Acontingent of Mount Gambier Riders made their way to the Victorian Christmas Carnivals, an annual pilgrimage for many track riders in SA and Victoria.

The events were held in Shepparton and Castlemaine and Molly Opperman was the sole junior rider from the Mount Gambier Cycling Club, taking out seven wins from seven races, scoring herself three sashes.

With two wheel races starting off negative 5-metres and then negative 15-metrres, this is limited to only the best riders in the competition and rarely seen in track racing.

Opperman was the only rider in the competition to win all races in both the junior and senior divisions.

Niel Van Niekerk rode on day two and three at Castlemaine and had an awesome meet.

On day two of the carnival, Van Niekerk was first in scratch elimination, first in wheel race qualifier, second in wheel race final, first in motor pace/keirin race and fifth in state elimination.

On day three in Castlemaine, Van Niekerk continued some fine form scoring a first place in scratch (B Grade), second in U19 kierin, first in senior open wheel race and first in A Grade motor pace.

Kai Arbery, who is fairly new to track racing but making his mark as one of SA’s best sprinters, rode in both Shepparton and Castlemaine Day 1 carnival.

On day one at Shepparton he finished second place in the A Grade scratch race and finished in second place in the motor pace/Keiren race on day two in Castlemaine.

Two senior riders, Rob Mann and Matthew Opperman, both well-known on the track scene, also performed well.

Mann competed in C Grade and finished third in the scratch race, first points score, second in scratch race and second in keirin.

In Castlemaine he was third in and out and first in the motor pace.

Opperman rode in the B Grade in a tough field of riders and while not placing he enjoyed the racing over the three days.