Anzac Weekend Criterium

Cyclists give it all.....

The Anzac weekend Criterium was billed as being a great spectator event and that is exactly how it turned out. Eighteen riders lined up on the start line to contest the tight circuit and make or break corners. The group was split into A and B Grade with B Grade completing 15 minutes racing against the clock before the bell signalling their two laps to finish. A Grade completed 20 minutes against the clock before receiving the bell. Many riders had never ridden a criterium race previously and so there were some pre race jitters about cornering at speed.

The race was on from the outset with both the A and B Grade riders jostling for position. The group of Roger Swan, Peter Johnson, Paul Dodson, Paul Spackman, Gavin Keyser, Wayne Hosking, Dean Carroll, Andrew Toovey, Johny Barber, Peter Burchell, Duane Crabb and Tim Glenister established a quick break and after a few laps started to string out. Paul Baldock and Johnathan Tam struggled to maintain the speed of the main group and dropped off the back, soon followed by Peter Burchell, Johny Barber and Duane Crabb. Andrew Toovey showed that he was a dark horse for Crit racing, with the B Grade rider easily keeping himself in the main pack for the majority of the race.

The remaining B Grade riders of Eddie Mueller, Julie Firth, Sonia Davies and Barb Glenister rode strongly with those who were nervous about the corners improving as the race progressed.

Gavin Keyser punctured early into the race and was fortunate that fellow competitor Duane Crabb had brought along a spare set of wheels - Crabb was kind enough to offer the spare prior to the start of the race and so Keyser effected a quick change and was soon back on the circuit.

The wind picked up as the race progressed making some sections of the course even harder and consequently the B Grade group were very happy to receive the bell and commence their final two laps. Toovey easily took line honours, followed by Firth, Mueller, Davies and Barb Glenister. It is fair to say that Toovey can expect to be elevated to A Grade for future criterium races.

The A Grade group worked very well together with Johnson completing the lion's share of turns. Johnson was assisted by Swan and Dodson who regularly came to the front and helped ensure the pace remained high throughout the event. The short circuit saw riders moving in and out of groups however the main A Grade bunch of Johnson, Swan, Dodson, Spackman, Hosking, Carroll and Glenister remained together with all but a few minutes to go. Carroll lost contact coming out of a corner and Glenister ran out of puff just before the bell lap. This left Johnson, Dodson, Swan, Spackman and Hosking to contest the sprint. The pace lifted into the final lap with Johnson, Swan and Dodson being out sprinted by Hosking and Spackman. Hosking was first across the line, closely followed by Spackman and Dodson, with Johnson and Swan finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

Many thanks to Paul Wilson for time keeping, Tim and Barb Glenister for putting out the signs and Bec Swan for marshalling and ensuring that business owners on the circuit were aware of the event.

The picasa photostream has been updated with pictures from today's event.