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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Modella Scratch Races, June 26
Wise beats riders, weather - and cows!
By Mal Sawford
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After two weeks of lousy Melbourne weather, with rain and strong winds most days, a forecast of more wind and showers was expected to keep attendances low at the remote Modella circuit. A very healthy field of ninety proved something of a surprise for pessimistic race organizers, and despite the less than ideal conditions, most riders enjoyed their day in the country - some even got a first hand experience of the lifestyle waiting ten minutes for the local milking herd to wander across the road during the drive home!
The A Grade race saw the run of bad luck for reigning World Masters Champion Justin Davis (O'Mara Cycles) continue, with another two punctures to follow two last week! Time for some new tyres perhaps, Justin? Despite the pressure from noted climbers Matt Lloyd (Kathy Watt's Personal Training) and Michael Tolhurst (Richmond Cyclery), two laps of the circuit was not enough for the climbers to get away, with the lead group preparing for a bunch kick at the top of the steep Ripplebrook climb.
Nathan Wise (Bike Pro) had other ideas, and attacked on the descent with eight kilometres to race. Despite having a lead of only 200 metres, and facing a stiff head wind for most of the final five kilometres, Wise was able to hang on over the bunch who had left the chase too late. Pat Shaw (Giant) sprinted into second two seconds later, ahead of Mark Howard (O'Mara) and Tolhurst.
The first climb up Heath Hill proved decisive in B Grade, with Andrew Smith (ACR/Genovese Coffee) leading ten riders clear in pursuit of early leader Rob Licciardo. An initial chase of six chased in vain, and kept the leaders in sight until the same climb on the second lap, before the leaders finally pulled away for good. In the sprint to the line Peter McWeeney came round Licciardo in the final metres to take a close win, with Cam Winton and Thor Navntoft (Jones Cycles) filling the minor places.
Stuart Hastings (Kennedy Cycle Fit) rode away from the C Grade bunch through the hills on the first lap, and with only a handful of riders like Renato Liucci and Briana James (BikeNOW) in the big bunch contributing to the chase, was able to maintain his lead into the hills on the second lap.
Cresting the summit of Ripplebrook, the main bunch had dwindled to ten, with Hastings still twenty seconds clear and looking strong despite battling the wind alone for almost sixty kilometres. At the home turn, the gap was done to ten seconds, and the unlucky leader was finally running out of steam, eventually succumbing with 600 metres to race. Jason Theobald (O'Mara) capitalized, taking the win ahead of 13 year old team mate Peter Johnstone, Kurt Jensen (Kennedy Cycle Fit) and an impressive Briana James.
Juniors Daniel Noy and James Rudolph proved too strong in the one lap D Grade race, with Noy sprinting to a good win. Lisa Friend (Bianchi) wasn't far behind, holding off the more experienced Rachel Rademaker (Cycle Link) for third place.
Thanks again to a willing group of volunteers: Race Director Mick Hollingworth, Traffic Manager Jodie Bowker, Licensed Traffic Controllers Bruce Will and Maurice Murray; Marshals Rick Jones, Paul Kelly, Neale Adams, Karen Gregory and Archie Vissariou; Support drivers Howard Crawford, Bill Joycey, Daniel Mendoza, Chris Taplin, Frank Cipriano and Jon Nunan; and race officials Tris Judd and Nick Gates who all helped make the race safe and legal.
Next week racing is over the same circuit, but in the Handicap format, on Saturday July 3. The Jack McGowan Handicap, held in honour of long term former President and current Glenvale traffic director, boasts a prize pool of $1000. Entries open between 12.30 and 1.00pm, for a race start at 1.30pm. For further details, see www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
A Grade 80km 18 Starters 1 Nathan Wise (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Pat Shaw (Ballarat Sebastapol) 3 Mark Howard (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Michael Tolhurst (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Ashley Hayat (St Kilda) 6 Murray Spink (Dirt Riders) B Grade 80km 22 Starters 1 Peter McWeeney (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Rob Licciardo (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Cam Winton (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Thor Navntoft (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Andrew Smith (Blackburn) 6 Chris Tassell (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade 80km 31 Starters 1 Jason Theobald (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Peter Johnstone (Chelsea & Peninsula) 3 Kurt Jensen (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Briana James (St Kilda) 5 Andrew Cherniak (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Briana James (St Kilda) 2 Audrey Quick (Blackburn) 3 Bee Hansen (Blackburn) D Grade 40km 14 Starters 1 Daniel Noy (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 James Rudolph (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Lisa Friend (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Rachel Rademaker (Blackburn) 5 Joel Rogers (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Andrea Bishop (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade 40km 1 Dean Berry (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 George Vissariou (Carnegie Caulfield)
