Results and Reports for February 21

Carnegie-Caulfield Criterium

Melbourne, Australia, February 22, 2000

Courtesy of Mark Chadwick

Conditions could only be described as harsh for the Tuesday evening crit at AFL Park in Mulgrave as the wind from the North East blew at 40kph with gusts to 55kph. The small descent was into the wind meaning there was absolutely no respite over the whole of the 2km circuit, and the run into the finish saw most spinning out their biggest gears. A disappointing combined field of 111 starters, but the racing was still top flight.

With 13 starters A grade’s race was run at high speed as the few attempted to become fewer. The tactic of attack then attack again brought the field down to 8 at the 40-minute mark as the less committed dropped by the wayside. With the strong wind quartering from behind in the finale Ashburton’s James Taylor launched his sprint early, surprising the others and holding off the last second lunge of Stephen Pate (Fitzroy Cycles) on the line, Troy Clarke (VIS) was third with Colin McEvoy fourth.

B grade witnessed the shear professionalism of 1999 World Cup winner Anna Wilson (Saturn). With a TV crew from the US in attendance she not only bridged the twenty second gap to the early breakaway duo of David Sturt and Leo DiMartino. She then proceeded to take Sturt away from the eventual break of eight to finish some twenty-five seconds ahead of the second group. Sturt was unable to answer Wilson’s surge out of the last corner and Wilson punched the air for the cameras. Third place to Matt Coulston from Chris Teakle fourth.

The largest group of the evening was C grade with 47 wind blown souls. The bunch was whittled down to 26 by the 30-minute mark due to the fierce nature of the wind and the natural aggression of the front of the bunch. At the bell the surviving 20 riders looked set for a 12 cog sprint, marred in the end by a nasty fall at over 50kph as the sprint was commencing. Three riders down with Tony McCurigil suffering a broken collar bone. The win to Peter Costello, who must be on the verge of B grade, from Geordon Murray, Richard England and Ron Gallagher.

22 riders in D grade struggled in the sever conditions, the field was quickly diminished as riders dropped of the pace leaving just 9 finishing in the front group behind David Bolton who slipped away at 2 laps to go achieving the win by some 17 seconds. Frank Ciperino led home the rest, Jamie Peters third and the game Mary Rogers taking fourth.

Carnegie Caulfield congratulates the eight members who have earned their places in the State team for the National Track Championships in Sydney to be held on the Duncan Grey velodrome 17-26 March.

Senior men; Shaun Collins, Stephen Pate and Darren Young. U19; Michael Gill. U17; Mark French and Alan Schnable. U15 Michael Ford and Shane Perkins.

Results

A GRADE 13 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps

1 James Taylor
2 Stephen Pate
3 Troy Clarke
4 Colin McEvoy

B GRADE 29 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps

1 Anna Wilson
2 David Sturt
3 Matt Coulston
4 Chris Teakle

C GRADE 47 Starters 40 minutes + 3 laps

1 Peter Costello 
2 Geordon Murray
3 Richard England
4 Ron Gallagher

D GRADE 22 Starters 35 minutes + 3 laps

1 David Bolton
2 Frank Ciperino
3 Jamie Peters
4 Mary Rogers

Sydney, Australia, February 22, 2000

Courtesy of David Langely

Once again, very blustery conditions greeted riders for the weekly 15 lap Heffron handicap. From a B-graders perspective they were conditions which would favour our chances against the C-grade mob, but which would favour the A-graders even more so. We were not disappointed.

The strong wind proved to play havoc with all three grades. In fact, approximately half the field in each grade got shelled and failed to finish, including yours truly and notables such as regular podium pom Stuart Dangerfield. The handicapper got it right in that the three fields all came together at the same time, but erred in the fact that they converged with three laps to go.

With 2 laps to go a group of 4 had nipped off the front, comprising of A graders Ben Litchfield, Stuart Campbell, a mystery number (?) and B-grade veteran Big John Sunde. With one to go, Litchfield and Campbell had ditched their companions who were absorbed by the chasers. In the cat and mouse game that ensued it was Stuey Campbell who outwitted/outmuscled Ben Litchfield to win by several lengths. S. Cho from Korea managed to get the better of Anthony Spurgeon and Liam Kelly for the minor placings, while John Sunde limped home to pick up first B-grader (again). Further back it was Ken Johnston who was the first C-grader over the line.

Results

1. Stuart Campbell (Easts.
2. Ben Litchfield (Bicisport.
3. S. Cho (Korean National.
4. Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello.
5. Liam Kelly (Easts.

1st B grader: John Sunde (St George)

1st C grader: Ken Johnston (Hunter District)

British weekend roundup

Courtesy of www.echelon-velo.co.uk

Simon Hook Memorial

London Eastway, February 20, 2000

The Simon Hook Memorial is held each year in memory of former professional and API Resprays member, Simon Hook. Proceeds from this event, now in its fifth year, go to the trust fund for his children. In ideal conditions at this custom made cycle racing circuit based in North East London, masters track champion, Russell Williams (Gore RT), showed his experience in winning the race from a breakway group that developed early on. Prolific winner on the road, Gary Baker (Anglia Sport/Condor), Jason White (Southend Wheelers) and winner of the Hillingdon winter series the day before, Peter Swettenham (Twickenham CC) filled the placings behind Williams.

Results

Elite 1/2/3, 80km

1 Russell Williams (Gore RT)
2 Gary Baker (Anglia SPort/Condor)
3 Jason White (Southend Wheelers)
4 Peter Swettenham (Twickenham CC)
5 Jon Johnston (Festival RC)
6 Mick Gray (API Resprays)
7 Mick Ford (Team 2000)
8 Malcom Whitehead (VC Deal)
9 Dean Shannon (Southend Wheelers)
10 David Law (Artic 2000)
 
3/4/Junior/Ladies

1 Peter Chapman (Team 2000)
2 Jim Antrill (API Resprays-Specialised)
3 Richard Hare (Southend & County Wheelers
4 Trevor Hammond (Eastern Region Velo)
5 Richard Farrow (VC Lincoln)
6 Andy Palmer (API Resprays -Specialised)
 
Kids Racing

Under 16

1 Thomas White
2 Michael Merralls
3 Jason Cattermore
 
Under 14

1 Alistair Stoddart
2 Karl Strugnell
3 Adam Slade
 
Under 12

1 Mark Edwards
2 Andrew Griffiths
3 Tony Lock
 
Under 10

1 Natasha Brown
2 Jack Donovon
 
Under 8

1 Ross Brown
2 Scott Palmer
3 Aarron Williams

London, England, February 19, 2000

It was a quality and large field that lined up for the last race in the Winter Series. As well as the UK number 1, Gordon McCauley (Oleum.co.uk), there was winter series leader (a former winner of the BCF yearly rankings) Peter Sweetenham, Twickenham CC' s Doug Crow and prolific winner at Hillingdon during the summer, Tony Gibb (Quest). These were just some of the Elites on the start line along with a number from the United States as well.

As always, the action was on from the flag with Dave Griffiths (Twickehnham CC) drifting off the front and was soon joined by Team Synergy's Larry Hickmott but the move was shortlived and the field caught up them by the end of the 1st lap. From then on for the next 10 minutes, it was all go. There were a number of attacks but after only a handful of laps, the winning move was made up the hill into the strong wind and like last week, it was Gordon McCauley, Peter Sweetenham and Doug Crow at the centre of the action.

In the chase group, with so many elites caught out, there were plenty of wheels to follow which meant that although the bunch was strung out from time to time, it kept coming back together. Near the end, the bunch was lapped but the break didn't get very far because with the finish looming, the main peloton was strung out in pursuit with an attack by Vince Freeman (Terry Wright Cycles) responsible for the increase in pace.

Tony Gibb however saw to it that break didn't go anywhere as he hammered along at the front and brought Vince and his fellow escapees back. It was on the last lap that the peloton re-caught the break which meant that the sprint for 1st was caught up in the sprint for 4th. No matter, because McCauley charged head long into the wind to hold off the whole bunch including his breakaway companions to win the bunch sprint and the race ahead of last weeks winner, Peter Sweetenham and Doug Crow.

In the overall standings, Peter Sweetenham retained last year's crown ahead of Doug Crow and Stuart Jackson of Heffs Cycles.

Results

1 Gordon McCauley (Oleum.co.uk) 
2 Peter Sweetenham (Twickenham CC) 
3 Doug Crow (Twickenham CC) 
4 Jamie Streather (VC St Rapheal/Waite Contracts)
5 Jason Streather (Anglia Sport/Condor)
6 Tom Smith (Twickenham CC)
7 Jez Cox (Twickenham CC) 
8 Mario Manelfi (Old Ports) 
9 Grant Philips (Team Synergy) 
10 Larry Hickmott (Team Synergy)
 
Overall Table After Race 14 (Final)

1 Peter Swettenham (Twickenham CC)  
2 Doug Crow (Twickenham CC)
3 Stuart Jackson (Heffs Cycles)
4 Dave Giffiths 
5 Mick McManus 
6 Paul Doherty
7 Jason Streather
8 Peter Noble
9 Larry Hickmott
10 Vince Freeman 
12 Mario Manelfi 
13 Jamie Streather
14 Russell Scott 
15 Alan Leach
16 Jez Cox
17 Harry Webb
18 Richard Barrowclough

Rowlands Castle - Hampshire, England, February 20, 2000

On a gloriously sunny but cold day in the forests of southern England, the Circuit of Meonstoke was this year won by noted roadman Paul Pickup from the Liphook Cycles racing team with teammate Peter Kench 2nd. A field of around 50 riders started the event and from the gun, Jason Streather (Anglia Sport/Condor) attacked and opened up a 30 second gap. Upon being caught after a few miles however, a three man counter attack went clear and was not seen again.

The chasing bunch was certainly active enough, with many attacks being launched to try and create a solid chase group, but as so often happens, the main group came back up and the chase was again disrupted. With about a lap to, Rob Hurd and Paul Rogers managed to make an attack stick and were soon joined by Dave Rand, Mark Perry and Jason Streather. According to Jason though, the last lap was really quick with Belgian based Brit, Rob Hurd showing great form and ripping the legs off him and a few others. One of the most unlucky riders was Doug Crow who puctured at the end of the first lap and continued to chase the main peloton for the whole event, finishing a minute or so down.

Results - 59 km

1. Paul Pickup  Liphook Cycles 			1.40
2. Peter Kench (Liphook Cycles)
3. Simon Saunders (SP Systems)
4. Rob Hurd (RCS Bioagrico)
5. Dave Rand (Bournemouth Arrow)
6. Paul Rogers (VC St Rapael/Waiter Contracts)
7. Jason Streather (Anglia Sport/Condor)
8. Mark Perry (Somervalley CC)
9. Ian Hallam (GS Strada) 
10. Warren Jess (Velo Club Meudon)
11. Simon Oldstone (Charlotteville CC)
12. Paul Dring (Terry Wright Cycles
13. Tom Smith (Twickenham CC)
14. Justin Hoy (Liphook Cycles)
15. Mark McCowski (Velo Club Bayer)
16. Vince Halpern (Twickenham CC)
17. Jez Cox (Twickenham CC)
18. Peter Cadross  (Velo Club Bayer)
19. Steve Dring (Terry Wright Cycles)
20. Mat Melville (Race Scene)