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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Sandown Raceway, Melbourne, November 15, 2005
By Mal Sawford
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The second week at Sandown saw over 150 riders arrive to battle a strong and
cool southerly wind. While the southerly helps riders conquer the 800 metre
climb up the back straight, the trade off is a very long, slow slog down the
finishing straight which often spells the end for break aways.
Brendan 'Snowy' Rowbotham (Fitzroy Cycles) and Jason Pastor were the first to
escape the A Grade bunch, and their group swelled to four when David Kemp (Merida)
and week one winner Ross Mueller made contact. A few laps in the windy conditions
proved enough for the bunch to close the gap, setting up an attack from David
Sturt (Giant/Pro-Motion), Grant Matthews, Doug Garley (Terry Hammond Cycles)
and the appropriately named Matt Speed (Richmond Cyclery).
Rowbotham and dominant Vets rider Andrew Nichols joined the leaders midway
into the hour, with comeback rider Michael Gill not far off the pace, but once
again the long drag along the main straight allowed the bunch to chase up with
around twenty minutes to go. A bit of a re-shuffle saw another small group a
few seconds clear, with Daniel Nelms joining Garley, Kemp, Mueller, Nichols
and Speed.
At two to go, the bunch made contact only to see Nichols kick again, taking
with him Pilson (Fitzroy) and Vaughan Bowman (Le Tour Cycles). The trio held
their ten second advantage at the bell, and looked to have pulled slightly away
on the final climb, before Kemp launched out of the bunch just before the summit
and made contact on the short descent. Making his way to second wheel at the
final turn, the Queenslander seemed perfectly positioned to take the win after
finishing second the week before, but found Bowman had too much in reserve,
with the much improved local rider taking the win.
The B Grade race followed a similar pattern, with a number of breaks taking
off into the head wind, only to have fresher legs claw back their advantage
over the subsequent laps. The most threatening move saw Jason Theobald (O'Mara
Cycles), Paul Kelly (Burnley Finance), Paul Logan, Neville Martin and Vito Depetro
hold off the chase midway through, before four riders broke clear with ten minutes
to race.
Bruce Will, Glen Wright, Glenn O'Rourke and Simon Vandestadt (Pro-Motion) were
still twenty seconds clear at two to go, but were under pressure as the Burnley
Finance boys took control of the chase. The four leaders survived to the final
corner, but the last few hundred metres into the stiff breeze proved insurmountable,
as a fresh Daniel Young finished the job for the Burnley Boys to take the win
ahead of Vandestadt, with Glen Hutchinson (Salter Cycles) flashing home for
his second successive third placing. The Queen of the Mountain Sprint saw Jenny
Macpherson (AIS) make a strong move 100 metres from the line, but form rider
Briana James (The Freedom Machine) closed quickly in the final metres to take
the win.
Johnathan Claydon (Monash Uni) led out the C Grade bunch sprint strongly and
jumped five lengths clear, before almost coming to a screaming halt as the headwind
finish hit him like the proverbial brick wall. Daniel Oldfield left his run
much later and hit the line at full speed - a fraction of a second too late,
with Claydon hanging on by the barest of margins. Michelle Murrell took the
mid-race QOM sprint from a determined Louisa Judd (Hampton Cycles).
After the pace lifted significantly over the final few laps, the D Grade bunch
exploded on the final climb, as Daniel Noy made his move. The youngster had
a clear lead onto the finishing straight, but had clearly spent his bikkies
on the climb and looked anxiously over his shoulder as the chasers loomed. A
last second throw saw him hang on to take the win, from a fast finishing Todd
Spain, Jason McKinnon and Ross Black (Burnley Finance). The Women's prize went
to Rebecca Hanning, who jumped away on the QOM climb, and was then able to respond
to a late challenge from Karin Coles in the final metres.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue Sunday mornings are at Glenvale Crescent
(Melways map 80B2). C, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and B Grade ride
at 10am. Tuesday Twilight racing at Sandown runs every week until the end of
March, with the Sandown Road gate opening at 6pm for a 6.30pm race start for
all grades.
All holders of 2005 or 2006 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. 2006 licenses are now available at all CCCC events.
For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth
conducts novice racing clinics within the E Grade race at Glenvale Crescent.
For further details, go to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
A Grade - 1 hour 1 Vaughan Bowman (Blackburn) 2 David Kemp (Queensland) 3 Andrew Nichols (Mornington) 4 Steve Pilson (Coburg) 5 Ross Mueller (Brunswick) 6 Leigh De Luca (Carnegie Caulfield) B Grade - 55 minutes 1 Daniel Young (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Simon Vandestadt (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Glen Hutchinson (Footscray) 4 Andrew Rolland (Blackburn) 5 Campbell Elliott (St Kilda) QOM 1 Briana James (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Jenny Macpherson (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Tess Downin (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade - 50 minutes 1 Johnathan Claydon (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Daniel Oldfield (Blackburn) 3 Terry Murdoch (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Danny Weatherley (Carnegie Caulfield) QOM 1 Michelle Murrell (Mornington) 2 Louisa Judd (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Janine Donaldson (Footscray) D Grade - 50 minutes 1 Daniel Noy (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Todd Spain (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Jason McKinnon (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Ross Black (Carnegie Caulfield) QOM 1 Rebecca Hanning (St Kilda) 2 Karin Coles (Carnegie Caulfield)
