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Eco Cross
November 7, 2004
Strong turnout, McCormack raises the bar at Coonamessett Eco Cross
By Chris Harnish & Whittey Bouchard
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On a day that saw glaring sunshine, temperatures in the mid-60’s and free flowing beer, the 2nd Annual Coonamessett Eco Cross proved that bike races don’t need a lot of razzle-dazzle to be fun and exciting. The course challenged both riders’ fitness and bike handling skills. Racers started on a fast dirt road before plunging down an embankment into a short section of sand before winding their way around the back section of the farm and into the first barrier section and run-up. Back on the bikes, the riders sped through a row of blueberry bushes and onto a tricky off-camber section before heading back into the blueberries for three more passes which were complicated by some very tight turns. From the blueberries, racers flew down a fast winding downhill and up to the Buzzards Bay Beer Tent and a second set of barriers before doubling back on the course and up to the top of a short climb. Bisecting the farm, the course made another technical descent before winding back on itself and making a slow climb back on dirt roads and a very fast, loose turn before hitting the final back section of the course. Here the riders threaded themselves through the trees and up an embankment before making a hard right to climb back up to the start road and into the sand again.
Racing started in earnest with the Beginner Race. Despite a tight group in the early laps, Aaron Oaks took the honors in the Beginners race, with Adam Ring taking second, and Talbot Ingram rounding out the top 3. Jessica Ingram took the beginner woman’s race and Elizabeth White took the cubs title.
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The Masters race saw another strong field and close starting lap. But it was former National Champion Paul Curley who showed everyone how it’s done, opening up a 20 sec gap by the second time through the Buzzards Bay Beer Tent and never looked back. However, the racing behind was beginning to heat up, with several local riders from Corner Cycle in the mix, including Chris “Breadman” Brown and Gray Eldridge, as well as mountain biker Dan Gagliarde. By lap 3, though, the Breadman’s fast start took its toll and he began to fade as Gagliarde and Eldridge surged. In the end, Gagliarde solidified 2nd with his expert bike handling skills in the sand plunge, and Eldridge pulled clear of David Belknap for 3rd.
A reshuffling of the schedule moved the women up with the Open Men and Juniors. Star power was in force for the Open Men’s race with appearance of former National Cross and Pro Road Champion Mark McCormack and local pro Larry “the Piranha” Perera. As with previous races, the race was close entering the sand plunge. However, local junior phenom Toby Marzot put the hammer down and opened up a gap by the Buzzards Bay Beer tent with McCormack trailing behind. Despite the slow start, McCormack made it clear who the teacher was by lap 2, bypassing Marzot and moving to what would be over a minute advantage by the finish. Further behind, though, the placings were shifting, with race promoter Harnish moving into 6th before succumbing to CCB’s ace in the hole, “Famous” Amos Brumble. By the end of the race, McCormack came out on top, followed by local strongman Jonny Bold of Corner Cycle, and Toby Marzot rounding out the podium and taking the junior title in the process.
Wrapping up the other categories, Jon Belcher took second in the junior race, with Noah Harwood in 3rd. Meanwhile, reining 13 – 14 Junior National Champion Stephanie White took the Open Woman’s race, with Rebecca Sox and Jennifer Rhodes rounding out the podium.
Special Thanks to our Sponsors: Buzzards Bay Brewing, Pepsi, and the Coonamessett farm for hosting the race. We also wish to thank all the volunteers and the riders for coming out in force to support the event.
Photography
Images by People Cycle Inc.
- The promoter shows the strain of little training
- McCormack overtakes early leader Marzot on the finish climb
- Marzot edges McCormack as they head to the plunge
- McCormack hits the run-up ahead of Marzot and Bold...
- ...opens a gap!
- ...and turns on the jets!
- Marzot suffers in his wake.
- Harnish on the run-up
- McCormack sets up for the beer tent...
- ...and makes it look so easy
- These things are high!
- Junior men's podium
- The Open Men's podium saw some of New England's best (Gray Eldridge stands in for Bold)
- The Masters lineup
- Paul Curley opened a gap early and never looked back
- Some scenes from the pond-side path
- The path steepens...
- ...before turning hard to the finish
- Curley widened his advantage at every section
- Eldridge hits the sand plunge
- Corner Cycle riders were out in force and made their presence known.
- Eldridge looked strong all day...
- ...while others suffered on the run-up
- Another Corner Cycle rider exits the blueberries
- The front side of the course offered many race perspectives
- The beer tent offered much action
- Gagliarde failed to catch Curley but still rode well.
- As did Gray Eldridge
- The Breadman stayed focused on the race and not the beer.
- Eldridge hammered all the way to the finish
- The Breadman heading to the 180 and the finish
- The masters podium
- Neal Scott (Corner Cycle) tackles the beer tent.
- Beginner Men's Podium
- A group of kids lines up
- And the winner is...
- Another finisher in the kids race
- And a final finish
- 2nd Women's finisher Rebecca Sox
- Stephanie White led the women from start to finish
Results
Open Men 1 Mark McCormack 2 Jonny Bold 3 Toby Marzot 4 Matt Demeis 5 Larry Perera 6 Amos Brumble 7 Chris Harnish 8 Conor Coffey 9 Noah Harwood 10 Jeff Craddock 11 Jeremy Burton 12 Jude Demeis 13 Ryan Pomajevich 14 Steven Morse 15 Christopher Rehm 16 David Hartman DNF Skip Salo Open Women 1 Stephanie White 2 Rebecca Sox 3 Jennifer Rhodes 4 Janet Sestokas 5 Dawn Moran Beginner Men 1 Aaron Oakes 2 Adam Ring 3 Talbot Ingram 4 Robert Bauer 5 Stephen Kelly 6 Rick Desmarias 7 James English 8 Chris Pare 9 Erin Bennett 10 Neal Scott 11 John Plump 12 Scott Hanson 13 Sean Baker Carter 14 Jose Ardila 15 Alex Dugan 16 Chris Parsons 17 Thomas Downey 18 Richard Deandrea 19 John Wilde 20 Jason Hyatt 21 James Rawstrom 22 Tom Thomson 23 Jose Monterros 24 Lawerence Purtill 25 Michael Lowry 26 Dan Fishkin 27 David Rioux 28 Jeff Oakes 29 Chris Lambert Beginner Women 1 Jessica Ingram 2 Caitlin Trahan Cub Juniors 1 Elizabeth White Masters 35+ 1 Paul Curley 2 Dan Gagliarde 3 Gray Eldridge 4 David Belknap 5 Paul Cusick 6 Bob Bisson 7 Rob Belcher 8 Paul Lynch 9 Jay Busse 10 Kevin Callahan 11 Richard Katch 12 Gene Garneau 13 Edmund Geschickter 14 Chris Brown 15 Robert Kramer 16 Barry Doubleday 17 Nathan Simms 18 Todd Savage 19 Timothy Bailey 20 Paul Pontonc 21 Chip Baker 22 John Stonebarger 23 Timothy Crowley 24 Chris Daigneault 25 Arnold Kalmbach 26 Brian Blondin 27 Danny Joakim DNF Thomas Downey Junior Men 1 Toby Marzot 2 John Belcher 3 Noah Harwood 4 Nathan Belcher
