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Results and Reports from Australia
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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Western Port '100' - Victoria, June 19, 2005
By Mal Sawford
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Thanks to the generosity of General Motors Holden, Carnegie Caulfield had access to another fantastic race circuit held on private roads free from traffic and the ever increasing demands by authorities for marshalling and traffic control. Within the massive Lang Lang Proving Grounds is what at first glance seems to be the world's biggest outdoor velodrome.
At a fraction under five kilometres, the banked circular track formed the majority of the eight kilometre circuit, but none of the riders had the horsepower to threaten the 180kmh speed limit! The rest of the circuit took in a twisting lap of the infield, and included a number of deceptively difficult corners to test riders' bike handling skills.
Only a miserable winter's day threatened to put a dampener on the day's racing,
but the forecast of clearing showers and the rave reviews of the previous race
at the Anglesea Proving Grounds circuits saw a great turn out, with almost 140
riders taking to the start line in light rain.
Just as the Weather Bureau promised, the rain stopped just before racing started,
and by race end the sun had broken through and the circuit had largely dried
out. A Grade kicked off proceedings with one of the fastest neutral laps on
record, and once the race proper started, the pace lifted even higher, largely
under the impetus of Gippsland 3 Day Tour winner John Mackenzie (Lloyd Morgan).
Mackenzie broke away early on, and rode so strongly that he held off the well
organised chase for most of the first three laps. Murray Spink (Giant) and Heath
Keenan (Bike Pro) were most prominent in the chase, while inform rider Tommy
Nankervis and Fitzroy Cycles team mate Brendan Rowbotham seemed happy to give
the attacker some space.
Once Mackenzie was caught, Ryan Kelly (Bicycle Superstore) and Keenan jumped
clear and built a handy lead, before Mackenzie virtually cancelled out their
twenty second advantage with another impressive solo effort.
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In the second half of the race, it seemed that every breakaway that looked threatening spurred Mackenzie into action, with the compact powerhouse regularly towing the shrinking bunch along for up the three kilometres at a time! When it seemed that the race was destined to come down to a bunch sprint, reigning Junior World Individual and Teams Pursuit Champion Michael Ford (Grand Prix/VIS) finally showed his face at the front of the bunch with an attack at three laps to go.
Although his effort was quickly neutralised, it soon became apparent that the youngster was just clearing the pipes for the real attack he eventually unleashed on the final lap. Ford quickly shot away, with no-one fresh enough to respond, and rode to a clear win. Super sprinter Nankervis surprised with an attack two k's from home that went unanswered and gave him second place, with Geelong Under 17 sensation Leigh Howard taking the bunch sprint for third ahead of Leigh De Luca and Dylan Boone (SBR).
The huge B grade bunch saw a number of aggressive riders do their best to split things up. As Holden employees, the pressure was on Josh Morrison, who is based at the Proving Grounds, and David Taylor to fly the flag, but it was riders from the Anaconda squad who made the early running. Anthony Smith and Julian Paynter rode attacking races, while John Kohlar (O'Mara Cycles), Dave Eadie (BikeNOW), Boon Chia and Rick Jones (Burnley Finance/Aqua-pure) kept the bunch in contact.
Charles Howlett, who had won the coveted Latrobe City Club Championships the
day before showed his strength late in the race, towing the bunch up to a late
move from Smith. Virtually the full field swept into the long finishing straight,
with Morrison and Taylor well positioned.
Also in the mix were the two leading women, Peta Mullens (BikeNOW) and Belinda
Goss (TIS), but it was Howlett who burst clear to take the win by three lengths.
Things were much closer for second, with Taylor holding off Adam Mulford (Fitzroy
Cycles), Chris Garrard and a very impressive Women's winner in Peta Mullens.
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Both the C and D Grade events also came down to bunch sprints. C Grade was
well won by Paul Adler, who held off junior star Michael Downing (Drapac Property)
and Warragul's Nicole Whitburn. Junior Australian Champion Lisa Friend (Bianchi)
wasn't able to thread her way through the traffic in the finale, and had to
settle for second place in the women's division, ahead of Janine Donaldson.
Richard Hurley showed an impressive sprint to take out the D Grade race, pulling
away from the bunch in the final 100 metres with only John Pritchard (Bicycle
Superstore) able to hold his wheel. Ivan Collings was best of the rest, holding
off Michael Chiller, while Clare Vlahopolous won the Women's divison ahead of
Latrobe junior Emma Beveridge.
The E Grade and Junior events were dominated by junior riders from the Blackburn Club. Scott Sittampalan was too strong for Luke Petrie in E Grade, while Peter Vlahos put in an impressive ride to take out the Junior Handicap from fellow Limit marker Aaron Wilson. Scratchman Dale Reith turned in the fastest time to finish third, only a few seconds down.
The venue received rave reviews all round, and the success of the day was primarily
attributable to recent Holden employee Grant Jamieson's determination to get
the event off the ground. Special thanks to Chris Malan at Holden for approving
the event, and to the volunteers on the day who made things run so smoothly.
Lorraine Collings and Ann Johnstone had the luxury of taking entries in the
heated chalet, before braving the weather along with Doug Moody for lap counting
and judging. Mick Hollingworth and Roger Lancaster marshalled traffic while
Warren Knevitt, Matt Jensen, Heather Friend and Wayne Andrew piloted the most
sedate lead cars the high speed track has ever seen!
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After a return to the open road for Mornington CC's debut event at Somers on
June 25, CCCC will complete the trifecta of new circuits this season, and will
host the first non-motorised bike races at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
on Sunday July 3.
All holders of 2005 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. For further details, including the full regional race
calendar, go to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mal Sawford
- John Mackenzie had power to burn
- Bell lap for Michael Ford
- Ford celebrates his win in the Western Port ‘100’
- B Grade get under way
- Anthony Smith up close and personal
- The B Grade boys better have stuck to the speed limits!
- B Grade pursuit match on the world’s biggest velodrome
- Holden rider Dave Taylor impressed locals with his second place
- Charles Howlett a clear winner of B Grade
- Holden staff well represented in C Grade
- All together in C Grade
- Paul Adler bursts from the bunch to claim the C Grade win
- Richard Hurley holds off John Pritchard to win D Grade
- The Anaconda boys post race de-brief
- David Taylor and Grant Jamieson pleased with proceedings
- Holden riders pose for a team photo
- Juniors dodge the last of the rain drops before the start of their race
Results
A Grade - 88km, 17 Starters 1 Michael Ford (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Tommy Nankervis (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Leigh Howard (Geelong) 4 Leigh De Luca (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Dylan Boone (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Vaughan Bowman (Blackburn) 7 Mal Sawford (Carnegie Caulfield) 8 Peter Johnstone (Chelsea & Peninsula) 9 Brendan Rowbotham (Carnegie Caulfield) 10 Murray Spink (Dirt Riders) B Grade - 80km, 48 Starters 1 Charles Howlett (Latrobe City) 2 David Taylor (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Adam Mulford (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Chris Garrard (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Peta Mullens (Latrobe City) Women 1 Peta Mullens (Latrobe City) 2 Belinda Goss (Tasmania) C Grade - 72km, 33 Starters 1 Paul Adler (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Michael Downing (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Nicole Whitburn (Warragul) 4 Adam Pyke (Mornington) 5 Malcolm Wyatt (Footscray) Women 1 Nicole Whitburn (Warragul) 2 Lisa Friend (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Janine Donaldson (Footscray) D Grade - 64km, 29 Starters 1 Richard Hurley (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 John Pritchard (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Ivan Collings (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Michael Chiller (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Claire Vlahopolous (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Emma Beveridge (Latrobe City) E Grade - 64km, 4 Starters 1 Scott Sittampalan (Blackburn) 2 Luke Petrie (Blackburn) Junior - 16km Handicap, 6 Starters 1 Peter Vlahos (Blackburn) 2 Aaron Wilson (Chelsea & Peninsula) 3 Dale Reith (Blackburn) 4 Gavin Sittampalan (Blackburn)
