Reports

Glenvale Cres Sunday December 20
Mulgrave
Dec 20 2009
Mal Sawford

Great fields at Glenvale as riders continue to pay tribute to Lorraine Collings

The first race since Lorraine Collings' untimely passing brought another massive field to Glenvale crescent in perfect weather conditions. The club has been inundated with messages of support and offers of assistance during the week, and with everyone pitching in to cover some part of the many roles Lorraine filled, racing ran as smoothly as ever for the 295 riders in action, even if it did lack a little of the unmistakeable atmosphere Lorraine brought to the registration table.

The final CCCC race for 2009 will be at Sandown on Tuesday night, and will be the first running of the Lorraine and Ike Collings Memorial, which promises to be a massive way to end the year.

The opening 30 minutes of the A Grade were run a lung busting 50kmh average, with the 79 rider field strung out in single file as they passed the C Grade bunch an unheard of four times. Moving up was very difficult, and a number of riders caught at the back of the line lost contact as gaps began to open.

With Andrew Stalder (2XU/ARC) at the head of the bunch at the half way mark, a small gap was allowed to open behind fourth wheel, and Stalder got the message delivered in no uncertain times that it was time lift the pace even higher.

On Stalder's wheel were Casey Munro (biz hub), Wade Wallace (O2 Racing) and Mal Sawford. With plenty of CCCC's most respected riders happy to give the break some space, the quartet took advantage of the brief lull to open a 20 second advantage. Over the final 20 minutes, Stalder in particular pulled huge turns, while Wallace and Munro continued to pull through strongly.

Sawford was clearly on a mission and punching above his weight, and managed not to slow the break down, and the quartet eventually closed in on the tail of the main bunch at three laps to go. The drop in tempo to allow the main bunch to race out the final two places - taken by Joel Pearson (Saving & Loans) from James Mowatt (Cycle City Ballarat) - allowed Sawford to catch his breath long enough to launch clear of the break with a little under a lap and half to go. His hardworking companions chose not to chase, allowing the winner to savour an emotional win, naturally dedicated to his great friend Lorraine's memory.

Stalder convincingly wrapped up the sprint for second ahead of Munro, with Wallace more concerned about getting a good view of the finish. The Lorraine Collings Scholarship Trust, established at Sandown on Tuesday night with over $3,000 in rider's entry fees, received a healthy boost with the A Grade podium donating their prize money to the Trust.

A late break stole the race in B Grade, after an attacking hour that saw a number of promising combinations form. Phil Tehan and Grant Edmonds were among the first to try their luck after a bigger group containing Clement and Munro Boydell (CCCC Elite), Tom Hamilton, Jason Gelsi (BikeNOW), Ben White (The King's Men), Nathan Oman, Conan Daley and Michael Hale had been desperately chased down.

Midway through the race, Will Allen combined with Cam Rotter (Burnley Finance), Martin Lavery and Callan Douglas escaped and spent five minutes out front.

Chris Mallalue and Oliver Scott were next to go, and were only re-captured with 10 minutes to race. Geoff Pyman (Total Rush) countered strongly, but got no assistance, but was the next move that paid off, when White combined with Hamilton and Rotter to open a huge lead at three to go.

The bunch's delay in organizing a chase proved fatal, as the trio worked smoothly to maintain their lead till midway round the final lap, when Hamilton, a star Under 17 rider, jumped clear to take the win ahead of White and Rotter. One of CCCC's Junior Development Program coaches, Rob Koronknai, won the bunch sprint for fourth, just ahead of Tess Downing (AIS), who has just retuned from the Track World Cup in Columbia.

Downing's great sprint gave her the women's win, ahead of Nicole Whitburn (Prime Estate), Bec Domange (RACE) and Jenni King (TorQ).

Both C and D Grade's races ended with bunch sprints, with the big bunches too attentive to allow any breaks to succeed. C Grade saw Spiros Mouzakis try repeatedly to break the shackles with no luck, and it was Brett Kingston who came out on top, ahead of Michael Byrne, Mathew Hol and Peter Kirkham.

Emy Huntsman rode strongly top another women's division win ahead of Hannah Vine and Carly McCoombe (RACE).

D Grade saw the top three places in the sprint taken by leading junior riders. Jack Hickey (Peninsula Star) took the win ahead of Junior Austral winner Emerson Harwood and Stefan Imberger (Mainline Cycles), who had recovered wheel after a mid race break away.

The final place went to Kim Sagnol, with his fourth place giving him the final result he needed to move to C Grade. Jodie Batchelor (Cycling-Inform) took a break from her commissairing schedule to pin on a number and sprinted well to lead home the women's contingent ahead of Ruby Greig-Hurtig (Jones Cycles), Sue Cox and Emma Lyall.

Carnegie Caulfield Twilight Criteriums are held on Tuesday evenings at Sandown Park raceway. Entry is via the Princes Highway (Melways map 80 D7). Gates open at 5.30pm, with racing from 6.30pm. Sundays are at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80 B2). 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 and 2010 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 $35 or a 3 Ride License for $50. 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