Guiness says that "Cyclists Kathy Watt and Nathan O'Neill overcame personal tragedy to claim victory in the Australian time trial titles at Calga on the NSW Central Coast yesterday. Testing Watt's mental fortitude in the women's 25 km ITT was news of the death of her 92 year-old surrogate grandfather, John Gilbert, in England late last week. And for O'Neillthe challenge in yesterdays 40 km men's race came in a need to prove he was back to his winning best after his successful battle against the eating disorder, anorexia."
Guiness reports that "In sunny and warm conditions [Bill notes: Calga is near to where I live and I train and race there often. It is Autumn now and it is still very warm and sunny - good place to live eh?] which saw the undulating Calga route stricken with assisting tail winds on the return leg of the course [Bill notes again: the course runs roughly north-south, although the men's race went 13 km north, then about 7 kms due east, then back again, with two grinding hills, one more sharp than grinding, called Blood Hill, which is hardest coming back and is appropriately named. If your racing here folks, make sure you watch for the breaks on Blood, which is only 3 km from the usual start-finish line}, Watt, 31, won her event in 34m 47.680 s."
"She beat placed fellow Victorian, Anna Wilson, 34, by 1.13.179s and West Australian Lyn Nixon, 35, by 1.27.179s."
Kathy said afterwards that "I was hoping for a great ride today. And I got it. But it was still very hard, especially after my grandfather's death. He was not my (direct) grandfather, but he was like one to me. So this one is for him". Watt is favourite for tomorrow's 110km women's road race title at Sydney's Centennial Park.
Guiness writes that "In the men's event, O'Neill, 21, clocked 51.50.4 s to claim his second national time trial title after winning in 1994. Taking second and third respectively were AIS-Giant team-mates, Brett Dennis of Queensland , who finished 10.450s down, and NSW defending champion, Matt White, at 20.250s. While O'Neill may be too young to be selected for the Australian Olympic road team for Atlanta in June, he will more than likely be chosen for the world road titles later this year."
O'Neill said after the win that "I felt pretty anxious about this race. If I could have I would have raced it last night. I was just that keen to go out there and do it. It seemed a lot harder racing this course today that it did in training. And I didn't get that last 5km feeling I have spoken about [Bill notes: see story yesterday]...that feeling where you know you are going so well and are well up. This time I knew I really had to pull out something big over the last 10 km. I did that. And now you have the new O'Neill."
Guinness notes that he "also attributed much of his comeback to his Christian faith".
1. Nathan O'Neill (QLD) 51.50.400 2. Brett Denis (QLD) + 10.450s 3. Matt White (WA) + 20.250s 4. Rod McGee (NSW) 5. Marcel Gono (Vic) 6. Kelvin Martin (NSW) 7. Deane Rogers (ACT) 8. Chris Evans (Vic) 9. Damien McDonald (Vic) 10. Paul Brosnan (Qld)
1. Kathy Watt (Vic) 34.47.860 2. Anna Wilson (Vic) + 1.13.179 3. L. Nixon (WA) + 1.27.179 4. Tracey Watson (Vic) 5. Cathy Reardon (Qld) 6. Elizabeth Tadich (Vic) 7. C. White (NSW) 8. J. Feldham (Qld) 9. K. Palmer (ACT) 10. H. Huch (Qld)