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Illawarra Cycle Club Scratch Race
NSW, February 15, 2004
McDonnell hangs on
Another big roll up of 48 riders took part in the 27km scratch races held over 4 grades. It appeared to be quite good racing conditions but out on the course there was a reasonable strength crosswind.
Nearly all of the 15 riders in A grade, with the exception of Grant Law and Gavin Drury who both punctured, said what a good race it had been.
Adam Rourke and Danny Hennessy both took the bit between their teeth and attacked and counter attacked nearly the whole race. On the second lap Frank Tortorici and Graham Rutter were away for about 4km. As soon as they were caught there was another attack.
Steve Franklin and Peter Jones seemed to be constantly chasing down the attacks. On the third lap nearly every rider had a go until with 3km to the finish Joe McDonnell attacked. He built up what looked like an unassailable lead but when Franklin led the sprint out with Hennessy on his wheel they closed the gap quickly.
McDonnell held on by half a wheel from Franklin with Hennessy a cigarette paper back in third place.
The B grade race was equally as animated as A grade. With 14 riders it was always going to be quick. Rob Calladine attacked from the start with Lionel Covington hot on his wheel. The bunch hesitated and the two were gone. After some concerted chasing by Dave Russell and Mitch Burns the two protagonists were brought back to the bunch.
There were a few minor attacks but none were allowed too much slack. Some big efforts were put in by Darren Toms, Michael Comensoli, Ben Lohse and Danny Poropat. Whenever the pace slacked Covington, Calladine, Garry Doughty, Garry Mandy or Pat Delahunty surged to the front.
Joe Pereira stretched the bunch out on the second approach to Hooker hill and was so concentrated on the effort that he went the wrong way. The bunch waited for him to rejoin them and then was off again.
Over the last few kilometres Richard Lorenc made sure there was no easing up. Toms attacked within the last kilometre and looked like the winner. Comensoli led the chase to get him back. As the bunch entered the finishing straight Doughty powered down the outside with Delahunty on his wheel. Toms was swamped in the last 10m.
Doughty held on for the win from Delahunty and Poropat.
There were twelve evenly matched starters in the C Grade race.
The riders were sharing the work fairly evenly in the first two laps with the only attacks by Tony Burke and Bobby Krstevski that quickly snuffed out.
Three kilometres into the third lap saw Paul Kaye launch an attack that split the race wide open. Mitchell Harris was the only rider able to go with Kaye. Peter Vesel tried to bridge across to the front runners but blew up in the process. Krstevski was then able to bridge the remaining gap and shortly after was joined by Justin Lathlean, Dave Morris, Mal Moss, Burke and Andy Shannon.
On the last ascent of Hooker Hill Kaye paid the price of his attack and was dropped. Morris applied enough pressure at the head of the race to ensure none of the dropped riders would have the chance to ride back on to the leading seven riders.
With 1.5km to the finish Mitch Harris again split the field. This time only Krstevski and Lathlean could handle the pace. As the trio rounded the corner into the finishing straight Lathlean couldn't hang on any longer and had to settle for third place.
Krstevski looked as though he had the better of Harris but a late kick from Harris ensured he would take a well deserved first place on the line.
The five riders in D grade rode strongly. New member Kerry Augustson is adapting to the rigours of racing quickly. David Hull was happy to finish a race without a puncture or mechanical problem.
When it came to the sprint no one was able to match the acceleration and speed of Vince O'Dwyer. He comfortably won by several lengths. Second place was keenly fought out by Jenny Davis, Roger Phillips and Augustson. As they crossed the line it was Davis, Phillips and Augustson with Hull not far behind.
Next week's race is an 18km time trial. It gives the riders the opportunity to pitch themselves against the clock and to monitor their improvement. Members of the Tri Club are welcome. Group 3 is to marshal.
Results
A Grade - 27.0km 1 Joe McDonnell (Illawarra) 39.11 2 Steve Franklin (Illawarra) 3 Danny Hennessy (Canberra) 4 Keith Bennett (Illawarra) 5 Bret Townsend (Eurobodalla) 6 Frank Tortorici (Illawarra) 7 Adam Rourke (Illawarra) 8 Peter Jones (Illawarra) 9 Daniel Silveri (Illawarra) 0.18 10 Brian Joyce (Illawarra) 11 Dylan Forbes (Illawarra) 0.28 12 Graham Rutter (Hinchinbrook) 13 Gil Rutty (Illawarra) 1.04 DNF Grant Law (Illawarra) DNF Gavin Drury (Illawarra) B Grade - 27.0km 1 Garry Doughty (Illawarra) 40.32 2 Patrick Delahunty (Illawarra) 3 Danny Poropat (Illawarra) 4 Darren Toms (Illawarra) 5 Michael Comensoli (Illawarra) 6 Garry Mandy (Illawarra) 7 Jose Pereira (Illawarra) 8 Anthony Stephenson (Illawarra) 9 Ben Lohse (Illawarra) 10 Lionel Covington (Illawarra) 11 Rob Calladine (Illawarra) 12 Richard Lorenc (Illawarra) 0.21 13 David Russell (Illawarra) 14 Mitchell Burns (Illawarra) 2.46 C Grade - 27.0km 1 Mitchell Harris (Illawarra) 43.30 2 Bobby Krstevski (Illawarra) 3 Justin Lathlean (Illawarra) 0.09 4 Mal Moss (Illawarra) 0.12 5 David Morris (Illawarra) 6 Tony Burke (Illawarra) 7 Andrew Shannon (Illawarra) 0.54 8 Sal Caballo (Illawarra) 1.10 9 Peter Vesel (Illawarra) 10 Paul Kaye (Illawarra) 2.27 11 Brian Nobbs (Illawarra) 2.38 D Grade - 27.0km 1 Vincent O`Dwyer (Illawarra) 48.23 2 Jenny Davis (Illawarra) 3 Roger Phillips (Illawarra) 4 Kerry Augustson (Illawarra) 5 David Hull (Illawarra)
Local results 2004
