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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Sandown Raceway, Melbourne, January 25, 2005
By Mal Sawford
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Another really hot afternoon couldn't stop well over a hundred riders fronting up for punishment around the testing 3.5km Sandown Raceway circuit. Unusually for a hot night, there was no sign of the gale force northerly that usually brings the high temperature, making things a bit more bearable for those on the racetrack.
After a fast paced start, the first serious break in the A Grade race saw Fitzroy Cycles teammates Matt Chessum and Brendan Rowbotham joined by Rhys Smith (Lloyd Morgan). Smith's teammate John Mackenzie bridged a few laps later, followed by VIS strong man Sean Finning. After a few more laps, Smith found the pace too hot, but as he drifted back Junior World Pursuit Record Holder Michael Ford (VIS) launched a strong solo chase, which would see him join the leading group. Although only fifteen seconds clear with three laps remaining, attempts to bridge from the main bunch destroyed the rhythm of the chase, and the leaders pulled away in the final two laps.
Finning attacked before the bell, and with Ford there to block, rode to an impressive solo win. Ford was still quick enough to make it a one-two, with Rowbotham and Mackenzie fighting out third. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to join the leaders, David Sturt (Giant/Pro-Motion) escaped a belated chase group on the final lap to claim the final prize.
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B Grade seemed destined to end in a bunch kick, after the early attempt to steal the race by Ken Ford (Gran Prix), Boon Chia (Team Alex), Cam Winton (Le Tour) and Tony McGarrigle was reeled in. Strongmen Peter McWeeney and Blair Purvis had no better luck, but a late move featuring Darren Cathie, Purvis, Brendan McAuliffe, Nick Culvenor and Phil Grant looked to have caught the bunch napping. A moment's disorganization from the leaders just before the final two laps allowed the bunch to swoop, and the fifty-strong pack reformed. Rob Pagey and Daniel Young attacked at the bell but were swallowed up well before Darren Spiteri sprinted clear to take the win ahead of Julian Dutton (BikeNOW) and Tom Walker. Swiss visitors Priska Doppmann and Christiane Soeder cleaned up in the Women's division.
A fall on the final corner saw Carl Retschko, Gordon Minty and Sascha Roszak hit the deck after all three had spent much of the race dictating terms to the bunch. Fortunately all escaped with only varying degrees of road rash. Cagey veteran Ron Gallagher rode his last C Grade race, sneaking off the front with John Pritchard (Bicycle Superstore) in the confusion to take the win, with Richard Buckingham next home. Louisa Judd (Hampton Cycles) narrowly missed a top four placing, but was a convincing Women's winner from the newly promoted Andrea Bishop.
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Young Zach Balmain (Choice Capital) showed the benefits of training with Super Coach Hilton Clarke Senior, sprinting to a seemingly effortless win in D Grade, complete with maniacal chuckle! Let's see if he finds C Grade just as funny! Andrew Rose was best of the rest, from the consistent Andrew Cullen (CBD Cycles) and Alister Stewart. The $7000 Inexa - Team Alex series lead stays with Michael Thomas, who looked very comfortable in his first ride in B Grade. Tommy Nankervis and Tom Walker aren't far behind, while Andrea Bishop has a handy lead over Louisa Judd for the Women's prize.
In exciting news, Carnegie Caulfield will return to the St Kilda Festival on February 13. The testing hot dog circuit on Fitzroy Street always attracts a huge crowd, and with the assistance of the HLP/Ridewiser Initiative and Breakaway Events this year's race promises to be bigger and better than ever. Entries will be taken on the day, with racing between 8am and 1pm. Entry fee is $15, with $1000 up for grabs. The full event timetable will be released shortly.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue Sundays at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80B2). C, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and B Grade ride at 10am. Tuesday night Twilight Racing at Sandown start at 6.30pm for all grades, with access to the circuit via Sandown Road from 6pm. All holders of 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. 2005 licenses are also now available. For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts novice racing clinics at Glenvale Crescent. For further details, go to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mal Sawford
- Reece Van Beek - Dual Deaflympic Gold Medallist - showed off his new jewellery
- Brendan Rowbotham starts the winning A Grade break
- Van Beek leads the chase
- Ken Ford leads the doomed B Grade break
- Blair Purvis prominent in B Grade
- Gordon Minty leads fellow crash victims Sascha Roszak and Carl Retschko in C Grade
- Zach Balmain spots the camera again!
Results
A Grade - 1 hour + 2 laps, 28 Starters 1 Sean Finning (Castlemaine) 2 Michael Ford (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Brendan Rowbotham (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 John Mackenzie (Latrobe City) 5 Matt Chessum (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 David Sturt (Castlemaine) B Grade - 55 minutes + 2 laps, 50 Starters 1 Darren Spiteri (Latrobe City) 2 Julian Dutton (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Tom Walker (St Kilda) 4 Darren Weir (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Steve Leishman (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Priska Doppmann (Switzerland) 2 Christiane Soeder (Switzerland) C Grade - 50 minutes + 2 laps, 23 Starters 1 Ron Gallagher (Footscray) 2 John Pritchard (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Richard Buckingham (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Damien Jones (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Louisa Judd (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Andrea Bishop (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade - 45 minutes + 2 laps, 17 Starters 1 Zach Balmain (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Andrew Rose (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Andrew Cullen (Blackburn) 4 Alister Stewart (Carnegie Caulfield)
