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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Sandown Raceway, Melbourne, March 8, 2005
By Mal Sawford
Despite dark clouds, cold winds and the smell of rain, the rain clouds bypassed Sandown, allowing the optimists to get their races in. Smaller than usual fields resulted, but racing was particularly aggressive, giving all riders a thorough work out.
The early A Grade break saw Warren Knevitt (O'Mara Cyles), Josh Vanderveen, Nathan Wise (Lloyd Morgan) and Jamie Goddard (Le Tour Cycles) get away. The quartet worked well and held off the chase until the half way mark. Next to go was Justin Davis (O'Mara) and Daniel Nelms, but their escape was short lived. Rob Crowe (HLP/Ridewiser) and Pete Johnstone (O'Mara), the world's youngest A grade rider at 14, were chiefly responsible for reeling in the breaks.
Approaching the business end of the race, Junior World Champion Michael Ford and Wise had a dip without success, but the next move stuck. Davis and Nelms combined again, along with Pat Shaw, and steadily pulled away from the bunch. Crowe and Howard tried in vain to bridge, with the leaders fighting out a three man sprint. Davis led out and muscled his way to the line unchallenged, ahead of a disappointed Shaw. Crowe led a belated chase group home, ahead of Ford and Guy Green (Le Tour).
The B Grade race also saw countless attacks, and the Burnley Finance/Aqua-Pure squad put a man in almost every move. Mid way through the race, Vito De Petro, Scott Jensen, Tony McGarrigle and Luke Pledger (O'Mara) forced a gap on the climb up the back straight, but without a Burnley rider were quickly reeled in. Paul Kelly's solo move was the last hurrah for the Burnley boys, and the race came down to a bunch sprint. Big Wayne Andrew scored the elusive win he has been chasing to elevate him to A Grade, with James Shepherdson's second giving Burnley Finance some joy. Kathy Watt's Personal Training team mates Mark Prutton and Matt Jensen collected third and fourth, while Tess Downing (Drapac/Porsche Development Team) led the women home just outside the top five.
In a very tight sprint to the line, Nigel Barton-White took some pressure off the judges getting his wheel clearly across the line to win C Grade, but the next four needed an exhaustive video review to sort out the finishing order. Steve Brooks took second from Andy Cameron and Jake O'Leary; with all place getters having done enough recently to move to B Grade for the rest of the season. Michelle Murrell continued her good form with a win over Series Leader Andrea Bishop in the Women's division.
Three riders rode clear in the final fifteen minutes of the D Grade race, and all showed enough strength to warrant promotion next time round. David Paton led Millenium Cycles team mate Paul Mahon over the line, with Anthony Foundling third. Neale Adams escaped the bunch in the final two laps to take the final prize, and Lindsay Brown (O'Mara) took the Women's division and will be headed to C Grade soon.
Despite missing the places, Tommy Nankervis (Fitzroy Cycles) continues to lead the $7000 Inexa - Team Alex Summer Series. Wayne Andrew is up to second after his win and promotion, with Aaron Salisbury still in the hunt. Andrea Bishop looks untouchable for the Women's prize, but could still challenge for a top three overall position.
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. There will be no race on Easter Sunday. The final Tuesday night Twilight Race at Sandown for the season is next week, March 22nd, and starts 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.
Results
A Grade - 1 hour + 2 laps, 25 Starters 1 Justin Davis (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Pat Shaw (Ballarat) 3 Daniel Nelms (Italo Australian) 4 Robert Crowe (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Michael Ford (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Guy Green (Blackburn) B Grade - 55 minutes + 2 laps, 36 Starters 1 Wayne Andrew (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 James Shepherdson (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Mark Prutton (Blackburn) 4 Matt Jensen (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Tony Mason (Carnegie Caulfield) Women Tess Downing (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade - 50 minutes + 2 laps, 20 Starters 1 Nigel Barton-White (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Steve Brooks (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Andy Cameron (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Jake O'Leary (Carnegie Caulfield) Women Michelle Murrell (Mornington) 2 Andrea Bishop (Footscray) D Grade - 45 minutes + 2 laps, 18 Starters 1 David Paton (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Paul Mahon (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Anthony Foundling (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Neil Adams (Carnegie Caulfield) Women Lindsay Brown (Carnegie Caulfield)
