Results and Reports for March 15

UK Premier Calendar round 1: Oleum Grand Prix

Goodwood, UK, March 12, 2000

Chris Newton (Middridge CRT) was the winner of the first Premier Calendar race of the new millenium as he outsprinted breakaway companions John Tanner (ProVision-Powerbar) and Ben Brooks (Linda McCartney). These three had left four other companions to fight out the victory after a race which saw the field whittled down on the 1982 World Championship circuit at Goodwood.

Results

1. Chris Newton (GBr) Middridge CRT
2. John Tanner (GBr) ProVision-Powerbar
3. Ben Brooks (Aus) Linda McCartney

Courtesy of BritProNews

Mersey Roads Spring Two Day Tour

England, March 11-12, 2000

Results

Stage 1 - 1.6 km TT

1 Chris Walker (Mortimer Charles) 			2.38
2 Chris Anelay (Atom Elite RT) 				0.06
3 Mike Jones (Robert Grinsell Trav) 			0.07
4 Neil Martin (On The Edge RT)
5 Robin Sharman (Alsys Bradgate Cycle) 			0.09
6 Mark Lovatt (ProVision) 				0.10
7 Stephen Stoneman (realcostcarimports.n) 		0.11
8 Chris Herbert (Zeus CRT)
9 Elliot Baxter (Isle of Man CA)
10 John Stollery (Robert Grinsell Trav)

Stage 2 - 56 km

1 John Stollery (Robert Grinsell Trav)		     1.42.24
2 Mike Jones (Robert Grinsell Trav)			0.01
3 Stephen Stoneman (realcostcarimports.n) 
4 Steve Ramsey (BCF Private Member)
5 Andrew Winsor (Deeside Olympic) 
6 Hamish Haynes (Atom Elite RT)
7 Chris Herbert (Zeus CRT)
8 Elliot Baxter (Isle of Man CA)
9 Mark Lovatt (ProVision) 
10 Dave Coulson (J E James)

Stage 3 - 134 km

1 Mike Jones (Robert Grinsell Trav)		     3.13.00
2 Chris Anelay (Atom Elite RT)				0.05
3 Ian Cuthbertson (Merlin/Rock Lobster) 
4 Mark Lovatt (ProVision)				0.10
5 Stephen Stoneman (realcostcarimports.n) 		0.14
6 John Stollery (Robert Grinsell Trav)			0.21
7 Jonathan Muir (York Cycle Works)			0.34
8 Andrew Yates (Atom Elite RT)				1.38
9 David McGowan (ProVision)				1.46
10 Hamish Haynes (Atom Elite RT)			1.53

Final general classification:

1 Mike Jones (Robert Grinsell Trav) 		     4.58.10
2 Chris Anelay (Atom Elite RT) 				0.04
3 Ian Cuthbertson (Merlin/Rock Lobster) 		0.12
4 Mark Lovatt (ProVision) 				0.13
5 Stephen Stoneman (realcostcarimports.n) 		0.18
6 John Stollery (Robert Grinsell Trav) 			0.24
7 Jonathan Muir (York Cycle Works) 			0.49
8 David McGowan (ProVision) 				1.54
9 Robin Sharman (Alsys Bradgate Cycle) 			1.58
10 Hamish Haynes (Atom Elite RT) 			1.59

Courtesy of Tony Asplin

Carnegie-Caulfield Criterium

Mulgrave, Australia, March 14, 2000

The hot spell ended Monday, the 112 starters raced in chilly conditions and faced a strong south-westerly breeze. The second-last Tuesday night crit for the season was relatively poorly supported, especially in A grade, but those that raced really raced.

With only 16 starters, A grade’s race was like being in the break all night long. As there were too many to cut it up the pattern was off vigorous attacking and savage counter-attacking. Most active in the attempts at splitting the small field was Ashley Goewie, his repeated efforts driving off the front coming twelve months after a series of crashes that saw him doubting if he would ever race at this level again.

Sitting amongst the wheels however, was one of the Mildara Blass Bay Series team strongmen, Kristjan Snorrason. "Snozza" has not raced recently, choosing instead to support the lovely Katie Mactier in her debut for Jayco-VIS in her Snowy-World Cup campaign (25th GC & 10th). He expressed no confidence before the start but wisely conserved his energy until the last minute when he blasted past Goewie in the final twenty metres. Trackie Warren Knevitt was third ahead of another Mildara Blass team veteran Justin Hogan.

B grade, with 33 riders, was dominated by a break of five that escaped at around half distance. The five became four, then three and finally only youngsters Ryan Kelly (18) and Lincoln Brown (17) remained. Holding a slender 20-second advantage for most of the time the lads persevered despite the difficult conditions greeting the bell with only 13- seconds advantage over the hard charging bunch. Kelly first, Brown hard on his heels, the bunch kick won by David "Mr. Wilson" Milward over eighteen year-old Ben Dobson. At 36 Milward said he felt like a Grand-Dad, he should try riding with the over 70’s competing in D grade!

No successful escapes in C grade, with 36 starters there were plenty of surges but the bunch remained intact until three laps to go. Young Blackburn rider Mitchell Vervaart drove off the front and soloed across the line, arms in the air to register his first win in C grade. The field sprint was taken by Mr consistency Richard England from Russell Wolfe and Eddie Perez, funny how some of these names keep popping up!

27 riders in D grade rode hard throughout with a field sprint ensuing. Much jockeying for a spot in the "pension queue" as the experienced riders got the train going and the youngsters applied their strength. Veteran Peter Burchell victorious over youngsters Lincoln Bellcourt and Jamie Peters with the wily vet Ray Smith fourth.

Results

A GRADE 16 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps

1 Kristjan Snorrason
2 Ashley Goewie
3 Warren Knevitt
4 Justin Hogan

B GRADE 33 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps

1 Ryan Kelly
2 Lincoln Brown
3 David Milward
4 Ben Dobson

C GRADE 36 Starters 40 minutes + 3 laps

1 Mitchell Vervaart
2 Richard England
3 Russell Wolfe
4 Eddie Perez

D GRADE 27 Starters 35 minutes + 3 laps

1 Peter Burchell
2 Lincoln Bellcourt
3 Jamie Peters
4 Ray Smith

Courtesy of Mark Chadwick

Heffron Park Criterium

Sydney, Australia, March 14, 2000

A roaring southerly, dark skies and predictions of a thunderstorm greeted riders for the weekly Tuesday night handicap. Ploughing directly into the gale, the finishing straight was going to be tough. Sure enough, heavy horizontally blown stinging rain drops fell soon after the race kicked off, leaving many worried about the delicate balance of tire pressure, brakes, and traction on the tight Heffron circuit which contains 4 right angled corners to negotiate.

Fortunately however, after wetting the track the rain disappeared after a couple of laps, and 2-3 laps later the track had been blown dry. Shortly after the B-grade prime at 5 laps to go (cleaned up by the evergreen Tony Iannacito, who has a mortgage on the sprint points), B grade field latched onto C grade. We were caught by the A-grade field with two laps remaining. The big boys moved to the front and redied themselves for the finish.

With the Summer Series all but sown up, and perhaps a little bribery on the side, Stuart (Computer) Campbell seemed happy to lead out the sprint into the nasty headwind. Of those who managed to come around him, Anthony Spurgeon took out the win in a tight finish, bettering Ben Litchfield by half a wheel, with Liam Kelly a close third. Campbell managed to hold off Laurie Vignes by a tire for 4th. Peter Carscadden was first B-grader, maintaining his grip on the B-grade points series, while Graham Betts was first C-grader over the line.

Results

1. Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello)
2. Ben Litchfield (Bicisport)
3. Liam Kelly (Easts)
4. Stuart Campbell (Easts)
5. Laurent Vignes (Northern Suburbs)

B Grade: Peter Carscaddin (Sutherland)

C Grade: Graham Betts (Port Adelaide)

Summer Series Progressive Points (top 5)

Overall

1. S. Campbell 			48 pts
2. P. Carscaddin 		32
3. B. Litchfield 		29
4. L. Kelly 			25
5. S. Dangerfield 		24

Sprint King

1. A. Iannacito 		43 pts
2. G. Butler 			23
3.= P.Carscaddin 		14
3.= S. Campbell 		14
5. L. Kelly 			11

B grade

1. P. Carscaddin 		35 pts
2. C. Topfer 			15
3. P. Kays 			10
4. J. Sunde 			7
5.= D. Hepnorth 		5
5.= P. Hanley 			5

C grade

1. V. Pires 			20 pts
2. R. Mendes 			8
3.= A. Carauanna 		7
3.= C. Howe 			7
5.= E. Bosch 			5
5.= D. Mackey 			5

Courtesy of David Langley