Reports

Glenvale Crescent February 8
Mulgrave
Feb 08 2009
Mal Sawford

Rain scheduled around racing at Glenvale

After Melbourne's hottest ever day yesterday, the morning brought with it cool weather and the occasional burst of light rain. The chances of racing didn't look overly promising at 8am, but by 8.30 the roads were dry enough for the Novice Clinic to get underway.

Rain fell again immediately after the finish of the B and D Grade races, but didn't last long. It was enough for a few of the A Grade riders to err on the side of caution and return their numbers, but the course was bone dry by race end - only for the rain to return after presentations and while the volunteers packed up all the signage!

Tommy Nankervis (Fitzroy Cycles) threw caution to the win with a first lap attack to open the A Grade race. He admitted later that he'd had a bit of two wheel drift going as he cornered, but kept the pace on as the bunch splintered behind him.

Ten riders had the strength and the handling skills to stay with the chase group that eventually reached Nankervis. Four came from the Australian Road Cycling/2XU squad - Andrew Stalder, Troy Clarke, Nick Aitken and Kane Walker - two form Jayco VIS - brothers Nick and Johnny Walker, as well as Dale Woonton (O'Mara Cycles), Reece Stephens (King's Men), Eric Shepherd (CBD/Degani) and Peter Aquilina (Fitzroy Revolution), and the lead group eventually lapped the rest of the field with 15 minutes remaining. Richard Vail, Andrew Downie and Adam Mulford (Fitzroy Cycles) were the final three to succumb.

A series of attacks in the final minutes saw Aitken and Nick Walker open a 10 second advantage, with only Shepherd and Stephens prepared to try to close the gap. Clarke, Stalder, Nankervis and Johnny Walker capitalised on these efforts and jumped across to make a lead group of six as the board for ‘3 to go' came out.

Johnny Walker counter attacked the group and had opened a good lead at the start of the penultimate lap. There was no immediate response, which allowed the rest of the break to reform. The youngest of the Walker clan still held a narrow lead at the bell, but was swamped in the back straight.

Nankervis led out the sprint and won, challenged early by Stalder, but it was Nick Walker who came closest to snatching the win with a late charge and big throw. Woonton followed home in fourth place, with Kane Walker and Shepherd taking the final places.

It didn't long for the attacks to start in the B Grade race. Clement Boydell (O'Mara Cycles) was aggressive early, but Paul Kelly (Burnley Finance), Ken Ford and Leigh Smith (Inexa) were the first to really break free and spent nearly 10 minutes clear. Michael Vogt and Sean Carruthers attempted to bridge but this sparked a response from the bunch and the pack reformed.

Cam Rotter (Burnley Finance) jumped away almost immediately and after two laps alone was joined by Dean Sanfilipo. Smith and Kelly joined the lead pair on the following lap, but also had the bunch following close behind.

Wayne Flint (6am-ers) was the next to break free, and had the never day die Kelly for company. Former Olympic middle distance runner Julian Paynter (CBD Degani) launched a powerful counter attack once that pair were caught, but was chased down by Rachel Heal (Colavita) and Kelly.

Two late breaks looked threatening; the first contained Flint, Ford, Steve Morrow and Adrian Hedermann, and the second Chris Halley (Kennedy Cycle Fit), Dale Reith, Kelly and Rotter, but neither move paid off. Halley and Morrow made last ditch efforts in the final three laps, but it all came down to a bunch sprint in the end.

Irish visitor Hedermann made his last race in Australia a successful one, holding off a late charge from Paul Southey (The Freedom Machine). Paynter sprinted well to take third ahead of Mark Kinzett and Curtis Yirildrim (Degani). Heal's win in the women's sprint ahead of Radele Berriman also capped off a successful pre-season training block, although the winnings probably won't cover a first class upgrade on the flight home tonight!

The early damp conditions proved no problems for the big C Grade bunch. The bunch stayed compact for most of the race, with the notable early attacks coming from Stuart Proposch and Michael McGowan before Adrian Grech escaped alone for three laps with 15 minutes to race.

After Grech's attack came to an end, the odds were on for a bunch sprint. John Throssell (Bayside Bandidos) had other ideas and attacked at three to go. He was caught with a little over a lap to race, and the bunch was intact at the bell.

Roger Lancaster launched clear on the approach to the first turn, and held off the sprinters until the penultimate corner before the fast finishers took over. Paul Jones took the sprint, and promotion to B Grade, ahead of young Michael Hale, Tom Quirk and Trevor Spencer. Trackie Kerrie Howard lead the women home ahead of Stephanie McGrath (The Freedom Machine) and Melissa Kah.

Grant Boydell and Japanese exchange student Masayuki Wada jumped away from the D Grade bunch for a short period after the neutral period ended. David Prior tried on a couple of occasions to ride away from the chasers, but was reeled in each time thanks to good tempo work from riders like Sue Cox and Luke Wylie.

Wade Zervaas backed up after a successful first outing in the Novice Clinic, and attacked with 10 minutes to go, but found the D Grade bunch a little harder to ride away. The bunch stayed together for the final three laps, until a powerful attack by Tasmanian visitor Jarrod Otto saw him burst clear on the back straight to take a clear win.

Simon Clark led the field home for second ahead of Tom Quirk and Chris Clark, while Sonia Throssell sprinted well to take the women's win ahead of a confident looking Sue Cox and Andrea Bishop.

Thanks to Arnaud Domange for covering the action, and keeping his camera dry. See more of the action at www.VeloPhoto.net

Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue on Tuesday evening at Sandown Park raceway. Entry is via the Princes Highway (Melways map 80 D7). Gates open at 5.45pm, with racing from 6.30pm. Sundays are at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80 B2) resume on January 11. B and D Grades start at 9am, while A and C Grade ride at 10.15am.

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.

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