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Carnegie Caulfield CC

Dalmore Drive, May 4, 2003

Coultas pursuits away from the bunch

By Mal Sawford

A Grade
Photo: © Mal Sawford

Carnegie Caulfield's first contribution to the South Eastern Regions Winter Road season was a Criterium at the testing Dalmore Drive circuit. A long hot dog circuit, the course is made more challenging by an off camber right hand turn around a roundabout after the finish line, and uphill drags to both turn arounds. Just to make it tougher still, the sprint to the finish is on an uphill drag! The sun was out, although a cool wind kept the temperatures right down.

A compact A Grade field forced the pace early, and for the unfortunates stuck at the tail end of the field the 'whiplash' out of the turns meant their time was numbered. By the half way mark only 12 riders remained in contention, and regular visitor from Canberra Michael Tolhurst launched the first significant attack.

Tolhurst opened a handy lead, but with Murray Spink (Jones Cycles) and Mark Bourjeau (Pro-Motion Bicycles) keeping the chase going, the pack regrouped. Matt Chessum (Fitzroy Cycles) powered away with 5 minutes to race, and at the call of '3 to go' looked like pulling off the win.

The wind took its toll on Chessum, and the bunch lifted to reel him in with a lap and a half to travel. Leon Burger (BikeNOW) tried a flyer a lap from home but was unsuccessful, and as the bunch headed up the back straight it looked like a bunch sprint would decide the outcome.

Track star David Coultas (Pro-Motion Bicycles), who had ridden near the front all day, blasted away on the climb to the final turnaround, and used his pursuiting skills to hold off the fast charging bunch. Sprinter Simon Walker (Bicycle Superstore) led the bunch home after saving his legs in last wheel for the duration! The minor places went to Chris D'Amelio, Guy Green, Dennis Toce and the hardworking Tolhurst.

B Grade had the morning's biggest field, and on the testing circuit a number of riders decided that the best tactic was to break away in small groups. David Moreland led a large Croydon Cyles contingent, while Grant Jamieson, Rob Curtis (O'Mara Cycles), Stan Thomas, Rick Jones and Steve Morrow did their best to figure in every move.

None of the early moves were given much leeway, until a trio escaped in the final 10 minutes. Mountain Biker James Maebus joined Curtis and Jones in an attack, and at 3 to go, the break has a handy advantage. Jones was suffering, and lost contact, while Maebus seemed to get stronger, and at the bell Curtis was struggling to hold his wheel.

Maebus rode off to a good win, while Curtis was relegated to third after a last lap attack saw Kel MacCulloch escape the bunch and in a powerful ride get within a couple of lengths of the winner. Jamieson recovered well from his early efforts to lead the bunch home for the final placing.

After riding together for much of the race, two of the C Grade riders proved too strong for the rest. Clarke Livingstone and triathlete Barton Duncan (Croydon Cycles) broke away with 10 minutes to race, and extended their advantage every lap. At the finish, Livingstone was too strong for first time racer Duncan, and took a win which earned him promotion to B Grade.

Chris Taplin showed his speed to take out the bunch sprint nearly two minutes later, with a five length margin over Brett McNally. Cheryl Walker had no trouble staying at the pointy end of the bunch to take out the Women's division.

The D Grade race saw the only bunch sprint of the day. Jeff Wilson 'graduated' from the E Grade Novice clinic only a couple of weeks ago, and came close to pulling off the win today, but led out a fraction early up the hill only to see Ian Nolan judge his effort better to snatch the win on the line. Another of the Croydon Cycles first timers, Trent Battye, took third ahead of Paul Seymour, with Melissa Nicholls taking out the Women's section.

Next week's regional race is Sunday morning Criteriums hosted by Blackburn CC at the Metec Driver Training center. C and D Grades start at 9am, with A and B following at 10am. Full details of the Regional Winter fixture can be found at the Club's website, www.carnegiecycling.com.au.

Photography

Images by Mal Sawford

• The A Grade field in action
• Matt Chessum almost pulled off the solo win
• David Coultas salutes his win
• The B Grade bunch strung out
• James Maebus draws away from Rob Curtis
• All smiles for B Grade winner James Maebus
• The C Grade bunch gets under way
• The winning break in C Grade
• Clarke Livingstone outsprints first timer Barton Duncan

Results

A Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 17 starters  
 
1 David Coultas (Carnegie Caulfield)
2 Simon Walker (Carnegie Caulfield)
3 Chris D'Amelio (Bairnesdale & Riviera)
4 Guy Green (Blackburn)
5 Dennis Toce (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
6 Michael Tolhurst (Canberra CC)
 
B Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 28 starters  
 
1 James Maebus (Dirt Riders)
2 Kel MacCulloch (St Kilda)
3 Rob Curtis (Carnegie Caulfield)
4 Grant Jamieson (Carnegie Caulfield)
 
C Grade, 50 minutes + 3 laps, 26 starters  
 
1 Clarke Livingstone (Blackburn)
2 Barton Duncan (Carnegie Caulfield)
3 Chris Taplin (Carnegie Caulfield)
4 Brett McNally (Carnegie Caulfield)
 
Women
 
1 Cheryl Walker (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
 
D Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 17 starters  
 
1 Ian Nolan (Chelsea & Peninsula)
2 Jeff Wilson (Carnegie Caulfield)
3 Trent Battye (Carnegie Caulfield)
4 Paul Seymour (Carnegie Caulfield)
 
Women
 
1 Melissa Nicholls (Carnegie Caulfield)
 
E Grade, 40 minutes + 3 laps, 5 starters  
 
1 Paul Welsh (Carnegie Caulfield)
2 Dale Reith (Blackburn)
3 Ebbe Navntoft (Carnegie Caulfield)