Reports

Glenvale Crescent December 21
Mulgrave
Dec 21 2008
Mal Sawford

Record field of 287 for Ike Collings Memorial finale

A week ago, today's weather forecast wasn't promising, but it got a little better each day, and the final result was a perfect blue sky, little wind and a temperature in the mid twenties. Practically perfect! The record field of 287 riders that assembled was a great way to wrap up the three race Ike Collings Memorial Sprint Series, and the big bunches ensured great racing in all grades.

The Ike Collings Memorial series was very generously supported by Inexa Racing Bicycles and Tour de Café, on top of their season long sponsorship of the CCCC crit season. Adding to the colour of the day was the commentary styling of the RideWiser crew, Rob Crowe and Monty, who broadcast from beside the TAC Share the Road finish line kite with crosses to Crowie mid field in the A Grade race.

85 starters in A Grade ensured a lightning fast start, with no one wanting to be behind the split that was sure to occur at some point, and the opening 15 minutes saw most of the field in single file, before the gaps started to open. At one stage the peleton was split into five bunches, with a group of six doing the damage.

The six to go clear were Jono Lovelock (Jayco VIS), Dale Woonton (O'Mara Cycles), former South Australian crit champion Chris Luxton, Reece Stephens (King's Men) and Australian Road Cycling's youngsters Nick Aitken and Calvin Watson. As the gap started to open Tommy Nankervis (Fitzroy Cycles) and Daniel Braunsteins (Drapac Porsche) reached the leaders and twenty minutes in the race was effectively over for the vast majority of the bunch.

Simon Clarke (South Australia.com-AIS) and Charles Howlett (Cycle City Ballarat) spent a few laps in no mans land chasing, but made no impact, before being joined by another dozen of the strongest riders left in the field, including series leader Troy Clarke and Andrew Stalder (ARC), Warren Knevitt (O'Mara), Danny Kah and Brendan Rowbotham (CCCC Elite), Will Tehan and Nick Walker (Jayco VIS).

The lead bunch lapped all bar this chase group after 45 minutes, and had over half a lap lead on the second group at the finish.

The final laps saw Braunsteins, Luxton and Aitken go on the attack. Woonton was first to cross the gap, but the four remaining riders combined to close the move down before the bell. Nankervis, the strongest sprinter in the break, used his speed to take the win, a length ahead of Braunsteins and Luxton, while Woonton just held off the two youngest riders in the break for fourth.

To give some idea of just how hard the A Grade race was, Tommy summarized the data from his SRM for us: race duration 1.03.35 minutes, average power: 334.3 watts, max power 1,313 watts, distance covered 49.18km at an average speed of 46.42km/h!

The B Grade race also saw a quick start, with a constant stream of attacks before a move by Ashley Duncan (Croydon Cycleworks) and Paul Kelly (Burnley Finance) stuck. Ray Turner (Bianchi) joined the pair and the three strongmen set about building an impressive lead.

Counter attacks late in the race saw Martin Bole start to cross the chasm, followed by Nick McEniry (King's Men), Paul Groves (Croydon Cycleworks) and Mark Howard (Great Doherty's). With 15 minutes remaining, another handful of riders reached the lead group, including John Hollingworth, Chris Halley (Kennedy Cycle Fit), Matt Fortunato (CBD Degani), Andrew McKellar, Xavier Gstrein and Chris Broeren, but the big group that resulted proved unwieldly, sending Bole and McKellar on the attack again.

Only Gstrein and Fortunato followed, and the foursome quickly open a 20 second advantage before the start of the final three laps, with the rest of the break swept up by the Burnley Finance driven bunch. The Burnley lead out saw the break's margin down to just seven seconds at the bell, but a big turn from Bole ensured the break's success.

Gstrein, celebrating his 16^th birthday, sprinted well clear to take the win, with Bole holding on for second with a good throw ahead of McKellar and Fortunato.

Fergus MAcLachlan led the bunch home for fifth place, while the strong women's contingent was led home by Bec Domange (Degani) from Jo Hogan (Total Rush) and Clare Vlahopolous (CBD Degani).

After a series of breaks and counter moves that opened the C Grade race, big Jono Thompson (Bike Hub) used his time trialing strength to attack the C Grade bunch solo midway through the race. Despite the support from the crowd gathered at the finish line, Thompson ran out of steam and his brave effort ended in the final three laps and was he was swamped by the bunch.

The sprinters took over, with 14 year old Clement Boydell (O'Mara) taking his second win in succession to earn a start in BGrade after Christmas. James Lake was the only senior rider to figure in the placings with second, with third and fourth taken by juniors Alex Morgan and Michael Hale.

Rachel Rayner sprinted well to take the women's win from Laurel Dayman (Burnley Finance).

The D Grade race also saw a bunch kick wrap up the race despite the best efforts of attacking riders like Tom Quirk, Cameron Parlevliet, Andrew Thomson, Andrew Donohue and Will Thomas.

Mark Parker proved quickest in the dash to the line, taking the win ahead of Paul Bowden (Total Rush), Ian Aitchison and Neil McGann. Noni Carr's first visit to Glenvale proved fruitful as she led the women's contingent home, with Amber Saunders (Burnley Finance) and Melissa Nicholls rounding out the podium.

For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts novice racing clinics every week at Glenvale Crescent at 8.30am. For further details, go to http://www.carnegiecycling.com.au/.

All holders of  2009 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 $30. Licenses are now available at all CCCC events. All returning riders must resume in the grade they last raced in, unless prior arrangement has been made.

Results