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By Mal Sawford
Another good sized turn out to the Park for the latest in the Club's midweek race series as the Melbourne weather finally starts to string a few nice days together. As usual, the C and D Grade fields kicked things off at 6pm, followed by a and B Grade just before 7pm.
The A Grade race would finish with a spectacular bunch sprint, but not before two notable escapes had threatened to steal the day. From the gun, James Taylor (ACR), Hilton Clarke (Net Zero) and the bearded Ray Turner (Diamond Back/Park Tools/Repco) jumped away and lead the field for almost 15 minutes before things came back together. 10 minutes later the same trio tried again, joined by Thaddeus Roos (Bicycle Superstore), David Tanner (VIS) and David Salton (VIS). Again, after a good chasing effort from the bunch, the escape was neutralized and the field remained together until the bell.
A last lap attack by Chris Carr (SBR) came to nothing, before the sprinters took over. The field was spread from one side of the wide finishing straight to the other, and Clarke was the early leader before noted trackie Todd Wilsch (John Beasley Cycles) wore him down in a shoulder to shoulder tussle. Salton and Taylor filled the placings, proving their time off the front had not softened their legs too much.
Jerseys from The Freedom Machine dominated the start line of the B Grade race. However, the boys were not represented in the early break by Under 17 star Simon Clarke, carnegiecycling.com.au website designer Mike Clucas and Gary Trowell. Their escape after 10 minutes was good for 5 laps of the long circuit before the large bunch combined to pull things back together.
The bunch remained together to the finish, where Anthony Comino (The Freedom Machine) proved the quickest, aided by a none to subtle effort from Tim Bennett to ease up before the line in the hope to avoid promotion back to A Grade. The ever vigilant judges were quick to dash his hopes as both riders will join the A Grade boys next week! Again, proving that unsuccessful attacks don't have to mean the end of your race, third and fourth places went to Gary Trowell and Simon Clarke in another close finish.
Star of yesteryear Peter Barnett dominated the C Grade race, escaping solo midway through the race and never being challenged. A late attempt to bridge by Justin Davis, another rider on the comeback trail after a serious (non-cycling) head injury, was good enough to claim second, while Paul Lumsden lead the bunch home ahead of Marcel Musco a few seconds later.
Kieran Murphy (CBD Cycles) returned to the winners podium after a break from competition wowing the Blues guitar scene. The youngster only celebrated his 13th birthday a little over a week ago but was strong enough to convincingly win the D Grade bunch sprint ahead of Veterans Peter Burchall, Ray Smith and Matt Boyd.
In the E Grade race, Danny Clarke outlasted Daniel Shuey and Dale Reith.
A Grade (45 mins+ 3 laps) 30 starters 1 Todd Wilsch (Horsham CC) 2 Hilton Clarke (Net Zero) 3 David Salton (Warragul CC) 4 James Taylor (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) B Grade (45 mins+ 3 laps) 52 Starters 1 Anthony Comino (SKCC) 2 Tim Bennett (Bendigo CC) 3 Gary Trowell (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Simon Clarke (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) C Grade (40 mins + 3 laps) 32 starters 1 Peter Barnett (SKCC) 2 Justin Davis (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Paul Lumsden (Blackburn CC) 4 Marcel Musco (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) D Grade (40 mins + 3 laps) 17 starters 1 Kieran Murphy (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 2 Peter Burchall (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Ray Smith (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Matt Boyd