Champs Held
18.07.09
The
second event of the road championships, the criterium, was held on
Saturday afternoon on the 2.3km Industrial Estate circuit.
In the championship riders race for a set time depending on their
grade plus one extra lap for the juniors and two for the seniors.
The T-shaped circuit was more challenging than the square circuit
used previously and was more difficult for those not in top form,
while the downhill finish made for some fast sprint finishes.
In the under 11 race over 10 minutes plus one lap, Corey Gibbons
broke away from Heather Cutting and Nathan Balkwill to take out the
event while Chris Margaritis retired during the first lap.
Jacob Hughes and Justin Burke held the lead in the under 13 race for
the 15 minutes, gradually pulling away from Connor Margaritis and
Tegan Wood while Burke lead Hughes into the final lap. Hughes
refused to give up and gave his all in the sprint to finish under a
second behind Burke followed by Margaritis and Wood.
It was a great contest between Jai Sutton and Dylan Starkey for the
full 20 minutes plus two laps of the under 15 men's event and
although unable to match the pace of these two Sam Campbell also put
in a strong effort. Sutton and Starkey watched each others
every move, making it obvious that the result would be decided in
the sprint for the line. The extremely close finish had
nothing in it as the pair approached the line side by side, each
giving it all they had left. However, Starkey's wheel was just
in front as they crossed the line with Campbell third.
Tim Fulton (under 17 men), Jessica Shore (under 19 women) and Nicole
Goldring (under 17 women) were the only riders in their category,
gaining valuable experience on the new circuit.
A steady pace was set from the start by the fiercely competitive C
grade riders with Hayden Gill unable to sustain it for the 30
minutes plus two laps and losing contact with the group. A
determined Paul Waring lead Bob Monaghan, Gary Carpenter, Darryl
Fulton and Gill into the final lap. Waring worked hard to hold
off Monaghan who was not far off his wheel, with the sprint for
first between these two riders. Waring had just enough left to
keep the lead and finished ahead of Monaghan, Fulton, Carpenter and
Gill.
In the 40 minute plus two lap B grade race, the riders stayed
together for the first few laps but the pace lifted. Steve
Brown dropped slightly off the back while Ryan Ware made his move
off the front, leaving Darren Anderson and Adrian Wilson to try and
reel him in. Ware made the most of his advantage and held the
other contenders off to take out the event convincingly from
Anderson, Wilson and Brown.
The A grade 50 minute plus two lap race was a fast event, with Ben
Young's lack of form showing as he dropped from the back on the
bunch while the other three battled it out in a hard-fought race.
Paul Berkett proved strongest in the sprint finish and reached the
line just ahead of Rhyse Carpenter, with Malcolm Clasohm third and
Young fourth.
FULL RACE RESULTS
HERE |
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