In the end we got 9 signing on including Masters champ, track sprinter and Elite Janet Birkmeyer, along with another Team Luciano girl.
The first lap was pretty soft, but after that the attacks just kept happening, all lead by Team Luciano. They had a great one two on the small hill, one would go from the bottom to half way, then the other would go half way up to the top. That was bloody hard work. By the fouth lap we had dropped four and I was with the lead group of five.
Then ensued 5 laps of very hard through and off for me, I was obviously the least fit of the group as it was taking me ages to get to the front to do my turn. At one point I was so cooked I had to take some turns out. I got shouted at for this by one of the girls from Team Luciano, but apologised and said I would cut back in when I could. She promptly tried to take me out of the bunch by dropping me off the back AKA Gary Dodd style, but I saw it happening and sprinted round to catch a wheel again. A bit ripe, I thought, as I was not hiding ready for the sprint, but obviously giving my all.
With two laps to go, another attack directly after the hill, me and another girl Karen finally popped. I tried to reach the three at the front after about 20 seconds rest, but I was too knackered. Luckily we were so far ahead of the remaining racers that me and the other girl could take it a bit easy, which was a bit of a relief. She thought that we could catch them, but I knew better in such windy conditions.
For the last hill, I made sure she was in front of me, eying the muscly thighs and bulging calves, I thought she would be a good sprinter. In the end though, as she didn't go, I got twitchy at 30m left and pushed for the line.
Came in 4th.
4th = 8 points.
3rd Cat total points = 45
Means I am now 2nd Cat.
Hurray!!!! Big celebrations all round last night, and a muzzy head but still a big smile this morning.
Big thanks to Huw for all the direction, Toks for the advice about nerves and to Keith for the support and the sprint training on Wednesday night, came in handy.
Who let them in to race anyway? - they'll be wanting the vote next!!! 
), so the best I could manage was around 13th, about 200m metres behind the winner.
It'll never happen, I always want to be in a break-away. 