Promoters wishing to submit results should send them to cyclingnews
Another fine day in Melbourne brought good fields to the windswept AFL Park Stadium for the latest in Carnegie Caulfield's twilight Criteriums. The iteamNOVA boys were in attendance, continuing their membership drive and to add extra interest to the elite A Grade field.
Hilton Clarke (SBR Elite) was on the attack straightaway, making the most of the good form built up with his impressive rides in the Perth Crit Series and the Skilled Geelong Bay Series. Jamie Drew (iteamNOVA) was quick to react, jumping on the wheel of young Ryan Kelly who had set off in pursuit. In the classic fashion, he let Kelly do all the hard work, then jumped him to bridge to Clarke, leaving Kelly, spent, to wait for the bunch!
Things came back together as the bunch has seen Clarke ride away too many times this season, but the pair were soon on the attack again, taking Thaddeus Roos (Bicycle Superstore), Matt Gould (ACR) and trackie Todd Wilksch (Beasley Cycles) along with them just after the half way mark of the race. This group held the bunch off for 4 laps of the 2km circuit before the next brief regrouping.
Under 19 Madison partners David Tanner and Jonny Clarke (VIS/ProMotion Cycles) were next to have a go, with older brother Hilton , Wilksch and Roos quick to follow. A lap later the front group included Jamie Drew and Gould, with the bunch chasing well not far behind. Gould and Wilksch weren't able to handle the tempo, and the remaining 5 riders just held on to battle out the finish.
In his umpteenth win of the season, Hilton Clarke crossed the line a clear winner, ahead of Roos, Drew and Jonny Clarke.
After a successful breakaway last week, the B Grade bunch were a bit more watchful this week, and no early moves got any distance, until the Bricky (Grant Matthews) started forcing the pace. Joined by youthful Masters star Doug Garley and Ken Mayberry, the trio opened up a small gap with some co-operative riding from friends in the peleton.
The peleton wasn't prepared to give them too much distance, and by the midpoint of the race things were back together. The Bricky still wasn't finished, and rode away on his own, and proceeded to spend the next 15 minutes around 100m in front of the watchful bunch. A few half hearted attempts to bridge followed, before he was finally recaptured and the preparations started for an all in bunch kick.
Michael Bailey survived the washing machine spin cycle of the last 3 laps best and got up for the win, ahead of Keiran Love and the A Grade bound Darren Cathie. The judges could not split the Bricky and Garley for the final place on the podium.
C Grade saw a first lap attack from young Chris Tassell. Dad, John, was supposed to follow but pulled his foot and could not get back on the wheel. The youngster spent 7 laps off the front, and when caught rested for a few laps and went again!
When the chase brought him back for the second time at the 25 minute mark, Darryl Annells lead a counter attack with Matt Johnson, Ross Edwards and Tony McGarrigul. Chris Winn was able to bridge across a little later, and these 5 would leave the chasing bunch far behind.
Mountain biker Winn was too good at the finish, from the experienced Annells, Johnson and Edwards.
In another show of strength from one of the Club's elder statesmen, Billy Upston attacked D Grade at the 20 minute mark, with Jason Jones and Peter Mackie for company. The attentive bunch chased hard and the field regrouped until Jones launched an attack, that while short-lived, would blow nearly half the bunch off the back trying to bring him back.
Things returned to a more predictable pace in preparation for a bunch finish, where first year rider Lachlan Hay scored a good win ahead of Steve Twinning, Jason Jones and Anthony Dean.
Priska Dopman raced with the club for the first time this season, after a successful year with the Acca Due team in Europe. While she is just starting her pre season training, she had no trouble in mixing it with the B Grade men, and took the prize money as first lady. Speed skater Cheryl Hickman again took the money as first lady in C Grade, while Daphne Dubach rode well to finish up the front of the depleted D Grade field and claim the Women's money.
All riders are once again reminded that no one is permitted to enter a Carnegie Caulfield race without presenting a 2002 ACF license or receipt. We don't like turning riders away, but in the interests of safety and maintaining our insurance cover we have no choice.
A Grade - 1 hour + 3 laps - 30 starters 1 Hilton Clarke (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 2 Thaddeus Roos (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Jamie Drew (iteamNOVA) 4 Jonny Clarke (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) B Grade - 55 mins + 3 laps - 45 Starters 1 Michael Bailey (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 2 Keiran Love (Saturn / VIS) 3 Darren Cathie (Blackburn CC) 4 Grant Matthews (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Doug Garley (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) Unplaced Women: Priska Dopmann (Switzerland) C Grade - 50 mins + 3 laps - 42 starters 1 Chris Winn (Dirt Riders CC) 2 Darryl Annells (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Matt Johnson (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Ross Edwards (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) Unplaced Women: Cheryl Hickman (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) D Grade - 50 mins + 3 laps - 28 starters 1 Lachlan Hay (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 2 Steve Twinning (SKCC) 3 Jason Jones (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Anthony Dean (Blackburn CC) Unplaced Women: Daphne Dubach (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) Juniors - 45 mins + 3 laps 1 Dale Reith (Blackburn CC) 2 Mitch Peart Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC)