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Carnegie Caulfield CC Lenny Hammond Handicap

Modella, August 17, 2002

AIS boys back in town
Photo: © Malcolm Sawford

Carnegie Caulfield hosted its first road race for a while after the other clubs in the region had played host for the past month. Back to the big flat course after a long lay off, with the road works finally complete, and a fine windless day greeted the surprisingly small field of 79 who challenged the handicapper.

A strong scratch bunch fronted, however, lead by club member BJ McIntosh, fresh from his stint with the AIS/Mapei Under 23 team in Italy, and joined by AIS team mates Aaron Kemps, Ashley Hutchinson and Bernard Sulzberger; all in town for the Tattersalls Cup Sun Tour selection series.

30 minutes advantage was given to the Limit bunch, with 10 groups chasing at 3 minute intervals. With such small groups there was no where to hide, but at least there was no need to look for shelter on the wrong side of the road!

By the end of the first lap, the bunches were starting to combine, with Limit joined by the 27 and 24 minute groups, and the remaining riders consolidated into 4 groups. Scratch were traveling well, but lost a bit of rhythm speed once they caught the 2nd scratch bunch.

With half a lap to go of the 50km circuit, the margin from the leaders who were down to 10 riders was still 7 1/2 minutes from the backmarkers, who had all the other groups in sight on the long straights. The scratchies were back up to full speed, and roaring towards the finish at over 50 kmh, but the gap seemed unattainable.

Rounding the final corner at Bayles, the AIS boys started attacking the bunch one after the other, seemingly deciding the chase was lost. Riders from the middle marks struggled to hold the pace set, and a long line of blown riders formed in the wake of the bunch.

Gap to big for scratchies
Photo: © Malcolm Sawford

In the end, the front markers were rewarded for their consistent effort, staying clear of the chase by just under a minute, with a good win going to Kirsty Bortolin (The Freedom Machine) ahead of the chivalrous sprint of Veteran John Pritchard, with Tony McGarrigle just pipping Under 17 newcomer Jan Wilhoeft for third, with all 10 survivors rewarded with a share of the generous $1000 prize purse.

Fastest time went to one of the AIS boys, Aaron Kemps, who escaped the bunch in the closing meters for a solo win, with Joel Pearson (Bikeland) leading the sprinters home. Women's co-back marker Liz Taddich rode strongly to hold onto the scratch bunch in the closing stages in her first race since returning from overseas.

Thanks as usual to the members who sacrificed an opportunity to race to help marshal the event; Mick Hollingworth, Max Reid, Maurice Murray, Meaghan Godfrey, Gemma Goyne, Darryl Annells and the Bayles Fauna Park Committee who once again ran a well stocked and popular canteen. Blackburn President John Nicholson filled in as Chief Commisaire and presided over an incident free race.

Next weekend's Regional Racing is at Crib Point hosted by Chelsea & Peninsula on Saturday August 24th. All riders not racing the State Championships are strongly encouraged to attend; Chelsea have had to move heaven and earth to keep their permit after fierce opposition from Vic Roads, the local Council and the Police to the use of public roads for racing. In a forerunner of what all clubs can expect for the 2003 season, all corners will be manned by Professional Traffic Marshals, a very costly exercise, and a strong turn out is needed for the Club to cover their costs.

Photography

Images courtesy Malcolm Sawford

• Zac Alexako leads the middle markers at the end of lap 1
• Shaun Collins and James Taylor lead the backmarkers at the end of lap 1
• The scratch and the 3 minute groups work well together
• James Taylor demonstrates the standard issue virtual handlebars on the new carbon fibre Giants
• Gaps open at the tail of the scratch bunch
• Local stalwart Warren Knevitt leads the scratch bunch
• Backmarkers cross the Cora Lynn bridge

Results, 100km (79starters)

1 Kirsty Bortolin (27 mins) Blackburn CC               2.38.45
2 John Pritchard (27 mins) Carnegie Caulfield CC
3 Tony McGarrigle (24 mins) Noble Park/Dandenong CC
4 Jan Wilhoeft (27 mins) Carnegie Caulfield CC
5 Craig Everhard (24 mins) Blackburn CC
6 Audrey Quick (27 mins) Blackburn CC
7 Russell Grass (24 mins) Carnegie Caulfield CC
8 Joe Siklic (24 mins) SKCC
9 George Symons (30 mins) Chelsea & Peninsula CC
10 Davern White (24 mins) Carnegie Caulfield CC
 
Fastest: Aaron Kemps (Bundaberg CC, Qld)               2.09.50
Women: Kirsty Bortolin (27 mins) Blackburn CC
Juniors: Jan Wilhoeft (27 mins) Carnegie Caulfield CC
Masters: John Pritchard (27 mins) Carnegie Caulfield CC