Criterium racing took place in the heart of Mandurah on Sunday, with the Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games racing a hotdog circuit along the Terrace.
The course made the racing challenging - sprinting out of a corner, 500 metres later, brake hard, turn 180 degrees, sprint hard into a headwind, 500 metres later, brake hard, turn 180 degrees and repeat.
The women and over 50 men only had to survive 30 minutes and three laps of tough racing. Given the range of fitness and racing ability, it was surprising that most of the men stayed together, with a man or woman being dropped each lap.
In the end Keith Winch sprinted to take overall victory and the win in the 55 to 59 age category, with Terence Wall second - John Rapheal was third and winner of the 50 to 54 age category.
The women chased the men for the whole race and Cassandra Lear outsprinted Kirsty Turner to take first women to finish and the 35 to 39 age category, with Turner taking out the 30 to 34 category.
Pru Chellis was third overall and winner of the 40 to 44 category.
The under 50 men had 45 minutes and three laps. Unlike the previous race, the bunch lost a number of riders in the first couple of frantic laps.
Then there was four riders of the front being chase by a dwindling bunch. A few laps later it was three riders being chased by the shrinking bunch.
After 45 minutes, the leading trio had a half lap lead over half a dozen tiring chasers. In the three-way sprint it was Hudson Crothers taking the overall win and the 45 to 49 age group, Marten Howes finished second in the race and 45 to 49 age group, Ramon Maurice finished third and took out the open category.
