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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Sandown Raceway, Melbourne, March 8, 2005
By Mal Sawford
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With nine wins this season, including the last three in a row, Tommy Nankervis (Fitzroy Cycles) looks set to re-write the record books. His performance could well have been even better had he not been on lead out duties for track specialist Todd Wilksch in the opening weeks of summer, guiding Wilksch to two wins and three places in the first month of the season.
Nankervis gave himself every chance of another win, after infiltrating the second lap break of six that rapidly put the bunch out of contention on a still night at Sandown. Paul Richards (MG-ZT), who regularly tries to break things up as soon as the race starts, initiated the move, and was quickly joined by Doug Garley (Terry Hammond Cycles), Warren Knevitt (O'Mara Cycles), Nankervis and his team mate Brendan Rowbotham. The final rider to make the selection was Nankervis' closest challenger for the season-long Inexa - Team Alex Series, Aaron Salisbury (HLP/Ridewiser), who has picked up four wins of his own. With 30 races completed to date, the leading pair have a success rate approaching 50%!
A mid race counter attack from Michael Ford (Asset/VIS), Nathan Wise (Lloyd Morgan), Tyrin Simpson, Greg Nicholson (Pro-Motion), Mark Howard (O'Mara), Daniel Nelms, Philip Indivino, Jason Phillips, Kharne Hammersley (Geard Cycles) and Ray Turner (Bianchi) made some ground, but the leaders were never in any real danger. The six riders combined flawlessly for the duration, to finish well over a minute clear of the bunch, and seemed content to let the final sprint decide the result. Knevitt jumped first down the long finishing straight, but had no answer when Salisbury kicked. Nankervis had his main rival's wheel, but couldn't match his acceleration, crossing the line a length adrift. Rowbotham looked to have third wrapped up, before a late surge and a well timed throw from Richards saw him sneak ahead in the final centimetres.
The B Grade race was clearly one of the toughest this season, with a number of dangerous breaks forming over the hour. The Burnley Finance/Aqua-Pure boys have become a force to reckon with; strength in numbers and the obvious intention of placing a rider in every break. Head honcho Paul Kelly, who is finally back racing after a nasty crash, went on the attack early, joined by Brett Morton and Darren Cathie - who is also on the comeback trail after a spectacular prang at the Warragul track carnival. The big field was up to the challenge, with every attack covered, setting things up for a wall to wall bunch sprint across the 20-metre-wide finishing straight. Morton was the early leader on the left hand side, but faded in the final metres, allowing Luke Stork to come through for the win. After reviewing the finish line video, Grant Jamieson (Burnley) proved to have been best of the rest, fractionally ahead of 'Fast Eddie' Perez and Wayne Flint. Briana James (BikeNOW) was quickest of the Women, holding out Apryl Eppinger (VIS) to claim the premier Women's prize.
John Claydon (Monash Uni) did his best to split up the C Grade bunch, but found the going too tough alone, and was reeled in after his final effort with two laps remaining. Gareth Martyn (O'Mara) and Steve Brooks had a dip in the final lap, but the sprinters reigned, with Jake O'Leary (Terry Hammond) triumphing after a neck and neck battle with Andy Cameron. Nigel Barton-White and Andrew Rolland completed the podium, with Catherine Allen (Giramondo Sportswear) looking fit in her first race of the season, taking the Women's division after a tough race that saw Inexa leaders Andrea Bishop and Louisa Judd lose contact very early on.
After finding the pace in C Grade a bit tough over the past few weeks, Darren King found immediate success (and an immediate return) in D Grade, taking the sprint ahead of Paul Adler and Andres Rojas, with Andrew Cullen fourth. Celia Vandestadt (Pro-Motion Bicycles) put in another strong ride to lead the women home ahead of Lindsay Brown (O'Mara), and may also have had her last ride after a run of good wins. Salisbury's win closed the gap slightly on Tommy Nankervis in the $7000 Inexa - Team Alex series, but the two leaders seem certain to battle out the overall win. Andrea Bishop has the Women's prize all but wrapped up, but could still challenge for a top three place.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue Sundays at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80B2). C, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and B Grade ride at 10am. There will be no race on Easter Sunday. Tuesday night Twilight Racing at Sandown starts at 6.30pm for all grades, with access to the circuit via Sandown Road from 6pm. 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 novice racing clinics at Glenvale Crescent.
Results
A Grade - 1 hour + 2 laps, 41 Starters 1 Aaron Salisbury (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Tommy Nankervis (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Paul Richards (Warragul) 4 Brendan Rowbotham (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Doug Garley (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Warren Knevitt (Carnegie Caulfield) B Grade - 55 minutes + 2 laps, 60 Starters 1 Luke Stork (Footscray) 2 Brett Morton (Fat Tyre Flyers) 3 Grant Jamieson (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Eddie Perez (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Wayne Flint (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Briana James (St Kilda) 2 Apryl Eppinger (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade - 50 minutes + 2 laps, 35 Starters 1 Jake O'Leary (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Andy Cameron (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Nigel Barton-White (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Andrew Rolland (Blackburn) Women 1 Catherine Allen (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Janine Donaldson (Footscray) 3 Athena Wilson (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade - 45 minutes + 2 laps, 33 Starters 1 Darren King (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Paul Adler (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Andres Rojas (Coburg) 4 Andrew Cullen (Blackburn) Women 1 Celia Vandestadt (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Lindsay Brown (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Nana Jernstrom (Carnegie Caulfield)
