Related Grafton to Inverell news
Despite a crisis of confidence going in, Inverell’s own Callum Dolby had a decisive win in division three of his first Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic on Saturday.
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“(I’m) over the moon,” he said between pants after the race.
“I dreamed of it happening, but I didn’t think it would.”
He came over the line to an ecstatic local crowd in seven hours, five minutes and 15 seconds, followed by Illawarra rider David Raymond one minute and nine seconds later.
The win was a confidence booster for Callum, who had a major setback after a stint in hospital just two weeks prior from a bike crash.
Although he initially qualified for B grade, the young rider dropped down into the C grade not long before the Grafton to Inverell due to his inexperience with long distance races.
“I would like to well if I’m in a position to do well at the end of the race, but otherwise it’s going to be that much of a learning curve for me that I really think me focusing on place or anything is a bit ignorant seeing as I’ve never done it before,” he said on Tuesday.
“He was just so concerned that he wouldn’t be able to finish, having never done it before,” his mother Sue Dolby said, shedding a few tears after the race.
Sue was one of the first to meet Callum at the finish line and was ready to give him a hug. Father Jack Dolby and girlfriend Amy Lions were also there with wide grins.
Callum said it was “Awesome, awesome, awesome,” coming into a home crowd, but admitted that he “didn’t notice much” in the last leg.
“I was just hoping and praying they weren’t coming. I was just absolutely punching it hoping they wouldn’t turn up,” he said.
Cameron Judson takes division 2
Harlequin rider Cameron Judson was slightly stunned by his win in the B grade, and said he fought to hold on at the finish. Cameron came in at six hours, 29 minutes, 51 seconds, followed by Gold Coast rider Tim Hoy 31 seconds later. Reuben Phillips came in 32 seconds behind the leader.