26/09/2026
RICH HOBSON WINS SUTHO HILL TOP FINISH HANDICAP – 26th Sept 2026 --- Presented by BATHURST ISUZU UTE and Clancy Motors Bathurst.
With Bathurst’s premier handicap event the Rockley Cup only a few weeks away, the club hosted a hilltop finish on the challenging Sutho Drive course today.
Great to have former Bathurst champion Jim Burke leading the way early, however the event would be dominated by the hard-working bunches, who were very motivated to get their climbers onto the hill in good position for the dash to the finish.
Former NSW TTT gold medallist Toireasa Gallagher and Gary Hamer (who is in final training for Ironman Australia) provided the Jeff Parsons bunch with plenty of fire power and they soon moved to the race lead.
Behind them the three back groups were riding very strongly.
The Rich Hobson, Brian Draper, David Reece and Tony Shaw team starting to threaten the leaders. Meanwhile the block bunch of Steve Bennett, Mark Windsor, Michael Buttsworth and Jenna Gallagher had started the event at full speed to hold-off the Scratch bunch of Mark Renshaw, Billy Yeo and Stu Renshaw
Disaster for the leaders coming onto the final climb when national level Master Jeff Parsons run off the road and the Rich Hobson group inherited the lead. Soon after Jenna Gallagher and Billy Yeo came onto the climb in hot pursuit of the leaders.
However Rich Hobson was in top form and climbed away for an excellent win from teammate Brian Draper Billy Yeo and Jenna Gallagher changing home for 3rd and 4th with Tony Shaw rounding out the top 5.
Michael Buttsworth rode another excellent race for 6th in front of the fast-finishing Mark and Stu Renshaw, with Steve Bennett and David Reece rounding out the top 10.