Joseph Sunde Memorial Criteriums

Heffron Park, Maroubra, Australia, January 26, 2005

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Sutton on song

By John Sunde

The winners circle.
Photo ©: John Buckton

Newly crowned Australian under 23 Road Champion Chris Sutton won the 2005 Joseph Sunde Memorial Criterium at Heffron Park today when he outsprinted his two breakaway companions English time trial champion Stuart Dangerfield (Easts) and Jose Rodriguez (Colnago Caravello).

The 2005 edition was the 12th anniversary of this popular event, which is conducted on the Australia Day holiday by Eastern Suburbs cycling club and is dedicated to the memory of Joseph Sunde, who passed away in 1993 after an 18 month battle with leukaemia (see about Joseph).

The event has yet to be won twice by the same rider and Sutton's impressive win today has kept that record intact for another year. Five previous winners lined up to attempt the first double win, including the inaugural winner Tim Francis (Goldstars) who flew down from the Gold Coast to compete. Other previous winners included Anthony Spurgeon (1997), Stuart Dangerfield (2000), Jeff Hopkins (2002) and Graeme Moffatt (2003), while Brent Dawson (1999) attended the event as an interested spectator. Last years winner Troy Glennan was unable to defend his title as he is in NZ for the Trust House Cycle Classic.

Stuart Dangerfield
Photo ©: John Buckton

Once again the event was blessed with a hot, sunny day along with Heffron Park's trademark blustery wind which made life difficult for the 45 strong field as they battled the finish straight cross-wind from the first lap. The opening laps were quite nervous, but it didn't take long for the attacks to line out the bunch on both straights. After just a few laps, the winning break of the day was formed with Chris Sutton (FDJeux.com-NSWIS), Stuart Dangerfield (Easts) and Jose Rodriguez (Colnago-Caravello). With plenty of blocking being done by Easts and Colnago-Caravello, no-one was able to bridge the ever increasing gap to the trio, who looked to have it in the bag by the halfway point.

A belated attempt by Randwick-Botany/FRF and Clarence St Cyclery to chase down the break had a small effect, but it was too little, too late and the momentum went out of the chase with some 7 laps to go. Up in front, the three leaders worked well together until the last lap when Sutton and Dangerfield attacked Rodriguez, forcing him to expend himself in a chase. That done, Sutton easily took the sprint ahead of Dangerfield and Rodriguez, while Jeff Hopkins (Jittery Joe's) won the bunch sprint for fourth ahead of Anthony "King" Spurgeon (Colnago-Caravello).

Acknowledgements

John, Christine, Edward and Portia Sunde and the Eastern Suburbs Cycling Club would like to thank all those riders and spectators who attended the event and again donated generously to Childrens Cancer Institute of Australia. If you would like to make a donation online to the Institute, please visit their website at http://www.ccia.org.au

A big thank you to the sponsors who generously donated prizes for the 3 events: Albion Cycles, Continental Oceania, Velo Vita, Excel Sports and Lulics Pharmacy. And thanks also to the suppliers of the raffle prizes Trek Bikes Australia, Wildfire Restaurant, Croydon Industries, Bags and Luggage Direct and Dolina Fashion Group, the proceeds of which raised over $2000 on the day for the Childrens Cancer Institute

In keeping with the spirit of the day all the Colnago Caravello riders donated their prizemoney along with winner of the Trek 4300 mountain bike, Anthony Spurgeon who offered his prize for sale and promptly donated the $600.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Buckton/Randwick Botany Cycling Club

• Go fast mohawk. Ben Isaksen receives his prize while Cody Stevenson look on.
• Portia Sunde presents Chris Sutton with the winners bouquet
• Mathew Lucas has the elite field strung out - an unfortunate fall later ruined his race
• Stuart Dangerfield drives the winning break
• The winners circle. The top ten are presented by John Sunde
• Chris Sutton crosses the line with a satisfied grin and a deserved victory slaute
• Anthony Challinor, Brad Mills and Dave Treacy attempt to get across to the break.
• Dave Treacy worked tirelessly all day trying to bridge the gap, this time with Klayten Smith (left) and Paul Rowney in tow
• Chris Sutton powers the winning break during the race
• The winners pose with the Sunde family (John, Christine, Portia and her friend Rosie) and Pat Johnston from Eastern Suburbs
• Cody Stevenson appears to be dwarfed by Brent Jenkins as Chris Sutton bides his time
• Chris Sutton launches his winning move

Images by Janet Jones/Cyclingnews.com

• The peloton in the gutter on the main straight
• Ben Kersten bides his time at the front
• The peloton in pursuit of the break
• Strung out into the wind on the back straight
• Jeff Jones (Randwick Botany/FRF) leads the bunch in pursuit of the break...a lap before crashing behind Matt Fleming and Matt Lucas on the same corner...
• The top 10 place getters in the elite men's race

Results

1 Chris Sutton (NSWIS/St George)
2 Stuart Dangerfield (Easts)
3 Jose Rodriguez (Colnago Caravello)
4 Jeff Hopkins (Jittery Joes/Bankstown)
5 Anthony Spurgeon (Colnago Caravello)
6 Cody Stevenson (Cyclingnews/Penrith)
7 Ben Isaksen (Colnago Caravello)
8 Chris Jenkins (Randwick Botany)
9 Perron Delacour (Sutherland)
10 Darren Benson (Lidcome Auburn)

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