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Carnegie Caulfield CC
Glenvale Crescent, Mulgrave, Sunday December 21, 2003
By Mal Sawford
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After a washout of the Club's Christmas Track Carnival the day before, the weather was kinder on the roadies for the regular Sunday morning speed fest. A record 72 riders contested the premier A Grade event - the opportunity to test themselves against Tour de France stars Baden Cooke, Matt Wilson (both FdJeux.com) and Jeremy Hunt (Oktos) was too good to pass up!
A Grade
Within moments of the A Grade start, the pace was on, with Australian club road champion Chris Bradford (CBD Cycles) flying off the front. He was quickly joined by Wilson, a very fit looking Robert Tighello (Genovese Coffee/ACR) and Jonathan Clarke (SBR). The speed in the chasing bunch didn't drop below 50kmh, but the early break had no trouble holding their advantage.
Sensing the danger, the stronger riders in the bunch lifted the pace another notch, and some dropped wheels saw a select chase group split from the main field. Hilton Clarke (SBR), Mikkeli Godfree (Team MG-ZT), former MTB junior world champion Trent Lowe (Mapei), Rob Crowe (BikeNOW), Simon Clarke (BikeNOW), Will Walker (CBD Cycles) and Cooke put in a strong effort to bridge to the leaders, although for most of the group, the effort proved too much and by the thirty minute mark, only Lowe and Clarke remained with the leaders.
A five-man chase from the MG-ZT boys prevented the break lapping the huge bunch, but the six leaders stayed out of sight on the 1200 meter circuit. Jonathan Clarke, an Australian world championship team member on road and track, broke clear three laps from home, and stayed clear to record a good win. Bradford produced the best sprint to finish second, well clear of Tighello, his older brother Hilton, Lowe and Wilson.
B Grade
B Grade also started quickly, with the Elite women doing much of the pace setting early on. The fast pace kept the bunch together until the half way mark, when Jason Pastor went clear, quickly followed by cross country skier Rob Curtis (O'Mara Cycles). David Taylor (SBR) jumped the gap, and the trio held off the chase for the best part of ten minutes.
David O'Leary stretched his legs at the fifty minute mark, with Paralympian Peter Homann (VIS) and visiting Randwick-Botany rider Mike Neal, before the bunch swooped again. O'Leary made another effort at ‘three to go', taking Nick Gates (BikeNOW) with him, and with a well timed effort rode clear to take the win.
Matt Jensen led the bunch home ahead of training partner Frank Cipriano. Jensen, an early leader in the Team Alex Series, moved back into second place, while Cipriano's ride earned him promotion to A Grade and a place in the top 10. A clipped pedal in the final corner saw Kirsty Bortolin (the Freedom Machine) hit the deck, taking Jenny Macpherson (Fitzroy Cycles), Karen Hopkinson and a few other unfortunates with her. All escaped without serious injury, however, and Narelle Peterson (Giramondo Sportswear) avoided the pile up to claim the Women's win ahead of Katie Mactier (Fitzroy) and Rebecca McConnell.
C Grade
Scott Jensen and Matt Collins held a good lead over the C Grade bunch in the early stages, but the bunch wore them down before the half way mark. David Downing (Le Tour Cycles) tried his customary late solo attack, but was quickly chased down, setting up a bunch sprint across the full width of the road.
Alex Smyth flashed home in the left hand gutter to take the win by a length ahead of early leader Collins, with Peter Johnson and Jeremy Austin taking the minor places. Cheryl Walker sprinted her $6000 Lightweight wheel set to the Women's win and third in the Alex Series, ahead of Gemma Goyne (BikeNOW) and Tess Downing (Le Tour).
D Grade
Gary Cairnduff went one better than his second place last week, leading the D Grade bunch home with a good sprint Blackburn junior Ross Hamilton was a narrow second ahead of Rod Pemberton, while Under 15 star Lisa Friend (Bianchi) put in another outstanding ride to finish outright fourth. Ferne Walklate had to settle for second in the Women's division, finishing with the lead bunch, while Livia Gluchowska took third from the chase group.
The $7000 Team Alex Series lead stays with Simon Lancaster on 92 points. Matt Jensen moved into second with 70, with Cheryl Walker close behind at 68. The leading three women now all hold places in the top 10; Lisa Friend lies 8th (61) ahead of Ferne Walklate in 9th with 60 points.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continues Sundays at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80B2). Twilight races are held on Tuesday evenings at Sandown racecourse, on the car racing circuit, with all grades starting at 6.30pm. Entry is via Sandown Rd, from 5.30pm. No racing will be held Sunday 28th or Tuesday 30th December.
All holders of 2004 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. For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts racing clinics in E Grade. For further details, including information and standings for the Team Alex series, check out www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Photography
Images by Mal Sawford
- Hilton Clarke, Chris Bradford, Robert Tighello and Matt Wilson lead the A Grade field.
- The strain shows in the A Grade chase group.
- The A Grade bunch chased without success.
- A Grade winner, Jonathan Clarke.
- FdJeux.com team-mates Baden Cooke and Matt Wilson pose with a young fan.
- The post-race wrap-up by the A Grade place-getters.
- B Grade action.
- C Grade head towards the final sprint.
- D Grade race in the bright sunshine.
Results
A Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 72 starters 1 Jonathan Clarke (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Chris Bradford (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Robert Tighello (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Hilton Clarke (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Trent Lowe (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Matt Wilson (Chelsea & Peninsula) B Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 61 starters 1 David O'Leary (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Nick Gates (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Matt Jensen (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Frank Cipriano (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Clark Livingstone (Blackburn) Women 1 Narelle Peterson (Coburg) 2 Katie Mactier (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Rebecca McConnell (Northcote) C Grade, 50 minutes + 3 laps, 40 starters 1 Alex Smyth (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Matt Collins (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Peter Johnson (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Jeremy Austin (St Kilda) Women 1 Cheryl Walker (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Gemma Goyne (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Tess Downing (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 36 starters 1 Gary Cairnduff (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Ross Hamilton (Blackburn) 3 Rod Pemberton (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Lisa Friend (Blackburn) Women 1 Lisa Friend (Blackburn) 2 Ferne Walklate (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Ferne Walklate (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps 1 Celia Vandestadt (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Beate Vandestadt (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Andrew Cullen (Blackburn)
