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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Sandown Raceway, Melbourne, November 27, 2005
By Mal Sawford
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The wind blew from the south-west with a vengeance at Sandown, making conditions amongst the toughest ever experienced. It was little surprise that most races saw riders regularly blown out the back of strung out bunches, as there was very little shelter on the technical 3.5km circuit. From a starting field of fifty-six, less than twenty finished the A Grade race, showing just how tough the evening was.
Given the conditions, the pace was expected to be fast and furious from the
gun in A Grade, and as expected, the attacks came thick and fast. First to open
a decent gap were Brad Norton (VIS) and Alex Smyth (Team UNO), who hovered around
ten seconds off the front of the bunch for two laps.
After twenty minutes, and with the chase making no real progress, counter attacks
from the bunch saw a handful of riders reach the leaders at the summit of the
long climb up the back straight. The lead group swelled to nine, with Vaughan
Bowman (Le Tour Cycles), Brendan Rowbotham (SHM), Jason Pastor, Aaron Salisbury
(HLP), Danny Kah, Guy Green, Anthony Smith (Promains/RC), Ross Mueller (Salter
Cycles) jumping across, along with Richard England, who replaced team mate Norton
in the lead group.
The break steadily increased its advantage over a rapidly dwindling bunch, with the lead over a minute by the final two laps. Bowman lost contact, but the remaining eight riders stayed together to fight out the sprint. Smith led from the final bend, but had no answer for the horsepower of Mueller, who racked up his second win for the month. Salisbury took third, with Green inches ahead of England and Smyth in fourth.
The B Grade race saw another big field steadily reduce in size each time over
the hill, with barely half the starters surviving in the front group at the
half way mark. Five riders went clear in the closing stages, and although never
more than twenty seconds clear, were able to hold off the desperate chase.
Led by experienced B Grade pro's Glen Hutchinson (Salter) and Bruce Will, the
small group worked well, with Hawaii Ironman regular Dave Eadie (BikeNOW) eventually
taking the win with a strong sprint from the front. 'Hutchy' seemed determined
to protect his B grade status, content to follow Eadie home, before young Jake
O'Leary (Hampton Cycles) made late ground to pinch second, with the break rounded
out by Tom Blazevic and Will. Jenny Macpherson (VIS) was the only woman strong
enough to stay with the first chase group, giving her the women's win, with
Briana James (The Freedom Machine) outsprinting Nicole Whitburn (Quick Cycle
Coaching) in the third group on the road.
No-one was strong enough to battle the winds for long away from the safety
of the C Grade bunch, with the race decided by the biggest bunch sprint of the
day. Steve Brooks (Hampton Cycles) took the win from Michael Thomas, who surely
can't be far away from his first win of the season.
Darren Sayers and Mark Gallagher filled the minor places, but the pace proved
too quick for the C Grade women, with none able to hold onto the main group.
Michelle Murrell battled the tough conditions best in a small chase group, and
her tenacity was rewarded with the Women's win.
Calvin Watson is one of the promising juniors in D Grade, and he was joined on the start line for the first time by his fit looking father David. Young Calvin handled the wind well, but in the end was trumped by Dad, whose sprint left the field for dead in the dash to the line. Todd Spain (Promains) moved closer to his debut win, taking second from Dean Berry (Bicycle Superstore) and Ross Black. Heidi Buntrock (Quick Cycle Coaching) was the sole women's survivor, concluding a straight forward day for finish line judges!
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue Sunday mornings 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 Ross Mueller (Brunswick) 2 Anthony Smith (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Aaron Salisbury (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Guy Green (Blackburn) 5 Richard England (Blackburn) 6 Alex Smyth (Carnegie Caulfield) B Grade - 55 minutes 1 Dave Eadie (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Jake O'Leary (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Glen Hutchinson (Footscray) 4 Tom Blazevic (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Bruce Will (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Jenny Macpherson (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Briana James (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Nicole Whitburn (Warragul) C Grade - 50 minutes 1 Steve Brooks (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Michael Thomas (Blackburn) 3 Darren Sayers (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Mark Gallagher (Footscray) Women 1 Michelle Murrell (Mornington) D Grade - 50 minutes 1 David Watson (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Todd Spain (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Dean Berry (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Ross Black (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Heidi Buntrock (Blackburn)
