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By Rod Morris
That's just part of Brendan Geale's cycling CV at the moment, as his love affair with the George Town Carnival continued yesterday (Saturday, December 4).
Geale (24) - an apprentice panel beater with a Launceston based bodyworks shop, won his third George Town Wheelrace in the space of four years, but in a manner suggesting there are bigger fish to fry just around the corner.
After previous wins in the Scott Dustan Memorial George Town Wheel in 1998 and 2000, Geale was always going to be a threat, particularly as he was racing on his home track.
"I certainly know my way around this track," was Geale's classic understatement. Riding off a liberal 110 m mark, Geale did just enough in his heat, qualifying fourth behind Abram Manion, David Klyne and Karl Menzies, but come final time, he upped the tempo.
Geale had some talent around him, namely Manion (110) and Menzies (100), while scratchman Gareth Atkins and Daniel Cutting (20m) had their work cut out, chasing that trio.
Further out the front, veteran Darrell Eaves (200), Tasmania's best female rider Belinda Goss (210) and in-form Hobart cyclist Jason Johnson (200) were making life difficult for everyone behind them.
But in the sprint to the line, Geale found the right opening and edged past Manion and Johnson.
Johnson, fresh from the Devonport Oval and Lightning Handicap double the previous week, snatched the George Town 1000 m, while Gareth Atkins won the A Grade Scratch and then was upstaged by veteran sprinter John Abblitt in the Keirin final.
In junior racing, new rider Clay Murfett snuck under the handicapper's guard to capture an Under 13 treble while Devonport Junior 2 rider Cameron Flint won a double.
Scott Dustan Memorial George Town Wheelrace 1 Brendan Geale (110) 2.23.91 2 Abram Manion (100) 3 Jason Johnson (200) 4 Ron Crawford (170) Other finalists: John Kingston (160), Simon Elliott (170), Ryan Sullivan (180), Darrell Eaves (200), Belinda Goss (210), Karl Menzies (100), David Klyne (150), Jason Jones (180), Ryan Johnson (180), Daniel Cutting (20), Gareth Atkins (scr) 1000m Lightning Handicap 1 Jason Johnson (100) 1.07.87 2 John Kingston (80) 3 Brendan Geale (60) Other finalists: Gareth Atkins (scr), John Abblitt (25), Mark Jamieson(45), Abram Manion (50), Nathan Hodskiss (60), Simon Elliott (85), Ryan Johnson (90), Michael Johnson (95), Darrell Eaves (100), Aaron Bigham (110), Michael Wood (110), Wayne Freeman (115). A Grade Scratch (30 laps) 1 Gareth Atkins 15.13.66 2 John Abblitt 3 Abram Manion B Grade Scratch (16 laps) 1 Ron Crawford 7.56.68 2 Jarrod Burr 3 Ryan Sullivan C Grade Scratch (12 laps) 1 Michael Johnson 6.33.94 2 Darrell Eaves 3 Dwayne Smith Keirin 1 John Abblitt 13.22 (last 200 m) 2 Gareth Atkins 3 Daniel Cutting Women's Invitation Handicap 1 Belinda Goss 1.21.85 2 Emily Williams 3 Kirby Piscioneri
J1 George Town Wheelrace 1 Cameron Flint (150) 2.33.15 2 Ron Tregurtha (140) 3 Matthew Goss (scr) J1 1000m Lightning Handicap 1 Cameron Flint (75) 1.15.87 2 Matthew Goss (scr) 3 Ty Winduss (scr) J1 A Grade Scratch 1 Matthew Goss 4.26.78 2 Wes Sulzberger 3 Ty Winduss J1 B Grade Scratch 1 Kirby Piscioneri 4.29.62 2 Cameron Flint 3 Josh Murfett J2 George Town Wheelrace 1 Nathan Jones (50) 2.50.31 2 Will Robinson (50) 3 John Rayner (scr) J2 1000m Lightning Handicap 1 Angela Klyne (90) 1.20.54 2 John Rayner (scr) 3 Will Robinson (25) J2 A Grade Scratch 1 John Rayner 3.39.09 2 Will Robinson 3 Nathan Jones J2 B Grade Scratch 1 Grace Sulzberger 4.18.89 2 Angela Klyne 3 Ebony Manion J3 George Town Wheelrace 1 Clay Murfett (120) 1.24.96 2 Edward Robinson (20) 3 Alex Holden (scr) J3 1000m Lightning Handicap 1 Clay Murfett (120) 1.26.49 2 Edward Robinson (20) 3 Stephen Heppel (120) J3 A Grade Scratch 1 Alex Holden 2.25.73 2 Thomas Robinson 3 Sarah Eaves J3 B Grade Scratch 1 Clay Murfett 2.35.91 2 Edward Robinson 3 Matthew Laskey