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Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals
Tasmania, December 20, 2008 - January 17, 2009
Latrobe Carnival - December 26, 2008
Stewart sews up wheelrace
By Rod Morris
In his first season of riding in open company Devonport 16-year-old Brandon Stewart has realized a dream that has eluded thousands of other cyclists over a course of 112 years. Stewart won the 2008 Latrobe Wheelrace in a all front markers final, denying the opportunity of crowd favourite Nathan Clarke - the sole scratchman to qualify for the 3000 m classic - a second victory.
The Latrobe Wheelrace started in 1896 and is one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious events of its type.
Stewart, a member of the Mersey Valley - Devonport Cycling Club continued the growing list of young winners of the event that has captured the mystique of Australian track cycling. In the last two decades, teenagers have enjoyed an amazing run of success in the time honoured Latrobe Wheel.
From 1991-93, three 16-year-olds - Brent McCaig (1991), Tony Homan (1992) and Luke Roberts (1993) - were all crowned champions.
Since then Shane Hodskiss (19), Jade Clarke (18), Aaron Kemps (18), Bradley Payne (18), Matthew Goss (19), Jayden Veljacich (19) and Scott Law (17) have all added their names to the star-studded honour board.
Nathan Clarke qualified for his 14th Latrobe Wheel final in the space of 15 years after finishing in the first four in the opening heat. He had plenty of support in that race from fellow scratchman Matthew Goss, but further out in the field, Alex Carver (90m), Douglas Repacholi (120m) and Mustarudin Zamani (120m) held out the middlemarkers, which included the highly credentialed Shane Perkins and Todd Wilksch.
The second of the five qualifying heats saw much the same with unheralded Tasmanian locals, Colin Barnes (285m) and Jason Bounday (300m), along with Dean Benedetti (300m) and Glen Myler (330m) making life extremely difficult for the two scratchmen Mark Jamieson and Glen O'Shea.
Highly ranked Victorian James Langedyk (45m) got through in the third heat to give Nathan Clarke some support for the final, while former scratchman Jame Carney (USA) also qualified, but this time off a liberal 75m handicap. Other third heat qualifiers included talented young Tasmanian Ben Grenda (135m) and Simon Brown (270m).
Victorian track specialist Adrian Hanson was an impressive qualifier in heat four and his mark of 75m, was a welcome sight for Nathan Clarke. The qualifying of Sam Brett (165m), Peter Loft (180m) and Brandon Stewart (255m) wasn't quite as welcome for the hometown favourite.
In heat five three more youngsters Matthew McDonagh (255m), Justin McMullen (255m) and Danny Pulbrook (270m) along with Malcolm Rudolph (105m) all took their places in the final field of 20.
This season - and prior to the Boxing Day action at Latrobe - Stewart had not exactly set the world on fire. He won the 1000m lightning handicap at the pre-Christmas Devonport Carnival and a fortnight later won the same distance race at the Rosebery Carnival as well as finishing fourth in the Rosebery Wheel behind his MVDCC teammate Sam Brett, who on form would have been the Latrobe Wheel favourite.
Stewart however made full use of his 255m handicap and the small pocket of riders around the same mark worked well together to put the backmarkers out of their misery very early in the race. In a great result for Tasmanian cycling, Stewart became the first Tasmanian winner since Matt Goss in 2005, beating home Danny Pulbrook and Simon Brown. Fourth over the line was Justin McMullen.
For the trivia minded, Stewart became just the second rider in history to wear the No. 76 saddlecloth to victory, repeating the performance of West Australian Jayden Veljacich in 2006.
Emma Smith, another MVDCC teenage member, won the Women's Latrobe Wheelrace over 2000 m. Smith beat Emma Lawson, Harriet Kossman and Miranda Laidlaw in another win for the middle-to-front markers.
The AJ Clarke and Sons Handicap has always been the major support race for the Latrobe Wheel and yesterday, Victorian Shane Perkins had to pull something extra out of the box in the sprint to the line to beat a trio of internationals, Azizvlhasni Awang, Rizal Tisin and Josiah Ng.
Olympian Glen O'Shea won the A Grade Scratch, holding out Nathan Clarke and the improving Alex Carver.
In speciality races in the UCI supported series, Shane Perkins won the sprint, Josiah Ng the keirin and Belinda Goss took the women's points score. The three rider teams sprint saw the New Zealand combination of Eddy Dawkins, Sam Webster and Regan Smith beat Australia and Malaysia.
The Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals circuit continues on Sunday at the Launceston Silverdome before heading back to the North-West Coast with the two night Devonport Carnival. The ageless Burnie Carnival will again be held on New Year's Day, followed by Hobart on January 4 and St Helens on January 17.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com
- Matt Goss in his CSC Saxo Bank kit was back home for the Christmas Carnivals as a former winner of the Latrobe Wheelrace in 2005
- Action from the Latrobe Carnival during the Total Care Logistics Tasmanian Christmas Carnival Series
- Andrew Taylor from New South Wales in action during a heat of the A.J.Clarke and Sons 2000m Wheelrace
- Belinda Goss from Melbourne in action during her heat of the 1000m handicap
- Fatehah Mustapa takes out the women's 1000m handicap final
- Action from the under fifteen's wheelrace at Latrobe
- Nathan Clarke on his home track in his heat of the A.J.Clarke and Sons Wheelrace
- Shane Perkins (right) holds out the wheel lifting Azizulhasni Awang and Rizal Tisin, both from Malaysia, to win the A.J.Clarke and Sons 2000m Wheelrace
- Scott Sunderland (right) plays a lone-hand among a bunch of Malaysians during a heat of the Kierin at Latrobe
- The purple shirts found the bar the perfect spot to watch all the action of the 2008 Latrobe Carnival
- Laura McCaughey from Tasmania has just returned from racing in the USA to compete at this year's carnival series
- Eventual women's wheelrace winner, Emma Smith from Tasmania, in action during her heat of the 2000m wheelrace
- Sarah Cure from Tasmania awaits her heat of the women's 2000m wheelrace
- Rain interupted proceedings but that didn't stop Matt Goss from getting back on the bike
- It didn't stop Mark Jamieson either…
- Shane Perkins from Victoria is congratulated by carnivals president and former Australian scrathman Grant Atkins after his win in the UCI Skilled Sprint final
- Former Australian track star Bob Whetters (right) was delighted to be back at the carnivals as Grant Atkins (left) and Latrobe Cycling Club President Dennis Clarke look on
- Look after me in this one Gossy: Scratchmen Nathan Clarke (left) and Matt Goss, both from Tasmania, await the start to their heat of the 2008 Latrobe Wheelrace
- Tight sandwich (l-r): Todd Wilksch from Victoria with Tasmanian pair Matt Goss (centre) and Nathan Clarke in their heat of the Latrobe Wheelrace
- Matt Goss (on grass) called it a day after dragging the backmarkers up to front of the race in a heat of the Latrobe Wheelrace
- Malaysian track star Azizulhasni Awang in the thick of it during his heat of the 2008 Latrobe Wheelrace
- Tasmanian Ben Grenda awaits the start to his heat of the 3000 metre Latobe Wheelrace
- Eventual wheelrace winner, Brandon Stewart (centre), from Tasmania keeps watch on any challengers during his heat of the wheel
- A pusher checks for on-coming traffic after the start to the $1,000 Women's Latrobe Wheelrace final
- Action at the back of the race in the 2008 Latrobe Women's 2000 metre Wheelrace final
- Emma Smith from Tasmania throws her bike at the line to win the women's wheelrace ahead of Emma Lawson and Harriet Kossman (far left)
- Josiah Ng from Malaysia wins the UCI Skilled Kierin final ahead of Australia's Jason Niblett
- The front-markers were proving hard to catch in the $12,500 3000 metre 2008 Latrobe Wheelrace final
- Brandon Stewart from Tasmania made good of his 255 metre mark to easily win the 2008 Total Care Logistics Latrobe Wheelrace
- The 2008 Latrobe Wheelrace podium (l-r): Danny Pulbrook (2nd, 270ms), Brandon Stewart (1st, 255ms), and Simon Brown (3rd)
- Jobs done: The presentations are over and the cheques collected, it's now time to continue Christmas celebrations for the wheelrace place-getters
Results
Sprint 1 Shane Perkins 0.11.32 2 Scott Sunderland 3 Jason Niblett 4 Josiah Nf Keirin 1 Josiah Nf 2 Jason Niblett 3 Azizvlhasni Awang 4` Scott Sunderland Women's points race 1 Belinda Goss 19 pts 2 Kirsty Broun 7 3 Amy Cure 7 4 Tess Dowling 6 Team sprint 1 New Zealand 0.46.45 Eddy Dawkins Sam Webster Regan Smith 2 Australia Shane Perkins Jason Niblett Scott Sunderland 3 Malaysia Edris Yunos Azizvlhasni Awang Rizal Tisin A J Clarke & Sons Wheelrace 1 Shane Perkins 2.13.03 2 Azizvlhasni Awang 3 Rizal Tisin 4 Josiah Ng 3000 M Wheelrace 1 Brandon Stewart 3.16.77 2 Danny Pulbrook 3 Simon Brown 4 Justin McMullen A Grade Scratch 1 Glen O’Shea 2 Nathan Clarke 3 Alex Carver 4 Adrian Hanson B Grade Scratch 1 Luke Ockerby 2 Hamish Wright 3 Andrew Dolan 4 Darren Rodgers C Grade Scratch 1 Samuel Spokes 2 Jeremy Hills 3 Callam Docker 4 David Stallan D Grade Scratch 1 Joel Stearnes 2 Grant Law 3 Simon Brown 4 David Cripps E Grade Scratch 1 Darrell Galpin 2 Jason Bounday 3 Glen Myler 4 Roy Martin Elimination 1 Duane Johansen 2 Glen O’Shea 3 Nathan Clarke 4 Jame Carney Women 1000 M Handicap 1 Fateha Mustapa 2 Holly Williams 3 Janelle Smith 4 Harriet Kossman 2000 M Wheelrace 1 Emma Smith 2 Emma Lawson 3 Harriet Kossman 4 Miranda Laidlaw B Grade Scratch 1 Holly Williams 2 Emma Smith 3 Harriet Kossman 4 Kate Depaoli C Grade Scratch 1 Emma Lawson 2 Bethany Coleman 3 Miranda Laidlaw U17 2000 M Wheelrace 1 Luke Zaccaria 2 R Sanders 3 Trent Derecourt 4 Joshua Apolony Scratch 1 Mitchell Benson 2 Jack Cummings 3 Trent Derecourt 4 R Sanders U15 2000 M Wheelrace 1 Ethan Williams 2 Nathan Hinkley 3 Andrew Hinkley 4 Lauren Perry Scratch 1 Michael Docker 2 Nathan Hinkley 3 Theodore Yates 4 Calum Munro U13 1000 M Wheelrace 1 Elloize Galpin 2 Jessica Marshall 3 James Chynoweth Scratch 1 Braydon Bennett 2 James Robinson 3 Rachel Loft 4 Ronin Munro
