Australian Track Championships - NE

Sydney, Australia, March 17-28, 2000

Main page    JU19 Women 2000m IP    JU19 Men keirin   Men Olympic sprint    Women 25km points    Men 40km points   
 JU19 men 15 km scratch

Day 8 - March 26

 Men's 40km points race

Western Australian rider Scott Suckling rode strongly to take out the Men's 40km points race from Brett Aitken (SA) and Darren Rolfe (NSW) in a tense battle that saw four riders take a lap on the field. The race see-sawed throughout with a defining moment during the penultimate sprint which saw Aitken taken up the track by Brett Lancaster (Vic) as Suckling powered away to claim the second last sprint and increase his slender lead over Aitken.

The South Australian Aitken "knew it was the crucial part of the race and getting caught out there probably cost me the race". However, Aitken complimented Suckling who showed more initiative earlier on to take a lap on the field - working with NSW rider Darren Rolfe - after only the third sprint of the 160-lap event. With well over 120 laps remaining, Suckling and Rolfe had caught the field and jumped into the lead. NSW rider Graeme Brown attempted a counter-attack but was caught by the field, with Luke Roberts taking the next sprint over Rolfe.

The field remained together until the next sprint where Suckling stamped his authority on the race by defeating the erratic Brown, who was then given a second and final warning for dangerous riding. Brown was disqualified, fined $100 and suspended for one month for dangerous riding, but with more than half the race remaining this left team-mate Rolfe with far less support as Suckling's WA team-mates worked together to counter any moves and keep the field together. Their vigilence allowed Stephen Pate (Vic) to dominate the middle part of the race, although Luke Roberts (SA) also took a sprint.

Aitken seemed to come to life about mid-way through the race and looked dangerous as he and Brett Lancaster (Vic) and fellow Victorian Darren Young attacked in search of a lap, but once again the WA team-mates of Suckling moved to the head of the bunch and brought them back. Pate took the next sprint and then Aitken saw an opportunity and jumped clear. "I was a little surprised to get away so easily and just went at the right time," he told cyclingnews. "I got half a lap just like that and once I saw them on the straight I kept it going."

The WA riders were hardly unaware of Aitken's move as he re-joined the field and had come within striking distance of race leaders Suckling and Rolfe. A few laps later Aitken recovered to take a lead out from Luke Roberts and claim the next sprint - now the race was really on.

Lancaster then countered and also lapped the field, making a group of four who were one lap up, so the fiesty Victorian Stephen Pate also tried a similar move but was caught. Aitken then showed pure speed to take the two sprints at 30 and 20 laps to go and move within three points of Suckling. As the whistle blew for the penultimate lap Lancaster became confused and believed they had completed the sprint and went up the embankment, inadvertently forcing up Aitken who could only watch as Suckling powered away. The South Australian overtook three riders but could only manage second as Suckling claimed another sprint. By this time, Pate had collected the greatest number of sprint points but was still one lap down and he set off in another desperate attempt to gain a lap (and a miraculous victory). If he succeeded he would have been the clear winner, but the pace was too high as the WA riders showed great team work and lead home Suckling for the final sprint.

Results

                              Points    Laps    Time
1 Scott Suckling (WA) 28 49.33.50 2 Brett Aitkin (SA) 21 3 Darren Rolfe (NSW) 10 4 Brett Lancaster (VIC) 5 5 Stephen Pate (VIC) 32 -1 6 Tyson Lawrence (WA) 13 -1 7 Nathan Clarke (TAS) 12 -1 8 Darren Young (VIC) 10 -1 9 Denis Mungoven (ACT) 9 -1 10 Paul Forrest (ACT) 0 -1 11 Brent Dawson (NSW) 3 -3 DNF Nigel Grigg (SA) DNF Paul Dobson (WA) DNF Luke Roberts (SA) DNF Ashley Hutchinson (QLD) DNF Christopher Klem (QLD) DNF Joel Stewart (ACT) DNF Daniel Morrison (QLD) DNF Tsuyoshi Ikeda (JPN) DSQ Graeme Brown (NSW)

Women's 25km points race

Rochelle Gilmore (NSW) was on fire and took out six sprints - including the finale - but ultimately lacked team support as Victorian Karen Barrow won from Alison Wright (ACT) and Symeko Jochinke (SA) in the Women's 25km Points Race. The trio attacked with over 40 laps remaining and lapped the field, around the same time as Gilmore's two team-mates retired.

The three riders then took the race on their own with first Barrow and then Wright claiming successive sprints, before Gilmore recovered and countered with a three-lap effort in an attempt to also lap the field and put herself back into first. But teamwork of a different kind was evident as Lyndelle Higginson (VIC) worked hard on the front to keep the pace high and protect Barrow, who then took the next sprint.

Higginson clearly then withdrew from the front line of the race and had seemingly played her part, but stayed on the track and pushed the judge's leniency as she powered through nearly two laps with Barrow on her wheel, despite orders from above to withdraw. The pace at the front was being forced by the resurgent South Australians, hoping to salvage something for their leader Alayna Burns, who'd still not recovered from her fall during the scratch race. Meanwhile, a "withdrawing" Higginson towed Barrow back to the tail of the stretched-out bunch.

In the final sprint, Gilmore once again showed her speed but it was Barrow who crossed the line mid-field with her arms in the victory salute.

Results

                           Points    Laps   Time
1   Karen Barrow (VIC)         20           33.52.51
2   Alison Wright (ACT)        15
3   Symeko Jochinke (SA)       12
4   Rochelle Gilmore (NSW)     40      -1
5   Alayna Burns (SA)          11      -1
6   Chelsey Zucker (SA)         7      -1
7   Sandra Smith (WA)           6      -1
8   Louise Yaxley (TAS)         0      -1
DNF Rosealee Hubbard (SA)
DNF Kerry Cohen (WA)
DNF Chloe Jack (QLD)
DNF Lyndelle Higginson (VIC)
DNF Nichole Malloy (NSW)
DNF Toireasa Ryan (NSW)

Men's Olympic sprint

Sean Eadie from the victorious NSW Olympic Pursuit team served notice that the all-conquering French team will not have it all their own way come September with a scorching win in 45.736 seconds, just marginally slower than the track record of 45.677 set by the French trio of Gane, Le Quellec and Tournant at the Oceania Games last December.

Teamed with brothers Josh and Ben Kersten, the NSW team defeated the Victorian trio of Shane Kelly, Gary Neiwand and Gavin White, with the Queensland team taking out the bronze after South Australia were disqualified for a technical infringement, despite Jobie Dajka (SA) putting in a flying last lap to recover lost ground from a sloppy start and record the faster time.

The Kersten brothers were obviously happy with their "revenge" on the Victorians and in doing so, have provided Australian selectors with a much larger pool of talent to draw on for their Olympic selections.

Results



Race for Bronze

1     QLD  Danny Day          47.000  (57.45kmh)
           Daniel Morrison
           Ashley Hutchinson

DSQ   SA   Jobie Dajka        46.920  (57.54kmh)
           Kane Selin
           Luke Roberts

Note: SA disqualified, QLD awarded the bronze


Race for Gold

 1    NSW  Sean Eadie          45.736  (59.03kmh)
           Ben Kersten
           Joshua Kersten

 2    VIC  Shane Kelly         46.263  (58.36kmh)
           Gary Neiwand
           Gavin White

JU19 women 2000m individual pursuit

NSW rider Katherine Bates capped off a successful national championships with another gold medal for the Under 19 Women's Individual Pursuit. Racing against team-mate Fiona Dwyer, Bates recorded 2.28.572 at an average of 48.46kmh for the 2000 metres to win by well over six seconds.

Bates performance in the U19 IP follows on from the previous evening's performance in the U19 Scratch Race, where she led out to win from nearly two laps out in an impressive show of strength.

Results

Semi Final B


Heat 1


Amanda Davis (QLD)         2.39.956 (45.10kmh)
defeated

Kylie Hattenfels (NSW)     2.44.044 


Heat 2


Katrina Purcell (VIC)      2.40.342 (44.90kmh)

defeated
Vanessa Crawford (VIC)     2.40.399 

Semi Final A


Heat 1


Fiona Dwyer (NSW)          2.35.440 (46.32kmh)

defeated
Meg Sulzberger (TAS)       2.36.250 


Heat 2


Katherine Bates (NSW)      2.33.847 (46.80kmh)
defeated
Millie Brewer (ACT)        2.38.626 

Final

Katherine Bates (NSW)      2.28.572 (48.46 kmh)
defeated

Fiona Dwyer (NSW)          2.35.088 


Final Standings
1  Katherine Bates (NSW)      2.28.572 (48.46 kmh)
2  Fiona Dwyer (NSW)          2.35.088 
3  Meg Sulzberger (TAS)       2.36.250
4  Millie Brewer (ACT)        2.38.626
5  Amanda Davis (QLD)         2.39.956
6  Katrina Purcell (VIC)      2.40.342
7  Vanessa Crawford (VIC)     2.40.399
8  Kylie Hattenfels (NSW)     2.44.044





JU19 men's keirin

In the final of Under 19 Men's Keirin Ryan Bayley (WA) showed pure speed and aggression to win from Peter Fitxpatrick (NSW) and Adam Carter (Vic) despite the bulk of the event at last wheel and only making his move with two laps to go.

Stuart Appleyard (NSW) was seemingly well placed with one lap to go, until Bayley made his move. He came around and made a charge down the embankment, speeding over the top of the field and powering down the back straight, leaving the field gasping. He completed the final 200 metres in 10.969, two bike lengths clear of the field. The NSW team again showed poor discipline, with Mark Renshaw fined $50 for dangerous riding.

Results
Heat 1


1   Mark Renshaw (NSW)           11.629
2   Darren Harris (QLD)
3   Chris Furey (WA)
4   Jono Hamlin (NZL)
5   Bernard Sulzberger (TAS)
6   Jamie Harding (SA)
DNF Jason Niblett (VIC)


Heat 2


1   Stuart Appleyard (NSW)       11.291
2   Ryan Bayley (WA)
3   Troy Dajka (SA)
4   Jason Niblett (VIC)
5   Stephen Rossendell (TAS)
6   Richard Bowkern (NZL)
7   Kirk Eddy (VIC)


Heat 3


1   Peter Fitzpatrick (NSW)      11.632
2   Brodie Cullen (WA)
3   Adam Carter (VIC)
4   Todd Parnell (TAS)
5   Evan Walters (QLD)
6   Kial Stewart (ACT)
7   William Hodgetts (SA)


Repechage


Heat 1


1   Darren Harris (QLD)          11.353
2   Kial Stewart (ACT)
3   Kirk Eddy (VIC)
4   Evan Walters (QLD)
5   Richard Bowker (NZL)


Heat 2


1   Ryan Bayley (WA)             11.234
2   Stephen Rossendell (TAS)
3   William Hodgetts (SA)
4   Jamie Harding (SA)
5   Todd Purnell (TAS)
DNF Chris Furey (WA)


Heat 3


1   Adam Carter (VIC)            11.664
2   Jason Niblett (VIC)
3   Jono Hamlin (NZL)
4   Brodie Cullen (WA)
5   Bernard Sulzberger (TAS)
6   Troy Dajka (SA)


Final

1   Ryan Bayley (WA)             10.969
2   Peter Fitzpatrick (NSW)
3   Adam Carter (VIC)
4   Mark Renshaw (NSW)
5   Darren Harris (QLD)
6   Stuart Appleyard (NSW) 

JU19 men's 15km scratch race

NSW rider Mark Renshaw made amends for his fourth in the Under 19 Keirin with a win in the Scratch Race, with Western Australian rider Brodie Cullen and Kirk Eddy from Victoria taking out the silver and bronze.

Results

1   Mark Renshaw (NSW)            17.38.57 
2   Brodie Cullen (WA)
3   Kirk Eddy (VIC)
4   Keiren Cameron (NSW)
5   Paul Richards (VIC)
6   Troy Dajka (VIC)
7   Stephen Rossendell (TAS)
8   Bernard Sulzberger (TAS)
9   Chris Boerson (NZL)
10  Glen Matulich (SA)
11  Rory Sutherland (ACT)
12  Peter Dawon (WA)
13  Peter Fitzpatrick (NSW)
DNF Evan Walters (QLD)
DNF Darren Harris (QLD)
DNF Kial Stewart (ACT)
DNF Richard Bowker (NZL)
DNF Todd Parnell (TAS)
DNF Ryan Bayley (WA)
DNF Jamie Harding (SA)
DNF Marc Ryan (NZL)
DNF Bradley Edmunds (VIC)
DNS Aaron Kemps (QLD)