The Sid Patterson Grand Prix - IM

Vodafone Arena, Melbourne, Australia, March 29, 2003

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The Sid Patterson Grand Prix

Young back for more in Melbourne

By Mal Sawford in Melbourne

Darren Young
Photo: © CN

Tasmanian pocket rocket Darren Young returned to Vodafone Arena after his record setting consecutive Austral wins with another impressive display, winning both major wheel races on offer to cement his place as one of the best handicap riders Australia has ever seen. Fittingly, the quietly spoken champion had the honour of meeting cycling legend Sid Patterson shortly before his death, and was thrilled to take out both races created in his honour.

Unlike the traditional Wheel Race format, where riders compete in handicapped heats for a place in the final, the Sid Patterson Wheelrace rewards riders for top placings in a series of more conventional qualification races. The top five finishers in the Aces Elimination joined the five place getters in the A, B and C grade 20 lap Points Races in a group handicap over 1500 metres.

Young maintained before racing started that he is no longer a good handicap rider, instead aiming for selection in the Australian team as a Madison and Points Race rider, in line with his goal to join the European Six Day circuit. After three major Wheelraces on the trot, however, his modesty seems misplaced! The Aces Elimination race suited him perfectly as took out a convincing win to qualify for the Grand Prix, maintaining perfect position in a competitive field. Joining him on the Scratch mark were proven big race performers Robert Wilson, Nic Sanderson and Richard England, with up and coming sprinter Joel Leonard also bustling his way into the final.

Twenty year old Tommy Nankervis was introduced to racing after wandering into Patto's bike shop as a youngster. After winning the inaugural event in 2001, and placing third last year, the event holds even greater significance for the budding champion, and he qualified for the final by winning an extremely competitive A Grade Points Race ahead of Jamie Goddard and Ben Rix, where only 3 points separated the top five finishers.

On the mark
Photo: © CN

Blackburn's Steve Martin took out the B Grade Points Race on a count back from club mate Kain Nunn, with match sprint specialist Andrew Shannon earning kudos for blasting away from the bunch with two laps to go to claim the final sprint and earn his way into the final.

The C Grade race was marred by a pile up just before the third sprint, which brought seven riders down, and saw the race abandoned. The places were decided on the results of the completed sprints, with the win going to Carnegie Caulfield's Paul Kennedy from Russell Poole and Darryl Kierl, with one of the oldest riders in the field, Mike Goldie qualifying alongside the youngest, Shepparton's Scott Peoples.

For the final, the C Grade riders were given a 140 metre advantage over the back markers, but despite a good start, the horsepower of the Aces saw the field together before bell lap. Nankervis had maintained good position, and led out strongly at the bell, but couldn't hold off a rampaging Young who kicked away down the back straight to win with arms aloft. Nankervis fought on to take second, and continue his record of podium finishes in the Grand Prix, with 2002 Junior World Road and Track Medallist Nic Sanderson surviving a clash of wheels in the closing stages to claim third.

Photography

Images by Mal Sawford/Cyclingnews.com

B Grade about to tackle the 42 degree banks at Vodafone
Action from the Aces Elimination
Darren Young takes out the Aces Elimination
Belinda Goss leads the Women's Scratch Race
Jenny Macpherson flies the sponsors colours
Tess Downing prepares to lead off the Junior's Italian Pursuit
Mark French wins a sprint heat
Carnage in the C grade Points Race
Mark French at 70kmh
Scratchmen on the mark for the Sid Patterson Wheelrace
Darren Young takes out the Sid Patterson Wheelrace
Tommy Nankervis Darren Young and Nic Sanderson on the podium of the Sid Patterson GP
Ready to go in a Keirin heat
Belinda Goss shows off her TIS-cyclingnews.com jersey
Darren Young in action from the Champions Wheelrace
Darren Young shows off the beautiful Champion of Champions trophy
They're off in the Kierin final
Mark French wins the Aces Kierin
Action from the Aces Scratch race
World Junior Champion Mark Jamieson rides in the Aces Scratch
Aces Scratch race winner Stephen Rossendell

Results

C Grade Points Race
 
1 Paul Kennedy (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
2 Russell Poole (Blackburn CC)
3 Darryl Kierl (Ballarat/Sebastapol CC)
4 Michael Goldie (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
5 Scott Peoples (Shepparton CC)

B Grade Points Race
 
1 Steve Martin (Blackburn CC)
2 Kain Nunn (Blackburn CC)
3 Daniel Burtt (Geelong West CC)
4 Carl Cubitt (Coburg CC)
5 Andrew Shannon (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
 
A Grade Points Race
 
1 Tommy Nankervis (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
2 Jamie Goddard (Blackburn CC)
3 Ben Rix (Bendigo CC)
4 Matthew Goss (Tasmania)
5 Hayden Mead (Chelsea & Peninsula CC)
 
Aces Elimination
 
1 Darren Young (Tasmania)
2 Robert Wilson (Footscray CC)
3 Joel Leonard (Footscray CC)
4 Richard England (Blackburn CC)
5 Nic Sanderson (Ararat CC)

Sid Patterson Wheelrace 1500m
 
1 Darren Young  (Tasmania) Scratch
2 Tommy Nankervis (Carnegie Caulfield CC) 45m
3 Nic Sanderson (Ararat CC) Scratch
4 Daniel Burtt (Geelong West CC) 90m