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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent Criteriums - Sunday, April 15, 2007
By Mal Sawford
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It was back to Glenvale after a week off for Easter, and near perfect conditions greeted close to 200 riders. There are only two more Sunday morning races before the start of the 'winter' road season proper, although many of CCCC's roadies have already turned to the hills and were racing the Tour of the Southern Grampians this weekend.
After an attacking start to the A Grade race, with all the usual suspects jumping up the road in search of the winning break, it took almost thirty minutes before the right combination formed. Inexa Summer Series leader Brendan Rowbotham (SHM/CCCC) and closest challenger Andrew Stalder (Promains) were joined by Rowbotham's team mate Peter Barnett and Dale Woonton (Hillman).
Your scribe briefly made the selection too, to the shock of the all and sundry, before a pressing need to report on the progress of the chase saw me return to the shelter of the bunch, where there wasn't actually that much chasing going on! The four leaders were well clear with ten minutes to race before a dozen riders split from the main field.
The late chase had the break in sight for the final three laps, but it was too little too late as Stalder sprinted to the line to take Promains fifth win on the trot ahead of Rowbotham; who can take consolation in knowing that with his second place finish he has all but wrapped up the first place in the $7000 Inexa Series. Woonton held off Barnett for third, while Steve Pilson and Oliver Phillips claimed the final prizes at the head of the chase group.
Early attacks in B Grade saw a succession of single and pairs of riders throw down the gauntlet, with Daniel Strangio, Cam Rotter (Datacom/Burnley Finance), Glenn Janetzki and Paul Groves (Croydob Cycleworks) among the early aggressors. Approaching the half way mark, Darren Sayers combined with Ian Johnstone, Chris Halley and Nigel Kimber (O'Mara Cycles) and held a narrow lead for a couple of laps before the relentless chase wore them down.
Next to escape were a trio of experienced strongmen in Geoff Parker and Russell Newnham (Pro-Motion Bicycles) and Ken Ford, but despite opening a handy initial lead, they too were reeled in. Youngsters Oliver Le Grice (O'Mara) and Daniel Lewis-Toakley had no more luck when they attacked and the field regrouped with ten minutes to race.
Matt Colson (Prime Estate) jumped away with five minutes to race, and looked strong on his way to building a ten second lead. At 'three to go' the bunch were breathing down Colson's neck, but he lifted his pace and went further ahead before finally succumbing on the last lap.
Peter Window counter attacked in the back straight and powered home, chased all the way by Kimber. The bunch sprinted for third place, only a few metres adrift of Kimber, with Lewis-Toakley best of the rest ahead of Justin Walker and Ashley Warton. Jenni King (spoke'n) led Nikki Matthews home to take the women's division.
The thirty-odd riders in C Grade kept a solid tempo throughout their fifty minutes, and made it too hard for any break away attempts to build a significant lead. Naturally, a bunch sprint was the result, with exciting junior Scott Berry (Terry Hammond Cycles) taking the win which will elevate him to B Grade for the last couple of crits.
Trent Williams, from the Alpine Club, found the flat lands to his liking with a good second place, while Matt Fortunato (Richmond Cyclery) and Gary Doggett rounded out the podium. Melissa Kah was the first of the women home, taking the cash ahead of Emma Gaul.
The D Grade race also followed a familiar pattern. Once the ten minute neutral session was done and dusted, the pace built up over the next fifteen minutes to a crescendo causing around a dozen riders to lose contact. At the half way mark, however, there is usually a collective sigh of relief when the pace setters decide to catch their breath, allowing a bit of re-grouping, before the final ten minute mad dash.
Daniel Watts and Stuart Proposch combined in an attack that signalled the end of this morning's truce, but it was the strong counter move by Tim Callan as the pair faded that went unanswered, with the new rider powering around the last five laps alone to take a convincing win. Brett Nelson led the chasers home, just ahead of Mel Humphries-Grey and Gary Cairnduff, with a closely contested women's race taken by Rebecca Domange ahead of Kelly Cycle Coaching riders Carla Lawson and Shae Thomas.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue on Sunday mornings at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80 B2) until the end of April. 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, 54 Starters) 1 Andrew Stalder (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Brendan Rowbotham (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Dale Woonton (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Peter Barnett (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Steve Pilson (Coburg) 6 Oliver Phillips (Brunswick) B Grade (1 hour + 3 laps, 48 Starters) 1 Peter Window (Northcote) 2 Nigel Kimber (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Daniel Lewis-Toakley (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Justin Walker (Hawthorn) 5 Ashley Warton (Colac) Women 1 Jenni King (MTBA) C Grade (50 minutes + 3 laps, 32 Starters) 1 Scott Berry (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Trent Williams (Alpine) 3 Matt Fortunato (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Gary Doggett (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Melissa Kah (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Emma Gaul (Footscray) D Grade (45 minutes + 3 laps, 45 Starters) 1 Tim Callan (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Brett Nelson (Blackburn) 3 Mel Humphries-Grey (Northcote) 4 Gary Cairnduff (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Rebecca Domange (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Carla Lawson (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Shae Thomas (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade (45 minutes + 3 laps, 10 starters) 1 Saskia Penn (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Jack Hickey (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Stephanie Hansen (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Lloyd Dowling (Carnegie Caulfield)
