Joseph Sunde Memorial Criteriums
Heffron Park, Maroubra, Australia, January 26, 2004
By John Sunde
The winners circle.
Photo ©: John Buckton
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Newly crowned Australian under 23 Road Champion Chris Sutton won the 2005
Joseph Sunde Memorial Criterium at Heffron Park today when he outsprinted
his two breakaway companions English time trial champion Stuart Dangerfield
(Easts) and Jose Rodriguez (Colnago Caravello).
The 2005 edition was the 12th anniversary of this popular event, which is
conducted on the Australia Day holiday by Eastern Suburbs cycling club and
is dedicated to the memory of Joseph Sunde, who passed away in 1993 after an
18 month battle with leukaemia (see
about Joseph).
The event has yet to be won twice by the same rider and Sutton's
impressive win today has kept that record intact for another year. Five
previous winners lined up to attempt the first double win, including the
inaugural winner Tim Francis (Goldstars) who flew down from the Gold Coast
to compete. Other previous winners included Anthony Spurgeon (1997), Stuart
Dangerfield (2000), Jeff Hopkins (2002) and Graeme Moffatt (2003), while
Brent Dawson (1999) attended the event as an interested spectator. Last
years winner Troy Glennan was unable to defend his title as he is in NZ for
the Trust House Cycle Classic.
Stuart Dangerfield
Photo ©: John Buckton
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Once again the event was blessed with a hot, sunny day along with Heffron
Park's trademark blustery wind which made life difficult for the 45 strong
field as they battled the finish straight cross-wind from the first lap. The
opening laps were quite nervous, but it didn't take long for the attacks to
line out the bunch on both straights. After just a few laps, the winning
break of the day was formed with Chris Sutton (FDJeux.com-NSWIS), Stuart
Dangerfield (Easts) and Jose Rodriguez (Colnago-Caravello). With plenty of
blocking being done by Easts and Colnago-Caravello, no-one was able to
bridge the ever increasing gap to the trio, who looked to have it in the bag
by the halfway point.
A belated attempt by Randwick-Botany/FRF and Clarence St Cyclery to chase
down the break had a small effect, but it was too little, too late and the
momentum went out of the chase with some 7 laps to go. Up in front, the
three leaders worked well together until the last lap when Sutton and
Dangerfield attacked Rodriguez, forcing him to expend himself in a chase.
That done, Sutton easily took the sprint ahead of Dangerfield and Rodriguez,
while Jeff Hopkins (Jittery Joe's) won the bunch sprint for fourth ahead of
Anthony "King" Spurgeon (Colnago-Caravello).
Acknowledgements
John, Christine, Edward and Portia Sunde and the Eastern Suburbs Cycling
Club would like to thank all those riders and spectators who attended the
event and again donated generously to Childrens Cancer Institute of
Australia. If you would like to make a donation online to the Institute,
please visit their website at http://www.ccia.org.au
A big thank you to the sponsors who generously donated prizes for the 3
events: Albion Cycles, Continental Oceania, Velo Vita, Excel Sports and
Lulics Pharmacy. And thanks also to the suppliers of the raffle prizes Trek
Bikes Australia, Wildfire Restaurant, Croydon Industries, Bags and Luggage
Direct and Dolina Fashion Group, the proceeds of which raised over $2000 on
the day for the Childrens Cancer Institute
In keeping with the spirit of the day all the Colnago Caravello riders
donated their prizemoney along with winner of the Trek 4300 mountain bike,
Anthony Spurgeon who offered his prize for sale and promptly donated the
$600.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of images, click here
Images by John Buckton/Randwick Botany Cycling Club
Results
1 Chris Sutton (NSWIS/St George)
2 Stuart Dangerfield (Easts)
3 Jose Rodriguez (Colnago Caravello)
4 Jeff Hopkins (Jittery Joes/Bankstown)
5 Anthony Spurgeon (Colnago Caravello)
6 Cody Stevenson (Cyclingnews/Penrith)
7 Ben Isaksen (Colnago Caravello)
8 Chris Jenkins (Randwick Botany)
9 Perron Delacour (Sutherland)
10 Darren Benson (Lidcome Auburn)
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