2000 Results Past winners Main & Series Wrap
By Rod Morris
He's only 18, but his knowledge of the Latrobe Wheel extends to the basis that it is one of the most prestigious handicap wheelraces, not just in Australia, but indeed the world.
That is Queenslander Aaron Kemps' description of the time honoured Latrobe Wheel - which for yesterday (Dec. 27) was run for the 105th time. Kemps is now no stranger to Tasmanian cycling, as he has competed in the Tassie Carnival Series for the last four years and before his Latrobe Wheel win, his best effort was a fourth behind Matthew Gilmore in the 1999 final.
"This race means so much to me, its not just about the prizemoney, it really is the prestige of the race, its tradition, its history and its purpose," Kemps said. "The Latrobe Wheel is known the world over and although I am only 18, I have been in other countries and a lot of riders ask about its history."
Kemps was among a small but elite handful of "expert" selections for the Latrobe Wheel and produced the goods from his 120 m handicap. "I was a little surprised with my starting mark, but no doubt I will pay the penalty for it," Kemps added.
In a bold sprint to the finish line, Kemps beat home another pre-race fancy, Warren Doyle, who rode from 135 m. Kemps and Doyle were part of a well-oiled group of eight middle markers who were always going to make it hard for the six scratchmen who made the final - the best of whom proved to be hometown heroes, Darren Young (4th) and Nathan Clarke (5th).
Exeter youngster Caleb Manion took third and he was also part of that group of middle markers. Interestingly enough, Tasmanian Cycing Federation commissaires, fined Mark Jamieson, Mike Tillman, Sean Sullivan and New Zealander Hamish Wright $50 each for various infringements in the final.
The 8000 m A Grade Scratch was boosted to a $4200 event - arguably the richest of its kind in Australasia. Former Olympian Shane Kelly took the first prize of $3000, but some riders were offered the opportunity to take a $100 lap prize...it may prove to be their biggest pay cheque for the week.
Kelly also took first round points in the Basslink Invitation Keirin Series, while Keiichi Maruyama became the first ever visiting Japanese rider to win a major/minor wheelrace when he scored success in the Patron's 1000 m Lightning Handicap.
Holymans $12,000 Latrobe Wheelrace 1 Aaron Kemps (120) 3.15.45 2 Warren Doyle (135) 3 Caleb Manion (120) 4 Darren Young (scr) Other finalists Nathan Clarke (scr) Gareth Atkins (scr) Adriano Baffi (scr) Jame Carney (scr) Jeff Hopkins (scr) Ashley Hutchinson (30) Robert Wilson (60) Marcus Kammerman (75) Tim Decker (90) Mike Tillman (90) Abram Manion (120) Hamish Wright (120) Sean Sullivan (135) Mark Jamieson (150) Sion Jones (150) Ben Elliott (225) Jarrod Burr (240) Simon Elliott (255) Ron Crawford (270) Jason Johnson (290) Basslink Invitational International Keirin Series 1 Shane Kelly 11.80 (last 200 m) 2 Ryan Bayley 3 Jeff Hopkins 4 Mark French Other finalists Danny Day Kouji Yoshii Ashley Hutchinson Brett Dawson Patrons 1000 m Lightning Handicap 1 Keiichi Maruyama (60) 1.04.08 2 Brendan Geale (60) 3 Andrew Taylor (75) Other finalists Shane Kelly (scr) Aaron Kemps (40) Warren Doyle (45) Mark Jamieson (50) Paul Atkinson (55) Todd Parnell (55) Joby Ingram-Dodd (65) Makoto Tanabe (65) Daniel Newnham (65) Yasuharu Kawai (70) Nathan Seage (70) Luke French (75) Andrew Rix (85) Andrew Loft (85) Jason Johnson (95) A Grade Elimination 1 Shane Kelly 2 Jame Carney 3 Todd Wilksch Womens Wheelrace 1 Louise Yaxley (30) 2.36.80 2 Emily Williams (25) 3 Belinda Goss (scr) A Grade Scratch 1 Shane Kelly 9.53.58 2 Jeff Hopkins 3 Todd Wilkch B Grade Scratch 1 Warren Doyle 5.55.02 2 Caleb Manion 3 Bernard Sulzberger C Grade Scratch 1 Andrew Taylor 5.57.06 2 Makoto Tanabe 3 Joby Ingram-Dodd Juniors Junior 1 2000 m Wheelrace 1 Daniel Cameron (80) 2.34.71 2 Matthew Goss (scr) 3 Ty Winduss (40) Junior 2 2000 m Wheelrace 1 Sean Oliver (200) 2.42.95 2 Aaron Jones (260) 3 Nathan Jones (70) Junior 3 1000 m Wheelrace 1 Carrie Price (80) 1.24.36 2 Edward Robinson (100) 3 Clay Murfett (100) Junior 1 Scratch 1 Matthew Goss 7.37.15 2 Ty Winduss 3 Jason Bellchambers Junior 2 Scratch 1 Ben Fielding 4.16.54 2 John Rayner 3 Matthew Bonham Junior 3 Scratch 1 Alex Holden 2.09.58 2 Hugh Williams 3 Sarah Eaves
2000 Grant Young