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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent Criteriums, Victoria, Sunday November 5, 2006
By Malcolm Sawford
Blue skies, and no wind - the perfect spring morning at Glenvale Crescent, so there was little surprise when riders began to roll up in droves. When the rush finally finished the girls had signed on a mammoth 248 riders, a field bettered only by the turn out for the test event on the Commonwealth Games circuit last season.
The idyllic conditions saw the huge A Grade field fly around the 1.2km circuit, averaging close to 50kmh for the first half of the race, and consequently making it tough for any one to open a gap. David Sturt (Giant/Pro-Motion) did force a bit of a split twenty minutes in, but the fifty metre gap was never going to be enough. IPC world Champion Michael Gallagher put his pursuiting strength on show just after half way with a solo attack, but once again his efforts were doomed.
Sturt's final assault at three to go, along with Peter Barnett (SHM) and Mark Howard (O'Mara Cycles), almost came off, and if there were a prize for the 'most aggressive 35 plus' rider, it would surely have gone Steggles' way! The bunch made contact just before the final corner, with Jamie Kelly (Terry Hammond Cycles) powering into the home straight first.
Pete Johnstone (Inexa Race Frames), possibly the world's fastest sixteen year old, and coming off two straight wins at Glenvale was well positioned again, and looked like making it three in a row until Malaysian sprinter Akma Amrun surged past to claim the win. Third home was Dylan Boone, ahead of Leigh De Luca and Danny Kah.
A late break in B Grade also threatened, with Russell Newnham (Pro-Motion) urging Luke Jones, Paul Kelly (Burnley Finance), Rohan Ware and Damien Jones (Hampton Cycles) to combine smoothly. Wayne Evans (Le Tour Cycles) lead a small chase group also containing Jenny Macpherson (AIS) across the gap, but also kept the bunch close enough to pounce just in time for the call of three to go.
The 'Malaysian Invasion' struck again, with more of John Beasley's charges showing their sprinting speed. Mohd Sufian led Mohd Faizal home, with Cam Wall (Prime Estate) the best of the local riders. Nicole Whitburn (Mainline Cycles) and Macpherson fought out a good battle down the finishing straight, with Whitburn prevailing, and claiming fifth overall to boot. Lisa Friend's new Drapac-Porsche strip wasn't far behind as she flashed home as third woman.
The C Grade bunch may have needed motion sickness tablets by race end after having been passed so many times by the lighting quick A Grade bunch, but the win went to a rider on a long solo break. Andrew Downie made his first (and last!) ride in C Grade an impressive one, while behind him the main interest was the battle for second.
New-comer Joshua Lose out sprinted Claudio Abreu to take second place, while in the Women's section it was another Malaysian quinella, with Noor Alias and Uracca Leow too strong for Clare Vlahopolous and Michelle Murrell.
After an entertaining and attacking D Grade race, Blackburn junior Dale Reith attacked at the bell, with Michael Mather in pursuit. Reith took the win with Mather unable to close the gap, but both riders rode strongly enough to keep the bunch at bay.
Doug Reynolds held off Rod Crouch for third place, while the Women's divison saw Shannon McCurley take the points ahead of Radelle Berriman and Leah Paterson.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue every Sunday at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80B2). B, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and C Grade ride at 10am. Twilight racing at Sandown Raceway commences on November 14 at 6pm.
All holders of current 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. 2007 licenses are now available at all CCCC events.
For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts novice racing clinics within the E Grade race at Glenvale Crescent. For further details, go to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
A Grade 1 hour + 3 laps (79 Starters) 1 Akma Amrun (Malaysia) 2 Pete Johnstone (Chelsea & Peninsula) 3 Dylan Boone (Western Australia) 4 Leigh De Luca (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Danny Kah (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Mustafa Rusli (Malaysia) B Grade 1 hour + 3 laps (63 Starters) 1 Mohd Sufian (Malaysia) 2 Mohf Faizal (Malaysia) 3 Cameron Wall (St Kilda) 4 Damien Jones (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Nicole Whitburn (Warragul) Women 1 Nicole Whitburn (Warragul) 2 Jenny Macpherson (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Lisa Friend (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Rachel Rademaker (Blackburn) C Grade 50 minutes + 3 laps (48 Starters) 1 Andrew Downie (St Kilda) 2 Joshua Lose (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Claudio Abreu (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Matt Ditchfield (Blackburn) Women 1 Noor Alias (Malaysia) 2 Uracca Leow (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Clare Vlahopolous (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Michelle Murrell (Mornington) D Grade 45 minutes + 3 laps (45 Starters) 1 Dale Reith (Blackburn) 2 Michael Mather (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Doug Reynolds (Blackburn) 4 Rod Crouch (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Shannon McCurley (Latrobe City) 2 Radelle Berriman (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Leah Paterson (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade 45 minutes + 3 laps (13 starters) 1 George Pazaros (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Will Thomas (Blackburn) 3 Stuart Proposch (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Luke Parker (Carnegie Caulfield)
