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NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2004
The NSW State Team Time Trial Championships were
once again conducted at Calga on Sunday 15 August 2004. Randwick
Botany had what is believed to be an unprecedented 10 teams entered or 40
riders. So firstly let me introduce you to the teams: |
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Our Elite A team. Big hopes were riding on
this team with Pete "The Machine" McDonald, Robbie Cater, Josh Marden and
Chris "Spongee" Jenkins. Due to an equipment manlfunction (I won't
elaborate further Spongee at the risk of embarrassing you). Suffice to
say that if spongee had continued he would have had Jana Pittman knees
plural. Spongee left the foursome early in the race which left Pete, Robbie
and Josh to do the hard yards. Robbie suffered a bit over the last
20kms but the boys still managed to hold on to fifth place. Good work
lads. Have a look at the wheels on the startline and see if you can guess
who Randwick Botany's sponor is? |
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The Women's team with (from left) Under 19 Women's NSW
Individual Time Trial Champion, Brittany Orr, Alexander Templeton, Melanie
Rassam and Heather Hozack Although Heather dropped off early the girls
were really motoring when disaster hit on Blood Hill. Alex's chain
broke. When it was clear that Alex wasn't going any further I went
flying down the road and caught up with Heather. "Heather, Alex is
out." I said. I will never forget the look on her face when I told
her, "You have to finish now. You are the third finisher - GET GOING!"
Heather immediately lifted and gave it her all. The girls eventually
placing 5th overall. |
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The Master's A "All our Hopes are with you" team.
From left Craig "Canada" Klement, Mark "The Slapper" Robertson, Pat
"Paddy" Naughton and Clive Hammerson. All our hopes rested on this
team. I knew we were in trouble though when one of the members (not
mentioning any names) who had begged for 12 months to ride in the A team,
rang up on the morning of the event to inform us that it was raining in
Sydney and that he was staying in bed. After subsequently being
threatened with ending up with one less male organ than Lance Armstrong, he
miraculously arrived ready to go. He then hung on to finish with the
final 3 even when Clive Hammerson went out the back. I think the Lance
Armstrong threat must still have been working. |
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Now talking about uniform uniformity have a look at
this. I even got Rocky and Frank in RBCC kit. I dub our team "The
All Show and No Go" team". I guess you can tell that Argon 18 is also a
sponsor of Randwick Botany. Unlike many of the other teams we actually
trained together for weeks leading up to this event but looked horrible on
the day. Rocky had the flu and was suffering early. We finally
made the decision to leave him only for an almost carbon copy of the girls
situation. My chain broke going up Peat's Ridge. Whilst we are
all bending over my beautiful time trial bike trying to fix it, for what
seemed an eternity, we hear puffing and blowing and look around to see Rocky
going past us. Frank sings out, "Keep going Rocky" and Alan and Frank
set out again with 3 men to finish the event whilst I am relegated to the
sag wagon. |
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Next Masters team off was "Team Influenza" from
left, Karl Bellamy, Mike Pennell, Andrew Swan and Andrew Hall. The
team rode well together and all four finished together. The team worked
well together until Blood Hill, where Andy Swan had a little trouble and
dropped off the back, leaving Karl, Mike and Andy Hall to to finish as a
group. Big effort from both Andy Swan and Mike Pennell who had both
been in doubt for the event as both had suffered from lurgy's during the
previous week and had not fully recovered by the weekend, so a great effort
on their parts to compete. |
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Andy Hall reports on a side
issue, that he found a screw driver near where my team were preparing for
the TTT. He immediately concluded that it was a little sinister and
must have had something to do to do with the broken chain affair, which
forced the early retirement of the individual touted as the team strongman
(Andy's words). Andy went on to say, " I hope I'm wrong in this
assessment, but clearly you should pay close attention to any further
unexplained mishaps in the future." I am having the screwdriver DNA
tested. |
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The "I've been off the bike and am not very fit"
Team. From left, Crispin "I've been off the bike for a while" Arnell,
Steve "I've been on holidays for 3 months and haven't been near a bike"
Horn, Chris "I've been doing about 1 ride a week, two tops" White and Dave
"Haven't been doing much at all Bucko" Jackson. Well this team who
collectively average about 100km a week managed 11th overall and the second
highest placed RBCC Masters team. The least fittest of them all Steve
Horn proceeded to rip their legs off with huge turns on the front. I
am going to dub this team, "Team Shonk". Father Tony would have
to set aside about a week to hear your confessions guys! |
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I dub this team, "The strange Arm Warmer" team.
From Left, Nick Cater, Dave Crampton, Dave Thomas and Greg Smart. Dave
Crampton suffered a bit and Dave Thomas had to give him a little help up one
of the climbs. Dave hung in there and finished only about 100 metres
behind the other three at the end. Crampo was over the moon at finishing and
even more pleased at kicking Rocky's backside. |
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The "You should be ashamed of yourself" team.
This is the only team unable to beat the "All Show no Go" team. What
were you guy's doing? Were you on a social ride or something.
Wishful thinking, they had the Aitchison 300 kilowatt beast as the escort
vehicle. A Gogamobile firing on only one cyclinder would have had no
problems keeping up with you guys. What were you doing? These bunch
of losers (my team kicked their butts) from left, Brad Lane, Tony "Smiley"
Aitchison, Paul "Ginge" Baker and Mark Murdoch. |
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The Elite 2 Men's Team. From left Scott Mcdonald,
Saxon Johns, Dave Gardener, and Jerzy Sowa. I am not going to say any
thing derogatory about this team. I was driver for them (There's me in
the Burgundy Ford behind them) for 80 kilometres. They worked well
together. Special thanks to Dave Gardener who stepped up to the plate
at the last minute when Aaron Castles was unable to ride. Dave who
really has been off the bike, gave 110 percent for the best part of the
first 40kms before the going got a bit too hot for him. Scott, Saxon
and Jerzy then brought it home. Good work guys. |
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The Elite 3 Team and whilst we missed a photo of them at
the start, left is a photo of them in full flight courtesy of
Ernie Smith
Photography. From left is Chris "Brutus" Reynolds, Adam
Bradstreet, James Dalton and Declan Hogan. These guys rode really well
together and finished together 1 place behind the Elite 2 team. Great
work guys. |
Page 2 of Calga TTT Report, Click Here
(Click on navigation buttons at top of page)
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