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Results and Reports from Australia
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Mornington Cycling Club
Casey Fields, Cranbourne, May 21, 2006
A cold and blustery day greeted the riders to the new Casey Fields criterium circuit. This was the first opportunity for riders to compete on the new track with previous races cancelled due to the poor weather.
B, D, and E grades raced first. A small but motivated field in E grade rode on an abbreviated loop for their race. Working smoothly under the guidance of their chaperone George Greenall, they were allowed off the leash with 3 laps to race with newcomer to the sport, George Vissario managing to out run Shannon O’Brien and Daniel Petrovic in a long sprint to the line. Sole lady entrant Erin Butterworth of Caulfield Carnegie riding her debut race stayed with the group but was tailed off at the end in the difficult conditions.
B and D grade rode on the rest of the circuit until E grade had finished and they then resumed using the entire 2.2 km loop. After some initial confusion on where they were to turn, D grade settled into a smoothly working group which although thinned by the wind stayed together for a bunch sprint in which Dale Reith of Blackburn edged out Erin Doherty and Matthew Collins both of Carnegie Caulfield in a close sprint. Radele Berriman and Leah Paterson both of Caulfield Carnegie rode strongly in the race but were tailed off in the wind but battled it out to finish with Berriman being first women across the line.
B grade were very animated in the first half of their race with the field continually splitting and reforming under the pressure of the stronger riders. With 15 minutes to race as many riders resigned themselves to a bunch sprint, Robert Kelly and Adrian Curnow took their chance and broke clear. Working solidly together they built an imposing lead over the chasing group and contested the victory with Kelly having more left after their efforts than Curnow. Caulfield Carnegie president (and Cyclingnews.com reporter) Malcolm Sawford took his chance on the final lap and broke clear of the chasers to take 3rd place. Caulfield Carnegie rider, Peta Mullens was the sole female entry but acquitted herself admirably sharing turns strongly during the race and outrunning many of her male competitors in the dash for the line.
After a short warm up it was time for A and C grades to take to the course. A small but willing group of 6 riders started in C grade despite the conditions remaining very cold and with the southerly wind rising in force. George Greenall still feeling fresh after escorting the E grade bunch set out to distance his competitors. Setting a strong pace, he stayed away for over half the race eventually returning to the bunch for some respite from the wind. Having regrouped, the riders readied themselves for a bunch sprint. Rounding the last corner, Greenall and Rowan Geddes of Blackburn were side by side down the straight with Greenall managing to get his wheel in front in the final metres to take a well earned victory with Denise Betts of Blackburn leading the remaining riders home as 1st woman.
A grade set off for their hour long race at top speed. Many riders found themselves in difficulty early on with many deciding to return to the sidelines and the warmth of their cars. A hard working group of 4 riders moved clear before the half way point and set about ensuring no one would join them. Patrick Shaw (Ballarat Sebastopol), Matt Jenson, Julian Dutton and Tom Walker (all of Caulfield Carnegie) combined their efforts and built a half lap lead over the slowly shrinking chasing bunch. Their lead was enough for the group to play cat and mouse on the final lap with Shaw leading out the sprint only to be overhauled by Dutton in the headwind finish with Jensen not far behind them.
Mornington Cycling Club would like to thank all the riders who attended the race which looks to become a regular feature on the combine region calendar. Special thanks from the club to Fiona Pyke, Niall McDonagh, Michelle Murrell and Stan Thomas who were essential in organising entries, judging the finishes and all the day to day issues requiring attention at a bike race.
Please support the combine racing calendar over the season. Next weekend’s race hosted by Carnegie Caulfield is the “Hell of the West” at the Anglesea automotive test track.
More details can be found on their club website. www.carnegiecycling.com.au
Results
A Grade 1 hour + 3 laps 1 Julian Dutton (Caulfield Carnegie) 2 Patrick Shaw (Ballarat Sebastopol) 3 Matt Jensen (Caulfield Carnegie) B Grade 50 min + 3 laps 1 Robert Kelly (Caulfield Carnegie) 2 Adrian Curnow (Caulfield Carnegie) 3 Malcolm Sawford (Caulfield Carnegie) 1st Woman: Peta Mullens (Caulfield Carnegie) C Grade 45 min + 3 laps 1 George Greenall (Mornington) 2 Rowan Geddes (Blackburn) 3 Paul Brewer (Blackburn) 1st woman: Denise Betts (Blackburn) D Grade 40 min + 3 laps 1 Dale Reith (Blackburn) 2 Erin Doherty (Caulfield Carnegie) 3 Matthew Collins (Caulfield Carnegie) 1st woman: Radele Berriman (Caulfield Carnegie) E grade 30 min + 3 laps 1 George Vissario (Caulfield Carnegie) 2 Shannon O’Brien (Caulfield Carnegie) 3 Daniel Petrovic (Caulfield Carnegie) 1st woman: Erin Butterworth (Caulfield Carnegie)
Local Results 2006
