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Eastern Suburbs CC Trek Bikes Summer Series Rd 7
Heffron Park, Maroubra, NSW, February 28, 2006
A grade finally win as Dave Whyman pips Robbie Cater
By John Sunde
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Dave Whyman lead the A grade charge when he narrowly pipped Robbie Cater on the line to win Round 8 of the Trek Bikes Summer Series. The win was only the second time A grade have managed to take overall honours in the series, with early season C grade rider Aaron Richardson still holding a comfortable 7 point lead from fellow early season C grade competitors, Anthony O'Brien (13) and Andy Portess (11). Dave Whyman is the next best placed rider to take the series lead if he can repeat last nights win in at least two more races. The Series still has four more weeks to run.
The last day of summer provided warm, sunny race conditions however sales were a little down with just under 80 riders signing on. Hopefully the drop in rider numbers won't send the Eastern Suburbs Club's share price into a tailspin on the ASX. The English World Cup track squad were back for more racing, but this time it was the women's track trio of Emma Davies Jones, Rachel Heal and Nikki Harris to try their luck at Heffron, along with Welsh pursuiter Ross Sander. No grade swapping this week but plenty of wives with 'Mrs' Dangerfield and Edwards and friends adding some much appreciated trackside glamour to Tuesday night racing.
Maybe it was the strength of the B grade numbers (35 compared to 25 in C grade), but after seven laps B grade couldn't believe their eyes when they had C grade lined up for the taking. Later reports indicated that the Easts juggernaut were racing under orders from DS Concy "don't do any turns". While this explains the slower average speed of 38kph, one wonders what next weeks C grade strategy will be now that Dave Whyman has the potential to collect more series points.
Gerald Donaldson won the sprint with 5 laps to go, before Sean Vale instigated another one of his subtle moves to grab the points at 5 laps to go just as B and C grade finally came together. The next lap was the calm before the storm waiting for the inevitable A grade train to blast through and stamp their authority on the closing laps. Driving the train as usual was big Troy Glennan who revelled in repeatedly stringing the entire field out in the crosswinds down the straight with the desired effect of noticeably reducing the size of the field.
A grade lost some of its firepower when Stuart Dangerfield and Tim Willing suffered punctures in the closing laps which prevented them from contesting the sprint, but this didn't diminish the sprint once again aggressively lead out by Robbie Cater. In the end it was Dave Whyman who backed up a strong ride at Beaumont Rd on Sunday to take it on the line from Cater who was the bridesmaid for the second consecutive week. Your turn is coming Robbie. Gavin Bates was also in amongst the charge narrowly edging out a strong challenge from Liam Kelly for third. Stewart Campbell crossed the line in fifth but was relegated after his lap out for a mechanical within the 3 laps to go zone, although the lap board still showed 4 laps to go, so Warren Scott claimed the series point and envelope for fifth.
In the battle for B grade Easts rider John Peppard went one better than last week when he notched up his first win easily accounting for John Sunde in the sprint while Andy Portess demonstrated he is well and truly at home in B grade after his third placing in as many weeks.
Continuing the Easts supremacy in the lower grades Shane Howley also went one better than last week when he too won his first C grade race and showed he's very close to the step up to B grade. Peter O'Connor was back in the placing's with a strong 2nd place while Chris Taylor got in the points, but not the money when he got third.
International track racing comes to town this week with the Sydney round of the Track World Cup at the Dunc Gray Velodrome. Heffron Park is also the centre of attention this weekend when Randwick Botany conduct their own graded handicap race on Saturday afternoon - same format as Tuesday night except the winner takes home $200. And that's from a club not even listed on the ASX.
The Trek Bikes Summer Series 2006 continues every Tuesday night through to 28 March 2006. Racing starts promptly at 6pm. You'll need a current Cycling Australia licence and an Australian Standards approved helmet.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Stuart Baker
- No shortage of trackside glamour at Heffron Park
- Nikki, Rachel and Emma get ready for their introduction to Heffron Park
- Chris Dowd puts in an early effort in C grade
- Round 1 winner Paul Watzlaff
- Peter O'Connor had another good ride in C grade to finish 2nd
- English girls Rachel Heal and Emma Jones
- Troy Glennan had another powerhouse ride, seen here with Tim Willing
- Just like Lance - Dave Whyman leads Dave Whyman on their matching Trek Madone SSL's
- Rachel Heal enjoying the Sydney summer
- Alf Brown styling in the all white euro look
- Series leader Aaron Richardson shows the strain of B grade
- Stewart Campbell remounts after yet another mechanical
- No sitting on - A grade appear to take advantage of the walker
- Track star Warren Scott
- The pressure is on in B grade who are about to be caught by A grade
- If looks could kill! Frank Conceicao with his best Portuguese glare in C grade
- Sean Vale nips away to win the 5 laps to go sprint prime
- Troy Glennan has the field strung out in the gutter on the bell lap
- Dave Whyman goes for the big throw to hold off Gavin Bates who finished 3rd
- Blanket finish for the first five places
Results
1 Dave Whyman (Clarence St Cyclery) 2 Robbie Cater (FRF Couriers) 3 Gavin Bates (St George) 4 Liam Kelly (Sydney) 5 Warren Scott (St George) B Grade 1 John Peppard (Easts) 2 John Sunde (St George) 3 Andy Portess (Randwick Botany) C Grade 1 Shane Howley (Easts) 2 Peter O'Connor (Easts) 3 Chris Taylor (Sutherland) Sprint Primes 7 laps to go 1 Gerard Donaldson 2 Patrick Naughton 3 John Baxter 5 laps to go 1 Sean Vale 2 Richard Vial 3 Gerard Donaldson 3 laps to go 1 Troy Glennan 2 Tim Willing 3 Liam Kelly Trek Bikes Pointscore 1 Aaron Richardson 20 pts 2 Anthony O'Brien 13 3 Andy Portess 11 4 Peter Carscadden 9 5 Paul Watzlaff 7 5 Stuart Dangerfield 7 5 Dave Whyman 7 8 Frank Fortuna 6 8 Simon Parker 6 10 Shane Howley 5 10 Karl Bellamy 5 10 Jose Rodriguez 5 13 Mike Bolt 4 13 Marko Turner 4 13 Chris Sutton 4 13 Robbie Cater 4 17 Peter O'Connor 3 17 Gavin Bates 3 19 Adam Socha 2 19 Andrew Duggan 2 19 Tim Willing 2 19 Liam Kelly 2 23 Alf Brown 1 23 Anthony Spurgeon 1 23 Brad McGarry 1 23 Emma James 1 23 Warren Scott 1 A/B Grade Sprint King 1 Dave Evans 43 pts 2 Matthew Lucas 39 3 Tim Willing 20 4 Jose Rodriguez 16 5 Sean Vale 15 6 Richard Vial 13 7 John Kenny 11 8 Scott Callum 10 9 Stan Genakis 8 9 Dave Whyman 8 11 John Peppard 6 11 Chris Reynolds 6 11 Brad Mills 6 11 Peter McDonald 6 11 Peter Fitzpatrick 6 11 Liam Kelly 6 11 Robert Cater 6 11 Gerard Donaldson 6 19 Josh Flemming 5 19 Stuart Dangerfield 5 19 Michael O'Brien 5 19 Dave Green 5 19 Mark Cavendish 5 19 Troy Glennan 5 25 Jonothan Cridland 3 25 Alan Bozunovic 3 25 Chris Reynolds 3 25 Chris Sutton 3 25 Jim Moore 3 25 Patrick Naughton 3 31 Anthony Spurgeon 2 31 Gavin Bates 2 33 Steve Wooldridge 1 33 John Boles 1 33 Tony Corrigan 1 33 George Diniakos 1 33 John Baxter 1 C Grade 1 Aaron Richardson 17 pts 2 Andy Portess 9 3 Anthony O'Brien 8 3 Shane Howley 8 5 Paul Watzlaff 5 5 Peter Carscadden 5 7 Chris Taylor 4 7 Peter O'Connor 4 9 Marko Turner 3 9 Mike Bolt 3 9 Frank Fortuna 3 12 Simon Parker 2 13 Karl Bellamy 1
