Results and Reports for February 10Leongatha/Warragul Track CarnivalsVictoria, Australia, Februray 5-6, 2000 Courtesy of Mal Sawford *For more reporting of Leongatha, please see Gerard Murphy's report, posted two days ago. Leongatha and Warragul hosted one of the biggest 2 day Track Cycling Carnivals in the country over the 5th and 6th of February. Big crowds and blue skies greeted some of Australia’s best known cyclists, including Gary Neiwand, Stephen Pate, Ben Kersten and Lyndell Higginson. Carnegie-Caulfield’s finest were there to compete for over $20,000 in prize money, as well as Victorian Titles in the Madison, Tandem Sprint, Under 19 Scratch and Under 17 Motor Paced races. Club riders to excel included former World Champion Stephen Pate who teamed with new member Tasmanian Darren Young to win the spectacular State 50km Madison Title at Warragul, ahead of brothers Troy and Hilton Clarke. Micheal Gill decimated the field to win the State 15km Under 19 Scratch race title also held on the Warragul track. Under 17 rider Mark French fled the chasing pack to easily win the State Motor Paced Title held at Leongatha, with the other Clarke brother Johnny battling on to finish 3rd. The feature 2000m Wheelraces were dominated by the back markers, with Leongatha taken by Junior World Record Holder Ben Kersten, riding from the scratch mark, and Warragul by Swiss Champion Franco Marvulli off 45m. Carnegie Caulfield’s Nick Groves and Warren Knevitt both rode well to make the Leongatha final, but were swamped by the fast finishing back markers. Carnegie Caulfield’s under 15 rider Michael Ford was the outstanding Junior at the Carnivals, continuing to dominate his age group. Other juniors to finish on the Podium were Simon Clarke, Shane Perkins, Dean Dignan, Lauren Troup and Melanie Craig. In the Open Category, Carnegie Caulfield wins went to Mal Sawford and Tommy Nankervis, with Russell Wolfe, Nick Groves and Geordan Murray also in the prize money. A strong Carnegie Caulfield Veteran contingent also enjoyed success, with Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingworth, Chris Salisbury, Ken Ford and Mark Matthiesson amongst the place getters. With the approaching nationals in Sydney, Carnegie Caulfield's vet’s are going to be a force to be reckoned with. A highlight of the weekend was the competition between 7 Tandem pairs, few spectators were old enough to recall seeing such a large field assembled, including 3 Paralympic Champion teams from Western Australia and South Australia. The sight of 4 tandems rounding the final banking neck and neck at full speed is a sight to behold. The 3 Carnegie-Caulfield pairs competing were outclassed over the weekend by the interstate riders, but are determined to be on the pace next year. This Saturday night sees the final running of the Austral Wheelrace outdoors at the Northcote Velodrome, as the long awaited Indoor Velodrome finally nears completion. Stephen Pate has threatened to retire at the end of the season, can a record breaking 5th victory force a change of heart?
Twickenham Winter Series, Race 12London, Great Britain, February 5, 2000 Courtesy of Larry Hickmott & David Hughes Doug Crow's one man show The conditions may have been near perfect but that didn't stop Doug Crow (Twickenham CC) from repeating his one man show, as he yet again managed to get away from a fast moving bunch to solo his way to his 3rd win in a row. A large field, what looked like the biggest yet, lined up for the 52km race. Despite a rather cool warmup, Doug Crow went on the attack straight away, attacking on the first lap with Larry Hickmott (Echelon-Velo.co.uk) in tow but the peloton with fresh legs soon managed to make there way up to the leaders where upon the attacking started in earnest although nothing stuck until Doug Crow attacked again, this time on his own and with a lot of tired legs behind. That was pretty much the story of the race because although many riders attacked, none had the strength to keep the speed up to hold the bunch at bay. That was until around 8 laps to go, a rider attacked down the back straight into the wind taking with him Peter Swettenham and Mick McManus who was doing another storming ride. Seeing they had a decent gap, Peter Swettenham drove hard up the hill past the finish to drop the rider who started the attack and with Mick McManus driving as well, the duo stayed away from the fast moving bunch where things were getting decidedly messy on the last few laps as riders jostled for the wheels. In the sprint, Jamie Streather, (St Rapheal) who has showed glimpses of superb form in recent races at last got a result taking 4th ahead of the ever present Dave Griffiths (Twickenham CC), Tom Smith, Stuart Jackson and what was left of the peloton. Results 1. Doug Crow (Twickenham CC) 2. Peter Swettenham(Twickenham CC) 3. Mick McManus (Twickenham CC) 4. Jamie Streather (VC St Rapheal) 5. Dave Griffths (Twickenham CC) 6. Tom Smith (Twickenham CC) 7. Stuart Jackson (Heffs Cycles) 8. Vince Freeman (Terry Wright Cycles) 9. Jez Cox (Twickenham CC) 10. Larry Hickmott (Echelon-Velo.co.uk) 11. Russell Scott (VC Meudon) 12. Mario Manelfi (Old Ports) 13. Peter Noble (TEam Sport & Publicity) 14. Ben Baldelli 15. Pablo Espinosa (Seattle) 16. Dave Cowie (Twickenham CC) 17. Alan Leach (Team Sport & Publicity) 18. Harry Webb (Twickenham CC) Overall Series Table After Race 12: 1. Peter Swettenham (Twickenham CC) 354 pts 2. Doug Crow (Twickenham CC) 324 3. Stuart Jackson (Heffs Cycles) 310 4. Dave Griffiths (Twickenham CC) 287 5. Mick McManus (Twickenham CC) 277 6. Paul Doherty (Heffs Cycles) 259 7. Jason Streather (Anglia Sport/Condor 239 8. Vince Freeman (Terry Wright Cycles) 222 9. Larry Hickmott (echelon-velo.co.uk) 221 10 Peter Noble (Team Sport and Publicity) 219 Kids Racing Under 8's 1. Marc Baxter 2. Edmund 3. Patrick Harper Under 10's 1. Lewis Atkins Under 14's 1. Daniel Manelfi, Old Ports CC Under 16's 1. Alistair Stoddart 2. Chris Doel 3. Scott Merrillees |