Burnie Track Carnival - NE

West Park, Burnie, Tasmania, November 3, 2002

Oliver takes wheelrace in Tasmanian season-opener

By Rod Morris in Burnie

Tasmania's 2002-03 track carnival season officially started yesterday (Sunday, Nov. 3) with a series of events at Burnie's West Park.

Early form was a highlight for Tasmanian scratchman, Gareth Atkins of Devonport, who won both the Open Elimination and A Grade Scratch races, but found little support in the final of the 2000 m wheelrace. Although Atkins qualified for the 4-lap race, he and fellow backmarkers Stephen Pearce, Daniel Cutting and Todd Parnell failed to reel in the "fronties" or the middlemarkers. Instead, glory in the wheelrace final when to Launceston's David Oliver, ahead of the Johnson boys, Michael and Ryan. All three rode from a 160 m handicap.

Ryan Johnson was also to the fore in the lightning handicap, while the name of the third rider is one to be pencilled into the "little black book." Wes Sulzberger is still eligible to ride in the Under 17s, but has opted to move into open company two months early. He is the younger brother of Bernard Sulzberger, who is already making a mark on the Australian road cycling scene. Wes scored two minor placings yesterday and has signaled his intentions of bigger things to come.

In junior racing, a reasonably healthy number of riders contested a packed program, which was decided on a points-based system. Stars of the underage divisions included Will Robinson, Cameron Flint, Brendan Sutton and Edward Sutton.

Tasmanian cycling is currently undergoing a massive overhaul, with both its road and track seasons running concurrently. Next weekend (Nov. 9) will see the Launceston to Ross road race and then on Nov. 23, riders will return to the track for the annual West Tamar Carnival.

Results

Open 2000 m Wheelrace
 
1 David Oliver (160 m)
2 Michael Johnson (160 m)
3 Ryan Johnson (160 m)
 
Open 1000 m Handicap
 
1 Ryan Johnson (80 m)
2 Michael Johnson (80 m)
3 Wes Sulzberger (90 m)
 
Open Elimination
 
1 Gareth Atkins
2 Stephen Pearce
3 Michael Johnson
 
B Grade Scratch
 
1 Michael Johnson
2 Wes Sulzberger
3 Ryan Johnson
 
A Grade Scratch
 
1 Gareth Atkins
2 Stephen Pearce
3 Daniel Cutting
 
Junior 1 1000 m Handicap
 
1 Jarrod Harman
2 Cameron Flint
3 Matthew Bonham
 
Junior 1 Elimination
 
1 Cameron Flint
2 Jarrod Harman
3 Tim Walker
 
Junior 1 Wheelrace
 
1 Cameron Flint
2 Matthew Bonham
3 Natasha Mapley
 
Junior 1 Time Trial
 
1 John Rayner            35.19
2 Cameron Flint          35.38
3 Jarrod Harman          36.40
 
Junior 1 Scratch
 
1 Jarrod Harman
2 Cameron Flint
3 Tim Walker
 
Points
 
1 Cameron Flint             12 pts
2 Jarrod Harman              9
3 John Rayner                3
4 Matthew Bonham             3
5 Tim Walker                 3
6 Natasha Mapley             1
 
Junior 2 1000 m Handicap
 
1 Alex Holden
2 Angela Klyne
3 Will Robinson
 
Junior 2 Elimination
 
1 Alex Holden
2 Thomas Robinson
3 Will Robinson
 
Junior 2 Wheelrace
 
1 Will Robinson
2 Carrie Price
3 Alex Holden
 
Junior 2 Time Trial
 
1 Will Robinson          35.66
2 Alex Holden            38.16
3 Thomas Robinson        38.45
 
Junior 2 Scratch
 
1 Will Robinson
2 Alex Holden
3 Thomas Robinson
 
Points
 
1 Will Robinson             11 pts
2 Alex Holden               11
3 Thomas Robinson            4
4 Carrie Price               2
5 Angela Klyne               2
 
Junior 3 1000 m Handicap
 
1 Brendan Sutton
2 Edward Robinson
 
Junior 3 Derby #1
 
1 Edward Robinson
2 Brendan Sutton
 
Junior 3 Derby #2
 
1 Brendan Sutton
2 Edward Robinson
 
Junior 3 Derby #3
 
1 Brendan Sutton
2 Edward Robinson
 
Junior 3 Derby #4
 
1 Brendan Sutton
2 Edward Robinson
 
Junior 3 Time Trial
 
1 Edward Robinson        40.93
2 Brendan Sutton         41.01
 
Points
 
1 Brendan Sutton             16 pts
2 Edward Robinson            14