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Results and Reports for July 13-19, 2002

Australia

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Illawarra CC Scratch

July 13, 2002

Brown gets gold

For the first time in several weeks the weather gods smiled upon the riders and it wasn't blowing a gale as the riders negotiated the 44.5km scratch race. Officials were expecting a good turn out due to the Tour de France being on at the moment and they weren't disappointed with 39 riders facing the starter. The good numbers allowed the handicapper to have four grades.

A grade rode slowly at the start of the event and after 4km they had the B bunch, that started 2 minutes behind them, breathing down their necks. But Chris Brown decided to bridge the gap to the three riders who had a small lead on the bunch and the bunch pulled away form the group behind.

For the next lap and a half there were numerous attacks by nearly everyone in the bunch. Brown, Guy Mathiske and Adam Rourke were particularly active.

Rourke and Mathiske had a small lead on the bunch at the base of Marshal Mount, on the steep side, but at about half way up the climb Brown flew past them. The rest of the bunch regrouped but were unable to make an impression on the lead of Brown. There were still more small attacks but all to no avail.

Brown soloed in for a well-deserved win with a lead of thirty five second lead on the chasers. Mark Wall won the bunch sprint for second place with Rourke third.

As previously mentioned B grade started at a very quick pace that never really let up for the whole race duration, infact their race time was one second quicker than A grade. Frank Tortorici was the first attacker but was not the last.

The bunch stayed together on the climbs despite the efforts of Brian Joyce and Peter Evans to get away.

Garry Doughty on the climb from the 'Y' on the second lap instigated the most serious attack. Tortorici and Evans quickly joined him. The three put a small gap into the bunch and when they were almost caught they went again but the vigilant bunch wasn't letting them get away and eventually brought them back.

With two kilometres to the finish a very determined trio of Evans, Jeff Gray and Neil Midgley broke away and looked like they had the race in their grasp but a big effort by Lionel Covington brought the bunch within striking distance of them with three hundred metres to go.

Tortorici launched himself off Covington's wheel and quickly rounded up the escapees. Doughty went with him but Midgley was able to kick again and took out second place with Doughty third.

Attacks seemed to be the order of the day and C grade were no different. Pat Delahunty tried to keep the other riders honest by constantly keeping the pace on and throwing in a few surges as well.

Mike Shannon rode his usual aggressive race and precipitated the winning break on the steep side of Marshall Mount the second lap. Ben Lohse, Bobby Krstevski and Hubert Driehus were able to go with.

A chasing bunch of Delahunty, Peter Kelly, Jason Johnson and Phil Jones formed and were able to contain the gap to the front group to about twenty five seconds. On the climb up Hooker hill Delahunty rode away from the others but was unable to close the gap to the leaders.

Krstevski proved too quick in the sprint and won from Lohse and Driehus. Shannon crossed the line fourteen seconds later with Delahunty a further twenty seven seconds later.

The main part of the D grade bunch stayed together for the first lap and half with Stuart Binns showing a good turn of speed. The work was being shared evenly between the other riders with Dean Kelly, Bethany McCarthy, Lou Jonceski and Alex Verdi all riding well.

The decisive move came on the last climb up Marshall Mount when Binns attacked, only Kelly and McCarthy were able to go with him. When he again put the pressure on the climb up Hooker hill McCarthy was unable to go with them.

Binns eventually rode Kelly off his wheel on the approach to the finish line with McCarthy riding strongly to hold on to third place.

Next weekend's races are the postponed Barbara Wyles handicap for over 17 riders and Patricia Gooley handicap for under 17s. Anyone who hasn't entered should do so by ringing Lionel on 42263794. Group 5 have to provide the marshals.

Results, 41.5km

D Grade
 
1 Stuart Binns (Illawarra)           1.14.43
2 Dean Kelly (Nowra)                    0.08
3 Bethany Mccarthy (Illawarra)          0.41
4 Lou Jonceski (Illawarra)              1.07
5 Alex Verdi (Illawarra)                1.09
6 Vince O'Dwyer (Illawarra)             1.50
7 Jackko Laajokki (Illawarra)           6.22
8 Andrew Brooks (Illawarra)             9.51
DNF Peter Vesel (Illawarra)
DNF Teegan Makowski (Illawarra)
DNF Alan Wilson (Nowra)
 
A Grade   
 
1 Chris Brown (Illawarra)            1.12.38
2 Mark Wall (Sutherland)                0.35
3 Adam Rourke (Illawarra)
4 Guy Mathiske (Illawarra)
5 Dylan Forbes (Illawarra)
6 Peter Jones (Illawarra)
7 Mark Davis (Illawarra)
DNF Grant Law (Illawarra)
 
B Grade
 
1 Frank Tortorici (Illawarra)        1.12.37
2 Neil Midgley (Illawarra)
3 Garry Doughty (Illawarra)
4 Austin Pitman (Illawarra)
5 Jeff Gray (Illawarra)
6 Brian Joyce (Illawarra)               0.10
7 Peter Evans (Illawarra)
8 Adam Hotchkis (Illawarra)             0.17
9 Lionel Covington (Illawarra)          0.23
10 David Russel (Illawarra)             0.35
 
C Grade
 
1 Bobby Krstevski (Illawarra)        1.17.01
2 Ben Lohse (Illawarra)
3 Hubert Driehuis (Nowra)
4 Mick Shannon (Nowra)                  0.14
5 Patrick Delahunty (Illawarra)         0.41
6 Jason Johnson (Illawarra)             1.19
7 Peter Kelly (Illawarra)
8 Phil Jones (Illawarra)
DNF Mick Kejda (Illawarra)
DNF Dave Morris (Illawarra)