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Eastern Suburbs Cycling Club
Heffron Park, Sydney, March 14, 2006
Stewart Campbell wins with malfunction free ride
By John Sunde
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Stewart Campbell got his computer programming right when he used his considerable power to win an all up bunch sprint on Tuesday night, managing to hold off a strong challenge from in form Robbie Cater to win Round 10 of the Trek Bikes Summer Series at Heffron Park. Riding his best race of the series he also managed to complete the entire 15 laps without any mechanical, hardware or software problems. Topping the night for Easts, DS Concy achieved the sort of result Bjarne Riis and Johan Bruyneel only dream of when Easts collected the trifecta with Craig Dempsey (B grade) and Peter O'Connor (C grade) winning the other two grades.
No international visitors this week with the Commonwealth Games teams all settled into Melbourne; however, the 76 rider turnout gave local mountain biker Josh Fleming a big round of applause before he heads off to compete in the XC at the Games next week. Sydney's late surge of hot weather made for another warm night, however the overcast conditions definitely gave the night a late season feel and most riders where relieved to hear that next Tuesday night will be final race of the Series.
With Dave Whyman and Stuart Dangerfield both not racing and the only A grade riders capable of overhauling series leader Aaron Richardson, it looked likely that C grade were going to continue the series trend and ride off with yet another win - however, the 15-strong A grade field of local club riders stepped into it from the gun, led by non other than local King Anthony Spurgeon. Big turns also from the Fleming brothers, Josh and Matt, Jose Rodrigeuz, Joe McDonnell, Robbie Cater, Tin Willing and even Stewart Campbell was spotted on the front.
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The 30-strong B grade bunch got off to a good start with just the usual suspects on the front; however, at the seven laps to go sprint prime their night was over as the A grade field came storming through. The remaining two sprint primes were taken by Dave Evans who is now the undisputed Sprint King of the 2006 Series, so next week if you're in B grade and don't have any sprint points, please don't bother sprinting because you can't win the Nike shoes.
It turned out to be a night when all software programming was running perfectly as the complex array of formulas which go into calculating the handicap was timed to perfection when A grade caught C grade with 3 laps to go and the Heffron Park tifosi were treated to the rare spectacle of an all up bunch sprint.
Stewart Campbell made an early move with 3 laps to go but was quickly reeled back in by the fast moving field. The next move came when Joe McDonnell slipped away and FRF Couriers team mate Robbie Cater protected the move by subtly riding on the front. This put some panic in the bunch and a small break of McDonnell, Computer, Tim Willing and Liam Kelly then dangled off the front for the last lap, but this move also came to nothing with the bunch all together for the gallop.
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Campbell jumped first in the sprint and despite being challenged by Robbie Cater all the way to the line, held off to reverse last week's finishing order and record his first win of the series. Tim Willing, who has been a consistent performer at Heffron since his return to Sydney got third in front of Spurge and Luis Trueba, who also capped off a good ride with fifth.
Craig Dempsey showed that his recent Sunday night victories at the Cloey are obviously boosting his staying power when he outsprinted his Easts team mates Nic Rathborne and John Baxter to record a good win in B grade. Peter O'Connor completed the Easts trifecta when he won C grade for the second consecutive week once again beating fellow C grade pointscore contender Shane Howley home.
With next week's race the final chapter in yet another absorbing series, Aaron Richardson (Easts) looks set to ride off with a new Trek Madone SL frame as series first prize. Dave Evans (Clarence St Cyclery) has already won the Nike shoes and the Sprint King award, while the C grade prize is still up for grabs if Peter O'Connor can get up for another C grade win. There's a rumour that DS Concy is supplying the beers for next weeks finale, so come along to celebrate. There may even be free bbq chicken - Portuguese style, of course...
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Stuart Baker
- Another good ride and another win in C grade for Peter O'Connor
- Dave Treacy brightens up the A grade bunch as the Fleming brothers, Josh and Matt keep an eye on him
- B grade winner Craig Dempsey bides his time in the early laps
- Anthony Spurgeon put in some big efforts to keep A grade honest
- The C grade bunch power down the straight
- Alan Bozunovic on the front of the combined A and B grade bunch
- Stewart Campbell rode aggressively seen here attempting a solo breakaway
- Trudy Van de Stranten shows C grade how its done
- Jose Rodriguez attacks
- Tim Willing responds
- The four man break about to be reeled in on the closing lap
- Stewart Campbell just edges out Robbie Cater
Results
1 Stewart Campbell (Easts) 2 Robbie Cater (FRF Couriers) 3 Tim Willing (Midland WA) 4 Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello) 5 Luis Trueba (McArthur) B Grade 1 Craig Dempsey(Easts) 2 Nick Rathborne (Easts) 3 John Baxter (Easts) C Grade 1 Peter O'Connor (Easts) 2 Shane Howley (Easts) 3 Andrew Kirk (Randwick Botany) Sprint primes 7 laps to go 1 Gerard Donaldson 2 Michael O Brien 3 Marko Turner 5 laps to go 1 Dave Evans 2 Stewart Campbell 3 Stan Genakis 3 laps to go 1 Dave Evans 2 Matt Fleming 3 Anthony Spurgeon Trek Bikes Poinstcore 1 Aaron Richardson 20 pts 2 Anthony O'Brien 13 3 Andy Portess 11 4 Peter O'Connor 10 5 Peter Carscadden 9 6 Robbie Cater 8 7 Paul Watzlaff 7 7 Stuart Dangerfield 7 7 Dave Whyman 7 7 Shane Howley 7 7 Stewart Campbell 7 12 Frank Fortuna 6 12 Simon Parker 6 12 Adam Socha 6 15 Karl Bellamy 5 15 Jose Rodriguez 5 15 Andrew Duggan 5 15 Tim Willing 5 19 Mike Bolt 4 19 Marko Turner 4 19 Chris Sutton 4 22 Gavin Bates 3 22 Anthony Spurgeon 3 24 Liam Kelly 2 25 Alf Brown 1 25 Brad McGarry 1 25 Emma James 1 25 Warren Scott 1 25 Anthony Taylor 1 25 Luis Trueba 1 A/B Grade Sprint King 1 Dave Evans 63 pts 2 Matthew Lucas 39 3 Tim Willing 27 4 Jose Rodriguez 16 5 Sean Vale 15 6 Robert Cater 14 7 Richard Vial 13 8 John Kenny 11 8 Gerard Donaldson 11 8 Stewart Campbell 11 11 Scott Callum 10 12 Stan Genakis 9 13 Dave Whyman 8 13 Michael O'Brien 8 15 Brad Mills 6 15 Chris Reynolds 6 15 John Peppard 6 15 Liam Kelly 6 15 Peter Fitzpatrick 6 15 Peter McDonald 6 21 Dave Green 5 21 Josh Flemming 5 21 Mark Cavendish 5 21 Stuart Dangerfield 5 21 Troy Glennan 5 21 Alex Frame 5 27 Alan Bozunovic 3 27 Chris Reynolds 3 27 Chris Sutton 3 27 Jim Moore 3 27 Jonothan Cridland 3 27 Patrick Naughton 3 27 Adam Shephard 3 27 Anthony Spurgeon 3 27 Matt Fleming 3 36 Gavin Bates 2 36 Joe McDonnell 2 36 Marko Turner 2 39 George Diniakos 1 39 John Baxter 1 39 John Boles 1 39 Steve Wooldridge 1 39 Tony Corrigan 1 39 Brad Glennan 1 C Grade Poinstcore 1 Aaron Richardson 17 pts 2 Peter O'Connor 14 3 Shane Howley 11 4 Andy Portess 9 5 Anthony O'Brien 8 6 Paul Watzlaff 5 6 Peter Carscadden 5 8 Chris Taylor 4 9 Marko Turner 3 9 Mike Bolt 3 9 Frank Fortuna 3 9 Adam Socha 3 13 Simon Parker 2 14 Karl Bellamy 1 14 Andrew Duggan 1 14 Andrew Kirk 1
