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REPORT
Randwick Botany
Cycling Club criterium racing was held at Heffron Park,
Maroubra on Saturday 16 November 2002.
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In a scene
reminiscent of Michael Rogers in the Tour Down Under last
January, Eastern Suburbs rider and cyclingnews.com editor
Jeff Jones had a puncture in the last lap of today’s 36km
A-Grade race and borrowed a wheel from a spectator around
the back of the circuit and finished second. |
In the Tour Down Under
incident, AIS rider Michael Rogers lost his rear derailleur
when a motorcycle marshal clipped his bike. Throwing the bike
to the ground in disgust he was approached by a spectator, who
happened to own the same type of bicycle as Rogers. The
spectator gave his bike to Rogers, who remounted and rejoined
the race, and improved his General Classification in the Tour.
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Seven A-Grade
riders started the race but after 6 laps, half the riders
were dropped, leaving Randwick Botany’s Robert Cater
(left) and Patrick Jones to battle it out with Jeff
Jones. With 8km to go, Jeff Jones attacked and
established a break. Robert Cater bridged the gap and
caught the leader just before his puncture. |
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Cater powered away
to win in a time of 55min 45sec and an average speed of
39kph. After the quick front wheel change, Jeff Jones
rejoined the race just ahead of Patrick Jones and went on
to take second place. Patrick Jones (left)
finished third. |
After the race Jeff
Jones thanked Randwick Botany’s Dave McPherson, who was a
spectator for the day, for lending him his front wheel.
The thirteen-rider
B-Grade bunch went flat-out form the start of their 32km
event. Randwick Botany’s Keegan Aitchison set the fast pace
early but Eastern Suburbs riders Craig Dempsey and John
MacKenzie attacked forcing the other B-Graders to chase. Stan
Genakis from the Sydney Cycling Club was next to attack and
was chased down by Dempsey. The pair stayed away for 2 laps.
Genakis was home first in a time of 51min 25sec and an
average 37.7kph. Dempsey was second followed by John
MacKenzie. Randwick Botany’s Jaysen Brenton was fourth.
Eighteen C-Grade
riders started the 28km race, with Daniel Hynes (Sydney CC)
sitting on the front for the early laps. The pace slowed in
the second half of the event which complicated the racing when
D-Grade was passed. For two laps, C and D Grades where
together. At one point Randwick Botany D-Grade rider Ron
Sproule sprinted around the combined bunch to break the
deadlock. C-Grade then reformed for the final bunch sprint,
with Hynes speeding home to win in a time of 47min 42sec and
an average speed of 35.6kph. Randwick Botany’s John Rivesz
was second, followed by Janelle Lindsay, Karl Bellamy (Sydney
CC), John Buckton and new Randwick Botany member Richard
Edmonds. This was Edmond’s first competitive bike race which
he enjoyed immensely. “There is a fair bit of speed control
required with the bunch surging then slowing throughout the
race,” he said after the race.
Randwick Botany’s Tony
Aitchison won D-Grade for the first time in his cycling
career. Recording a time of 36min 43sec and an average speed
of 33kph, Aitchison was delighted with the result. “I hope
this win is mentioned in the race report”, he said at the
finish line. Second home was Paul Baker followed by Guy
Bicknell and Ron Sproule, all Randwick Botany riders.
Four junior events
were conducted earlier in the day. Results are listed left of
this report.
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Randwick Botany concluded the final round of the 2002 Club
Championship at Heffron Park on Saturday. Pictured
left are some of the participants who got out of bed to
contest the final round (a 50km road race around Heffron
Park) |
Congratulations to the
4 or so RBCC riders who came back in the afternoon to contest
the afternoon races. Most of them being Committee
personnel, including our new Club Captain, Janelle Lindsay,
who went on to get a third place with her legs screaming for
mercy. The championship was extremely exciting and so
close after 13 rounds that final results in all grades were
decided by this final round. The Championship series
involved a series of time-trials, hill climbs, criterium and
road races throughout 2002. Final Championship results can be
viewed here.
Coverage of local
cycling results can be heard on Sydney’s Eastside Radio 89.7FM
“GAME ON” program, hosted by Brad Cooke, each Saturday morning
from 10am to 11am.
Randwick Botany
Cycling Club conducts racing at Heffron Park, Maroubra NSW
each Saturday throughout the year. Juniors start at 1.00pm
and Seniors 2.30pm. For more information please contact the
club secretary Helen Vella on 02 9667 3307 or email
secretary@randwickbotanycc.com.
Race report prepared by:
Tony Horneman
Communications Officer
Photos by John Buckton & Tony Horneman
Web page layout & editing
by John Buckton
Webmaster
Randwick Botany Cycling Club
communications@randwickbotanycc.com
webmaster@randwickbotanycc.com
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