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Norwood CC

November 11, 2003

Record field for Aitken's return

The largest field in a number of years turned out for racing the criteriums at Regency Park on Tuesday night. Perfect warm conditions with no wind encouraged them to do so.

The evening started with the junior riders with recent under 15 rider Jack Rhodes riding to an impressive sprint win over his older rivals. E Grade saw Mat Hannan carry on his strong form from Sunday to lead his bunch in the sprint and not be challenged. D Grade saw a few new riders take out the first three placings with a couple of old vets taking the minors.

With C Grade, winner Neil Mc Corquadale, took a chance and slipped away with just under two laps to go of the circuit, the bunch was not concerned by this and let it happen hoping they would have someone chase him down. Up the finishing straight riding to the flag Neil was digging post holes, while the bunch was flying in behind, with all his effort Neil pushed to the line winning by half a bike length.

B Grade had a rather controversial finish, with their bunch getting two laps to go from the commissaires whilst being overtaken by A grade. Some riders decided to stay where they were whilst the main pack thought it best to back off. Two riders used the bunch to their advantage to help them open a large gap between them and the main field and with one to go the race looked over. At the flag the two riders sprinted down the outside of A grade whilst the bunch had to be happy for the minor placings. The commissaires let the placings stand.

A grade saw the return of Australia's best criterium rider and Olympic gold medalist Brett Aitken, returning from the Tour of Queensland and Sun Tour. The pace was on all night, with numerous attempts at breakaways. At two laps to go there was a six man break 100m up the road, all of the favourites were missing happy to be sitting back in the field. Mat Rex was leading the main pack through with one to go and when he heard the bell launched an attack off the front. The bunch was quick to react and Mat was strong to bridge the gap and bring the race together with half a lap to go. Instantly an attack came from Nick Underwood, he opened a lead on the field with no one wanting to lead the sprint to catch him and he bolted for the win, uncontested. Fifty metres behind came the main pack with a field of thirty riders with all the sprinters taking the placings.

Results

A grade, 31 riders
 
1 Nick Underwood
2 Shane Gill
3 Brett Aitken
4 Alan Gill
5 Mat Rex
 
B grade, 27 riders
 
1 Paul Frisby-Smith
2 Dale Rycroft
3 Bill Drodge
4 Bradley Allen
5 Simon McKenzie
 
C grade, 32 riders
 
1 Neil McCorquadale
2 Sam Allen
3 Chris Wood
4 Nigel Willoughby
5 Daryl Margrate
 
D grade, 23 riders
 
1 Craig Lienert
2 Stuart Cathcart
3 Corey Roberts
4 Steve Zucker
5 Don McLennan
 
E grade, 22 riders
 
1 Mat Hannan
2 Michael Vugts
3 Duncan Fairclough
4 Genna Crean
5 Peter Winter
 
Juniors
 
1 Jack Rhodes
2 Craig Mattingly
3 Russell Taylor
4 Tiffany Cromwell
5 Elisia Kelly
6 Daniel Robb