | 0-0-0 | 3:1 |
| James Healy | His blood also runs through the veins of a past champion. Perhaps coming into form with a second place last start Webb Dr (8 Aug) in C Grade. Genuine dark horse. | 0-0-0 | 3:1 |
| Darren Spina | It has been pleasant to see the return of Darren Spina to club racing. A Ron Donellan Handicap champion, he brings handicap experience and definitely worth noting. | 0-0-0 | 3:1 |
| David Knight | Impressed at this year’s Tour of the North. Pipped on the line last outing on this course by a fast finishing Tim Rademaker. Proven to be a fan of the terrain with a third place in the 2019 Ernie Yates when positioned with the front markers. Unfortunately hasn’t done him any favours with the handicappers, but still in with a chance. | 0-0-0 | 3:1 |
| James Clem | Coming into his own this season with strong showings in short ITTs and criterium successes forcing the handicappers’ hand to move him to B Grade last start at Webb Dr (8 Aug). Claims to take a disliking to the course profile, will be tested. | 1-0-3 | 3:1 |
| Nick Kosanovic | Hasn’t raced this course previously. Dark horse, keep your eyes peeled. | 0-0-0 | 3:1 |
| Jake Kerswell | The second Kerswell sibling to get successive monkeys off their backs with a win last start Webb Dr (8 Aug). Has turned to cross training in recent weeks to prepare for this event having participated in Mackay’s Track Cycling Carnival paired with water sports. Would be an upset victory but not out of his depth if given a decent tow. | 1-0-1 | 3:1 |
Group 3
| Name | Comments | Form (2021, Tour results excluded) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle ‘the gunshow’ Gibbs | Strong start to the season followed by a dip in form over the Tour period but has resumed strongly with a great showing in the Mackay Track Carnival (4 Sep). Course to test, but power to weight ratio to play into his hands. | 3-2-0 | 2:1 |
| Robert Bates | The master will be seen on the front of his group driving the pace. Chapeau to one of the club’s biggest supporters. Will be out to work hard in this year’s edition of the Ernie Yates as not one to miss a turn. | 0-0-0 | 2:1 |
| Andrew Tucker | One off the podium last two editions of this event with fourth places. Claimed to have gotten to bed early after last form guide release when realising the favourable odds for crit champs. If well rested again this time round we don’t see why he can’t go one better to standing on the podium. | 0-0-0 | 2:1 |
| Bill Weston | Resuming since taking to the podium in the C Grade Club Champs Road Race and ITT. Was first up when taking bronze in the road race (May 16). Worth noting. | 0-0-2 | 2:1 |
| Amanda Doolan | Fastest female last year demands respect. One of the few riders this season to have known the view from the podium exclusively from the top step. Course profile to suit, can take this out. | 5-0-0 | 2:1 |
| Alan Hainsworth | Resuming after a short spell since Tour of the North. May impress when first-up. | 0-0-0 | 2:1 |
| Bec Manning | No previous form to assess off. Worth keeping an eye on. | 0-0-0 | 2:1 |
| Sean Haddleton | Resuming after long spell of four years. Keep an eye on the unknown and remain cautious. | 0-0-0 | 2:1 |
Group 4
| Name | Comments | Form (2021, Tour results excluded) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Briana McDonald | Gone wanting for a stronger sprint so far this season, fortunately this is a stayer’s race. Recent move to A Grade has demonstrated she can hold her own. Will be tested. | 1-2-0 | 10:1 |
| Euan Kerswell | Easy going last start Webb Dr (8 Aug). Start before that took first place honours, Corporate Crescent (25 Jul). Reluctant to get the nomination in but shouldn’t doubt himself, this pure track sprinter has been seen getting in some endurance kilometres in recent weeks. | 1-0-0 | 10:1 |
| Patrick Hession | A stable mate of Dan Ellis, received glowing reviews but unfamiliar to others in the bunch. Should always remain cautious of these types as they could prove the determining factor in the race result. | 0-0-0 | 5:1 |
| Zachary Lawrence | Pulled a sneaky last start at Corporate Crescent (25 Jul) and bridged from C to B Grade. Proven a headache for the handicappers. Worth noting as a considerable dark horse. | 1-0-0 | 5:1 |
| Andrew Carr | Resuming after a short spell since the Tour of the North where he impressed with a third place in the opening prologue. Finished a minute or so down on the winner in the road race on this course. When looked at in context it was a two lap event of this course – so he’s coming back in distance tomorrow. Has strong pair of legs, can be there in the finish. | 0-0-0 | 5:1 |
| Brendon Mausolf | A busy weekend for Mausolf will see him come into the Ernie Yates with a pair of fatigued legs from the Rockwheeler’s XC 6 a day prior (Sep 11). The naturally punchy efforts of a handicap race will suit the MTB background favourably. | 0-0-0 | 5:1 |
Group 5
| Name | Comments | Form (2021, Tour results excluded) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Ellis | Monkey off the back with a B Grade podium showing last start Webb Dr (8 Aug) with third place. Coming into his stride and handicapped lightly, perhaps the Stuart strengthies will pay off with the long game as he looks to capitalise. Worth noting. | 1-1-1 | 7:1 |
| Mark O’Callaghan | Consistency personified. Always there or thereabouts, definitely worth considering. | 0-3-2 | 7:1 |
| Jarrod Fife | A season which has demonstrated so much promise, Fife has proven to be one of the best up and comers of the club. Strong showings in Mackay, the Tour, and his recent move to podium places in B Grade, the sky is the limit for this true stayer. Worth considering. | 1-0-1 | 7:1 |
| Michael Barber | Handicap format to play into his favour considering he is a Bike Fix Handicap stalwart. Don’t discount. | 0-0-0 | 7:1 |
Group 6
| Name | Comments | Form (2021, Tour results excluded) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kobe Ormes | Defending champion comes in with questionable form. Two DNFs in last two starts but form guide demonstrates he emulates Ricky Bobby, ‘if you ain’t first your last.’ Proceed with caution. | 4-0-0 | 20:1 |
| Callum McDonald | One genuine podium showing, one as a result of completing a Steve Bradbury, and one when only an A Grade field of 3 contested – claiming the final spot. Others preferred, but will give it a good shot. | 0-1-2 | 100:1 |
Group 7
| Rider | Comments | Form (2021, Tour results excluded) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Lawes | Useful type that takes well to undulation and courses with such total elevation. Over-raced early last start (8 Aug) taking the last lap flyer but ultimately held on for third. Second fastest time overall over this course by only three seconds last year, record holder absent, can take this out. | 4-0-0 | 4:1 |
| Ruth Corset | Has won on this course under scratch race conditions. Sits well in a pack, knows when to move out. Course suits favourably, worth considering. | 0-1-0 | 10:1 |
| Zac Ryan | In-and-out of club racing unfairly hinders the form. When reflecting on an impressive Tour of the North and the way he conducts himself during racing he demands respect. In top form, proven to hold off fast sprint finishes if takes a gap off the front. Can take this out. | 0-0-1 | 4:1 |
| Marvin Baumeister-Schoenian | A consistent showing this season and one of the very few to be able to say they have successfully started every race. Claims to be in questionable form but likes to play the long game. Worth rolling the dice on if in the lead group with 500m to go. | 1-3-3 | 6:1 |