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Carnegie Caulfield CC
Sandown Raceway, Mulgrave, December 16, 2003
By Mal Sawford
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Melbourne's heat wave continued, with the temperature well over 30 degrees for the duration of the latest race in the host clubs popular twilight series. Interest in the $7000 Team Alex Summer Series continues to grow, with tear away leader Simon Lancaster (BikeNOW), an Under 17 rider, finding the placings hard to come against the experienced B Grade campaigners. The horde of riders poised to challenge for the lead are also going through quiet patches, however, and the season long series could well go down to the wire.
The Team MG-ZT squad returned from a successful trip to the Queensland Grand Prix Cycling Series looking tanned and fit, and Paul Richards was quick to make use his good form with a solo attack on the opening lap. Andy Naylor (Cecil Walker Cycles) mounted a chase, quickly policed by MG-ZT's Joel Pearson and Mikk Godfree, with Guy Green (Le Tour Cycles), Anthony Smith (Gran Prix Bicycles), and Simon Walker (Victorian State Home Loans) also joining the lead group.
Leigh De Luca and Pat Shaw bridged on the following lap, but the bunch chased hard, closing in on the leaders just after the thirty minute mark. De Luca kicked clear again, followed by Richards, Russell Newnham and MG-ZT director Rob Young. De Luca then suffered a bizarre mechanical problem, colliding with a seagull, requiring a trip to the pits for a wheel change before rejoining the break.
Michael Tolhurst and Danny Kah bridged with ten minutes remaining, before the pursuit strength of Michael Ford (Gran Prix/VIS) dragged the bunch back into contention. The counter attacks which followed saw Richards and Pearson fly the MG-ZT flag again, joining Newnham, Chris D'Amelio and De Luca in an attack, with Swiss track star Markus Kammermann, Naylor and Godfree trying to get on terms.
The winning move saw Pearson leap frog the break in the closing laps, along with "Sugar" Ray Turner (Bianchi) and a determined looking Ryan Kelly (Terry Hammond Cycles). Kelly lost contact at the bell, but put in a huge effort to just hold off the chase to claim third, while the win went to a delighted Turner, the Australian Product Manager for Bianchi (riding last season's Diamond Back), who outsmarted the hard working Team MG-ZT boys (ironically riding carbon fiber Bianchi's!) to take an impressive win. Simon Walker burst from the fast closing bunch to snatch fourth with a well-timed throw, inches ahead of Godfree and Kammermann.
Ken Ford (Gran Prix) broke up the B Grade field after ten minutes of racing, with David Buntin (Team Alex), Jarrod Moroni (Moroni Cycles) and David O'Leary (Terry Hammond Cycles) going clear and holding off the bunch until the half way mark. Soon after the capture, a strong group went clear, led by Paralympic Champion Peter Homann. Fast Eddy Perez and Cam Rotter helped power the group, and when Grant ‘the Bricky' Mathews, Mario Giramondo (Giramondo Sportswear) and Dennis Bowen-Day bridged, the bunch looked in a little trouble.
Despite some defensive riding from colleagues in the bunch, the break wasn't able to gain more than a ten second advantage, prompting Giramondo and Mathews to try to thin out the less productive members of the break. At two laps to go, the bunch sensed the kill, finally making contact on the final lap and setting up a bunch sprint.
Greg Nicholson jumped away on the final climb, but was chased down by speed skater Russell Collins (Mascot Cycles). In form sprinter Frank Cipriano followed the move, and looked set to record his second win for the season before Giramondo, still in the Under 17 ranks, came off his wheel to take a good win. The youngsters recent outstanding results have now qualified him to join the Elite A Grade field. Kerrie Baumgartner (BikeNOW) debuted her new sponsors colours in style, leading the Women's field home.
The oppressive heat saw an early attack go almost un-noticed by the majority of the C Grade bunch. Kym Marshall, Tony McGarrigle, Cam Winton, Richard Cormick and Trevor Hutchings rode clear, quickly opening a commanding lead. Marshall was first to feel the heat and return to the bunch, before Cormick and Hutchings lost contact at the half way mark.
Winton and McGarrigle continued to power along, extending their lead every lap to the finish, with Winton taking the win. Promising junior Sean Bourke broke clear of the bunch in the closing stages and joined Hutchings, and the pair rode together until the bell, when the youngster attacked to solo home for third. A long way back in the disinterested bunch, Catherine Allen (Giramondo Sportswear) led the Women home, ahead of Briana James (SBR) and Team Alex Series leader Cheryl Walker (Victorian State Home Loans).
After the initial two lap controlled period, the official race in D grade kicked off with an attack from Blackburn youngster Ross Hamilton, Barry McShane, Frank Reardon and Aidan McInerny. The leaders opened a big lead, which grew to over thirty seconds before the wise old vets took control of the chase, and in a well-timed display of team work, which could have come from a Division 1 Pro team, reeled the break in at bell lap to set up a bunch finish.
Neale Adams took his second win on the circuit, and looks bound for promotion in the very near future. Barry McShane ran a close second, holding off John Jones and Keith Revell. Bee Hanson stayed in contact with the lead group to take the Women's win, while Ferne Walklate had to settle for second leading home a small chase group a few seconds later.
The $7000 Team Alex Series Leader after 17 rounds remains young Simon Lancaster on 90 points. Cheryl Walker, Matt Jensen , Paul Kelly and Warren Knevitt share second on 63. Cheryl Walker leads the Women ahead of Ferne Walklate on 56 and Lisa Friend (50).
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue every Sunday at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80B2). Twilight races are held on Tuesday evenings at Sandown racecourse, on the car racing circuit, with all grades starting at 6.30pm. Entry is via Sandown Rd, from 5.30pm. There will be no racing on Sunday December 28 or Tuesday December 30, as officials take a short, but well earned rest!
All holders of 2003 Cycling Australia licenses are welcome (don't forget to bring your license or receipt!) and non-members can have a go by taking out a day license for $20. 2004 licenses are also now available. For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts racing clinics in E Grade. For further details, including information and standings for the Team Alex series, check out www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Photography
Images by Mal Sawford
- A delighted Ray Turner celebrates his win in the A Grade race.
- Flyin' Ryan Kelly shows the after-effects of the effort that earned him an A Grade podium finish.
- Richard Cormick was an early pace setter in C Grade before succumbing to the heat.
Results
A Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 40 starters 1 Ray Turner (Footscray) 2 Joel Pearson (Warragul) 3 Ryan Kelly (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Simon Walker (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Mikkeli Godfree (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Markus Kammermann (Switzerland) B Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 44 starters 1 Mario Giramondo (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Frank Cipriano (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Russell Collins (Hawthorn) 4 Jarrod Moroni (Bendigo) 5 Nick Gates (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Kerrie Baumgartner (St Kilda) C Grade, 50 minutes + 3 laps, 41 starters 1 Cam Winton (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Tony McGarrigle (Noble Park) 3 Sean Bourke (Blackburn) 4 Trevor Hutchings (Blackburn) Women 1 Catherine Allen (Blackburn) 2 Briana James (St Kilda) 3 Cheryl Walker (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 29 starters 1 Neale Adams (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Barry McShane (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 John Jones (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Keith Revell (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Birthe Hansen (Blackburn) 2 Ferne Walklate (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Ferne Walklate (Carnegie Caulfield)
Local results 2003
