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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent Criteriums, Sunday December 17, 2006
By Mal Sawford
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The final Sunday race before Christmas often sees big fields assemble, with many of the overseas based pros tuning up for the Bay Series at the Glenvale Crescent speed fest. With the vagaries of the calendar meaning the Bay Series is still over two weeks away, and some big money races north of the border keeping most of the European based riders away, it was a mammoth field of mainly locally based riders who battled for the wins. The total number of riders, 273, set a record for any CCCC event, even pipping the massive turn out on the Commonwealth Games course at the start of the year.
Most of the 70 odd A Grade riders had an early day, with a break of eight lapping the field at the 40 minute mark. Peter Barnett (SHM Cycles) launched an attack off the start line, but was quickly chased down, setting up what would be the race deciding counter attack from team mate Brendan Rowbotham, Greg Henderson (T-Mobile), Warren Knevitt (O'Mara Cycles), Tommy Nankervis (Priority Health) and team mate Richard England riding in the VIS colours, Marcus Wettenhall (Tri 2 Cycle), Dylan Boone and Anthony Smith (Promains).
The group combined well, averaging almost 48 kmh until the field had been lapped, before starting a series of attacks and counter moves to determine who would prevail. Boone lost contact after the initial flurry of attacks, with Nankervis the first to set himself for a long solo effort, but after two laps out front he was reeled in with ten minutes still remaining.
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Henderson surged a number of times, but the former world scratch champion was always going to be very closely marked and couldn't shake off the chasers. Rowbotham made his move at three to go, but was also reeled in, setting things up for a sprint finish. Wettenhall led for most of the final lap, but it was Knevitt who rounded the final turn in first place before fading quickly. An elated Nankervis sprinted well clear in the final 150 metres, to hold off Henderson by three lengths and claim his first win after a long drought, with England crossing third just ahead of Rowbotham.
The B Grade race always looked like coming down to a bunch sprint, despite the best efforts of David Taylor and Paul McMullan (Datacom/Burnley Finance) midway through the race to spoil the fast men's party. Martin Bole took over briefly once the pair tired, and only a late move in the final minutes of five riders led by Gavin Sittampalan (Quick Cycle Caoching) posed a serious threat, but the field reformed at the bell.
Fresh off second place at the Australian Criterium Championships, Belinda Goss (TIS/cyclingnews) was well positioned in the final corner, and hit out strongly and looked a likely winner until the final fifty metres. Mark Gainsmith shot past to end a run of near misses and claim his first win, with Clint McDonnell (Melbourne Bicycle Centre) following him across the line, and Goss holding on for third. Nicole Whitburn (Mainline Cycles) and Rachel Rademaker (Cycle Link) rounded out the women's podium, both finishing in the top ten overall.
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The C Grade bunch was called off the circuit by officials in the opening minutes after a motorist on the circuit was given a mouthful by some of the leading riders. After the riot act was read, fines were handed out, and the importance of sharing the road re-stated, the majority of the bunch was allowed to resume racing.
After the remainder of the fifty minutes, Anthony Vaughan powered past up and coming junior Dale Reith to take the bunch sprint, with Mark Kinzett third. Newly promoted junior Shannon McCurley won the women's race, beating Kerrie Howard (Fitzroy Cycles) and Radelle Berriman across the line.
New rider David Fisher claimed the D Grade win, too fast for hard working Alex Chudley-Davies (Datacom/Burnley Finance) in the dash to the line. Another new-comer, Seb Guiney showed plenty of promise with third place, while the women's race went to Leah Paterson after a fine fifth place overall, from Denise Bennett (Datacom/Burnley Finance) and Melissa Nicholls.
Twelve women from John Kennedy's 'Pink Inc' training group made their first foray into competitive racing, with a thirty minute race under the watchful eyes of former junior Aussie champion and mentor Bridgett Farrell, ably assisted by Ike Collings and Frank Cipriano. Kathryn Henning showed the most speed after a hard fought race, taking the win from Stephanie Dowden and Gayle Iliweski.
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Carnegie Caulfield's final Criterium for 2006 will be held at Sandown Raceway on Tuesday December 19. Entry is via the Sandown Road entrance (Melways map 80 B6), from 6pm, with all grades racing at 6.30. Racing in 2007 kicks off at Sandown on January 2, with the first Sunday race at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80 B2) on January 7. B, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and C Grade ride at 10am.
All holders of current 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. 2007 licenses are now available at all CCCC events. All returning riders must resume in the grade they last raced in, unless prior arrangement has been made with the handicapper, Lorraine Collings.
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.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by CJ Farquharson/www.velophoto.net
- Mark Gainsmith takes the B Grade sprint
- Katie Mactier kept an eye on boyfriend Greg Henderson in the A Grade bunch
- Dale Reith and Anthony Vaughan fight out the C Grade win
- Tommy Nankervis takes the A Grade win from Henderson
- David Fisher leads the D Grade bunch
- Women in B Grade - including Belinda Goss
- Daniel Barrett rode away to take the E Grade win
- Fisher wins the D Grade sprint
Images by Mal Sawford
- Tommy celebrates an end to his dry spell
Results
A Grade (1 hour + 3 laps, 76 starters) 1 Tommy Nankervis (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Greg Henderson (New Zealand) 3 Richard England (Blackburn) 4 Brendan Rowbotham (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Anthony Smith (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Marcus Wettenhall (Geelong) B Grade (1 hour + 3 laps, 66 starters) 1 Mark Gainsmith (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Clint McDonnell (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Belinda Goss (Tasmania) 4 Fabio Angelini (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Michael Thomas (Blackburn) Women 1 Belinda Goss (Tasmania) 2 Nicole Whitburn (Warragul) 3 Rachel Rademaker (Blackburn) 4 Liz Williams (New Zealand) C Grade (50 minutes + 3 laps, 51 starters) 1 Anthony Vaughan (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Dale Reith (Blackburn) 3 Mark Kinzett (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Stephen Harrison (Hawthorn) Women 1 Shannon McCurley (Latrobe City) 2 Kerrie Howard (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Radelle Berriman (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade (45 minutes + 3 laps, 57 starters) 1 David Fisher (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Alex Chudley-Davis (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Seb Guiney (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Ben Wragg (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Leah Paterson (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Denise Bennett (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Melissa Nicholls (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade (45 minutes + 3 laps, 11 starters) 1 Daniel Barrett (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Luke Parker (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Brett Nelson (Blackburn) 4 Mitch Sutherland (Carnegie Caulfield) Novice women (30 minutes, 12 starters) 1 Kathyrn Henning (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Stephanie Dowden (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Gayle Iliewski (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Sally Catt (Carnegie Caulfield)
