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Results and Reports from AustraliaPromoters wishing to submit results should send them to Cyclingnews Heffron Park summer series #5Sydney, February 6, 2007Peter 'The Machine' McDonald (FRF Couriers/NSWIS) has one one of the most impressive palmarès of the local riders at Heffron Park so it was no surprise when he attacked the field over the pimple to ride away for a well deserved victory in front of Tim Willing (Easts) and Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello). It was McDonald's second consecutive win at Heffron after he won Saturday's Randwick Botany handicap and on Tuesday night he left himself just enough time for a victory salute which has already become one of this weeks most watched video clips on YouTube. At the halfway point of the eleven week series, Anthony Spurgeon is still a clear leader from Tim Willing who is still chasing an elusive win after two second places and two third places in the past month. The B grade competition finally got a shake up when first round winner John Peppard (Easts) was too strong for last weeks winner Stan Genakis (Sydney) and these two riders now have a slim lead on the rest of the leader board. A change also in the C grade competition when Scott Simpson (Easts) won for the second week to nudge in front of team mates John Greally and Frank Conceicao. After last week's runaway win to Fergus Bermingham (Waratah) which earned him an instant promotion to B grade, it will be interesting to see whether five time C grade winner Scott Simpson will finally start in B grade next week or whether the red/white/blue brotherhood of Easts will keep him safely tucked away in C Grade. At least some riders are prepared to step up and have a go with Sutherland Real Estate guru Alex Frame starting in A grade and putting in a solid ride to finish with the bunch. Also lining up in A grade was Canadian Chris Gruber who was so anxious to get out of the Toronto winter he and mate Ian Sullivan spent a well deserved fortnight in Sydney on r and r. And just to prove that racing at Heffron Park really is the breeding ground for pro career in Europe, it was good to see Englishman Mark Cavendish get second place in his first pro race with T-Mobile on Stage 1 of the Etoile de Bessèges. It was only 12 months ago Mark was ripping it up at Heffron. Conditions for this weeks race weren't nearly as windy and gusty as previous weeks so it was a slighter larger field than usual which came together in the closing laps. An escape of C grade riders Scott Simpson and Manny Katsiaris (Easts) almost snuck away with an upset, but it was the charging A and B grade field, lead by no other than B grade workhorse Sean O'Neill (Randwick Botany) on the last lap which was going to have the final say. Going over the last pimple, Pete McDonald timed his move perfectly to catch the sprinters napping with a devastating kick which quickly opened a slender lead as he hit the straight. He then simply kicked again to maintain the advantage all the way to the finish line holding out a flying Tim Willing. Spurge's third spot still gives him valuable series points while Steve Fitzpatrick (St George) also picks up more points for fourth. Liam Kelly (Sydney) got himself on the points board for fifth. Dave Stevens (Easts) proved his recent C grade win was no fluke when he placed third in B grade behind John Peppard and Stan Genakis. Andrew Duggan (Easts) continues to perform well in C grade with another second place, while Jemma O'Brien (Sutherland) bested most of the C grade men by finishing third.
ResultsOverall Local results 2007 |
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