14/05/2011

A big thanks to Karin Jones and the team at Warragul CC for inviting us to race with them at the Shady Creek circuit today.

After weather perfection at Phillip Island last weekend, rider were greeted with a cold, wet afternoon; classic hardman winter road season weather. The Shady Creek circuit is just under 17km in length, and features a main climb close to 2km in length at around 5%. The drag to the finish line is gradually uphill, all in all a great circuit that made you work all the way round.

A Grade raced 5 laps, while B Grade tackled 4 and C and D Grades 3 each.

Stuart Smith (Jayco VIS), from nearby Leongatha, took out the A Grade win in a very close finish, and overhauled Paul Mason (CCCC Elite) in the final metres with Brent Nelson (Croydon Cycleworks) third.

Alex Woff broke away from B Grade early and spend most of the race alone. He led by 3 minutes at the bell, but only held on to win by around 30 seconds after a great last lap solo chase from Stefan Imberger (Mainline Cycles). Alistair Crameri picked up third with a strong move 2km from home to deny the sprinters any joy.

David Tennant (6am-ers) led a strong C Grade field home after a strong ride ahead of local Anthony Gavan and Camden Bush (The Freedom Machine), and Tim Rowe was too good for the smallest field of the day in D Grade.

Race Results Shady Creek Warragul
A Grade – 12 entries
1st – Stuart Smith
2nd – Paul Mason
3rd – Brent Nelson
4th Clement Boydell
5th – Trent Morey
6th – David Everett

B Grade -11 entries
1st – Alex Woff
2nd – Stefan Imberger
3rd – Alistair Crameri
4th – Daniel Nelson
5th – Zander Hitchcock
6th Simon Baxter

C Grade – 30 entries
1st – David Tennant
2nd – Anthony Gavan
3rd – Camden Bush
4th – Rob Monk
5th – Peter Finlayson
6th – Charlie Davine

D Grade- 4 entries
1st – Tim Rowe
2nd – Jayden Mantniiveld
3rd – Ben Stein

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Tags: carnegie caulfield cc, combine, scratch, shady creek

10/05/2008

Many regular Warragul Cyclists ventured to the Grand Prix circuit on Saturday.

For the elite A grade rides a 110km teams event was contested in the morning. A record 30 teams took to the technical 4.45km motor racing circuit for the 25 lap journey. The Warragul team consisted of Shane Stiles, James Henry, Kane Walker, Brenton Jones and Tim Lee. The teams time would be counted on the first 3 riders home. The race was fast and furious from the start. With 147 riders in the bunch it was a long way from the front of the field to the back.

This did not stop Shane Stiles and James Henry from trying to get in every break that was going up the road. Eventually Stiles made it into the winning move of the day. He was the only B Grade rider to make the split and comfortably held onto the more seasoned semi professional riders in the bunch. He even decided to have a crack at one of the intermediate sprints and took the prize. In the final of the race Shane finished in 8th place completing the 111km at an average of 42.59kmh. Kane Walker was in the middle of the main bunch but unfortunately James, Tim and Brenton did not finish so the team was unable to figure in the finish.

In the afternoon Graded scratch races were held. You would think that 110km in the morning would have been enough for Shane Stiles, but no, he fronted up again for another 80km race in the afternoon. A Grade numbers were low with most of the regular A Grade field earning places in the Team’s Classic – although special mention must be made to Nathan Wise (CCCC/SHM Elite), Roy Clark (CCCC/SHM Masters) and Shane Stiles (Warragul CC) who competed 111km in the team’s race before tackling another 80 in the club race. Stiles was a member of the team’s race winning early break too so had a pretty intense day in the saddle!

B Grade started with a mammoth 75 rider field, which made for a fast paced race but also made it very difficult for small groups to get away. Virtually the entire field were in contention for the final lap, which unfortunately led to some kamikaze moves through the final turn that saw six riders loose skin as the poorly positioned fastmen tried to make up some late ground. Geoff Thompson from Warragul came down heavily in the snarl up. He was in better shape than his bike though which ended up as smashed heap of expensive carbon fibre. He managed to break the forks, both front and rear wheels and the frame. An expensive collision indeed. On the regular training ride the next day Thommo was philosophical though. “That’s racing” he said. “What can you do?”

In C grade Warragul riders Rob Monk, Neil Walker, Steve Muggeridge and Matt Kennely joined 52 others in a hotly contested race over 70 km. Warragul riders were prominent in the attempted breaks for the majority of the race. Rob and Steve desperately tried to reach a bunch of 4 riders who got away with 2 laps to go. They battled for a few kilometres 200 meters in front of the peloton but 100 meters behind the break. Being in no-mans land is no fun. The field all came back together at the bell. Rob tried a final attack on the way up to Lukey Heights the last time but could not get away. He led out the sprint but was swamped by other riders in sight of the finish. In the confusion that is created by a bunch sprint involving 50 riders Neil Walker had 4 spokes ripped from his front wheel as another rider put his rear derailleur in the wrong place. He was extremely luck to stay upright.

In a 47 strong D grade field  Karen Munroe was the most successful of the Warragul riders in the afternoon. She took out second place in the Women’s section. D grade raced over 60km and Karen was happy to stay in the bunch for most of the race.

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Tags: carnegie caulfield cc, combine

19/06/2004

Torrential downpours and gale force winds are usually sound justification for keeping the bike stashed away from road cycle competition. It was precisely these conditions leading up to the race start on Saturday at Picnic Point, the host location for a rare season combine race with Melbourne-based club Carnegie Caulfield, that hardened racers were confronted with. In the ten minutes prior to the race start not a bike could be seen warming up for the challenge around the Fishers Road circuit, despite a full car park and sausage sizzle provided by host club, Warragul Cycling Club. The more logical warmup seemed more appropriate to take place sitting in the car.

With a smaller turnout than anticipated, race organisers were forced to adjust the race circuit and length in light of the unrelenting rain and westerly gale. Combined A and B grade fields set off for 5 laps of the 14km circuit which incorporates the infamous ‘Wall’, well known to local riders on Fishers Road. A huge crosswind and less traction from the wet surface meant little forgiveness for those attacking the hill in the wrong gear. The ferocious weather kept the A and B field together across the first lap, but with a strong tailwind to assist on the Picnic Point climb Carnegie Caulfield’s Nathan Wise attacked the field, followed by Coburg’s B grade rider, Darren Lapthorne. The duo worked together and remained clear for most of the second lap, but was joined by Carnegie Caulfield’s Justin Davis by the start of lap three.

Justin wasted no time in attacking the lead pair on the Wall, keeping Darren alongside but losing Nathan Wise. A flat tyre slowed Justin’s progress, leaving Darren to continue alone for lap four. Warragul’s John Mackenzie joined Nathan Wise in the chase behind, but the gap was too large to close on Darren over such a short distance. The positions remained the same by the bell lap, with Justin Davis losing even more time as he struggled with a mixed marriage of gearing manufacturers for his replacement wheel on his second flat tyre. Darren rode away with a rare B grade victory, followed by A grade riders Nathan for second place and John in third. Despite his mechanical delays, Justin retained fourth position. Warragul B grade rider Wayne Chester crossed the line in fifth place a few minutes behind.

C grade featured the largest field for the day with 18 riders set for a wet competition over four laps. Folklore surrounding the severity of the Wall kept the field subdued over their first lap, although the surprising steepness of the short climb was too much for one C grade rider who admitted defeat by completing the climb on foot! It wasn’t until the third attempt of the Wall when an attack by four riders proved successful, including Coburg rider Fraser Short, St Kilda’s Stuart Hastings and Warragul’s Geoff Thomson. Working together in the head wind, they quickly established a gap while the chase bunch was established, led by Warragul’s Chris Hunt and including Carnegie Caulfield rider Gemma Goyne. The breakaway bunch continued to widen the gap over the final lap, and by the finishing straight was coy enough to casually approach the finish, content to share the prizemoney available. Unable to leave a finish uncontested, Geoff Thompson disrupted the agreed plan and jumped the bunch to take out the C grade win. He was followed across by Fraser Short and Stuart Hastings. Gemma Goyne was the first female home.

The D grade field was contested by 11 riders, who used the first climb out of Picnic Point as opportune to stretch their legs in the cold conditions. For the Warragul riders in the peloton, the race held strong interest in the outcome of the final season standings between Bill Frew and Dave Axford, where only one point separated the two at the top of the season tally. With Axford holding the one point advantage, a focussed Frew was keen to ensure no disruption to the race plan or pace, especially into the headwind on the back straight. Disaster struck at the start of the second lap, with Bill losing his chain on the Picnic Point climb, just as Warragul’s Michael Pridmore stretched the bunch out on the front alongside Peter Walker and Andrea Bishop. Race rivalry was put aside momentarily as Monique Hanley and Dave Axford ensured Bill remained in contention for the final points available for the Warragul riders. The three worked together to reel in the other riders unable to stay with the lead bunch, but with Michael Pridmore’s love of the Wall, the front bunch were difficult to catch. Peter Walker eventually took out first place, followed by Michael Pridmore in second and Andrea Bishop in third place, who was also first female home. Despite a race where both riders were tested by conditions, pace and tactics, the final sprint between Dave Axford and Bill Frew was fought out alongside each other and without any leadout. The sprint, and the season trophy, was claimed by Dave over a valiant Bill.

Many thanks to the volunteers for their assistance during the day and in the lead up to the event, including: Ian deBruyne, Ian Walk, Jake and Glenda deBlauw, Glenn Fisher, Glenda Pridmore, Wilf Tampoline, Norm Baberton, Justen O’Connor, Jason Kruger and everyone else who donated their time amongst the hail and freezing conditions. Club racing would not be possible without the ongoing contribution of volunteers.

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Tags: carnegie caulfield cc, combine, scratch, shady creek

24/04/1994

The second of the major road races to be held in Warragul commenced on Sunday with an excellent turnout for all grades.

The A grade race was simply blown apart by the climbing ability of a wiry little man named Geoff Stuart.

Amongst Australia’s best, this rider leapt from the bunch taking with him Luke Weir, Murray Fenwick and Geoff Thomson.

However the two Warragul boys were unable to match his pace as he powered across to a breakaway bunch contained four Carnegie riders as well as locals Aaron Nobelius and Phil Gallagher.

When the bunch regained Thomson and Fenwick there were three of them left.

Twenty riders had simply been blown out of contention.

The riders at the front of the race were now in control with the Carnegie riders being joined by Stuart (yet another Carnegie boy) and Weir. These riders continually attacked the determined leading Warragul riders until they eventually lost contact over Ellinbank hill.

Stuart finished the 90km race in first with the Carnegie riders taking the rest of the placings.

Gallagher finished in sixth with Thomson seventh and Fenwick eighth.

Nobelius rolled through in tenth with over five min­utes separating him from the next rider on the road.

The junior handicap event was part of the development camp being held over the weekend and was hotly contested.

Warragul’s Stephen Fenwick claimed third in a great sprint with Daniel Dilger taking third fastest time.

Ross Henry, Tim Plozza and Peter Bailey also rode well in their various grades.

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Tags: bona vista, carnegie caulfield cc, combine, scratch

02/05/1993

By Geoff Cuckson

An awesome display of solo riding by 1984 Olympic Games Gold Medallist Dean Woods highlighted last weekend’s Warragul cycling events.  Competing in Sunday’s 90 km A grade road combine, Woods blitzed a strong 51 man field to score by almost two minutes in a time of 2 hours 12:16.  He had earlier split the bunch wide open when he broke away, covering the final 25 kms on his own and leaving the remaining riders in a state of disarray.

The race was part of the Club’s second Autumn combine event in which mother great turnout saw 150 riders competing in six grades.

Again Warragul riders performed very well in the 60 km D grade event, filling places two to seven in a twenty-man field.  After being brilliantly led by Graeme Hanks, the finishing order was Paul Yeatman second, Ross Henry, Brett Williams, Peter Bailey, Hanks and Kevin Piercy.

Newcomer Alison Maxsted turned in another great effort to finish third in the 60 km ladies race after just losing the breakaway group three km from the finish.  In the same event Georgann McEwan and Marion Ophof put in gutsy efforts to finish in the first eight.

Travis Fromholtz came in fifth in the 30 km junior event with Ben Fleming and Jason Boxall behind him whilst Scott Keeble and Murray Fenwick, who rode in B Grade, both came to grief on tight comers.

Club officials were extremely pleased again with the turnout of assistants for the combine and thank all for making for another great day.

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Tags: carnegie caulfield cc, cloverlea, combine, ellinbank

18/04/1993

By Geoff Cuckson

Sunday’s road combines saw an excellent attendance of both riders and club assistants for the first of two scheduled Autumn events.  One hundred and thirty four senior competitors covered between 60 and 90 kms whilst 12 juniors rode one lap of the 30 km Cloverlea circuit.

From Warragul’ s point of view the highlight was the excellent efforts put in by the D grade riders with Grub Melnyk taking second over 60 km after being collared inside the final 50 metres.  Henry continued his tremendous form to finish fourth in the bunch sprint with Watts sixth after he “hit the wall” just before the final uphill sprint from the hospital roundabout to the finish at McMillan. Brett  Williams  and Bailey battled on well to come in down the track whilst Debbie Williams put in a great effort to be the second woman to finish in a time of 2.01.50 for the 60 kms.

Travis Fromholtz lost the leading bunch in the last two of the 30 km junior race but rode very well to come in sixth, just 40 seconds from the winner.  Miller finished seventh whilst Keeble, Fleming, Boxall and a gutsy Delaney all put in strongly in their first rides in open company.

Kestle, as usual, worked hard near the front of the A grade bunch only to be swamped over the last two kms by the “sitters” from the back.  Fenwick was the other Warragul rider to compete and he too can hold his head high with a creditable 15th in the B grade event

Club officials were extremely pleased with, and thankful for, the turn out of Warragul members and supporters who very willingly offered their assistance around the course and in the canteen – thanks to all.

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Tags: carnegie caulfield cc, cloverlea, combine, ellinbank