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Riverland Cycling Club
Monash, SA, September 17, 2006
Exciting spring racing at Monash
Hamish MacKirdy, Bob Pankhurst and Glen O'Brien were the convincing winners in the Riverland Cycling Club's graded Criterium event held at Monash on Sunday. Craig Ward, Josh Steele, Hamish MacKirdy and Lee Stevens maintained a steady pace around the 1.2km circuit during the 60minute long A-Grade race. Ward, who was participating in his first A-Grade Criterium, looked comfortable as he approached and accelerated through each corner at high speeds. Steele made a premature attack on the third last corner and was caught by the group with only 200m to go on the final lap. Stevens and MacKirdy had a close battle for line honours with MacKirdy proving to be too powerful.
A strong B-Grade group included visiting Port Adelaide rider Ray Panter and former Riverlander Ben Vagnarelli. Pankhurst, Whitting, Evans, Woods and Evans kept the pressure on their competitors, forcing a bunch split at 40 minutes into their 50 minute race. Riding with a warm headwind on the rise of Madison Ave, the main group worked closely together to keep their advantage over the rest of the field. Evans was unable to keep away from the main group after surging, and in a tight finish, Pankhurst edged out Whitting who claimed second with Woods in third.
Glen O'Brien cruised away from his rivals in C-Grade's 40 minute race. O'Brien, who has been rapidly improving his fitness over several months, overtook some B-Grade competitors during the race as well. Butt and Pelly worked together to try and make up some ground but were unsuccessful. Pelly kept the pressure on up the hill to try and gain an advantage over Butt, however Butt continued his good form to claim second place.
Photography
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Images by Amanda Steele
- Hamish MacKirdy took victory in A grade
- Ward finished ninth in the group
- Glen O'Brien won C grade
- Aileen Pelly finished third in C grade
- Bob Pankhurst took honours in B grade
- Eight competitors made up the B grade field
Results
A Grade 1 Hamish MacKirdy 2 Lee Stevens 3 Craig Ward 4 Josh Steele B Grade 1 Bob Pankhurst 2 Marcus Whitting 3 Simon Woods 4 Ben Vagnarelli 5 Peter Evans 6 Ray Paynter 7 Angelo Ylia 8 John Eshman C Grade 1 Glen O'Brien 2 Graham Butt 3 Aileen Pelly
