01/02/1992
By Geoff Cuckson
In another great day’s racing, Aaron Nobelius confirmed his status as the club’s most improved rider with a strong victory in the A grade Criterium last Saturday. Although commencing as a juvenile rider only 18 months ago, he has progressed very quickly through the ranks to no w be one of the club’s top A graders. In the middle of Saturday’s 36 km event, the 16 year old got away from the bunch to cover eight km on his own before the peleton, herded by the experienced Geoff Thomson, reeled him in.
At the bell Glen Gibson, who had worked well in the bunch, mistook the final lap and gave Nobelius, who was on his wheel, a great lead out for the final three km. The youngster grabbed the initiative and burst clear to hold a ten second lead around the final lap and came in to score a comfortable victory in a time of 56:02. The sprint for second was a ripper as Gibson, Stuart Corkran and Thomson hit the line locked together with placings going in that order. Close on their wheels in the bunch were Murray Fenwick, Brett Williams and the newly promoted Rohan Watts along with a resuming Brad Lester who had lost a, lap with bike trouble.
Twelve B graders covered one lap less with another blanket finish seeing place getters being separated by centimetres. Although losing one rider in mid race, the bunch held together well until Paul Mead attempted to break up the group inside the final three km. He was quickly covered down the King St hill as riders then settled seeking positions for the final sprint. After an unsuccessful early attempt to break, Ian Fromholtz led out the final charge with a minor clipping of wheels behind him by others jostling for positions. In a desperate lunge at the line Paul Yeatman poked his bike through the middle of the bunch to grab victory ahead of a gritty Brett Miller, the fast finishing Stuart Cuckson and newcomer Robert Corkran. Ian and Travis decided on a dead heat for fifth some three seconds behind the winner who clocked 54:54 for the 33 km.
Tony Lorback and Ross Henry battled on very well in their first venture over the longer journey to come in with the bunch along with Mead, Graeme Hanks and the resuming Tim Eerhard. Peter Standfield also rode well in his first B grade appearance riding for 58 minutes.
The C graders covered 21 kms with 11 riders, including former member Alan McMinn visiting from Surfer’s Paradise Club. In a smartly run event, McMinn took Ben Fleming, Sue Vanderveen, Kevin Mills and Debbie Williams with him as they broke clear of the bunch at the half way mark. After losing Mills at the bell, the four had a great tussle over the final three km with the youngster Fleming leading out the sprint inside the final 300 metres. Vanderveen wound her machine up to take the lead with 100 to go but was grabbed by the stronger McMinn as he pushed his bike through in the middle to snatch victory in a time of 37:16. Fleming hung on very well for third with Williams just off the back in fourth place.
Mills continued his improved form to knock two minutes off his previous best time and Russ Walker and Peter Bailey had a tight tussle for sixth ahead of Ron Grant and a seedy Ted Dunn. The injured Marion Ophof battled through to finish whilst Keeble was forced out in mid race by illness.
Seven other juniors rode in grades with Jason Boxall streeting the opposition in a 12 km A grade event for under 17s. Ryan Ritchie came in second and it was good to see Mick Delaney back in action for third. Showing some fine potential, Steven Byers produced an excellent ride in the under 13 event to score by 1:40 from fellow 11 year old Dean Wilson and Ben Cumming over nine km. Eight year old John Dent again improved his time in the under 11 event and he, along with each of the other boys, is showing the benefit of consistent attendance and training.
The club has been very pleased to welcome the many youngsters who have attended over the past four months and encourages others who are interested to come down for a roll around the circuit.
Despite not competing this week, Phil Gallagher still holds a good lead on the points table with 21 -ahead of Cuckson (16), Henry and Watts (15) and Bailey, Miller and Nobelius 914). Boxall leads the juniors with 24 – ahead of Fleming, Wilson, Byers and Keeble.
