Results and Reports for December 21Heffron Park Christmas Criterium Sydney, Australia, December 21, 1999 The annual Christmas Trophy Race at Sydney's Heffron Park is something of an institution, making a change from the usual Tuesday evening handicap events. Favourite for the 42 km scratch race was the self-titled "king of Heffron Park", Anthony Spurgeon, who rides for the Caravello outfit. "Spurge", as he is known to many, has won this race six times, and was determined not to let a pretender take his crown. The race was typically aggressive, with over half the field falling by the wayside as the constant attacks took their toll. The major move of the day came from Easts rider and occasional mountain biker, Paul Rowney, who decided that the only way to win was to go alone. This bold move almost succeeded although he could not manage to get clean away. The bunch chased hard but it wasn't until the last lap when he was finally reeled in, after being away for much of the race. This worked in Spurge's favour, as his strength is sprinting and he was well set up for the final kick. For the seventh year, Spurge came powering through to take the race from honorary Easts rider, Stuart Dangerfield who, along with other members of the Great Britain team, is down under training for the Tour de Langkawi. Spurge was beside himself after the race, and thanked all and sundry and vowed to defend his trophy in 2000. Results A + B GRADE 40 Starters 20 laps 1 Anthony Spurgeon (Carav) 2 Stuart Dangerfield (Easts) 3 Stewart Campbell (Easts) 4 Laurent Vignes (Bici) 5 Nash Kent (NSyd) 6 D. Benson (Lidcome) 7 Liam Kelly (Easts) 8 Andrew Curro (Bici) 9 Peter Barnett (Vic) 10 Wayne Anderson (Carav) C GRADE 31 Starters 15 laps 1 N. Lynch 2 B. Hampshire 3 R. Gilmore Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums Victoria, Australia, December 19, 1999 Courtesy of Mark Chadwick Strong southerly winds kept the temperature in the low twenties and a massive 195 riders greeted the starter for the final Sunday crit of 1999. With the special women's races so successful, the club plans to stage a further race on Tuesday 18 Jan, 2000 at A.F.L. Park with two grades. Headlining the A grade women's race will be World Cup winner Anna Wilson and V.I.S. star and national team stalwart Liz Tadich. Coming the week after the Bay Series criteriums, a strong field is assured. Forty riders started the A grade race. High-speed action all the way with a final average of 46kph. Eight riders slipped the bunch and promptly gained over 25 seconds. There were repeated efforts at bridging up that met with no success, the lead group's capacity was too great. At two laps to go Jerone Walters skipped away from the other leaders while they all watched new Euro-pro Tom Leaper (Navigare). Leaper showed no interest in chasing and despite his legendary strength played no part in the sprint for the minor places. Three team-mates riding for Mildara Blass in the Bay Series came home strong with Hilton Clarke Jnr winning the field sprint from Chris Carr and Brendan Gilholme. B grade was again the scene of a victory to a four-man break. David Milward led home veterans Doug Garley and Martin Fluendy from serial placegetter and A grade candidate Leo DiMartino. With 59 riders the big bunch may have been expected to reel in the breakaway, however sterling work by committed blockers saw the chance evaporate. Notably covering all the moves in the bunch was Anna Wilson, newly married to winner David Milward. When told after the race to make sure she got her half she said, "I'll get it all now". Youth came to the fore in C grade with 15 year-olds taking the top two steps of the podium. Mark French was meant to be leading friend Johnny Clarke out for the finish but Johnny couldn't get over him. Cheltenham bike shop owner Jay O'Mara put in all to finish third in front of Jason Plowman. D grade suffered lower than usual numbers with only 21 starters but enthusiasm made up for the shortage of riders. The speed was kept high with the eventual winners all contributing to the pace. Repeated surges eventually saw David Meffert, Kyn Scritten, Ben Phillips and Brett 'yo-yo' Barnard slip away with under ten minutes to go. Barnard found the going too tough in the break, the proceeded to win the field sprint for fourth! Meffert's efforts were rewarded with first place winnings and promotion to C grade. Twenty-six women lined up to contest the last of the special Sunday women's races. The substantial field resulted in good racing, attacking riders going off the front lining the reminder out in the gutter. Brief respites led to re-grouping and the next round of attacks. Victory in the end to Sally Smalley whose experience was challenged by Katie Mactier, the margin in the end - under half a wheel. Louise Gomes managed to hold off Debbie Hobbs with at least fifteen women charging in together making a rollicking sprint of it. Results A GRADE 40 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps 1 Jerone Walters 2 Hilton Clarke Jnr 3 Chris Carr 4 Brendan Gilholme B GRADE 59 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps 1 David Milward 2 Doug Garley 3 Martin Fluendy 4 Leo DiMartino C GRADE 49 Starters 45 minutes + 3 laps 1 Mark French 2 Johnny Clarke 3 Jay O'Mara 4 Jason Plowman D GRADE 21 Starters 45 minutes + 3 laps 1 David Meffert 2 Kyn Scritten 3 Ben Phillips 4 Brett Barnard WOMEN 26 Starters 45 minutes + 3 laps 1 Sally Smalley 2 Katie Mactier 3 Louise Gomes 4 Debbie Hobbs |