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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Sandown Raceway, December 9, 2003
The heat is on
By Mal Sawford
Despite an extremely warm day, with the temperature still at 35 degrees for the race start at 6.30pm, over 150 riders signed on to test themselves on the Sandown Raceway circuit.
After an attacking first half to the A Grade race, a small group opened a handy lead, and only a determined chase saw things regroup with a little over fifteen minutes to race. The capture brought an immediate counter attack, with super vet Guy Green (Le Tour Cycles) leading team mate Josh Vanderveen, Simon Walker (Victorian State Home Loans), visiting Queenslander Craig Gordon and the newly promoted (and not happy about it!) Russell Newnham clear.
The break worked well, and sensing some tired legs in the heat, CBD Cycles pair Chris Bradford and Will Walker set off in pursuit. Strong riding saw the pair bridge, and despite a desperate chase from the bunch in the closing laps, the break survived, with Australian Domestic Road Champion Bradford sprinting to the win, ahead of Vanderveen and Green.
After two crashes from two races, Grant Jamieson decided the bunch wasn't the safest place to be, and joined David Taylor on the attack in the opening laps of the B Grade race. The attack was reeled in after ten minutes, but a classic counter attack from Ken Ford (Gran Prix Bicycles), Danny Kah and Jason Pastor at the top of the back straight climb saw them open a commanding lead.
The bunch didn't seem particularly interested in organizing a chase, apart from a ten minute burst midway through the hour, which saw the leader's advantage reduced to ten seconds. Fortunately for the attackers, the bunch returned to its apathetic state, and the break survived to fight out the win.
Pastor was quickest in the tail wind finish, taking a well deserved win over Kah, whose second placing earns him promotion to the A Grade ranks, and Ford. Glen Hutchinson (Salter Cycles) led the bunch home, and is now one placing away from a return to A Grade. Loretta Maben (Kathy Watt's Personal Training) was the only Woman finisher in the hot conditions.
Michael Norden took out the C Grade bunch sprint, ahead of Chris Garrard and Alex Smyth in a photo finish from Women's winner Cheryl Walker (Victorian State Home Loans). Walker's outright place in a quality field vaults her to the lead in the closely fought Team Alex Women's Series, as well as a spot in the top ten overall! Eliza Beasley put in a good ride in her first outing of the season, to take the second Women's place ahead of Briana James.
Trent Brown repeated his win of the week before in D Grade, an effort good enough to earn him a spot in the C Grade race next time round. Neale Adams scored his first placing, sprinting into second place, ahead of regular prize winner Ray Smith and promising junior Ricky Peoples. Ferne Walklate took out the Women's division, ahead of Bee Hanson and Louisa Judd.
The $7000 Team Alex Series Leader after the fifteenth round remains young Simon Lancaster on 88 points. Paul Kelly and Peter Ballas (59) share second, with Matt Jensen and Warren Knevitt on 59. Cheryl Walker leads the Women with 56 points ahead of Ferne Walklate on 47 and Lisa Friend (46).
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue every Sunday at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80B2). Twilight races are held on Tuesday evenings at Sandown racecourse, on the car racing circuit, with all grades starting at 6.30pm. Entry is via Sandown Rd, from 5.30pm. There will be no racing on Sunday December 28 or Tuesday December 30, as officials take a short, but well earned rest!
All holders of 2003 Cycling Australia licenses are welcome (don't forget to bring your license or receipt!) and non-members can have a go by taking out a day license for $20. 2004 licenses are also now available. For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts racing clinics in E Grade. For further details, including information and standings for the Team Alex series, check out www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
A Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 36 starters 1 Christian Bradford (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Josh Vanderveen (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Guy Green (Blackburn) 4 Simon Walker (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Willaim Walker (Brunswick) 6 Craig Gordon (Queensland) B Grade, 1 hour + 3 laps, 49 starters 1 Jason Pastor (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Danny Kah (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Ken Ford (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Glen Hutchinson (Footscray) 5 Eddy Perez (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Loretta Maben (Leongatha) C Grade, 50 minutes + 3 laps, 39 starters 1 Michael Norden (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Chris Garrard (St Kilda) 3 Alex Smyth (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Cheryl Walker (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Cheryl Walker (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Eliza Beasley (St Kilda) 3 Briana James (St Kilda) D Grade, 45 minutes + 3 laps, 28 starters 1 Trent Brown (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Neale Adams (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Ray Smith (Chelsea & Peninsula) 4 Ricky Peoples (Shepparton) Women 1 Ferne Walklate (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Birthe Hansen (Blackburn) 3 Louisa Judd (Carnegie Caulfield)
Local results 2003
