Results and Reports for July 21-25, 2001

Australia

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CycleWest Promotions Point Score Series, #3
Cycling Tasmania Tour of Kentish
Gold Coast CATS CC Inter Club Handicap Criterium
Parramatta CC open
Parramatta CC Interclub Racing
Caesar's Illawarra CC
Randwick Botany CC
St George Cycling
Balance Clothing Carnegie Caulfield Road Race

CycleWest Promotions Point Score Series, #3

Midvale SpeedDome, July 25, 2001

Results

1 Ryan Bayley                          316
2 Brett Russell                        285
3 Michael Whyte                        260
4 Keith Evans (u/17)                   235 
 
One lap behind:
 
5 Daniel Vogels (u/19)                 179
6 P Watenhoffer (u/17)                 158
7 Anthon Dodd                          143
8 Fiona Scarffe                        130
9 Leanne Manderson                     110
10  Craig Cocking                      100
 
General classification after round three
 
1 Brett Russell                        645
2 Michael Whyte                        608 
3 Tyson Lawrence                       590 
4 Kieth Evans                          500
5 Daniel Vogels                        485
6 Daniel Hall                          472
7 Ric Steele                           413
8 Fiona Scarffe                        330
9 Ryan Bayley                          316
10 Peter Dawson                        258
11 Leanne Manderson                    160
12 Eddy Hollands                       159
13 Peter Watenhoffer                   157
14 Craig Cocking                       150
15 Anthony Dodd                        143
16 Steven Evans                        120
17 Matt Tognini                        110
18 Michelle Yeoman                     100
19 Fran Watson                         100
20 Paul OÍNeil                          75
21 Matt Grey                            32
22 Tony Davis                           30
23 Brian Coolican                       25
24 Paul Moke                            25

Cycling Tasmania Tour of Kentish

Sheffield district, July 21, 2001

By Rod Morris

Fresh from being named in the Australian team to contest this year's World Junior Road Championships, cyclist Bernard Sulzberger turned in yet another winning display.

The Launceston based Sulzberger held off all challengers to win the prestigious Tour of Kentish, held in the Sheffield district on Saturday. Starting as the pre-race favourite in Category 1, Sulzberger was credited with a time of 2 hrs 56.07 mins for the 100 km journey.

Second in Cat. 1 was in-form Launceston rider Caleb Manion, while Trevor Innes had to be content with third.

Other category winners from the weekend included Ryan Sullivan, Simon Vanderra, Gary Silk, Emily Williams (also named in the World Junior team) and Mark Cook.

Junior racing was held prior to the senior tour on Saturday, with Matthew Goss, Jarrod Harman and Zac Heald all producing winning rides. But the hard luck story came from Junior Two rider Natasha Mapley, who was involved in a 20 km breakway with Jarrod Harman, only to puncture 2 km from the finish line.

Mapley rode the final 2 km on the flat tyre, but naturally enough could not produce a sprint finish to match Harman.

Results

Category 1 
 
1 Bernard Sulzberger                           2.56.07
2 Caleb Manion
3 Trevor Innes
 
Category 2 
 
1 Ryan Sullivan
2 Jai Crawford
3 Dale Woolston
 
Category 3 
 
1 Simon Vanderra
2 Jarrod Burr
3 Michael Johnson
 
Category 4 
 
1 Gary Silk
2 Simon Elliott
3 Peter Oliver
 
Category 5 
 
1 Emily Williams
2 Greg Stubbs
3 Ryan Johnson
 
Category 6 
 
1 Mark Cook
2 Dean Howard
3 Peter Fraser
 
Junior One 
 
1 Matthew Goss                                 1.33.53
2 Andrew Cox
3 Jason Bellchambers
 
Fastest time:  Matthew Goss                    1.33.53
 
Junior Two
 
1 Jarrod Harman                                  55.49 
2 Natasha Mapley
3 John Rayner
 
Fastest time: John Rayner                        48.42
 
Junior Three
 
1 Zac Heald                                      18.39
2 Edward Robinson
3 Joel Morrison

Fastest time: Alex Holden                        14.28

Gold Coast CATS CC Inter Club Handicap Criterium

Burleigh, Qld July 22, 2001

By Geoff Frost

It was back to Burleigh this week for another handicap criterium, but made slightly easier for riders and officials with only five bunches this time, compared to nine bunches when this format was first tried. The aim of the game - catch the grade below, then lap them to be on the same lap and in contention.

B Grade were the stars last time, but with a lift in handicaps both C and D Grade were a chance this week. E Grade were strengthened by the inclusion of Alan Hunt, but the real surprise was the defiance shown by the D2 group of Carrie Smith, Karen Robinson and Lee Butcher, who held D1 at bay for 20k.

Len Crumpler and Keith McCormack were prominent in C1, quickly rounding up C2 and setting out after D Grade, which they caught with 12k left to ride.

Meanwhile A Grade had no trouble catching B Grade for the first time, but they then had to lap them again to be on the same lap. They were working smoothly together and got to within half a lap, but that was as close as they could get. While this battle was going on C and D Grades were out in front and heading for home.

So after 40k it came down to a combined C and D Grade sprint between 25 riders, with Laurie Mildenhall using all of his experience to slip away on the last corner to win from Under 17 Corey Turnbull with Tristan Reddan taking third in his first ever race.

Steve Rooney has not had much racing in the last 6 months, but he has lost none of his sprinting speed, flying home in the left hand gutter to take fastest time from Dave Costanzo.

The challenge of racing a handicap criterium is one which has been embraced by the riders, while for the lap counting officials the challenge is to keep chaos at bay for 40 kilometres. They did it successfully once again. Thanks to the Super CATS for their financial support.

Information on CATS racing is available on the CATS web site at www.geocities.com/goldcoastcats/

Results. 40km

1 Laurie Mildenhall (C1)
2 Corey Turnbull (C1)
3 Tristan Reddan (C1)
4 Keith McCormack (C1)
5 Viv Young (C1)
 
1st Lady: Leonie Bradfield (C2)
 
Fastest Time: Steve Rooney (A1)
Second Fastest Time: Dave Costanzo (A1)

Parramatta CC open RR

East Kurrajong, 22nd July 2001

By Michael Meryment

East Kurrajong, in the foothills of Sydney's Blue Mountains, turned on yet another perfect day for racing with no wind or rain and mild temperatures. Over 200 starters enter in 6 races including the Under 19 Mens and Under 19 Womens State Championships. The 33km circuit includes a 6km climb and several sections of very dead road which tends to sort out who is the stronger rider.

U/19 Mens State Championships - 99km

Chris Sutton proved himself to be the best U/19 rider in NSW by taking out a 2 up sprint against Richard Moffat from Wagga. Sutton had been in the action all day and was clearly the strongest man on the day winning in a 2 man sprint.

1 Chris Sutton (St George)
2 Richard Moffat (Wagga
3 Luke Dale (Eurobodalla
4 Brendan Cato (Illawarra
5 Peter Hatton (Southern Offroad)
6 Shaun Hingerson (Randwick Bontany)
7 David Young (Bankstown)
8 Aiden Lefmann (Manly Warringah)
9 Andrew Kidd (Hunter Districts)
10 Dane Earsman (Nowra)

U/19 Women's State Championships - 66km

On the first climb Zoe Southwell (Parramatta) and Katie Brown (St George) had broken free of the bunch and had a lead of more than 3 minutes by the start of the 2nd lap. Zoe increased the pressure on the 2nd climb and pulled away. A poorly changing derailleur saw Katie get service from the following Commissaire but the new wheel wasn't enough for her to close the gap. After finishing 4th in the senior women's time trial last week Zoe had the form to ride away for a solo victory by more than a 1:30. In her first season of racing (and about her 6th race) Leonie Burford took out the sprint in the chasing group to take the bronze medal.

1 Zoe Southwell (Parramatta )                 1:58.23
2 Katie Brown (St George)
3 Leonie Burford (Parramatta)
4 Sarah McLachlan (Southern Cross)
5 Leanne Nicholls
6 Laura-Jane Meadley (Canberra)

Divsion 1 - 132 km

By the start of the 3rd lap a select group of 9 had established themselves a 1:30 lead over the remainder of the race. The group included 3 Penrith Panthers and 3 Caravello riders so team tactics were always going to play a big part in the result. At the top of the 6km climb on the 4th lap the group had reduced to the 5 who took the top places. In the final sprint Steve Wooldridge took off with a long way to go and had a clear lead at the 200m. A fast finishing Nathan Russell didn't quite get there with the throw as the big pursuiter from St George hung on for the win.

1 Steve Wooldridge (St George)                3:18.35
2 Nathan Russell (Caravello)
3 Cody Stevenson (Penrith Panthers)
4 Bart Hickson (Caravello)
5 Andrew Payne (Penrith Panthers)
6 Kevin Poulton (Sydney)
7 Liam Kelly (Eastern Suburbs)
8 Warren Doyle (Northern Sydney)
9 Klayten Smith (Caravello)
10 Ian Garrity (Bicisport)
 
KOM Sprint prizes
 
Lap 3: Nathan Russell
Lap 4: Bart Hickson

Division 2 - 99 km

The B grade race was sorted on the first climb with a 3 man breakaway consisting of Nicholas Wood (St George), Nigel Dunstone (Wagga) and Andrew Payne (Parramatta) going clear. They held the advantage until Andrew Love popped on the final climb eventually going back through the field. Wood took of to take a well deserved solo win from Dunstone.

1 Nicholas Wood (St George)
2 Nigel Dunstone (Wagga)
3 Robert Upton (Harlequin)
4 Daniel Doyle (Hunter Districts)
5 Brent Skippen (Parramatta)
 
1st unplaced Parramatta Rider  Kevin Berkley  (6th)

Division 3 - 99km

Making life very interesting for the judges this one ended in a 20 man bunch sprint. The survivors of the climbs lined up with Ryan Toby (Parramatta) bursting out of the field with 250m to go with Colin Grimes (Sutherland) in pursuit. The slight uphill finish was enough for Grimes to get over the top of Toby with a desperate throw on the line.

1 Colin Grimes (Sutherland)
2 Ryan Toby (Parramatta)
3 Dwayne Grant (Orange)
4 Wayne Bower (Hunter Districts)
5 Luis Trueba (Marconi Fairfield)
 
1st Unplaced Master: Adam Skalka (Penrith Panthers), 6th
1st Unplaced Parramatta rider: Jeff Tam (Parramatta), 10th

Division 4 - 66km

Another bunch sprint for the judges to contend with in Division 4 wasn't made any easier by the eventual winner David McAlpin's early dash for the line and subsequent easing off when he knew he had it won. It made him look like a dropped rider from another grade and prompted a "get out of the way" from one official trying to pick places in the fast finishing bunch behind. Once the dust had settled McAlpin had clearly won the charge being led by the evergreen Keith Oliver.

1 David McAlpin (Sydney)
2 Keith Oliver (Parramatta)
3 David Browne (Bicisport)
4 Leigh Ringrose (Sydney)
5 Jim Ryan (Penrith Panthers)
 
1st unplaced Parramatta rider: Trevor Shields

Women - 66km

Oliva Gollan (Tuggerong) jumped away on the climb on the 2nd and final lap and stretched the lead to over 3 minutes by the finish. Jen Manefield from Parramatta took out the sprint for 2nd from a group of 3.

1 Olivia Gollan (Koorangang)                1.52.22
2 Jen Manefield (Parramatta)                   3.24
3 Erin Phelp (Nowra)
4 Jodie Vaassen (Sutherland)
5 Natasha Harrigan (St George)
6 Christine Raikos (Northern Sydney)
7 Karen Dutton (Sutherland Shire)

Parramatta CC Interclub Racing

Lansdowne, July 21, 2001

Results

A Grade 50 kms
 
1 K Aubrey (BS)
2 D Young (BS)
3 G Macks (LA)
 
B Grade 40 kms
 
1 D Green (LA)
2 M Hird (LA)
3 M Plohl (LA)
 
C Grade 30 kms
 
1 G Milts (LA)
2 N Wyman (Par)
3 J Marshall (LA)
 
D Grade 24 kms
 
1 J Wilson (Par)
2 K Macri (Par)
3 K Winkley (LA)
 
E Grade 20 kms
 
1 A Lazich (WV)
2 K Massard (WV)
3 G Baker (Par)

Caesar's Illawarra Cycle Club

July 21, 2001

By Garry Doughty

Saturday saw the running of the Barbara Wyles 54km handicap for riders over 17 years of age and the Patricia Gooley 18km handicap for riders under 17. The races are in recognition of two people who have served the Club tirelessly for many years.

Geoff Gooley led the senior race off with a gap of 7 minutes back to the next bunch, but even with that start he was always going to do it tough by himself. The sixteen minute bunch were working well together but their chances were diminished when Jack Laajoki had a mechanical problem.

The thirteen minute bunch had combined like a well oiled machine and were swapping off turns regularly. They closed the 3 minute gap to the next bunch within the first two laps.

Early on the eleven minute bunch was looking good but then Phil Jones punctured and two others pulled out just leaving Lionel Covington and Andrew Stewart by themselves. Even though they were both riding strongly it was a difficult task with only the two of them.

Scratch only had three riders in Garth Hennessy, Tim Morris and Brad Martin but they scorched the road and closed the gap to the one and a half minute riders on the first lap. The one and a half minute bunch had their problems as well with the in form Lou Palermo puncturing early and three other riders finding the pace a bit too high and pulling out. It was turning out to be a race of attrition.

At the last turn at Calderwood road Covington knew that Stewart was riding stronger than he was so he told him to go by himself before they were caught. Covington was caught by the seven minute bunch on the Marshall Mount climb but Stewart had flown the coup.

Stewart then caught and passed the combined group of riders infront on the climb of Hooker hill and soloed on for the last 13km of the race to win by 11 seconds.

The seven minute bunch had been closing quickly on the combined group infront and only made contact in the last 500m of the race. Brian Joyce and Mark Scott immediately attacked and set sail for the line. Scott edged Joyce out for second place.

In the bunch sprint Covington proved best of the rest with fourth and Alan McClelland rounded out the top five.

The sprint for fastest time was less than a minute later with Morris storming to the front in the last 100m. Frank Tortorici was next over the line but as he had started from the block bunch second fastest went to Hennessy. Next week's race is the Club road championships. A & B grades are 60km, C grade 44.5km and D grade 37.5km. The races will start at the earlier time of 1pm. Volunteer marshals are required, please contact Patricia.

Results

Barbara Wyles 54km Handicap 
 
1 Andrew Stewart (12.00)            1.42.09
2 Mark Scott (16.00)                   0.11
3 Brian Joyce (16.00)                  0.11
4 Lionel Covington (12.00)             0.15
5 Alan Mcclelland (10.00)              0.15
6 Peter Kelly (10.00)                  0.15
7 Jeff Gray (10.00)                    0.15
8 Bethany Mccarthy (7.00)              0.15
9 Teegan Makowski (7.00)               0.15
10 Scott Defina (16.00)                0.15
11 Ben Lohse (10.00)                   0.56
12 Tim Morris (23.00)                  1.11
13 Frank Tortotici (21.30)             1.14
14 Garth Hennessy (23.00)              1.14
15 Brad Martin (23.00)                 1.14
16 Patrick Delahunty (10.00)           1.27
17 Mal Moss (10.00)                    2.45
18 Austin Pitman (16.00)               5.10
DNF Marcus Arnold
DNF Dave Russel
DNF Jack Laajoki
DNF Lou Palermo
DNF Phil Jones
DNF Jason Johnson
DNF Frank Soto
DNF Adam Crowther
DNF Terry Wall
DNF Neil Williams
DNF Grant Farr
DNF Lou Jonceski
DNF Geoff Gooley
 
Fastest time: 
Tim Morris                          1.20.20
  
Patricia Gooley 18km Handicap
 
1 Ali Ross (7.00)                     42.58
2 Jaclyn Kejda (10.30)                 1.35
3 Josh Wall (15.00)                    1.47
4 Rebecca Borgo (11.30)                2.22
5 Chris Reeves (0.00)                  2.52
DNF Steffan Weiland
 
Fastest time: 
Josh Wall                             29.45

Randwick Botany Cycling Club

Heffron Park, July 22, 2001

Easts Riders Dominate At Heffron

By Tony Horneman

Five Eastern Suburbs Cycling Club riders established a 500m breakaway midway through the Randwick Botany Cycling Club combined A/B Grade 32km criterium race at Heffron Park, Maroubra on Saturday 21 July 2001. The group maintained the lead to fight out a five-man sprint to the line. Stewart Campbell crossed first in a time of 49 minutes 56 seconds followed by Chris Rule and Phil Kelaher. The B Grade place-getters where David Johansen, Simon Harding and Aaron Castles.

Fourteen C Grade riders fought out a tough 28km race with a breakaway after only 4km. James Gray attacked several times to ensure the bunch did not reform. Tim Fehon started the final sprint early at the 1500m to go mark. Fehon powered down the final straight into a stiff headwind and eased up on the time to win by 20m in a time of 49 minutes 53 seconds and an average speed of 34kmh. Second rider home was Murray Tulett followed by James Gray in third place.

Two new riders competed in their first competitive bike race in the D Grade event. Catherine Tissier and Brad Playford completed the 20km in their first taste of the tight Heffron Park circuit. Lindsay Monks won the race in a time of 36 minutes and 5 seconds, followed by Ron Sproule and Kane Baker in third place. Peter Davison won the E Grade, 16km race in a time of 28 minutes 59 seconds followed by John Lynch and Norman Jew.

Spurred on by the success of Australian Stuart O'Grady in the Tour de France, Twenty-three junior riders registered for 3 events, starting with the Junior A Grade, 24km Team Time Trail Selection Race. Club Junior Development Officer Jason Webb said that place-getters Chris Jenkins, Robert Cater and Luke Cridland will be included in the Randwick Botany Team Time Trail squad to compete in the State Championships at Calga in September 2001.

The Junior B Grade, 12km race featured riders ranging in age from 13 to 19 years old. Young riders Luke Davison, Max Gueniev and Thom Richard rode strongly. The race which was eventually won by Andrew Young followed by Thomas Murdoch, second and Jonathon Cridland in third place.

Nicholas Mellick tested his new bike in the Junior C Grade, 8km event and was placed third. First across the line was Adriano Maradini followed by Tyrone Davies in second place.

The next Randwick Botany Cycling Club race will be conducted at Heffron Park on Saturday 28 July 2001. Juniors start at 1.30pm and Seniors 2.30pm. For more information about the club, please contact the club secretary Helen Vella on 02 9667 3307.

Results

A Grade, 32km
 
1 Stewart Campbell                            49.56
2 Chris Rule
3 Phil Kelaher
 
B Grade, 32km
 
1 David Johansen
2 Simon Harding
3 Aaron Castles
 
C Grade, 28km
 
1 Tim Fehon                            49.53
2 Murray Tulett
3 James Gray
 
D Grade, 20km
 
1 Lindsay Monks              36.05
2 Ron Sproule
3 Kane Baker
 
E Grade, 16km
 
1 Peter Davison              28.59
2 John Lynch
3 Norman Jew
 
Junior A Grade, 24km
 
1 Chris Jenkins              39.07
2 Robert Cater
3 Luke Cridland
 
Junior B Grade, 12km
 
1 Andrew Young
2 Thomas Murdoch
3 Jonathon Cridland
 
Junior C Grade, 8km
 
1 Adriano Maradini,
2 Tyrone Davies,
3 Nicholas Mellick

St George Cycling

Oatley Park, 21 July 2001

Results

1 Graham Horn (10.40)                   50.35
2 Brad Dore (13.00)                      1.22
3 Paul Ingwerson (10.00)                 1.30
4 Allan Wallesch (10.00)                 1.39
5 Gary Hines (10.40)                     1.54
6 Dick Paris (10.40)                     2.18
7 Ben Harley (4.10)                      2.20
8 Vinnie Poulton (5.40)                  2.21
9 Tony Fodera (4.40)                     2.23
10 John Odams (3.40)                     2.24
11 Michael Field (4.10)                  2.25
12 Bruce Pirani (4.40)                   2.26
13 Matthew Hood (6.30)                   2.27
14 David Treacy (3.10)                   2.28
15 Peter McRorie (8.30)                  2.31
16 Lorin Jurd (4.10)                     2.32
17 Alex Wasson (9.30)                    2.32
18 Andrew Kilday (6.30)                  2.35
19 Bob Knezevik (8.30)                   2.36
20 Brad Glennan (5.40)                   2.37
21 Ian Templeton (13.30)                 2.39
22 Denis Fahey (7.00)                    2.40
23 Lance McDonald (6.30)                 2.41
24 Greg Harrigan (8.30)                  2.43
25 Daniel Munro (4.10)                   2.45
26 Blake Field (4.10)                    2.46
27 Ian Argall (3.40)                     2.51
28 Irene Potente (10.00)                 3.07
29 Michael Henderson (7.30)              3.08
30 Melissa Smith (8.00)                  3.09
31 Gary Libro (5.40)                     3.10
32 Tim Chalmers (3.10)                   3.27
33 Stuart Boyce (3.10)                   3.28
34 Robert Upton (2.00)                   3.29
35 Warren Scott (2.00)                   3.30
36 Laura Bortollozi (12.00)              3.30
37 Martin Fitzpatrick (3.10)             3.31
38 Rod McQueen (3.10)                    3.32
39 Adam Lucas (2.40)                     3.34
41 Bob Knox (13.00)                      3.47
42 Adrian Pippard (17.00)                3.48
43 Dave Bruckman (6.30)                  4.11
44 Keely McNamara (12.00)                4.44
45 Tim Bartholomew (40.00)               4.45
46 Matt Bazzano (3.10)                   4.56
47 Belinda Seldon (4.40)                 5.05
48 Lenneke Van Gerven (14.00)            5.12
49 David Hines (16.00)                   5.26
50 Steve Menagh (5.10)                   5.31
51 Antonietta Scola (9.30)               6.09
52 Carlo Ghisolfi (9.30)                 6.20
53 Lance Wasson (9.30)                   7.17
54 Peter Fitzpatrick (3.40)              7.35
55 Belinda Stone (10.00)                10.05
56 Sharon Lane (15.00)                  11.37
DNF Brett Dutton (3.40)
DNF Glenn Lucas (5.10)
DNF Steve Fitzpatrick (2.40)
DNF Nick Lawson (4.40)
DNF Robert Owens (9.30)
DNF Peter Jacobs (10.00)
 
Under 15's - 9 km
 
1 Chris Guillan (0.00)      22.26
2 Blake Field (0.00)         0.04
3 Cameron Simpson (2.20)     0.31
4 Teagan Hines (4.00)        1.10
5 Scott Mills (1.30)         2.24
 
Under 13's - 8km
 
1 Mathew Guillan            17.08
2 Lewis Little               0.01
3 Silvia Potente             0.06
4 Jonathan Davis             0.10
 
Under 11's - 5.4km
 
1 Daniel Nicpon (1.05)      13.17
2 Mitchell Reece (0.45)      0.07
3 Lachlan Hines (0.30)       0.08
4 James Nicpon (2.15)        0.41
5 Melinda Potente (0.00)     0.58
6 Bede Kelly (0.00)          1.04
 
Under 9's - 2 laps
 
1 James Nicpon (0.00)       7.59
2 Leah Guillan (0.20)       0.05
3 Blake Davis (0.40)        0.36
4 Imogen Hines (1.40)       0.19

Balance Clothing Carnegie Caulfield Road Race

Modella, July 21, 2001

By Malcolm Sawford

Competition from the Victorian Metropolitan Road Championships kept the numbers down somewhat for this week's racing over the hilly Modella circuit. A through D Grades completed 2 laps of the 40km circuit on a mild winters day, about 15 degrees with no wind to speak of.

While the 'guns' may have been missing, the A Graders present didn't let the small field size get in the way of an aggressive race. Cam Lester was immediately on the attack with his ProMotion team mate Zeth Romanis (perhaps in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent newly crowned State 100km title holder Michael Gill from joining the peloton after he missed the start securing his race number!); once they were caught Cam launched off the front repeatedly with his team mate blocking any attempts to chase.

Eventually he was joined by 2 others and the trio would go clear with Ryan Kelly (Terry Hammond Cycles) contributing strongly to the tempo. Once in the hills, Lester rode away from his companions and set about consolidating his lead.

A puncture would rob Lester of any chance of a win, and the riders remaining in the bunch hit the hills on the second lap together. No-one could go clear, but a strong solo effort from Geordan Murray 5km from home was good enough, with some blocking from Club mate Gill, to claim a narrow win.

Gill lead the bunch home 30 meters adrift, ahead of sprinter Matt Dowling and the consistent Ben Jackson who duplicated his placing on this circuit from the last race here.

As usual, B Grade had the day's largest field, and the race followed the usual format (after a break waiting at the Yannathan bypass for an embarrassed Gary West who missed the left hand turn!): solid pace along the flat roads to the hills, then hang on for grim death up the climbs. The 2 main hills on each lap would see a few more riders off the back for good.

The 'Veteran Express' lead out took control a couple of kilometers from home, firstly to reel in a 2 man break that had dangled 200m off the front since the last climb, then to counter attacks from strongmen Martin Bole and Harry Hendon, and finally to try to deliver noted sprinter Martin Fluendy to the line.

Today, the train stoked by Dennis Bowen-Day fired up too early, and the win went to Mark Howard who found himself in the ideal position when Fluendy ran out of puff. The minor placings went to Richard England, Gary West and Sydney Paralympic Gold Medallist Peter Homann, who salvaged a result for the train crew.

C and D Grades also followed similar formats; the better climbers making things tough for others on the climbs, before bunch sprints from those who'd been able to hang on over the 2 long laps.

Paul Logan, who had finished 3rd in C Grade over the Queen's Birthday Tour, took the C Grade win a bike length clear of Neil Lyons, who prevented an SKCC sweep of the placings, with Andrew Connelly and Chris Newman third and fourth.

Under 17 rider Aaron Moody has probably earned his way back into C Grade with a comfortable win in the D Grade sprint, ahead of new-comer Ashley Morris, multi-sport Vet Neil Gilbert and Louise Gomes, another rider on the comeback trail.

Results

A Grade (80km, 14 Starters)
 
1 Michael Gill (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC)
2 Geordan Murray (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
3 Matt Dowling (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC)
4 Ben Jackson (Leongatha CC / SBR)
 
B Grade (80km, 29 Starters)
 
1 Mark Howard (SKCC)
2 Richard England (Blackburn CC)
3 Gary West (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC)
4 Peter Homann (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC / Victorian Institute of Sport)
 
C Grade (80km, 21 Starters)
 
1 Paul Logan (SKCC)
2 Neil Lyons (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC)
3 Andrew Connelly (SKCC)
4 Chris Newman (SKCC)
 
D Grade (80km, 9 Starters)
 
1 Aaron Moody (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC)
2 Ashley Morrison (Blackburn CC)
3 Neil Gilbert (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC)
4 Louise Gomes (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC)

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