It was an excellent weekend in Orange and Molong for Bathurst cyclists, with four riders taking home gold medals at the Cycling NSW Masters Championships.
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Held in the neighbouring Central West towns from September 22 to 24, Toireasa Gallagher, Richard Hobson, Jim Lavis and Mark Windsor all took home a gold medal in their respective division.
All up, Bathurst Cycling Club riders took home an impressive 15 medals – four golds, six silvers and five bronzes.
Gallagher won a gold in the time trial, as well as a bronze in both criterium and road race in masters women’s two category.
She said she was expecting some tough competition, heading into the championships.
“I always knew heading into the weekend that it was going to be tough,” she said.
“The women have stepped it up another notch. The ones I normally race are competing in the National Road Series and in teams too, so we’re not just mums that get onto a bike and have a race.
“It’s pretty serious.”
Gallagher won her time trial in a time of 37:25.02, over 12 seconds ahead of India McLean, from the Manly Warringah Cycling Club.
She finished the road race four seconds off second, in a time of 1:43:04.
In the criterium, Gallagher finished in a time of 38 minutes and 52 seconds, seven seconds off North Western Sydney Cycling Club’s Fiona Jackson.
“I was pretty giving it as much as could,” she said.
“The time trial is always my favourite and I was feeling confident about getting a result in that because I was familiar with the course.
“The road race was 10 minutes faster then last year, so it was a hard work and I was really impressed that I got a road race medal. I just turned myself inside out for that.
“I just like to support the women’s racing. I always hope to do well.
“Medals are always bonuses. We are competing and we want to win. At a state level, you put a bit of extra effort to get yourself there.”
Orange and Dubbo Cycling Clubs also performed well, in terms of medals.