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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent Criteriums - Sunday, April 1, 2007
By Mal Sawford
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It was something of a quiet morning at Glenvale, with many of our regulars taking on Australia's best at the Australian Masters road championships, and school holidays accounting for a few more. Even the quiet days bring good fields these days; 150 riders would have been cause for celebration a couple of years ago!
Nick Larkin became the latest graduate of Mick Hollingworth's novice clinic after a convincing final burst that saw him open a gap over up and coming juniors Lloyd Dowling, Andrew Barrett and Charlie Sturt in the E Grade race.
The pace picked up dramatically in D Grade after twenty minutes with Jamie Blaker, Daniel Barrett and Nick Bird setting a torrid tempo. Their accelerations saw a number of riders lose contact with the peloton, with around twenty staying in contact to contest the bunch sprint.
David Kefaloukos proved the quickest, claiming the win which will see him make the jump to C Grade after a run of near misses. Next home were Ashley Duncan, Gordon Patrick and Blaker, with Andrea Bishop taking the women's win ahead of Melissa Nicholls.
Radelle Berriman (Terry Hammond Cycles) surprised the C Grade bunch with an attack off the start line, but was soon back in the fold. Melissa Kah counter attacked and spent a few laps building her lead before the lethargic bunch organised a chase. The two women tried a number of times to break things up throughout the remainder of the race without success, with the sprinters happy to let the final dash decide the places.
Justin Walker ran out a clear winner ahead of Trent Williams, Jason Vespa and Matt Fortunato (Richmond Cyclery), with Kah taking the women's win ahead of Berriman.
In contrast, the B Grade race was a much more attacking one. Ken Ford, Neale Adams, Steve Martin, Jules Amos and Geoff Parker (Pro-Motion Bicycles) featured in a threatening move midway through the hour long race, with Ford quick to seize the initiative again after they were reeled in. He was joined by Rick Jones (Datacom/Burnley Finance) and Tess Downing (Drapac/Porsche Development Team) and the trio combined well to hold off the furiously chasing bunch for another two laps.
A good counter attack came from Ian Johnston and Parker as the bunch reformed, and their efforts saw them lead for two laps before Robert Regester launched from the bunch and shot straight past and into a clear lead. Regester opened a maximum advantage of fifteen seconds and powered around the final six laps to take an impressive win. Jones attacked the bunch at two to go to solo home in second place, with the bunch led home by Martin, Alex Lockie and Tess Downing after her Drapac team mate Lisa Friend put her lead out skills to the test at the head of the big field.
The early prediction from the sidelines was that the majority of the A Grade bunch would be in for an early day after an early attack by Danny Kah (SHM/CCCC), Matt Shea (Inexa/Naughty Boy), Alex Smyth (UNO) and Daniel Braunsteins opened a big lead before the bunch wound up to full speed.
Once back together after a lengthy chase, there were continual efforts to break things up with small groups able to go clear courtesy of defensive efforts by team mates. None gained more than a handful of seconds until the largest split of the day saw a dozen riders clear with fifteen minutes remaining. Under the impetus of Peter Barnett, Kah and Matt Sherwin (SHM/CCCC), Warren Knevitt (O'Mara Cycles), Peter Trigar, Pat Shaw (VIS), Braunsteins and Anthony Smith (Promains), the break raced out of sight.
A late surge from the bunch in the final three laps had the bunch almost back on terms, but it was too little, too late as Smith raced to the line to keep the Promains winning streak unbroken. In a tight finish, Shaw took second just ahead of Barnett and Knevitt, with Trigar and Kah collecting the final prize envelopes.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue on Sunday April 15 (there is no racing on Easter Sunday) 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 2007 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. 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.
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, 60 Starters) 1 Anthony Smith (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Pat Shaw (Ballarat/Sebastapol) 3 Peter Barnett (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Warren Knevitt (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Peter Trigar (Brunswick) 6 Danny Kah (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Peta Mullens (Carnegie Caulfield) B Grade (1 hour + 3 laps, 37 Starters) 1 Robert Regester (Blackburn) 2 Rick Jones (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Steve Martin (MTBA) 4 Alex Lockie (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Tess Downing (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Tess Downing (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Lisa Friend (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Nikki Matthewa (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade (50 minutes + 3 laps, 22 Starters) 1 Justin Walker (Hawthorn) 2 Trent Williams (Alpine) 3 Jason Vespa (Blackburn) 4 Matt Fortunato (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Melissa Kah (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Radelle Berriman (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade (45 minutes + 3 laps, 34 Starters) 1 David Kefaloukos (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Ashley Duncan (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Gordon Patrick (St Kilda) 4 Jamie Blaker (Carnegie Caulfield)
