Rattigan, Smith race to victories

OLD TOWN – Buckfield’s Danny Smith and Orrington’s Barbara Rattigan found the new course to their liking as they won their respective divisions at the Maine State Amateur Cycling Time Trials Monday.

Smith toured the 20-mile course, which covered portions of Old Town, Argyle and Alton, in 44 minutes and 39 seconds to nip Auburn’s Larry Poulin by eight seconds. Poulin was the defending champ.

Rattigan turned in a time of 56:57 to win the women’s division by 1:56 over Auburn’s Erma Andrews.

“I thought I had a good run but I couldn’t tell (how good) because it was my first time on the course,” said the 33-year-old Smith.

Smith added that he didn’t really expect to win.

“I didn’t know how I was going to do. I figured I would come in second. But Larry had kind of an off day,” said Smith, who had finished fourth a year ago.

The triumph made the long trip home to Buckfield especially rewarding.

“Any win is worth the trip,” said Smith, who added that he also benefited from a new graphite-frame bicycle.

Rattigan, who works at the University of Maine, was elated with her ride.

“I’ve been in 15 events this year and this is the happiest I’ve been in terms of my own personal time,” said Rattigan. “I wanted to make this a good one because it’s the last race of the year. It was a flat race, which isn’t my strength. I do better on hills. So I figured I’d better give everything I had.”

Smith and Rattigan both said they preferred this course to last year’s. And Rattigan pointed out that her husband, Bill Cochran, who placed sixth overall, was one of the people who recommended the new course. The new course had the race going along Route 116 instead of Route 43.

“The pavement wasn’t as good and there was more traffic on the old road (Route 43),” said Rattigan.

“This year, the course was straighter so you could stay in the tuck position on the corners,” said Smith, who works for Maine Apple Growers Inc. “Last year, the course was more crooked so you couldn’t stay down in the tuck position. You had to come up a lot.”

“Route 43 is a bit chewed up and after the time trial series in the spring, a lot of the racers complained about the potholes,” said Bill Cochran. “It’s always nice to have one time trial on a perfectly flat road.”

Cochran also said he doesn’t mind relinquishing the bragging rights in the household to his wife.

“She had a superior race. It’s good to see,” said Bill Cochran.

Cochran and his wife also praised race director Anne Mourkas for her organization of the event.

“She did an incredible job,” said Rattigan.

Maine State Amateur Time Trials Monday’s Results Men’s Divisions

Overall – Danny Smith, Buckfield, 44:39; Larry Poulin, Auburn, 44:47; Ray Marchessault, Auburn, 46:14; Rocky Freeman, Rangeley, 46:38; Ed Mendes, Topsham, 46:57; Bill Cochran, Orrington, 47:05; Chris Kinney, Cape Elizabeth, 47:59; Jefferson Longfellow, Lewiston, 48:06; Dean Read, Winthrop, 48:17; Cliff Nadeau, Freeport, 48:20

Juniors – Dennis Russell, Poland Springs, 51:10; 25-29 age group: Poulin; 30-34: Smith; 35-39: Mendes; 40-44: Marchessault; 45-49: Freeman; 50-54: Pat Pelletier, Old Town, 52:15; 55-59: Dave Gugan, Manchester, 54:03; 60-69: John Gardner, Castine, 59:53; 70-79: George Walsh, Jay, 54:50

Women’s Divisions

Overall – Barbara Rattigan, Orrington, 56:57; Erma Andrews, Auburn, 58:53; Eliza Kinney, Cape Elizabeth, 59:20; Deb Pluck, Winslow, 60:04; Joyce Stevenson, Brewer, 68:12

Junior: Kinney; 35-39: Rattigan; 40-49: Pluck; 50-59: Stevenson