At the start of the men's criterium the announcer read out a list of scratchings a mile long, which left a field of some 75 riders to fight it out. This was probably just as well and a lot safer for those going for the medal.
The first lap of 32 was taken at 1'25". Paul Brosnan punctured on lap 2 but was able to get a wheel and get back on the next lap. The pace was good but with no hills and a couple less criterium corners than the road race the pack mostly stayed together over the whole event.
So off went the breaks, but not very far and none for very long. Rodney McGee showed himself at the front, Tim Christopher had one lap alone, Damian McDonald and Andrian Nolan-Halliday, then Nolan-Halliday had 50m with Ryan Suckling, Paul Brosnan had two laps by himself to be overtaken by Nathan O'Neill, then it was all together again at lap 14.
By this time the nephew was requesting that money be put in his head since he was a machine, so I obliged and was treated to some activity almost as vigorous as was taking place metres from where we sat on the edge of the track. This must have been the signal for Matt White to attack, which he did, and was able to stay 5 to 10 seconds away from the bunch by himself for the next two laps. Shortly after he was joined by Tim Christopher, and the two held their precarious lead for another five laps all up. Chris Brown and Eddie Hollands joined them for a 7 second lead over the next four laps.
It was getting a bit late in the race for the group to stay away, so with five to go it was Jay Sweet who brought up everyone else and absorbed the break. Damian McDonald and Matt White tried to get away again on the next lap but the money had run out as far as Matt White was concerned and with three to go he was slowly riding home behind the fast receding pack looking like he had just well and truly blown up.
Rod McGee made a final desperate bid for glory on the bell lap and then the sprinters were all winding their big gears for the line. First over was Jay Sweet, followed closely by Baden Burke and Jamie Kelly.
On the podium Jamie Kelly said he hesitated in the sprint and was off to race in the USA shortly. National road coach Heiko Salzwedel said "where are all zeze sprinters coming from? It seems we have an unlimited supply of them."
And so the end of a week of the 1996 Nationals. One final word: would someone please let the ACF know that anything other than the Wedding March (women's road race) or carnival music (all other races) would be more appropriate while the girls carrying the medals march up to the podium?
Graham Dowden signing off until the nationals are in Sydney next time ...