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By Tony Horneman
Hot and sunny conditions greeted seventy junior and senior riders for the weekly Randwick Botany Cycling Club criterium races at Heffron Park, Maroubra, on Saturday.
Nine A and B Grade riders raced over 36km with Shaun Higgerson setting the pace early in the race. Jeff Jones attacked at the midway point and stayed away for 3 laps. The bunch worked together to bridge the gap that Jones had established, regrouping for the final sprint to the finish line. George Pappas lead out but John Kenny opened up to power home to take first place in a time of 54min 42sec and an average speed of 40kmh. Randwick Botany strongman Clive Hammerson was second with Shaun Higgerson third. Higgerson is preparing for an assault on the NSW State U19 Individual Time Trail Championship later in the year. The first B Grader home was Warrick Goldsmith.
Thirty C Grade riders applied tactical racing techniques to their 30km race. At times the race slowed to almost a walking pace as the bunch forced riders to take the lead. There were also frantic 50kmh breakaways by Shaun Ballesty and John Buckton forcing the bunch to chase. The strongest breakaway occurred with 4 laps to go, when Joseph Sorby put 200m on the field. Tony Horneman bridged the gap but faded by the last lap. The bunch surged to catch Sorby at the start of the final straight. Matthew Tabone sprinted towards the finish line and had a win in sight, only to be pipped close to the line by Sutherland rider Kevin Garvey in a time of 50min 59sec and an average speed of only 35.7kmh. Third place getter was Brad Lane. Other Sutherland Cycling Club riders included Bianca Norman, Alison Weppler and Paula Rettenmaier all finishing in the main C Grade bunch.
The D Grade race was conducted over 20km with a Tony Aitchison making a breakaway mid way through the race. Aitchison surprised the C Grade bunch when he passed them around the back of the course. The D Grade bunch reformed for an exciting sprint to the line. First home was Jamie Guinan in a time of 36min 48sec and an average speed of 33kmh. Second was Anthony Berman in his first placing at a Randwick Botany race. Con Roubis from the Sydney Cycling Club was third. Visiting Sutherland rider Sarah Oakes rode strongly finishing with the bunch. Veteran rider Kevin Blanchfield completed 14km in E Grade in a time of 36min 43sec.
Twelve junior riders registered for 3 events starting with the Junior 2km Time Trial. The fastest time of the day was recorded by Robert Cater 2min 53sec. Second was Pita Vea and third Andrew Young. The Junior A Grade 12km race was won by Keegan Aitchison followed by Robert Cater and Luke Cridland. The Junior B Grade 12km event was won by Jonathon Cridland. Second was Pita Vea and Andrew Young third.
Randwick Botany Cycling Club conducts racing at Heffron Park, Maroubra NSW each Saturday throughout the year. Juniors start at 1.00pm and Seniors 2.30pm. For more information please contact the club secretary Helen Vella on 02 9667 3307 or website www.randwickbotanycc.com.
A/B Grade Combined, 36km 1 John Kenny 54.42 (40km/h) 2 Clive Hammerson 3 Shaun Higgerson First B Grader: Warrick Goldsmith C Grade, 30km 1 Kevin Garvey (Sutherland CC) 50.59 (35.7km/h) 2 Matthew Tabone 3 Brad Lane D Grade, 20km 1 Jamie Guinan 36.48 (33km/h) 2 Anthony Berman 3 Con Roubis (Sydney CC) E Grade, 14km 1 Kevin Blanchfield 36.43
Junior 2km Time Trial 1 Robert Cater 2.53 2 Pita Vea 3 Andrew Young Junior A Grade, 12km 1 Keegan Aitchison 2 Robert Cater 3 Luke Cridland Junior B Grade, 12km 1 Jonathon Cridland 2 Pita Vea 3 Andrew Young
Australian results from the past week |
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