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Carnegie Caulfield CC
Glenvale Crescent, Mulgrave, March 14, 2004
Mactier mixes with A grade
By Mal Sawford
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A perfect morning brought good fields out for the regular Sunday morning dash around Glenvale Crescent. Pursuit sensation Katie Mactier (Fitzroy Cycles) made a rare appearance at a club race this season, and opted to enter the Men’s A Grade event – a sign of the excellent form she is in six weeks out from the World Championships! The silver medallist at the 2003 World Champs wasn’t content to follow wheels either, and worked hard at the head of the field to bring back the early break.
The A Grade race kicked off at a rapid pace, and by the third lap, gaps were starting to open. A dozen strong riders sensed their opportunity and pulled clear, including Paul Richards (Team MG-ZT), Simon Clarke (BikeNOW), Richard England (Le Tour Cycles), Japanese international Shoichi Iwadate, Leigh De Luca (Specialized) and Brad Norton (Drapac Property-Porsche). A number of riders tried to bridge the ten second gap to the leaders in small groups, with Simon Walker (Victorian State Home Loans) and Hugh Watson (Pro-Motion Bicycles) trying hard but coming up short.
Dylan Boone (MG-ZT) took advantage of the chasers to leapfrog their efforts and join the leaders, but with twenty minutes remaining the long chase from the bunch finally paid off and the bunch regrouped. A late attack from David Sturt (Colnago), Matt Chessum (Fitzroy Cycles) and Dylan Boone was unsuccessful, with the protagonists unfortunately basing their effort on the ‘3 to go’ call for the B Grade race!
A fall at the downhill corner on the final lap checked the run of some of the fast finishers, but most survived unscathed. A tight sprint saw Watson continue his good sprinting form, taking the win ahead of Clarke, De Luca, Walker, England and Chris Boone.
B Grade again raced flat out for much of the hour. Despite the fast pace there was a non stop series of attacks in attempts to split the field, with Pete Knight, Tyrin Simpson and Eddie Perez all prominent. As the finish approached the bunch was together and the sprinters looked set to battle it out.
Nick Gates (BikeNOW) slipped away in the final minutes, however, and hung on to claim a good win, with team mate Steve Leishman overhauling Fast Eddie Perez, Andrew Bryant (Genovese Coffee/ACR) and Richard Cormick in the final meters to claim the bunch sprint. TIS/cyclingnews.com rider Belinda Goss took the Women’s division, ahead of Cheryl Walker (Victorian State Home Loans) and Gemma Kennessey (Richmond Cyclery).
Kim Scutton was the most aggressive rider in C Grade, making a number of solo attempts to go clear, before teaming with Simon Bristow in the closing stages, but was ultimately unsuccessful, with the hungry bunch pouncing in time to set things up for a bunch kick.
Only inches separated the first three riders, with the always infallible judges giving the win to Doug Reynolds, ahead of Wayne Flint and Gordon Minty. Scott Brown was a length behind in fourth, with Ferne Walklate finishing comfortably to take the Women’s win.
Matt Sherwin escaped the D Grade field midway through the race, and quickly powered away to a twenty second lead. Despite pleading with time keepers to signal the finish as he started to slow, when the final three laps were signaled Sherwin found his second wind and was able to extend his lead to just over 30 seconds at three to go. Still twenty seconds up at the bell, he hung on to win by only twenty meters over a charging bunch, many of whom were unaware they were not sprinting for the win!
Aidan McInernay lead the chase home for second, ahead of Daniel Mendoza and Jonathan Quinn (CBD Cycles). Louisa Judd was a worthy winner of the Women’s division, having done much of the pace making throughout the race, with Livia Gluchowska (Telstra) outsprinting Andrea Bishop for second.
Simon Lancaster retains his lead in the $7000 Team Alex Series, and sits on 146 points. Cheryl Walker is second on 129 with Matt Jensen on 123. Warren Knevitt, the leading A Grade rider holds down fourth place with 120 points. There are eight races (including two more Tuseday Twilight races at Sandown) remaining in the series, which concludes at the end of April.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue every Sunday 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. All holders of 2003 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. 2004 licenses are also now available. 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.
Results
A Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 49 starters 1 Hugh Watson (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Simon Clarke (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Leigh De Luca (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Simon Walker (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Richard England (Blackburn) 6 Chris Boone (Carnegie Caulfield) B Grade, 55 minutes + 3 laps, 38 starters 1 Nick Gates (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Steve Leishman (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Eddie Perez (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Andrew Bryant (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Cameron Rotter (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Belinda Goss (Tasmania) 2 Cheryl Walker (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade, 50 minutes + 3 laps, 44 starters 1 Doug Reynolds (Blackburn) 2 Wayne Flint (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Gordon Minty (Mornington) 4 Scott Brown (St Kilda) Women 1 Ferne Walklate (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 22 starters 1 Matt Sherwin (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Aidan McInernay (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Daniel Mendoza (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Jonathan Quinn (Blackburn) Women 1 Louisa Judd (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Livia Gluchowska (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Andrea Bishop (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 7 starters 1 Justin Hamilton (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Nick Chilton (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Dale Reith (Blackburn) 4 Nan Jermstrom (Carnegie Caulfield)
