Results and Reports for December 9-10

Australia

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Rob Harvey Conveyor Products Handicaps
Tatonka Urban Polaris
Australian National Criterium Championships
Carnegie-Caulfield Cycling Club criterium
Gold Coast CATS CC criterium
Cycle Instead Criterium Series - Round 3

Rob Harvey Conveyor Products Handicaps

50km Handicap, Outer Harbour, December10, 2000

Results

1 Tony McLoughlin (Mittiga Cycling Team)    Scratch
2 Dave Stocker (Bicycle Expresss)           2 min
3 Steve Kinder                              5 min
4 Peter Moore (Mittiga Cycling team)        Scratch
 
Fastest Time - Tony McLoughlin (Mittiga Cycling Team) Scratch

Tatonka Urban Polaris

Sydney, NSW, December 10, 2000

Results

Overall results
   Team                      Category     Points
1  Fitzpatrick/Simpson       Men          420
2  Horrocks/Mathie           Mixed        420
3  Cottee/Kent               Men          400
4  Perry/Cain                Men          400
5  Jallard/Zanni             Men          390
6  Hocking/Turner            Men          390
7  Turnbull/Davies           Men          390
8  Fail/Kervell              Men          380
9  Hayes/Wilkinson           Men          380
10 Simionato/Haynes          Super Vets   370
11 Bayfield/Mcnamara         Vets         370
12 Searle/Liggins            Men          360
13 Wright/Hart               Mixed        358
14 Foley/Foley               Mixed        350
15 Mc Conaghy/Ho             Men          350
16 Wentzel/Dagher            Men          350
17 Baldwin/Quinn             Mixed        340
18 Blakers/Mcintyre          Men          340
19 Meyer/Shepard             Men          340
20 Davies/Martin             Men          330
21 Demunck/Yip               Men          330
22 Janmaat/Kline             Men          320
23 Bacchus/Brimble           Men          320
24 Taylor-Wood/Burch         Women        320
25 Board/Kaminski            Men          320
26 Camm/Mcintyre             Women        320
27 Castledon/Kolbe           Men          318
28 Page/Carden               Men          310
29 Woolley/Woolley           Mixed        310
30 Franks/Derwent            Men          310
31 Thompson/Garrod           Men          310
32 Austin/Poppett            Men          310
33 Beggs/Larkin              Men          310
34 Cogley/Fullerton          Men          310
35 Delaney/King              Mixed        310
36 Munn/Kershaw              Men          300
37 Reynolds/White            Mixed        300
38 Bagge/Hewitt              Men          298
39 Garde/Gordon              Men          295
40 Mac Cormick/Randall       Men          290
41 De Silva/Harvey           Men          290
42 Powell/Finlayson          Men          290
43 Avakian/Avakian           Mixed        290
44 Aubrey/Adamson            U21          290
45 Prineas/Lange             Men          290
46 Hemphill/Hemphill         Mixed        290
47 Simionato/Maher           Women        288
48 Donnan/Mc Nulty           Men          286
49 Tremlett/Pinhall          Mixed        280
50 Roberts/Dulhuunty         Men          280
51 Gardener/Robinson         Men          280
52 Starling/Starling         Mixed        280
53 Dale/Dale                 Men          280
54 Goddard/Worsfold          Men          280
55 Harmer/Reeson             Men          280
56 Rivera/Edmunds            Men          278
57 Vickery/Keogh             Men          270
58 Ryan/Martin               Men          270
59 Bourne/Bourne             Vets         270
60 Faulkner/Fox              Vets         270
61 Nasholm/Soderstrom        Mixed        270
62 Bradford/Bradford         Men          270
63 Broder/Parkinson          Women        270
64 Ray/Levett                Vets         270
65 Searle/Searle             Men          260
66 Martin/Waudby             Men          260
67 Cunningham/Baker          Men          260
68 Narunsky/Gould            Men          260
69 Wardrop/Shimell           Mixed        260
70 Nash/Butcher              Mixed        260
71 Pound/Selwyn              Mixed        260
72 Baldwin/Baldwin           Mixed        260
73 O'Brien/Hannan            Men          259
74 England/Murphy            Mixed        252
75 Thomas/Elliot             Mixed        252
76 Russell/Clement           Men          250
77 Aurisch/Thom              Vets         250
78 Dee/Gregg                 Men          250
79 Skopal/Smith              Mixed        250
80 Marshman/Van Dyke         Vets         250
81 Malcom/Nisbet             Men          250
82 Wright/Dixon              Men          250
83 Wright/Wright             Men          250
84 Cameron/Walker            Mixed        240
85 Sutton/Vine               Men          240
86 Mckay/Mckay               Men          240
87 Griffin/Pitmer            Men          240
88 Russell/Robin             Women        230
89 Ledain/Ledain             Mixed        230
90 Radford/Selby             Mixed        230
91 Mitchie/Bonner            U21          230
92 Rawlinson/Watson          Men          230
93 Easton/Trenear            Vets         230
94 Simonetti/Wong            Men          230
95 Murray/Puxty              Men          230
96 Bosch/Freitag             Men          220
97 Asic/Sparrow              Men          220
98 Lane/Lane                 Men          220
99 Macrae/Calkin             Women        215
100 Dodds/Truran             Men          210
101 Dabbs/Williams           Super Vets   210
102 Cooper/Cooper            Mixed        210
103 Mc Cue/Pickering         Men          210
104 Anderson/Hinshelwood     Men          210
105 Chan/Frahill             Men          206
106 Easton/Catterall         U21          200
107 Nolan/Vandermer          Vets         200
108 Blount/Amai              Men          200
109 Longley/Halls            Men          193
110 Stevens/Curtin           Women        192
111 Baldwin/Smith            Men          190
112 Howse/Howse              Men          190
113 Cheng/Seeto              Men          190
114 Wainwright/Griffin       Men          190
115 Wilson/Loveday           Vets         180
116 Coogan/Smith             Vets         180
117 Dark/Budd                Men          180
118 Nolte/Crisp              Men          180
119 Krawiarz/Corona          Men          180
120 Day/Moorfield            Women        180
121 Beck/Bramma              Mixed        170
122 Van Schie/Mcnaught       Mixed        170
123 Mcgarrigle/Lawler        Super Vets   170
124 Lee/Janczur              Men          170
125 Gomez/Lahodny            Mixed        170
126 Wynne/Jansen             Vets         170
127 MacCormick/Farquhar      Mixed        160
128 Van Erk/Cooper           Men          160
129 Bangert/Bangert          Mixed        160
130 Freeman/Wallace          Mixed        160
131 Lee/May                  Mixed        160
132 Gardner/Tresidder        U21          158
133 Sliwinski/Hou Hansen     Men          150
134 Williamson/Mcintosh      Mixed        150
135 Marlay/Ernst             Men          150
136 Wilyman/Tavener-Smith    Men          130
137 Dowd/Marshall            Men          120
138 Godyn/Sauerbier          Men          110
139 Farrelly/Thornhill       Mixed         70
140 O'Hagan/Marks            Mixed         70
141 Brown/Fletcher           Mixed         60
142 Maslen/Morgan            Women         50
143 Stickland/Bethune        Vets          50
144 Shelvin/Ainsworth        U21           20
145 Marlay/Marlay            Men           10
146 Brennan/Potts            Men            0
147 McCusker/Kullack         Mixed          0
148 Shailer/McNeice          Men            0
 
Results by category
 
Men 
1 Fitzpatrick/Simpson     420 pts
2 Cottee/Kent             400
3 Perry/Cain              400
4 Jallard/Zanni           390
5 Hocking/Turner          390
6 Turnbull/Davies         390
7 Fail/Kervell            380
8 Hayes/Wilkinson         380
9 Searle/Liggins          360
10 Mc Conaghy/Ho          350
11 Wentzel/Dagher         350
12 Blakers/Mcintyre       340
13 Meyer/Shepard          340
14 Davies/Martin          330
15 Demunck/Yip            330
16 Janmaat/Kline          320
17 Bacchus/Brimble        320
18 Board/Kaminski         320
19 Castledon/Kolbe        318
20 Page/Carden            310
21 Franks/Derwent         310
22 Thompson/Garrod        310
23 Austin/Poppett         310
24 Beggs/Larkin           310
25 Cogley/Fullerton       310
26 Munn/Kershaw           300
27 Bagge/Hewitt           298
28 Garde/Gordon           295
29 MacCormick/Randall     290
30 De Silva/Harvey        290
31 Powell/Finlayson       290
32 Prineas/Lange          290
33 Donnan/Mc Nulty        286
34 Roberts/Dulhuunty      280
35 Gardener/Robinson      280
36 Dale/Dale              280
37 Goddard/Worsfold       280
38 Harmer/Reeson          280
39 Rivera/Edmunds         278
40 Vickery/Keogh          270
41 Ryan/Martin            270
42 Bradford/Bradford      270
43 Searle/Searle          260
44 Martin/Waudby          260
45 Cunningham/Baker       260
46 Narunsky/Gould         260
47 O'Brien/Hannan         259
48 Russell/Clement        250
49 Dee/Gregg              250
50 Malcom/Nisbet          250
51 Wright/Dixon           250
52 Wright/Wright          250
53 Sutton/Vine            240
54 Mckay/Mckay            240
55 Griffin/Pitmer         240
56 Rawlinson/Watson       230
57 Simonetti/Wong         230
58 Murray/Puxty           230
59 Bosch/Freitag          220
60 Asic/Sparrow           220
61 Lane/Lane              220
62 Dodds/Truran           210
63 McCue/Pickering        210
64 Anderson/Hinshelwood   210
65 Chan/Frahill           206
66 Blount/Amai            200
67 Longley/Halls          193
68 Baldwin/Smith          190
69 Howse/Howse            190
70 Cheng/Seeto            190
71 Wainwright/Griffin     190
72 Dark/Budd              180
73 Nolte/Crisp            180
74 Krawiarz/Corona        180
75 Lee/Janczur            170
76 Van Erk/Cooper         160
77 Sliwinski/Hou Hansen   150
78 Marlay/Ernst           150
79 Wilyman/Tavener-Smith  130
80 Dowd/Marshall          120
81 Godyn/Sauerbier        110
82 Marlay/Marlay           10
83 Brennan/Potts            0
84 Shailer/Mcneice          0
 
Mixed                    
1 Horrocks/Mathie        420 pts
2 Wright/Hart            358
3 Foley/Foley            350
4 Baldwin/Quinn          340
5 Woolley/Woolley        310
6 Delaney/King           310
7 Reynolds/White         300
8 Avakian/Avakian        290
9 Hemphill/Hemphill      290
10 Tremlett/Pinhall      280
11 Starling/Starling     280
12 Nasholm/Soderstrom    270
13 Wardrop/Shimell       260
14 Nash/Butcher          260
15 Pound/Selwyn          260
16 Baldwin/Baldwin       260
17 England/Murphy        252
18 Thomas/Elliot         252
19 Skopal/Smith          250
20 Cameron/Walker        240
21 Ledain/Ledain         230
22 Radford/Selby         230
23 Cooper/Cooper         210
24 Beck/Bramma           170
26 Gomez/Lahodny         170
27 Mac Cormick/Farquhar  160
28 Bangert/Bangert       160
29 Freeman/Wallace       160
30 Lee/May               160
31 Williamson/Mcintosh   150
32 Farrelly/Thornhill     70
33 O'Hagan/Marks          70
34 Brown/Fletcher         60
35 McCusker/Kullack        0
 
Women                    
1 Taylor-Wood/Burch      320 pts
2 Camm/Mcintyre          320
3 Simionato/Maher        288
4 Broder/Parkinson       270
5 Russell/Robin          230
6 Macrae/Calkin          215
7 Stevens/Curtin         192
8 Day/Moorfield          180
9 Maslen/Morgan           50
 
Vets
1 Bayfield/Mcnamara      370 pts
2 Bourne/Bourne          270
3 Faulkner/Fox           270
4 Ray/Levett             270
5 Aurisch/Thom           250
6 Marshman/Van Dyke      250
7 Easton/Trenear         230
8 Nolan/Vandermer        200
9 Wilson/Loveday         180
10 Coogan/Smith          180
11 Wynne/Jansen          170
12 Stickland/Bethune      50
 
SuperVets                    
1 Simionato/Haynes       370 pts
2 Dabbs/Williams         210
3 Mcgarrigle/Lawler      170
 
Under 21 
1 Aubrey/Adamson         290 pts
2 Mitchie/Bonner         230
3 Easton/Catterall       200
4 Gardner/Tresidder      158
5 Shelvin/Ainsworth       20

Australian National Criterium Championships

Northbridge, Perth, WA, December 10, 2000

By Annabelle Drew, cyclingnews.com correspondent

Tonight the Australian National Criterium Championships were held in Northbridge. The venue is a suburb just 500m from the centre of Perth, across the railway lines. It's a favourite spot for Perth dwellers and tourists to head to at night for a drink a meal or a dance. Another gorgeous Perth summer night ensured that thousands were already along the streets where the criterium was to be held - the main restaurant/cafe strip - and were looking for some cycling action even before the barriers were completely in place. The course was rectangular, at least 1.5km long with the finishing straight about 600m long.

Women's National Title
The women rolled out at 6pm. It was a small field of 14 riders, caused probably because of the late change of time and venue to Western Australia, and the time of year. Nonetheless, we were ready for some good racing and took advantage of having a great venue, brilliant supportive crowd of thousands and the informative and exciting commentating by Gary Suckling that has really made all of the Perth races come to life for the public.

With a small field, the race was always going to be a stop-start affair. The 30 minutes plus 3 laps were spiced up with attacks from the veloBelles riders, namely Hayley Rutherford, Fiona Scarff, Sandra Smith and myself. Rochelle Gilmore (New South Wales) looked very fit and was easily closing down gaps, covering moves as she was forced to do most of the chasing, being the only non-West Australian. She never looked threatened. A couple of times I made a break, but was never going anywhere as Rochelle let me hang out there and effortlessy caught the wheel of anyone trying to come across to me. (Oh well, got a couple of decent primes!)

Predictably, it all came down to a sprint. Cathy Dixon, who had featured strongly throughout the race keeping the pace up, lead for most of the last lap. A last minute attempt by yours truly at the end of the back straight was fairly useless and only lead to the final sprint being started from a virtual stand-still at the final corner. It's a long way to the finish line, about 400m, and Rochelle had time to look back and put her arms luxuriously in the air as she crossed the line in first place. Sharon Wheatley in great form finished second with Sandra Smith narrowly edged out for third and Hayley finishing fourth. All credit to Rochelle as she rode a great race despite no support from the locals. She's a spring chicken with a great & fast future.

Men's National Title
The men's race started at 7pm. The action was on from the start, with the strong men in the field making it clear that they weren't taking any prisoners today! Although attacks were made, the bunch just became more strung out and no breakaway groups were allowed to go for the first 20 minutes of racing.

Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) attacked with Daniel Trinne (Glen Parker) and Bryan Evans among others, but it wasn't to last. Jamie Drew (Mercury) made the counter move, looking the best he's been in all of the Perth criteriums, taking with him Andrew Sime (Entrepreneur), Dave McPartland (Caravello) and Rhys Sherbourne (Bike Force Morley). After a couple of laps with this break out front, the bunch chased hard headed by Peter Dawson, creating casualties everywhere. The main field was reduced to just over 30 during these laps. The break was soon caught and with the pace slightly dropped, Chris Breden (UK) took a chance off the front. He lasted long enough to grab a prime, then as he went back to the bunch, a new break formed when Steve Harcourt and McPartland took off. These two created a decent lead that hovered at around 10 seconds. A group containing Scott Suckling (Bike Force Morley), Geoff Cooke, Trinne and Vaughn Harvey sensed the potential of this break and tried to bridge. The bunch soon responded however, closing this group down quickly. Next to try were Peter Dawson and Dan Smith (UK) who made it across to the leading duo only to have the bunch rejoin shortly afterwards.

With 20 minutes of racing remaining, the bunch was all together and very strung out due to the fast pace. Attacks were frequent, including Peter Dawson who was feeling quite restless in this race and attacked aggressively, instantly creating a gap. In fact, he demonstrated a brilliant show of time-trialing to leave the bunch between 10 to 15 seconds behind him. The crowd cheered furiously for this local youngster as lap after lap he maintained a cracking pace to hold off the bunch. Scott Suckling and Dan Smith escaped the bunch and tried to get across to Dawson. They spent 5 laps or so between the leader and the rest of the field before some serious contenders such as Brett Aitken and Ed Hollands visibly increased the chasing speed and caught the two. Still Dawson drove on strongly, not fading even slightly.

Dawson still had 10 seconds on the bunch with 4 laps to go and the crowd increased its support, realising how frantic the situation for Dawson was becoming in the closing stages of the race. Hilton McMurdo (Glen Parkers), with the sensational form he's had all week, drove madly at the front trying to close the gap so that team mate Ed Hollands could have a crack at the sprint. With 3 lap to go Jamie Drew forced the pace causing the gap to Dawson to be whittled steadily. With 2 to go, the valiant leader still had a slight lead but it was obvious he would be swamped shortly.

Sure enough on the bell lap the group was all together and the race was anyone's for the taking. Lead-outs started to get organized, although a crash on the second last corner disrupted the set-up for the sprint. There was a sense that everyone along the finishing straight was holding their breath as the crazy cyclists rounded the final corner and ripped up the remaining 400m towards the line. The crowd erupted as Brett Aitken passed Ed Hollands just metres before the finish, throwing his arms in the air. O'Grady was third. It was a brilliant race to watch leaving a suburb full of satisfied punters wondering why they don't see more of this great sport.

Results

1 Brett Aitken (Cycle Instead)
2 Eddy Hollands (Glen Parker Cycles)
3 Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole)


Full results to follow

Carnegie-Caulfield Cycling Club criterium

Glenvale Crescent, Mulgrave, Vic, December 10, 2000

Sunny with a steady Northerly breeze, forecast top 31C, what a day for a bike race! 198 riders agreed and took to the Glenvale Crescent circuit to challenge each other and themselves. Announced for the first time in the club newsletter the new sponsor for at least the next two years: Balance Clothing. The new uniform will debut in the Bay Criterium Series during the Summer of Cycling on the backs of the five man club team.

A Grade
Four riders slipped away from the huge 54 man A grade bunch. Robert Crowe (Fitzroy Cycles), James Taylor (Ashburton Cycles), Simon Gerrans (SBR/VIS) and Robert Boag (Ashburton Cycles) established a commanding lead of 40 seconds in short order. Boag found the pace too high and dropped off as the break closed in on the tail of the bunch. No confusion this time in the finale though, after the breakaways took a lap and moved to the head of the bunch ­ then away again. The leading trio rounded the last turn three abreast and made a drag race of it over the final 200 metres. Robby Crowe took it in the right hand gutter from Taylor and Gerrans, Crowe quipped afterwards “amateurs ride as hard as they can, pro’s ride as hard as they have to. I rode as hard as I had to.” Crowe commented on Gerrans’ strength, “strongest taking turns, but not in the sprint”. Perhaps the week at Glenmaggie on the VIS camp last week took the edge of the youngster’s kick. Andrew Torney (Fitzroy Cycles) took fourth well clear of the remaining A graders after riding away with four laps to go.

B Grade
B grade again had a vast field with 72 starters, including the best of the women racing shoulder to shoulder with the wily B grade men. Early action from the likes of Nick Witkamp and Leo DiMartino had the bunch lined out chasing, regrouping and then reacting to the next attack which often came too soon for the many who dropped out to watch. A late escape from Jamie from Chelsea looked the goods as he settled in with a good lead. In normal circumstances he probably would have won it, but with A grade in the way it was decided B grade would have to wait to finish. Jamie was caught in the last lap and Leon Berger nipped past him leaving the bunch in his wake. Colin Morris got the nod for second in a tight bunch sprint from Stuart Campbell and Anna Milward who is always in the action.

C Grade
42 starters in C grade covered frequent unsuccessful attacks hold a high tempo throughout the race. It came down to a lap and a half to go, the leading riders looked at each other, hesitating. 26yo Melbourne High School teacher Justin Vincent launched himself clear by a scant 25 metres and held on to win as the bunch reacted too late. Second placed Michael Ford soon to return to B grade, from Daniel Nelms and Brendan Gaffey fourth two weeks in a row.

D Grade
D grade’s 26 starters took to the task of racing with vigor after their ten-minute neutral. Newcomers learnt valuable lessons in the quicker than usual group, with cornering improving visibly by the end. Mark Kinzett looks to be C grade bound winning by riding off with Jonas Lesouef and Cheryl Hickman in the last lap to win ahead of fourth placed Pat Dougherty.

E Grade
The kids of E grade, supervised by Mick Hollingworth, enjoyed a good race with Peter Johnston winning from Mick Downing, Alex Cummings and Patrick Lane.

Results

A Grade 54 Starters 1 hour + 3 laps
1 Robert Crowe (Fitzroy Cycles) 
2 James Taylor (Ashburton Cycles) 
3 Simon Gerrans (SBR/VIS) 
4 Andrew Torney (Fitzroy Cycles) 
 
B Grade 72 Starters 1 hour + 3 laps 
1 Leon Berger
2 Colin Morris 
3 Stuart Campbell
4 Anna Milward
 
C Grade 42 Starters 45 minutes + 3 laps
1 Justin Vincent
2 Michael Ford
3 Daniel Nelms
4 Brendan Gaffey
 
D Grade 26 Starters 45 minutes + 3 laps
1 Mark Kinzett
2 Jonas Lesouef
3 Cheryl Hickman
4 Pat Dougherty
 
E Grade 7 Starters 30 minutes + 3 laps
1 Peter Johnstone
2 Mick Downing
3 Alex Cummings
4 Patrick Lane

Report and results courtesy Mark Chadwick

Gold Coast CATS CC criterium

Burleigh, QLD, December 10, 2000

Twice a month on Sunday morning the Gold Coast CATS Cycling Club conducts criterium racing at Burleigh, at what has become known in South East Queensland as "The Burleigh Worlds". Ninety six riders faced the starter this weekend, with the fastest rider on the course once again, surprise, surprise - Robbie McEwen. Robbie says that he "is not very fit at the moment", but that does not stop him winning seemingly at will, this week in a two man break with German visitor Torsten Wilhems.

The Burleigh Worlds are held on the second and third Sunday of the month, 7 am start at Central Drive Burleigh. Interstate and overseas visitors to the Gold Coast are most welcome to come and race, and to stir up the locals. On the fourth Sunday each month crit racing is held at the hillier and more challenging Nerang circuit at the Nerang Cycling Complex.

Results

A Grade: 60 minutes + 3 laps
1 Robbie McEwen
2 Torsten Wilhems
3 Jeff Harris
4 Stuart Monk
 
B Grade: 50 minutes + 3 laps
1 Peter Compton
2 Tony Banks
3 Cameron Banks
4 Brad Payne
 
C Grade: 40 minutes + 3 laps
1 Werner Rogosenski
2 Ian Wilson
3 Anthony Johnston
4 John Anderson
 
D Grade: 30 minutes + 3 laps
1 Stan James
2 Bruce Bridgman
3 Pat O'Brien
Women
1 Ros Powley

Report and results courtesy Geoff Frost

Cycle Instead Criterium Series - Round 3

Fremantle, WA, December 9, 2000

By Annabelle Drew, cyclingnews.com correspondent

Tonight's race was held in historical Fremantle.That is, historical from an Australian perspective! Fremantle is a port city located where the Swan River meets the ocean, about 25km downstream form Perth. At any given time there are always several large ships stationed in Fremantle's harbour, including cruise ships and huge cargo ships from the northern hemisphere. Fremantle is also the home of Alan Bonds 'Australia II' yachting victory at the coveted America's Cup early in the 80s. Nowadays locals and tourists enjoy the pleasant village atmosphere and the many cafes, restaurants and art/ craft shops. Tonight brought about 3000 of these people onto the streets to enjoy the action of the 3rd 'cycle instead' criterium. The circuit was a rectancle with the finishing/back straights less than 150m long, and the other two straights about 300m long.

This being the last race of the series, leading riders had a lot at stake and runners up had a last chance, so when the 70-odd cyclists clicked into their pedals at 5:30pm, a sense of urgency was immediately apparent. The race was hectic, with the riders in single file after less than a lap and gaps forming after two laps. This cruel pace continued without respite so that gaps in the already stretched-out line of cyclists were hard to close, and each lap saw riders lose contact and end up out the back. After 25 minutes, there were only 40 or so left in the race. With 20 minutes to go fatigue began to take its toll, with a nasty crash coming out of the back straight on a tight corner. Peter Dawson, Paul Dobson and Tyson Lawrence were the victims, but were not seriously injured enough to retire. They were back in the race within a couple of laps.

The drama unfolded with 15 minutes to go when Sean Sullivan (cycle instead) attacked strongly down the 2nd straight. Rhys Sherbourne (Bike Force Morley) and Dan Smith (City of Perth) followed, trying to shake the bunch, which was reduced to about 30. Within a lap, the three riders were together with Sullivan driving at the front. Meanwhile, Hilton McMurdo (Glen Parkers), winner of Wednesday's race in Leederville, Scott Suckling (Bike Force Morley) and Tyson Lawrence (cycle instead) had escaped the bunch and were seriously in pursuit of the leaders. Steve Williams (Caravello) sensed the potential of this move and broke away from the group.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, these seven riders had merged and although working together, they had slowed compared with preceding laps. The bunch was responding with an earnest chase and were moving visibly quicker. Ed Hollands (Glen Parker), the series leader, was obviously happy to let his team leader McMurdo attempt to take the jersey from him, although he did try to jump across to the breakaway when the opportunity presented itself. The bunch was straight onto him and not prepared to let 2 Glen Parker riders get away. Within the breakaway a split had occured with McMurdo, Lawrence and Williams working hard together out front and the others not working hard enough to continue to be off the front for much longer. Brett Aitken (cycle instead) and then Baden Cooke (Colli & Sons) were the next riders to try and make the breakaway, Cooke virtually flying to get to Aitken. For the next 3 laps McMurdo's group stayed 15 seconds ahead of Cooke and Aitken who appeared to be tiring, then a further 5 seconds back to the bunch. By the next lap, these two were caught.

With 3 minutes to go, Scott Suckling attacked from the bunch and managed to gain a credible gap, but there was little hope for him to reach the front trio. McMurdo was absolutely driving the breakaway. They were really moving.

The bell sounded for the final lap and the enthusiastic crowd were shouting frantically as the leading three came through. Lawrence attacked the breakaway coming into this lap, but the three were back together going into the backstraight. Suckling was still away from the bunch and riding a strong solo, but it would be touch and go whether he'd get mown down by the fast approaching bunch. The crowd was visibly leaning into the barriers, super-eager for the front riders to emerge into the final straight for the showdown. McMurdo entered the straight powering ahead of the other two. He won convincingly, arms in the air for the second time this week. The crowd roared its appreciation for this 38 year-old local and the brilliant display of riding by the young Lawrence and 'Ringo' Williams. Suckling managed to stay away for fourth place, with just a bike length back to Hollands leading Cooke on the line.

Perth now looks forward to the Australian National Criterium Title in the inner-city suburb of Northbridge on Sunday 10 December. Women race at 6pm, the men at 7pm.

Results

1 Hilton McMurdo (Glen Parker Cycles) 
2 Tyson Lawrence (Cycle Instead)
3 Steve Williams (Caravello Joinery Cycling Club)
4 Scott Suckling (Bikeforce Morley)
5 Eddy Hollands (Glen Parker Cycles)
6 Baden Cook (Colli & Sons)
7 Brent Dawson (Harvestroad Web Power)
8 Brett Aitken (Cycle Instead)
9 Sean Sullivan (Cycle Instead)
10 Phil Reimann (Kirke)
11 Stuart O'Grady (Skilled Engineering)
12 Daniel Mackey (Colli & Sons)
13 Wayne van Morsel (The Bicycle Entrepreneur)
14 Trent Wilson (Fogarty Weller)
15 Steve Harcourt (Ansett Australia)
16 Andrew Sime (The Bicycle Entrepreneur)
17 Rhys Sherboyne (Bikeforce Morley)
18 David McPartland (Caravello Joinery Cycling Club)
19 N/A
20 Brian Appleyard (Moncrieff)

Sprint King

1 Nic Brown (Kirke)                   18 pts
2 Hilton McMurdo (Glen Parker Cycles) 15
3 Eddie Hollands (Glen Parker Cycles) 10



Final overall standings after 3 races:

1 Hilton McMurdo (Glen Parker Cycles)         57 pts
2 Eddy Hollands (Glen Parker Cycles)          53 
3 Scott Suckling (Bikeforce Morley)           46 
4 Baden Cook (Colli & Sons)                   43 
5 David McPartland (Caravello Joinery CC)     40 
6 Steve Williams (Caravello Joinery CC)       33 
7 Daniel Mackey (Colli & Sons)                29 
8 Nic Brown (Kirke)                           29 
9 Stuart O'Grady (Skilled Engineering)        26 
10 Peter Dawson (Old Papas)                   26 
11 Wayne van Morsel (Bicycle Entrepreneur)    21 
12 Tyson Lawrence (Cycle Instead)             19 
13 Phil Reiman (Kirke)                        16 
14 Hilton Clarke (96FM)                       16 
15 Brett Aitken (Cycle Instead)               15 
16 Bryan Evans (McInerney Ford)               15 
17 Brent Dawson (Harvestroad Web Power)       14 
18 Sean Sullivan (Cycle Instead)              12 
19 Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello Joinery CC)    12 
20 Danny Rutherford (Moncrieff)               11 
21 Brian Appleyard (Moncrieff)                10 
22 Wayne Evans (96FM)                         10 
23 Andrew Sime (The Bicycle Entrepreneur)      9 
24 Mark Renshaw (Skilled Engineering)          9 
25 Steve Harcourt (Ansett Australia)           9 
26 Trent Wilson (Fogarty Weller)               7 
27 Ryan Suckling (Bikeforce Morley)            7 
28 Jamie Drew (Ansett Australia)               6 
29 Rhys Sherboyne (Bikeforce Morley)           4 
30 Matthew Poyner (Ansett Australia)           3 

Teams
1 Glen Parker Cycles 
2 Caravello Joinery Cycling Club