Results and Reports for December 13Carnegie-Caulfield Criteriums Mulgrave, Australia, December 12, 1999 Courtesy of Mark Chadwick A southerly breeze and occasional drizzle resulted in a reduced field of 103 starters, however the weather improved for A and B grade's later start. A grade's small field was content to maintain a steady, quick tempo for their hour. The sprint saw 23-year-old Darren Young home by the width of a tire over club road champ Kristjan Snorrason after Snorrason led the sprint out from 150m, a timely throw of the bike saw Young slip through on the line. Young, from Devonport Tasmania, is training and racing in Melbourne with his madison partner Stephen Pate who finished third with Chris Carr fourth. The madison team of Pate and Young look ominously strong and will be well worth watching in the upcoming Christmas carnivals. Three riders slipped the leash early in B grade's race, joined soon after by Ryan Kelly (17) and Nick Groves (19). With the arrival of the youngsters, the break consolidated its lead which quickly rose to 25 seconds. Kelly was unable to hold the pace however and returned to the bunch where the aggressive Mick Hollingworth was leading a half-hearted chase. The final laps saw Ashley Goewie soften up his companions, then jump out of the last corner to win comfortably from Leo DiMartino, Nick Groves and Dennis Toce. The early break went in C grade as well. With fewer workers than usual the pace was off slightly, tactical racing took precedence over sheer power in the damp conditions. Hard chasing eventually resulted in a bunch sprint. Victory to Dennis DeAngelos over Paul Kennedy. Ken Ford proved his promotion from D grade was justified with a creditable third in front of rising junior Geordon Murray. 13-year-old Michael Ford tried the solo escape as the rain intensified five minutes into the D grade race. Despite being caught twenty minutes later the lad had enough juice to not only stay with the bunch, but kick out of the last bend to defeat a couple of veterans using their vastly bigger gears. John Groves second and Peter Hudson third could not get on terms with the boy using a 77-inch gear! Hugh Forrest, another young legend in the making, took fourth. Next Sunday sees the final of the club's three race novice women's series. Tuesday January 18 is mooted as the date for a special women's promotion at A.F.L. Park for women of all standards with two grades to accommodate the elite women and the newcomers. Results A GRADE 16 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps 1 Darren Young 2 Kristjan Snorrason 3 Stephen Pate 4 Chris Carr B GRADE 33 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps 1 Ashley Goewie 2 Leo DiMartino 3 Nick Groves 4 Dennis Toce C GRADE 29 Starters 45 minutes + 3 laps 1 Dennis DeAngelos 2 Paul Kennedy 3 Ken Ford 4 Geordon Murray D GRADE 25 Starters 45 minutes + 3 laps 1 Michael Ford 2 John Groves 3 Peter Hudson 4 Hugh Forrest Morrinsville Invitation Criterium Morrinsville, New Zealand, December 12, 1999 Courtesy of John Cardwell Former English professional Dave Mann won the Morrinsville Invitation Criterium in a tight sprint finish from Karl Moore and Scott Guyton. The three placegetters, along with Mark May and Ivan Hodgetts, stayed together throughout the race and shared the prime sprints along the way. Mann, who's married to a Kiwi, now turns out in club races for the Hamilton City Cycling club. Meanwhile in a celebrity event, former Motorola professional Stephen Swart beat two former New Zealand road race champions, Dean Peterkin and Bruce Storrie. Results Elite men 1. Dave Mann (GBr) 2. Karl Moore (NZ) 3. Scott Guyton (NZ) Celebrities 1. Stephen Swart (NZ) 2. Dean Peterkin (NZ) 3. Bruce Storrie (NZ) |