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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Road Championships, Modella, September 18, 2004
While the Crowe's away...
By Mal Sawford
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With two-time defending champion Robert Crowe making the tough decision to ride as a tandem pilot for Kieran Modra in Athens rather than attempt a historic '3-peat', the coveted CCCC Road Champion's title was up for grabs. As is becoming traditional, a number of riders timed their returns from life in the semi-big leagues of European Kermesses to peak for the title - Aaron Salisbury (BikeNOW), Matt Chessum (Fitzroy Cycles), Flyin' Ryan Kelly and Josh Vanderveen (both Sani-Dump) among them.
A good mix of riders set off on the two lap journey including a number of B and C Grade regulars ready to test themselves against the big hitters. Apart from the travelers, the favourites included Bay Series star Nick Kiraly (Victorian State Home Loans), Cam Wise (Pro-Motion Bicycles) and O'Mara Cycles pair Justin Davis and Mark Howard.
The bunch was split into three groups in the crosswinds along the narrow roads to the base of the Heath Hill climb, with all the favourites making the front group. The leaders were content to consolidate their lead through the hills, putting the rest of the field out of contention.
Davis attacked the group one kilometer before the start of the climb on the second lap, and opened a thirty second advantage. Pushing a massive gear on the climb, big Justin's awkward style belied the pace he was maintaining, and the 2002 World Masters Games Gold Medalist and reigning CCCC Track Champion would not be seen again, taking the win by a little over a minute and half after a twenty kilometer breakaway.
Cam Wise attacked the chase group in the closing stages to solo home second overall, and take out the Under 23 division, while Salisbury outsprinted Kiraly for third a few seconds later. Greg Nicholson (Pro-Motion Bicycles) won the Under 19 Division, finishing in the first chase group in 9th place overall.
The combined Masters field saw the group remain largely intact for the first lap, before Bruce Will escaped at the turn into Thwaites Road. Steve Morrow tried to get across, but came up short, leaving Will to power away alone for almost thirty kilometers in search of the win.
Will was up to the challenge, and while the chasers were within twenty seconds at the finish, hung on to claim a well deserved victory. In a tight sprint for second, David Buntin (Team Alex) got the nod ahead of regular Warragul visitor Chris Hunt (Kennedy Cycle Fit) and Karl Wood (Pro-Motion Bicycles).
The combined Women and Junior Men's field also tackled two laps, with many time Club Champion Debbie Hobbs a clear favourite after her dominant performance on the Sunshine Coast, where she claimed wins in all three road events. In a race of attrition, only four women survived in the lead group, after two laps over the Heath Hill and Ripplebrook bergs, to sprint for the win.
Tarna Schmidt led out the sprint a long way from home, only to see Apryl Eppinger (VIS) power past with Hobbs on her wheel. Eppinger had timed her run perfectly, and held on to take her first senior Club Championship by half a wheel, from Hobbs and Scmidt, while Louisa Judd was the unlucky fourth placed rider.
Under 17 sensation Matt Curnow (The Freedom Machine), attacked the Women's and Junior's bunch on the first climb, and raced away from the field, building a four minute lead by the end of the first lap. He had little trouble maintaining his advantage throughout the second lap, despite missing a corner as race officials chatted with a corner marshal! Curnow's sixty kilometer solo ride earned him a well deserved Club Championship, with the Silver Medal going to Under 15 rider Tom Gallagher (Team Alex) who stayed with the leading Women for the full race distance.
The stars of the future tackled a tough twenty kilometer out and back circuit, taking in the Ripplebrook climb in both directions. Angus Cramp and Jacob Schmid were too strong on the first ascent for Clement Boydell, with the pair working well together all the way to the finish. Cramp proved quickest on the dash to the line, earning bragging rights as the youngest CCCC Road Champion this year.
As usual, racing would not have been possible without the support of volunteers: Traffic Manager Doug Moody; Traffic Controllers Maurice Maurray and Danny Weatherley; Corner Marshals Jason Theobald, Paul Phillips, Chris Menesis, Mick Hollingworth and Paul Lajbcygier; support drivers Tony Gill, Trish Judd, Ashley Morris, John Rudolph, and Stephen Jean; and judges Lorraine Collings and Ann Johnstone.
The Road Championships was the final Carnegie Caulfield road race for 2004, with Glenvale Crits kicking off on Sunday October 3. Two races remain in the Regional program: the Regional Hill Climb Championships at Mt Dandenong on September 26 hosted by Blackburn, and the season finale at Chelsea's Crib Point circuit on October 2. For further details, visit www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Photography
Images by Mal Sawford
- Action from the Men's race
- Justin Davis powers away on Heath Hill
- Nick Kiraly leads the Men in pursuit of the leader
- Davis wins the 2004 CCCC Road Championship
- Cam Wise, U23 winner as the sprint for third begins
- Masters bunch ride tempo
- Bruce Will wins the Masters Title solo
- Mary Rogers sets the pace in the Women's race
- Apryl Eppinger outsprints Debbie Hobbs for the Women’s title
- Matt Curnow on his 60km solo escape
- Curnow rings home with news of his big win
- Jacob Schmid was the first Under 11 home
- Under 13 winner Angus Cramp attacks the Ripplebrook climb
Results
Open Men, 80km, 31 Starters 1 Justin Davis (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 2 Cameron Wise (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 23) 3 Aaron Salisbury (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 4 Nick Kiraly (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 5 Matthew Chessum (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 6 Mark Howard (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 7 Josh Vanderveen (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 8 Geordan Murray (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 23) 9 Greg Nicholson (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 19) 10 Ryan Kelly (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 23) 11 Chris Winn (Dirt Riders/Elite) 12 Cameron Winton (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 13 Pete Knight (St Kilda/Elite) 14 Lee Robinson (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 23) 15 Rob Tidey (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 16 Stuart Hastings (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 17 Chris Tassell (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 19) 18 Simon Shaw (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 19) 19 Simon Lancaster (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 19) 20 Daniel Strangio (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 21 Renato Liucci (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 22 Hayden Meade (Chelsea & Peninsula/Elite) 23 James Rudolph (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 23) 24 Ben Phillips (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 23) Masters Men, 80km, 14 Starters 1 Bruce Will (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 David Buntin (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Chris Hunt (Warragul) 4 Karl Wood (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Grant Hellings (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Glenn Cortis (Carnegie Caulfield) 7 Scott Caraher (Carnegie Caulfield) 8 Ken Ford (Carnegie Caulfield) 9 Tom Blazevic (Carnegie Caulfield) 10 Steve Morrow (Carnegie Caulfield) 11 Boon Chia (Carnegie Caulfield) 12 Geoff Whiter (Carnegie Caulfield) 13 Tony Mason (Carnegie Caulfield) Open Women, 80km, 7 Starters 1 Apryl Eppinger (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 2 Debra Hobbs (Carnegie Caulfield/Master 4) 3 Tarna Schmidt (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 4 Louisa Judd (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) 5 Mary Rogers (Carnegie Caulfield/Elite) Men 15 & 17, 80km, 3 Starters 1 Matthew Curnow (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 17) 2 Dan West (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 15) Men 11 & 13, 20km, 3 Starters 1 Angus Cramp (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 13) 2 Jacob Schmid (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 11) 3 Clement Boydell (Carnegie Caulfield/Men 11)
