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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent Criteriums, Sunday November 26, 2006
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Say what you will about Melbourne's weather, but another fine Sunday morning saw another huge field of 234 riders roll up at Glenvale Crescent, despite a number of regulars who were missing due to commitments at the Oceania Track Chmapionships.
Brendan Rowbotham (SHM) didn't make many friends with a big attack as soon as the A Grade race started. 'Snowy' jumped up the road with Jason Theobald (O'Mara Cycles), Casey Munro and Marcus Wettenhall (Tri 2 Cycle), while the majority of the 70 rider bunch was still entering the race circuit.
The four early leaders never looked back, and after only two laps were well clear. A series of counter attacks saw a strong chase group assemble, containing Darren Lapthorne (Drapac-Porsche), David Sturt (Giant/Pro-Motion), Pete Johnstone (Inexa Race Frames), Steve Robb (CBD Cycles), Anthony Smith (Promains) and Peter Barnett (SHM), and close in the leaders.
Less than ten minutes in, the two groups merged, shedding Munro and Theobald, and steadily increased their advantage over the bunch, and actually had the tail of the field in sight at the 30 minute mark. With the bunch out of contention, the SHM duo of Barnett and Rowbotham began a series of attacks to cut down the size of the lead group.
Eventually, Rowbotham got clear, along with only Lapthorne and Wettenhall. Behind, the chase was on in earnest, with Danny Kah, Guy Green, Luke Pledger (O'Mara) and Matt Chessum (Fitzroy Cycles) doing some huge turns to slowly peg back the two leading groups. By the call of 'three to go', the remnants of the break had been swept up, but the three leaders had done enough to hold off the chase. Wettenhall proved the strongest, powering away from his companions with two laps remaining to take the win, before Lapthorne outsprinted Rowbotham for second place. Tommy Nankervis (Priority Health) led the bunch home, just ahead of Todd Wilksch (Fitzroy Cycles).
B Grade also saw success favour the early attackers. Grant Matthews broke clear with Rohan Ware (Top Gear Cycles) just past the half way mark and quickly opened a twenty second advantage. A number of chase groups tried to bridge the gap, including Richard Cormick (Datacom-Burnley Finance) and Michael Vogt (Melbourne Bicycle Centre), and Neale Sturt, Andrew Downie and Josh Morrison (Datacom), but the two power houses out front continued to build their lead out to an unassailable 40 seconds.
Ware looked to have got the jump on the Brickie in the dash to the line, but with a big second effort, Matthews drew level and forced his way in front ten metres from home to claim the win. Cormick capped off a good lead out from the Datacom train to lead the bunch home, ahead of Ben Williams (Bicycle Superstore) and Dean Stewart. Belinda Goss (TIS/cyclingnews) took the women's sprint, ahead of Briana James (The Freedom Machine) and Matthews' wife, Nikki.
Damon Ginns spent ten minutes off the front of the C Grade bunch in the opening stages, but was caught at the twenty minute mark. After his success, the bunch was a little more vigilant, and pounced on every attempt to break clear.
The move that came closest to outlasting the chase contained Ross Jones (Jones Cycles), Nathan Pearson, Geoff Parker, Daniel Lewis-Toakley and Ginns, but eventually the sprinters took control, with Steel Van Hoff taking the win ahead of Josh Mackley and Doug Reynolds. Michelle Murrell took another women's win, ahead of Melissa Kah and Melissa Nicholls.
Alex Chudley-Davis ensured the Datacom squad climbed to the top spot of the podium with his impressive sprint to lead the D Grade bunch home ahead of constant attacker Morgan Barnes (Melbourne Bicycle Centre) and junior star Jack Cummings (Bicycle Superstore). Christabel Prischl (Elk Haus) began her comeback with the women's win, crossing the line ahead of Radelle Berriman and Leah Paterson.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue every Tuesday evening at Sandown Raceway. Entry is via the Sandown Road entrance (Melways map 80 B6), from 6pm, with all grades racing at 6.30. Sundays are at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80 B2). B, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and C Grade ride at 10am.
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. All returning riders must resume in the grade they last raced in, unless prior arrangement has been made with the handicapper, Lorraine Collings.
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, 70 Starters 1 Marcus Wettenhall (Geelong) 2 Darren Lapthorne (Coburg) 3 Brendan Rowbotham (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Tommy Nankervis (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Todd Wilksch (Horsham) 6 Casey Munro (Brunswick) B Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 63 Starters 1 Grant Matthews (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Rohan Ware (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Richard Cormick (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Ben Williams (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Dean Stewart (Northcote) Women 1 Belinda Goss (Tasmania) 2 Briana James (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Nikki Matthews (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade, 50 minutes + 3 laps, 44 Starters 1 Steel Van Hoff (Chelsea & Peninsula) 2 Josh Mackley (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Doug Reynolds (Blackburn) 4 Paul Oman (Echuca) Women 1 Michelle Murrell (Mornington) 2 Melissa Kah (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Melissa Nicholls (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 50 Starters 1 Alex Chudley-Davis (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Morgan Barnes (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Jack Cummings (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Michael Boyce (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Chistabel Prischl (Austria) 2 Radelle Berriman (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Leah Paterson (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 7 starters 1 Peter Quibell (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Stuart Proposch (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Luke Parker (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Charlie Sturt (Carnegie Caulfield)
