Cameron scores on first Blind Date attempt; Veloforma's Pennington cruises to second win

Molly Cameron notched a win Wednesday night in the Men's A race of the Blind Date at the Dairy cyclocross race at Alpenrose Velodrome. Portland's Alice Pennington cruised to her second straight victory in the Women's A race. The win marks the Veloforma rider's third cyclocross win in as many starts.

Cameron (Portland Bicycle Studio) opened a gap early in the race with week-one winner Joshua Berry (BODE) and Veloshop's Steven Hunter. The trio flew over the course together for the majority of the race, setting consistent lap times before Cameron and Berry started to ride away from their lead-trio companion.

When Hunter continued to lag behind with about 20 minutes of racing reamaining, it looked like the finale would boil down to a battle between Cameron and Berry. But Cameron held the lucky hand Wednesday night when Berry flatted in the closing laps. The BODE rider maneuvered his bicycle to the pit and grabbed a spare bike, but Cameron was long gone. Berry was able to hold onto his second place spot. Hunter held off a late race charge to take third.

UPDATE: The complete Oregon Cycling Action photo gallery for this race is now posted online HERE.

RESULTS
Blind Date at the Dairy
Portland, Sept. 30

Men A
1. Cameron, Molly (Portland Bicycle Studio) 13
2. Berry, Joshua (BODE) 13
3. Hunter, Steven (Veloshop) 13
4. Yeater, Davy (River City Bicycles) 13
5. Schulz, Erik (Specialized/River City) 13
Women A
1. Pennington, Alice (Veloforma) 12
2. Bagely, Rachel (Motordome/Ira Ryan Cycles) 11
3. Schweitzer, Jennifer 11
4. Love, Christy (Team S&M) 11
5. Brown, Audrey (Team S&M) 11
Singlespeed
1. Gilmore, Leland (River City Bicycles) 9
2. Criss, Alexander (River City Bicycles) 9
3. Patla, Seth (River City Bicycles) 9
4. Ehmke, Larry (Grundelbruisers) 9
5. Weaver, Ryan (River City Bicycles) 9

Complete OBRA results are HERE.

Blind Date goes well; second date looks brighter

Approximately 300 competitors showed up for the first Blind Date at the Dairy cyclocross race at Alpenrose in southwest Portland Wednesday night.

The first race of the evening, Category C Men, B Women and Beginner Women packed well over 100 riders onto the course that wound around and through the Alpenrose Dairy headquarters/playground that features the velodrome, baseball fields and a mini-car racetrack. As daytime turned into evening and then into night, generator-powered lights illuminated the far corners of the course that the parking and ballfield lights couldn't reach. The darkness didn't seem to slow the racing as the elite racers took to the course.

BODE's Joshua Berry (pictured at left) quickly separated himself from the rest of the Men's A field and survived a crash to easily take the win in front of Ian Brown (Tonic) and Steven Hunter (Velo Shop). Veloforma's Alice Pennington cruised to a comfortable win in the Women's A race ahead of River City Bicycles' Bridget Brown and Gentle Lovers' Dawn Riddle.

Like most first dates, the evening wasn't without a few awkward moments. The last race of the evening was cut short when officials decided several dark spots on the course presented too much danger for riders. But promoters promised to have that hitch cleared up with more lights by next week. Overall, participants seemed to enjoy the weeknight chance to 'cross, and several raved about the course.

The four night Blind Date at the Dairy series runs Wednesday nights through Oct. 14.

Schedule
5:00 - Kiddie cross (no parents on course)
and Toddler Cross (parents may run along)
5:10 - Juniors (35 min.)
6:00 - Category C Men, B Women and Beginner Women (45 min.)
6:50 - Category B Men and Single Speed (45 min.)
7:45 - Category A Men and A Women (1 hour)

Register onsite up to 10 minutes prior to your race and preferably at least 30 minutes prior. Cost: Kids free, juniors $8, senior men and women $15.

Find more information HERE.

The Complete Cycling Action photo gallery for this race is now posted online HERE.

OBRA announces four-week Wednesday night cyclocross series at Alpenrose Dairy

Portland metro area racers just got another reason to get excited about cyclocross. Starting Wednesday, Sept. 23, and running through Oct. 14, the Blind Date at the Dairy will provide an opportunity for weeknight fun.

OBRA announced the new four-week Wednesday night series at Alpenrose this week. Sponsored by Alpenrose Dairy, OBRA, Field Jerger LLP Law Offices, Peer Technologies and Dogs are Cool Photography, the races start at 5 p.m. and will finish under the dairy's lights.

Schedule
5:00 p.m. Kiddie cross (no parents on course) and Toddler Cross. (parents may run along)
5:10 p.m. Juniors. (30 minute race)
6:00 p.m. Category C men and women. (45 minute race)
6:50 p.m. Category B, Men and Women. and Single Speed (45 minute race)
7:45 p.m. Category A Men and Women.

Registration: Register on site up to 10 minutes prior to your race and preferably at least 30 minutes prior.

Cost: Kids free, juniors $8, senior men and women $15.
Sign up for all four races on the first night for $60 and receive a really cool Blind Date at the Dairy T-shirt for $10.