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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent, Mulgrave, March 7, 2004
Richards takes A-Grade
By Mal Sawford
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An overcast but dry morning greeted riders for the Labour Day weekend Sunday Criterium. Holiday weekends generally mean slightly smaller fields as the pressures of family life sometimes have to take priority over the bike! Many of the trackies were in Bendigo for the Madison carnival, but good fields still turned out in all grades.
A break of five riders slipped the A Grade field early on, with Team MG-ZT team mates Paul Richards and Dylan Boone joining breakaway specialists Martin Bole, David Sturt (Colnago) and Michael Tolhurst (Richmond Cyclery). The group combined well, opening an advantage of almost half a lap on the main field. A small chase group had also left the main field, including Matt Chessum (Fitzroy Cycles), Nathan Wise, Ray Turner (Bianchi), Simon Walker (Victorian State Home Loans) and Paul Kelly, and with a big effort made contact with the leaders in the final ten minutes.
Richards forced the pace again immediately, and the group split. Sturt and Bole joined Richards, while Wise battled on fifty meters behind the trio for three laps before making contact on the penultimate lap. At the finish, Bole tried to surprise the group by switching to the left hand gutter, but the MG-ZT rider was too strong, taking the win by a few lengths over Wise, with Sturt content to roll home fourth. Boone had played the police man's role to perfection after the split, and had no trouble leading home the survivors of the break, with Chessum claiming the final prize ahead of the hard working Kelly.
The B Grade bunch circulated at a rapid but consistent pace for much of the race, and solo efforts from Steve Leishman (BikeNOW), Ken Ford (Gran Prix Bicycles) and Jim Gallagher (Team Alex) were unsuccessful in splitting the bunch.
A bunch sprint was looking likely, until a late attack by James Shepherdson and Grant Edmonds saw them pull ten seconds clear. They were still clear at two to go, and looking good, but a devastating burst from former rower Travis Johnston saw him jump away from the field down the back straight, and fly past the leaders entering the finishing straight for bell lap.
Johnston pulled well clear to take the win, and after a handful of races looks set to make the move to A Grade shortly. Sherherdson and Edmonds were swept up by the bunch in the back straight, allowing the sprinters to battle for second, and it was Boon Chia (Team Alex) who flashed home first, ahead of Scott Caraher, Peter McWeeney and Cam Rotter.
Bunch sprints were the order of the day in C Grade and D Grade. Scott Jensen's attack just before three to go in C Grade was unsuccessful, leaving the recently promoted Richard Reynolds to lead the field home. Simon Bristow took second in a tight finish from Wayne Flint and Chris Allen (Croydon Cycleworks), with Gemma Goyne (BiekNOW) the Women's winner.
Mornington rider Tristan Wright won his second D Grade sprint in a row, leading home club mate Gordon Minty, and both riders will now see out the season in C Grade. Jonathan Quinn (CBD Cycles) took third, ahead of junior Tom Gallagher (Team Alex), who just held off team mate Aidan McInernay.
First time rider Heather Stevens (The Freedom Machine) debuted with a narrow win in the Women's division, under the watchful eye of mentor Kirsty Bortolin, with Louisa Judd a close second ahead of Andrea Bishop.
Simon Lancaster retains his lead in the $7000 Team Alex Series, and sits on 142 points. Cheryl Walker is second on 125 with Matt Jensen on 121. Warren Knevitt, the leading A Grade rider holds down fourth place with 112 points. There are ten races remaining in the series, which concludes at the end of April.
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. 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.
Results
A Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 32 starters 1 Paul Richards (Coburg) 2 Nathan Wise (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Martin Bole (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 David Sturt (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Dylan Boone (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Matt Chessum (Carnegie Caulfield) B Grade, 55 minutes + 3 laps, 30 starters 1 Travis Johnston (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Boon Chia (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Scott Caraher (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Peter McWeeney (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Cameron Rotter (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Cheryl Walker (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade, 50 minutes + 3 laps, 28 starters 1 Richard Reynolds (Blackburn) 2 Simon Bristow (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Wayne Flint (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Chris Allen (Blackburn) Women 1 Gemma Goyne (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 19 starters 1 Tristan Wright (Mornington) 2 Gordon Minty (Mornington) 3 John Quinn (Blackburn) 4 Tom Gallagher (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Heather Stevens (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Louisa Judd (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 6 starters 1 Janelle Evans (Brunswick) 2 Aaron Eynaud (Blackburn) 3 Dale Reith (Blackburn)
