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St Helens Track Carnival
St Helens, Tasmania, January 23, 2005
By Rod Morris
Ace Australian scratchman Darren Young added another major Tasmanian handicap wheelrace to his collection when he won the St Helens Wheelrace at the weekend.
Young, aged 28, already boasts two Devonport, one Burnie and one Hobart wheelrace to his credit - and is the only man to win back-to-back Austral Wheelraces from scratch.
But until Saturday, the St Helens Wheel had eluded him - "My brother Jason won St Helens back in 1991, so until now he had one over me," Young said. Bathed in glorious sunshine, the 51st annual St Helens Carnival was hailed a huge success, but like most of the major Tasmanian Carnivals at Christmas, events went the way of the scratchmen. Young was one of five scratchmen to qualify for the 2000m final, along with eventuall minor placegetters Jame Carney, Stephen Rossendell and Nathan Clarke, whilst the fifth - Mark Jamieson - can take plenty of credit for the backmarkers catching the "fronties." Jamieson produced a super two lap turn of speed so Young and Co. could then have a short breather before planning their final attack. Young had about a bike length to spare ahead of the American Carney, who only just edged past Hobart-based Rossendell.
Carney had his revenge in the A Grade Scratch over 40 laps. Along with fellow American Mike Friedman, Clarke, Jamieson and current dual world junior track champion, Matt Goss, Carney formed a solid group who broke away about 12 laps into the race. They worked hard together and with 11 laps remaining, caught the peloton, forcing carnival commissaires to order the embarrassed bunch off the track. By this stage, another American, Bobby Lea, had broken clear of the peloton but hadn't quite caught the breakaway quintet - a lonely ride into sixth place. In a match-sprint to the finish, Carney got the nod ahead of Goss and Friedman.
Earlier in the programme, Matt Goss produced a blistering turn of speed to win the 1000 m Lightning Handicap, just ahead of Ulverstone-based Ben Price, who for the second year in succession has been crowned Cycling Tasmania's Rider of the Season.
Burnie rider Sarah Eaves won the Women's St Helens Wheelrace from fellow middlemarker Carrie Price, with Beaconsfield's Tiffany Manion rounding out the podium. American Becky Conzleman won the women's scratch race and Carrie Price was victorious in the Lightning Handicap. Laura McCaughey decided to sit out the scratch race, but was still awarded Cycling Tasmania's Female Rider of the Season after amassing a huge lead, and in the junior award, Nook rider Daniel Jamieson scored a second placing in the J1 Scratch - the final event on offer - to edge past Jake Laskey by just two points.
Junior wheelrace winners were Tom Robinson (U17), Andrew Smith (U15) and Danieka West (U13). The St Helens Carnival was the last of the Tasmanian summer with riders now turning their attention to either the State track championships or a selection of Victorian carnivals, including Warragul, Leongatha, Austral Wheel, Australian Madison and Bendigo.
Results
Men St Helens Wheelrace 1 Darren Young 2 Jame Carney 3 Stephen Rossendell 4 Nathan Clarke A Grade 1 Jame Carney 2 Matt Goss 3 Mike Friedman 4 Nathan Clarke B Grade 1 Will Robinson 2 Adam Hartley 3 Colin Barnes 4 Dwayne Smith 1000 m Lightning 1 Matt Goss 2 Ben Price 3 Gareth Atkins 4 Dwayne Smith Women St Helens Wheelrace 1 Sarah Eaves 2 Carrie Price 3 Tiffany Manion 4 Tarrisha Jones Scratch 1 Becky Conzleman 2 Tarrisha Jones 3 Kate Warren 4 Carrie Price 1000 m Lightning 1 Carrie Price 2 Becky Conzleman 3 Melissa Barnes 4 Tiffany Manion Juniors J1 St Helens Wheelrace 1 Tom Robinson 2 Clay Murfett 3 Matthew McDonagh 4 Andrew Dolan J2 St Helens Wheelrace 1 Andrew Smith 2 Brandon Stewart 3 David Lyons 4 Emma Smith J3 St Helens Wheelrace 1 Danieka West 2 Caitlin Smithurst 3 Tom Ellison 4 Liam Ockerby J1 Scratch 1 Tom Robinson 2 Daniel Jamieson 3 Clay Murfett 4 Mitch Stewart J2 Scratch 1 Andrew Smith 2 Sam Brett 3 Peter Loft 4 David Lyons J3 Scratch 1 Jake Laskey 2 Jake Fielding 3 Kodey West 4 Tom Ellison J1 1000 m Lightning 1 Daniel Jamieson 2 Clay Murfett 3 Tom Robinson 4 Matthew Lent J2 1000 m Lightning 1 Brandon Stewart 2 Luke Ockerby 3 Sam Brett 4 Madison Catlin J3 1000 m Lightning 1 Danieka West 2 David Stride 3 Caitlin Smithurst 4 Liam Ockerby
