Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Mt Hood Classic Photo ©: Swift |
Results and Reports from Australia
Promoters wishing to submit results should send them to Cyclingnews
Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Modella, Victoria, August 6, 2005
By Mal Sawford
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A fine but cool and windy day greeted riders for the combined Regional and Club Championships. Club Championships tend to produce fairly small fields, but still require the same 20-odd support staff to run as any other larger event. In an effort to assemble decent fields in all categories, the clubs of the South East decided to try something new and combine their fields to make something a bit more interesting for riders, officials and spectators alike.
Held over the hillier of the two Modella circuits, many of the elite riders were away chasing glory in the Tatts Cup, meaning the race was wide open. Defending champion Justin Davis (O'Mara Cycles) was back to defend his crown, but faced strong opposition from leading mountain bike rider Murray Spink (Giant) and road specialist Jason Pastor.
The first lap saw the bunch thin out a little over the climbs of Heath Hill and Ripplebrook, but all the favourites were untroubled. Spink made his move in the cross winds before the climbs on the second lap, and only Scott Brown (O'Mara) was able to bridge the gap. Spink was too strong on the climbs however, and left his companion behind with a little over 10km to race.
Five riders survived the second ascent of the steep Ripplebrook climb in good shape and mounted a chase after the lone leader. Spink had the legs however, and held off the desperate chase, finishing 50 metres clear of the bunch, lead home by the world's fastest 15 year old, Pete Johnstone (Inexa). Davis powered home third ahead of Cam Winton and Pastor, but had done enough to reclaim the CCCC Championships.
The small Women's field combined with the Masters bunch, with Metropolitan Road Champion Briana James (BikeNOW) showing her strength to stay with the lead group through the hills. The chasing bunch lost some horse power after Peta Mullens (VIS) rear tyre started to soften, and James was able to extend her lead on the second lap and take a well deserved win. Kirsty Bortolin (The Freedom Machine) shook off sprinter Mary Rogers (Kathy Watt's Personal Training) in the hills to claim second place on the day. Australian Junior Champion Lisa Friend (Bianchi) showed she will be big threat when she steps up to senior ranks, staying with the senior riders seemingly effortlessly to take out the Under 17 title.
The largest bunch of the day belonged to the Masters riders. Anthony Smith and Kevin Smith (Anaconda) did their best to thin things out both times through the hills, but were quickly reeled in once the road levelled out. With a number of noted quick finishers still in the lead group, it was inevitable for the attacks to start on the long run into the finish, and Kurt Jensen was the first to oblige with a little over one kilometre to race.
Inform sprinter Frank Cipriano closed the gap, only to see time trail specialist
Dennis Bowen-Day (Gran Prix Bicycles) counter attack and stay away to take the
win a few lengths clear of Mornington's Phil Grant and David Buntin (Inexa).
The combined junior field saw a great rider from diminutive Under 15 rider Pat
Lane, who tore away from the bunch on the first climb, with only one of the
Under 17 riders, Wade Edwards, able to follow. Edwards had the advantage of
his bigger gear in the two-up sprint to cross the line first.
Blackburn riders Luke Petrie and Dale Reith were the next to finish, with Petrie out revving Reith to be the second Under 17 finisher. Peter Vlahos was too quick for Aaron Eynaud in their dash to the line for the Under 15 minor places, while Angus Cramp showed great style and power in the hills to claim the Under 13 title from Jacob Schmid.
Thanks to Ann Johnstone, Melissa Nichols and John Nicholson for taking care
of entries and judging; and to the usual necessary horde of marshals. Traffic
Controllers Bob Johnstone and Danny Weatherley, Corner Stewards Ron Kent, Phillip
Moss, Andrea Bishop, Andrew Burke, Rick Jones, Andrew Dorman, Doug Garley and
Davern White, and Lead car drivers John Groves, Roger Lancaster, Perry Johnstone,
Kerry McCredden and Dylan Boone.
Next week's racing for the Southern Region is a Sunday morning Crit at the new
Frankston Gardens circuit hosted by Chelsea. All holders of 2005 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. For further details, including
the full regional race calendar, go to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
Open Men - 80km 1 Murray Spink (Dirt Riders) 2 Peter Johnstone (Chelsea & Peninsula) 3 Justin Davis (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Cameron Winton (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Jason Pastor (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Matt Curnow (Carnegie Caulfield) 7 Scott Brown (St Kilda) 8 Michael Gallagher (Carnegie Caulfield) 9 Jason Theobald (Carnegie Caulfield) 10 Tom Gallagher (Carnegie Caulfield) 11 Darren Sayers (Carnegie Caulfield) 12 Nick Palecek (Carnegie Caulfield) Women - 80km 1 Briana James (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Kirsty Bortolin (Blackburn) 3 Mary Rogers (Carnegie Caulfield) Masters - 80km 1 Dennis Bowen-Day (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Phil Grant (Mornington) 3 David Buntin (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Ken Ford (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Frank Cipriano (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Andrew Smith (Blackburn) 7 Boon Chia (Carnegie Caulfield) 8 Kurt Jensen (Chelsea & Peninsula) 9 Steve Morrow (Carnegie Caulfield) 10 Geoff Whiter (Carnegie Caulfield) 11 Kevin Murphy (Hawthorn) 12 Cameron Hunter (Blackburn) 13 Jim Gallagher (Carnegie Caulfield) 14 Jeff Shaw (Blackburn) 15 Scott Caraher (Carnegie Caulfield) 16 David Tennant (Hawthorn) 17 Phillip McNeill (St Kilda) 18 Anthony Kirwan (Blackburn) J17 - 40km 1 Wade Edwards (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Luke Petrie (Blackburn) 3 Dale Reith (Blackburn) Women Lisa Friend (Carnegie Caulfield) J15 - 40km 1 Pat Lane (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Peter Vlahos (Blackburn) 3 Aaron Eynaud (Blackburn) 4 George Vissariou (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Aaron Wilson (Chelsea & Peninsula) J13 - 40km 1 Angus Cramp (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Jacob Schmid (Carnegie Caulfield)
