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Norwood CC Weekend Criterium Series

Regency Park, South Australia, November 22, 2003

Another race with unbelievably different weather, cold, blustery, overcast conditions making racing difficult for all the riders. It seemed most pre-race plans went out the window with the roadies making the most of it by forcing the pace and breaking up the bunches; it was not going to be the day of the sit-on sprinter.

E grade started with a small field and it was made even smaller when a new rider took out two favourites, Dave Ogden and Jacob Jacobs prior to the first turn. Both new riders soon found out cycle racing was a little different than just training and the conditions didn't benefit their first time at racing today. Alan Braggs eventually proved to be the quickest again taking the flag for his second win in a row for a Saturday. D grade had a similar type of race with few riders available to share turns. Matthew Kohler succumbed early as the winds punished the cyclist in the finishing straight and offered super fast pace in the back. The change in leg speed for some was way too hard. Andrew Gooley won the bunch sprint with a big grin on his face as he easily rode the finishing straight keeping his machine just a bike length in front of his opponents.

C grade, the laugh a minute bunch, always something different happening. Breakaway after breakaway, first it was Jean-Noel Seneque and young gun Darryl Margrate (Bianco), who first applied the pressure to split the field, they were caught by Peter Bice, but it didn't last long. Then came Glen Burrell with a large break and solo effort off the front, a few laps later the wind got him and he was back. Then somehow four riders slipped away unnoticed, Daniel Smith, Mark Smith, Neil McCorquodale and Paul Volkmann, these riders swapped off turns and opened a huge lead and were out of sight. The favourite Volkmann coming over a much improved Daniel Smith to take the sprint win. Then came the bunch with Jean-Noel Seneque holding off AIS rider Rochelle Gilmore for fifth, but after the finish the bunch claiming the top five placing’s having no idea the four riders had jumped away out in front for the win. A quite fitting outcome to this race with a few of these C grade riders making comments on the NCC forum this week about what to do when a breakaway occurs, they said they wouldn't chase. But in this race they didn't know a break was up the road!!

B grade had a small field but numbers will be boosted by Tuesday night with the downgrading of a few ‘A graders’. Again in this bunch the attacks were on with Kato Nixon being the central figure in all of them. In the first break he was away with Steve Sabine, after this was caught he went with Michael Davies and Michael Wheeler, this looked the winner, but with only two laps to go Bryce Alexander and others came across the gap. Now that the break had gained a few extra riders it should have won but no one was willing to take the lead and with just after one to go it folder and the bunch came together. Fittingly Kato Nixon won the sprint, well deserved after all the work he had been doing throughout the day.

A few A grade riders were notified to provide better performances prior to the start today. This proved to be just what was required to bring out the best in some as the pace was on from the word go. Mat Rex, Russell and Alan Gill kept the pace high with very strong riding. Riders were dropped as this pace continued and the race eventually split into three groups. Some riders that couldn't keep up pulled out and had a spit at the abilities of the riders still racing. Chris Luxton won the sprint finish from the first five man break after riding conservatively and outwitting his opponents in the sprint, Mat Rex second, Alan Gill third. Stephen Cunningham had a good ride as well coming home in the second group of five riders after a short break after the Sun Tour now preparing for the Tour Down Under.

Results

A Grade
 
1 Chris Luxton
2 Mat Rex
3 Alan Gill
4 Kristen Lewis
5 Ben Biggs
 
B Grade
 
1 Kato Nixon
2 Cameron Malouf
3 Steve Sabine
4 Michael Davies
5 Michael Wheeler
 
C Grade
 
1 Paul Volkmann
2 Daniel Smith
3 Mark Smith
4 Neil McCorquodale
5 Jean-Noel Seneque
 
D Grade
 
1 Andrew Gooley
2 Heintje Lange
3 Paul Wilson
4 Martin Middlemiss
5 Con Bastiras
 
E Grade
 
1 Alan Braggs
2 Peter Winter
3 James Guy
4 Michael Braggs
 
Juniors
 
1 Edward Petney
2 Bianca Rogers
3 Tiffany Cromwell
4 Jack Rhodes