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Lidcombe-Auburn Cycling Club
Friday Night Track Carnival #3 - Lidcombe, Sydney, October 2005
By Steve Isaksen
Lidcombe-Auburn CC's 2005/06 Summer Track season really kicked into gear last Friday Night with the third of our Friday Night Carnivals held in near perfect conditions at the famous Lidcombe Oval track. Strong fields of seniors and juniors promised to provide close and exciting racing across all divisions. Stuart Lane (now Bicisport) was the rider to beat in the combined A/B division and came away with 3 wins on the night. Other prominent performers included Randwick-Botany's Jason Webb, Simon Llewellyn (Dulwich Hill?) and LACC's in form speedster Jon Howard.
C grade was an interesting mix of experienced youth and just plain experience,
the former including Alex Carver (LACC), Bede Kelly (Sthn Cross) and the latter
including everyone's favourite, Trevor Wait (Parra). This week it was the "youthful
experience" coming out on top with both Carver and Kelly sharing the honours,
both now 1st year U17's but with several years of hard junior racing under their
saddles.
D grade's standout rider was Donna Meehan (Waratah), but given plenty of hurry
up from Jack Bennett (Sthn X), Kris Collins (Par), 1st year U17 Erika Shepherd,and
not forgetting husband Paul Meehan. Erika having only her 3rd week on the track
bike rode every race possible both in her senior grade and also Div 1 juniors
and is improving with every lap of the track
Long live the "quarter mile" tracks! The Ashfield Cycles Wheelrace, over four laps of the 430m Lidcombe track didn't disappoint. The longer, old style tracks really come into their own under handicap conditions - plenty of room for the 14-strong field to get a smooth start (so much better then the line astern handicaps we see these days on the undersized 250m tracks) and get some serious momentum happening. With $200 on the line (and $100 for the winner) there was to be nothing left in any riders' tank. Surprisingly, it was the middle and front markers who hit their rhythm early on and were all working well swapping off turns like real pro's - the six A grade qualifiers, from scratch, out to the 60m mark never really got themselves organised and were left empty handed (or rather empty walleted) and lamenting their lack of cohesion. At the bell the two "chicks" Meehan and Shepherd were in front but clearly under severe pressure from the flying middle group of Carver, Kelly, golden tonsils race promoter Paul Craft and recent Texan Grant Fahey. Shepherd, riding on sheer "go harder" race strategy got to the front and had the $100 flashing in the eyes and already spent, until the final 40m when Carver and Craft swept into the finishing straight to grab the lead with metres to spare - Carver got the nod from the judges from Craft and an exhausted Shepherd - handicap racing at it's best!
The LACC Friday Night Carnivals have long been the "test track" of junior track racing in NSW - prominent riders who have "cut their teeth" at our Lidcombe Carnivals include the Hopkins brothers, Shaun and Jeff, and current Olympian Kate Bates - but it was the 2005 crop of juniors who were catching the eye tonight - LACC is proud of our commitment to junior cycling and we are in for another competitive season with strong performances from local juniors Phillip Arias, Joseph Measures, Michael Docker (cousin of Victorian star, Mitch) and Jade Reynolds, to name just a few. LACC conducts Friday Night Track Racing every week - gates 6.30pm, racing 7.30pm, for all divisions and grades, from pro's to beginners. Track training is on Tuesdays from 6.30 - we have several club bikes for those who want to try it out, and all riders are welcome. Further info from web site - http://get.to/lacc or phone Steve 02 97471009 ah
Results
A/B Grade 12 Lap Scratch 1 S.Lane 2 J.Webb 3 J.Frazer 16 Lap Scratch 1 S.Lane 2 J.Howard 3 S.Llewelyn Wheelrace Heat - 8 Lap 1 S.Lane 2 S.Llewelyn 3 J.Webb 4 N.Land 5 J.Frazer 6 M.Anderson C Grade 10 Lap Scratch 1 A.Carver 2 B.Kelly 3 M.Collins 12 Lap Scratch 1 B.Kelly 2 M.Collins 3 A.Carver Wheelrace Heat - 6 Laps 1 A.Carver 2 B.Kelly 3 G.Fahey 4 P.Craft D Grade 8 Lap Scratch 1 D.Meehan 2 J.Bennett 3 P.Arias Wheelrace Heat - 6 Laps 1 D.Meehan 2 J.Bennett 3 E.Shepherd 4 C.Collins Ashfield Cycles Wheelrace Handicap - 4 Laps 1 A.Carver 2 P.Craft 3 E.Shepherd 4 J.Bennett Women - 6 Lap Scratch 1 E.Shepherd 2 K.Lane 3 E.Sprouster Juniors Div 1 4 Lap Scratch 1 P.Arias 2 J.Measures 3 E.Shepherd 6 Lap Points Race 1 P.Arias 2 J.Measures 3 E.Shepherd Handicap 3 Laps 1 J.Measures 2 P.Arias 3 E.Shepherd Div 2 3 Lap 1 M.Docker 2 B.Cole 3 J.Moloney U11/13 Handicap - 2 Laps 1 M.Docker 2 I.Assandri 3 B.Cole Div 3 1 Lap 1 L.Andrews 2 G.McLaughlin 3 C.Land 4 Lap Enduro 1 J.Reynolds 2 G.McLaughlin 3 I.Assandri
