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Carnegie Caulfield CC Sonny Barnes Memorial Handicap
Modella, Vic, Saturday, August 14, 2004
By Mal Sawford
A dismal winter's day saw the smallest turnout in memory for the annual Sonny Barnes Memorial Handicap. Strong winds and rain kept most away, and the hardy bunch of entrants only just outnumbered the plethora of volunteers required to comply with Victorian authorities increasingly stringent permit conditions! Seventeen officials were required irrespective of rider numbers.
Given the small turnout, and the less than ideal conditions, the race was run over one 50 kilometre circuit rather than the usual two. Scratch rider Brendan Rowbotham (Fitzroy Cycles), recently returned from two years in Perth was one who appreciated the change - despite wearing as much clothing as he could find, he was convinced hypothermia was only minutes away by the time he finished the race!
Three junior riders made up the limit group, and made the most of their advantage. Joel Rogers kept the pressure on, and eventually rode his companions off his wheel, before finally succumbing to the chase at Cora Lynn, at the 35 kilometre mark. By Cora Lynn, each bunch was hot on the heels of the bunch in front; with the race coming together at the Bayles corner.
The long pick-a-plank bridge was the perfect place for the Scratchies to split things up, and the acceleration saw only ten riders survive in the front group. Justin Davis (O'Mara Cycles) attacked the lead group, taking team mate Mark Howard and mountain bike star Murray Spink (Jones Cycles) clear. Approaching the finish, Spink attacked again with Howard on his wheel, but was able to pull away in the final kilometre to record first and fastest honours.
Howard took second, with the close sprint for third going to the frost bitten Rowbotham. Debbie Hobbs (Fitzroy Cycles) was the first Woman home, just outside the top ten, and Joel Rogers was rewarded for his solid ride with the first Junior prize. Last man home was Trevor Cameron (aboc Cycle Coaching) who waited for Dan West to repair a puncture in the freezing conditions - with both refusing all offers for a lift back to the finish!
As usual, racing would not have been possible without the support of (warm and dry) volunteers: Kym Petersen at the entry table; Traffic Controller Bob Johnstone; Corner Marshals Kym Scrutton, Rob Pagey, Andrew Prestage and Andrew Bryant; support drivers Mark ‘back from the wilderness' Chadwick, Bob Kelly, Chris Tymms, Russell Forbes, Michael Hay, Mark Kotzen and Gemma Goyne; and race assistants ‘Milky' Answerth and John O'Sullivan.
The combine planned for next weekend at Warragul has unfortunately been cancelled, with the local council withdrawing all race permits recently. Carnegie Caulfield riders now have the option of racing with the Footscray club, who have generously agreed to accommodate visitors to the Little River circuit.
Results
1 Murray Spink (Dirt Riders) 1.06.55 (44.83 km/h) 2 Mark Howard (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Brendan Rowbotham (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Chris Winn (Dirt Riders) 5 Justin Davis (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Ross Machejefski (New Zealand) 7 Matt Collins (Carnegie Caulfield) 8 Rob Licciardo (Carnegie Caulfield) 9 Chris Hunt (Warragul) 10 Rob Tidey (Carnegie Caulfield) 11 Jared Dwyer (Dirt Riders) 12 Geoff Thompson (Warragul) 13 Debra Hobbs (Carnegie Caulfield) 14 Wayne Evans (Blackburn) 15 Martin Fluendy (Carnegie Caulfield) 16 Joel Rogers (Carnegie Caulfield) 17 Tarna Schmidt (Carnegie Caulfield) 18 Darren Weir (Carnegie Caulfield) 19 Russell Hunt (Carnegie Caulfield) 20 Joel Healey (Dirt Riders) 21 Nick Palecek (Carnegie Caulfield) 22 Stephen Pettschack (Blackburn) 23 Grant Bowker-Bell (Carnegie Caulfield) 24 Dan West (Blackburn) 25 Trevor Cameron (New Zealand) Fastest time: Murray Spink (Dirt Riders) - 1.06.55 (44.83 km/h)
