There was a real Cowra connection to one of the central west’s major cycling events held by the Bathurst Cycling Club earlier this month with the win going to Harry Bryant and Will Hodges finishing second.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bryant is the son of former Cowra residents Kim and Ray Bryant and grandson of David and the late Lynn Bryant.
Hodges is a resident of Greenethorpe.
Seven months ago Harry Bryant was hospitalised after a horror accident in his Blayney to Bathurst long course debut, breaking his back in five places.
On Sunday, October 14 he was standing atop a podium after taking out the 49th edition of the Bathurst Cycling Club’s coveted Rockley Cup.
Now a resident of Orange, Bryant only got back on the bike one month ago but worked hard to get his race fitness back in time for Bathurst’s toughest club race.
In his first race since jumping back on the bike Bryant produced a strong ride from the 14 minute handicap mark.
He held off a challenge from scratch rider Will Hodges to win the prize and take a big step forward in his recovery.
Bryant made a late entry into the race and was happy to be back riding on the open road.
“I only decided to do the race on Friday,” he said.
“I was always going to get back on the bike, but it was just a question of when because of the HSC this year and studying for that.
“I couldn’t really do much for the first two months of recovery. I was doing three sessions a week on the trainer and that was about it.”
Bryant is regularly a scratch rider in club racing but after his time away was given a time buffer.
He worked hard in the race to chase down 30 minute starter Chris Davis who had broken away in his bid for a solo victory.
Hodges and visiting rider Andrew Finlayson (North Western Sydney) had put in the hard yards from scratch to pick their way through the field.
Davis was eyeing off success before Bryant and Hodges got by him in the late stages.
Finlayson finished powerfully to take fourth place ahead of Orange’s Ray Straney.
Hodges’ one hour, 42 minutes and 52 seconds was the fastest individual time.
Also making news:
