The 2nd round of the State Series was held at Ourimbah, near Gosford on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd of May. As Dad is in PNG working, Mum took on the job of getting the boys there and back in one piece. We all know Mum is up to the challenge and as usual, everything went without a hitch. She didn't even get lost (oh well, maybe once but that wasn't too bad).
On the road by 9am thursday and after one minor detour on our way, to pick up Thomas' mate Kaine Trevor from the Picton turnoff, we arrived at our accommodation with enough time to spare before dark to find out where the track was and walk it. Mum dropped the boys at the top of the track and met them at the bottom. Boys decided the track looked really good except for some really pedally and flat bits.
Friday morning and the boys decided they wanted to get to the track early for some practice. Mum would have to do shuttles. Arrived at track at 9am and no-one else there which was good as we had the trailer on and made it easier to turn around. Having a bit of a spell at around 11am and people started turning up. Did a few more runs and decided to call it a day. Dropped boys at cabin and went to get food for dinner and the next day. Turns out the boys got tuned up (just for something new) for washing their bikes with the fire hose!!! There seems to be too many old people in these caravan parks!
Saturday arrived and at the track early again but today there were shuttles so Mum could finally have a look at the track. Caught the bus to the top and walked down the track, trying to get the elusive photo's. Practice day went well and all geared up for race day tomorrow.
Sunday, race day, again at the track early. Line up for shuttles and off they go for a few practice runs. Mum and Helen (Christie Batt's Mum)decided to walk the track and watch a bit of practice. Lunch break and met the boys back in the village for a bit to eat and a bit of a spell before heading to the top to get ready for race. Race time arrived and surprisingly Mum was feeling pretty good at this stage, not too nervous. Well that was until one of the elite riders came down to the big double just before the finish line and ate it really hard. Mum felt instantly sick in the stomach (thanks Tom) with both the boys yet to race. Thomas came down the hill first in the U17 Div, as he was leading the Series after Thredbo, followed by the 2nd rider. In all there was 52 riders in the U17 Div and it seemed to take for ever to get to the end of them. Finally, they finished and ends up Thomas came 2nd, beaten by the kid who came 2nd at Thredbo. We knew he would give Thomas a run for his money as Ourimbah is his home track. But that's why Thomas is racing 17's for a bit more competition.
What seemed like an eternity, finally the U15's were on track. Andrew came down 2nd as that was his ranking after Thredbo. After the 20 riders in U15's finished, it turned out Andrew came 7th overall, again another great result.
EDIT: Turns out the kid who came 1st at Thredbo and 2nd at Ourimbah should have been racing U17's so as it stands now, Andrew actually won Round 1 and came 6th in Round 2. This now puts him in 2nd position overall at this stage. Yeah Andrew.
