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Carnegie Caufield CC - Jack McGowan Handicap

Modella, August 16, 2003

By Mal Sawford

Race leaders on the climb to Ripplebrook
Photo: © Mal Sawford

Bright blue skies and a total absence of wind greeted the 70 strong field for the annual running of the Jack McGowan Handicap, raced over two laps of the hillier Modella circuits. Jack, a long time President of the host club, and a member of the Victorian Cycling Hall of Fame, was on hand with family and friends to watch the race unfold. The bunches at either end of the race were a little light on for numbers, however the Limit bunch, consisting entirely of Women cyclists, rode well to hold off the much larger 2nd Limit group until the base of the climb to Ripplebrook.

Kurt Jensen set a cracking pace on the climb, and Loretta Mabin (Kathy Watt's Personal Training) was the only out marker to handle the surge, which eventually saw the lead group reduced to four riders with almost a lap and half to travel. Malcolm Hart and George Ward completed the foursome, with all riders pulling strongly in the perfect conditions and averaging over 40 km/h.

The bunches behind couldn't make much of an impression into the leader's advantage; the third group on the road had effectively only pulled back 45 seconds after 25km, while the middle markers led by Kathy Watt hadn't done much better, making up one minute of their 10 minute deficit. At the tail of the field, the Scratch bunch was down to five riders, and still 15 minutes down on the leaders.

The second lap saw the leading quartet continue to work smoothly, and without the customary winds to battle, hold their speed well. With the final 10km largely downhill, once the leaders had survived the climbs to Ripplebrook and Athalone, the race was all but wrapped up.

Ward lost contact with leaders in the final kilometre and had to settle for fourth, leaving a determined Jensen to power to the line half a length clear of Hart, with Loretta Mabin's impressive ride earning her third overall as well as the healthy Women's prize cheque.

Trevor Cameron led the 14 ½ minute bunch home to claim the final prize, just ahead of Matt Jensen (Kathy Watt's Personal Training), and preventing a father and son podium appearance for the Jensen clan.

With the Scratch bunch out of contention for overall honours, tactics came into play midway through the second lap. Canberra's Michael Tolhurst attacked midway up the Ripplebrook climb, and only Matt Goold (ACR) was ready to follow. The pair held off the three chasers in the pursuit to the line, with Tolhurst surprising Goold with a well judged sprint to take the Fastest Time prize.

Courtesy of a generous sponsorship from PowerBar, all riders received a PowerBar Protein Plus bar with their entry, with place getters receiving Protein Plus Recharge concentrate to speed up their post race recovery. The pace on Sunday morning's Club ride will no doubt be up a notch as a result!

Carnegie Caufield's Club Road Championships for Men, Women, Juniors and Masters will be run at the same circuit on August 30, commencing at 1.30pm. Riders will receive a PowerBar Protein Plus bar at all road races throughout the winter road season. Full details are available at www.carnegiecycling.com.au.

Photos

Images by Mal Sawford

• The winning bunch climbed clear on the opening lap. Jensen leads Hart, Mabin and Ward.
• Matt Jensen leads the chase after his father.
• Riders from the middle marks chased in vain.
• The second scratch bunch held off the back markers for the full distance.
• AIS junior David Kemp leads the scratch bunch up the Athalone climb.
• The leaders on the climb to Ripplebrook during the final lap.
• Kathy Watt rode strongly but couldn't peg back the leaders.
• The back markers climb to Ripplebrook.
• Trevor Cameron takes the sprint for fifth.
• Jack McGowan conducted the presentation ceremony.

Results, 80 km handicap

1 Kurt Jensen (Carnegie Caulfield)
2 Malcolm Hart (Carnegie Caulfield)
3 Loretta Mabin (Leongatha)
4 George Ward (Carnegie Caulfield)
5 Trevor Cameron (Blackburn)
6 Matt Jensen (Carnegie Caulfield)
7 John Archer (Carnegie Caulfield)
8 Cam Woolcock (Hawthorn)
9 Grant Hellings (Chelsea & Peninsula)
10 Chris Truskett (St Kilda)
 
Fastest time: Michael Tolhurst (Canberra)
 
1st Woman: Loretta Mabin (Leongatha)