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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent Criteriums, Mulgrave, October 24, 2004
Nankervis wins A grade on big turnout day
By Mal Sawford
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Another great day and another record field at Glenvale Crescent, with the magic 200 rider barrier well and truly smashed. With the big hitters still racing the Herald Sun Tour, it was a chance for some to step up and show their stuff, and the mammoth fields saw some of the better B Grade riders bumped up to keep the bunch size manageable.
The A Grade bunch buzzed around for the early part of the race at a good speed, but with so many riders, most were getting an arm chair ride in the huge peleton. Only when a B Grade breakaway had the audacity to try to overtake the bunch did the pace lift noticeably; and as gaps started to open, a group of over a dozen went clear.
Brad Norton (Drapac/Porsche), Andrew Ward, Brendan Rowbotham (Fitzroy Cycles), Warren Knevitt (O'Mara Cycles), Ryan Kelly and Josh Vanderveen did most of the pace setting, and while there were a few passengers, the group was still able to draw clear. Just as the big group looked like pulling off the escape, its cohesiveness collapsed, allowing the main field to chase back into contention with ten minutes remaining.
An attack with three laps to go from David Sturt (Colnago), Matt Shea, Thor Navntoft and Zak Dempster (Hardings) was neutralized on the final lap, with Masters star Glen Hutchinson (Salter Cycles) leading into the straight. Tommy Nankervis (Fitzroy Cycles) was perfectly positioned and easily came off the wheel to record a convincing win, with big Rob Crowe (RideWiser - HLP) just getting over a tiring Hutchy to pinch second. Katie Mactier stepped back into A Grade with her usual panache, shrugging off a cleat that broke riding out to the circuit, and racing on borrowed shoes and pedals.
With over 80 riders in the B Grade bunch, anything other than a bunch sprint would have been a major shock! Unsurprisingly, despite efforts from Peter McWeeney to take a small group away, the field was intact at the finish. A late move from Kirsty Bortolin (The Freedom Machine) just before the bell caught some of the more favoured sprinters out of position, and in the dash to the line it was 15 year old Damion Drapac (Drapac/Porsche) who took the win from another outstanding junior, Jordan Sutherland (Fitzroy Cycles).
Last season's Team Alex Series winner Simon Lancaster (BikeNOW) sprinted into third, while Bortolin's aggression saw her rewarded with a clear win in the Women's division, ahead of Apryl Eppinger (VIS) and Gemma Goyne (BikeNOW).
After a bunch sprint looked likely in C Grade, Darren Canute (Le Tour Cycles) went on the offensive in the final three laps. Canute had been aggressive throughout the race, but had been reeled in each time. Matt Curnow (The Freedom Machine) and Matt Ligtermoet were quick to respond, and the trio were just able to hold off the bunch, led home by John Kohlar (O'Mara Cycles). There was still no stopping Ferne Walklate's run in the Women's division - Ferne saluted for the fourth time in as many weeks, with Emily Phillips (Le Tour) next best.
New club member Daniel Loy, who previously rode with Sydney's Randwick Botany, was a convincing sprint winner in D Grade after placing the week before, and will be on his way to C Grade soon. Trevor Key and Michael Thomas filled the minor places, while Louise Bourke was too good for Andrea Bishop in the battle for the Women's prize money.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue every Sunday at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80B2). C, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and B Grade ride at 10am. Tuesday night Twilight Racing at Sandown will start on November 9.
All holders of 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. 2005 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, go to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
A Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 72 Starters 1 Tommy Nankervis (South Australia) 2 Robert Crowe (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Glenn Hutchinson (Footscray) 4 Gaethan Cutri (Geelong West) 5 Cameron Wise (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Aaron Salisbury (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Katie Mactier (Carnegie Caulfield) B Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 81 Starters 1 Damion Drapac (Brunswick) 2 Jordan Sutherland (Brunswick) 3 Simon Lancaster (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Lincoln Brown (St Kilda) 5 Alistair Jack (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Kirsty Bortolin (Blackburn) 2 Apryl Eppinger (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Gemma Goyne (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade, 50 minutes + 3 laps, 59 Starters 1 Darren Canute (Blackburn) 2 Matthew Curnow (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Matt Ligtermoet (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Tom Walker (St Kilda) Women 1 Ferne Walklate (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Emily Phillips (Blackburn) D Grade, 50 minutes + 3 laps, 28 Starters 1 Daniel Loy (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Trevor Key (Blackburn) 3 Michael Thomas (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Joanne Sabbatini (Blackburn) 2 Andrea Bishop (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 7 Starters 1 George Sutton (Blackburn) 2 Aaron Eynaud (Blackburn) 3 Dale Reith (Blackburn)
