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Eastern Suburbs Cycling Club
Heffron Park, Maroubra, NSW, December 19, 2006
King Spurge reclaims his Heffron crown and a record 9th trophy race
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Anthony Spurgeon reclaimed his King of Heffron crown in emphatic fashion and notched up an incredible ninth win spanning sixteen years when he held off strong finishes from the in-form Tim Willing and Robbie Cater on a damp and overcast evening in Sydney tonight. It was Spurge's first win in the event since 2000 and will give him timely confidence boost as Tuesday night racing takes a Christmas break before returning on 11th January.
The Trophy Race is an annual criterium for a perpetual trophy traditionally held the week before Christmas, and for the past 21 years has been conducted as part of the club's popular Tuesday night summer racing programme. The race is a unique part of the summer programme in that it's over the slightly longer distance of 20 laps (which is a lot of laps in the wind at Heffron Park) and gives A grade the chance to really strut their stuff with a big prize, not to mention the honour of having your name engraved on the Trophy.
After the extraordinary buzz, summertime sizzle and excitement of Sunday's big time pro race at Cronulla beach, it was a return to local club racing reality tonight when only 58 riders lined up for the Trophy race and the C grade support race, but with $400 up for first place the standard of racing was the usual high quality.
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The combined A and B grade field quickly whittled down to a core of approximately fifteen riders and although several riders attempted to split it up, the damp and slippery conditions kept the field together. The ride of the night came from comeback man Matt Carter who two weeks ago started in C grade and tonight not only placed in the top ten but was putting it to the elite riders in the closing laps.
Just like Rabobank sprinter Graeme Brown 'really wanted' the win on his home turf in the Shire on Sunday, Heffron local Anthony Spurgeon's desire and determination clearly got him across the line first in tonight's Trophy race. That and a punishing sprint which held off strong challenges from Tim Willing and Robbie Cater who have both dominated Tuesday night racing in recent weeks. After the race Spurge was the first to admit he didn't really do 'that many turns', however the winners list tells the story and judging by the excited yells and applause after the sprint, it was clearly a popular win.
The 15 lap C grade race was raced at an enthusiastic pace and included a strong contingent of Easts riders led by none other than El Presidente and Directeur Sportif himself, Francesco Alcino Conceicao. Despite the repeated words of encouragement during the race from DS Concy to "get on the $%&*! wheel" or "don't let that #$%&* get away" there was very little the Easts juggernaut could do when the three man winning move went but hope that one of their two riders in the break would bring home the spoils. Steve Foster from Randwick Botany had other plans though. He was too strong for his breakaway companions Michael Murdoch and Nick Whyman and stormed home to win his second C grade race in as many weeks.
Racing returns on Tuesday 11 January and remember to turn up with a 2007 licence. On behalf of Pat, Frank, Jenny, Fred and Helen and everyone else who makes Heffron happen each week, a happy and safe Christmas.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by John Sunde
- It's all over in a flash as King Spurge claims his ninth Eastern Suburbs Trophy crown.
Images by Rocky Fortuna
- Tim Willing has the field strung out in the gutter on a grey night at Heffron Park.
- King for another year ...Anthony Spurgeon after his ninth Trophy race win.
Images by Stuart Baker
- Anthony Spurgeon holds off a fast finishing Tim Willing and Robbie Cater on the left.
- Steve Foster was too strong for the rest off C grade.
Results
A & B grade (20 laps, 40.4 km) 1 Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello Cycling) 2 Tim Willing (Midland, WA) 3 Robbie Cater (FRF Couriers) 4 Peter Fitzpatrick (St George) 5 Luis Trueba (McArthur) 6 Stewart Campbell (Easts) 7 Matt Lucas (Randwick Botany) 8 Dave Evans (Carence St Cyclery) 9 Dave Early (Easts) 10 Matt Carter (Easts) C Grade (15 laps, 30km) 1 Steve Foster (Randwick Botany) 2 Michael Murdoch (Easts) 3 Nick Whyman (Easts) 4 Peter O'Connor (Easts) 5 Mark Ardouin (Easts)
Past winners
2005 Joshua Marden (Randwick Botany) 2004 Jose Rodriguez (Easts) 2003 Chris Sutton (FDJ-NSWIS/St George) 2002 Chris Sutton (FDJ-NSWIS/St George) 2001 Liam Kelly (Eastern Suburbs) 2000 Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello) 1999 Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello) 1998 Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello) 1997 Stewart Campbell (Eastern Suburbs) 1996 Paul Rowney (Eastern Suburbs) 1995 Jose Rodriguez (Randwick Botany) 1994 Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello) 1993 Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello) 1992 Anthony Spurgeon (Eastern Suburbs) 1991 Anthony Spurgeon (Eastern Suburbs) 1990 Anthony Spurgeon (Eastern Suburbs) 1989 Bob Rasenberg (Holland) 1988 Gary Stewart (Skipper-Spear & Jackson) 1987 Gary Stewart (Skipper-Spear & Jackson) 1986 Gary Stewart (Skipper-Spear & Jackson) 1985 Barney St George (Skipper-Spear & Jackson) 1984 Gary Stewart (Clarence St Cyclery) 1983 Gary Stewart (Clarence St Cyclery) 1982 Ken McMillan (Randwick Botany)
