WORLD & SOUTH PACIFIC VETERAN CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS impact internet services exclusive coverage on the world wide web from MARYBOROUGH-VICTORIA AUSTRALIA WORLD STRAIGHT LINE SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP APRIL 22ND 2000 MARYBOROUGH-VICTORIA Racing got underway today in Maryborough in very crisp conditions as the competitors were greeted by a chilly southerly breeze and a temperature hovering around two degrees celcius. Conditions would stay that way all day as the mercury struggled to rise and the sun fought to break through the cloud cover. When it(the sun) did, conditions were more enjoyable but far from ideal for spectators. The world straight line sprint championships were contested on a three hundred metre course along Park Road a tree lined avenue that was starting to show its beautiful autumn colors. In all, seventy riders in ten divisions were keen to tackle the course which ran straight and true alongside picturesque Princes Park Oval situated in the heart of Maryborough. Riders left at two minute intervals launching from twin ramps with each rider divided by a constant line of orange witches hats and having half the road to themselves giving them a clear view of the finish line and where their opposition was positioned. Once again the event was superbly organized, the contest was incident free and some excellent times were recorded. Fastest rider of the day went to Graeme O'neil who was fastest in the qualifying round with 25.81secs and then capped it off with 24.96secs while taking gold in the 45-49 final. In the semi-finals honours went to Tony Curulli with 25.90secs. Best of the womens competitors was Louise Gomes breaking the twenty nine second mark with a time of 28.96, the only woman to do so. The competition was split between qualifying in the morning, semi-finals and finals in the afternoon allowing plenty of recovery for the riders and contributing to some classy times being produced in the finals. Victorian riders dominted the finals taking seven of the ten gold on offer. South Australias Malcolm Clasohm(50-54), Tasmanian David Dennis(40-44) and Ron Truman(65-69) from Queensland ensured there was no clean sweep of the medals by local riders.

35-39 1 LAURIE GATES 2 PETER MARTIN 3 GARY SMITH

25.24

40-44 1 DAVID DENNIS 2 TONY CURULLI 3 PETER TAYLOR

25.35

45-49 1 GRAEME O'NEIL 2 PHILIP SAWYER 3 MARTIN REFERMAT

24.96

50-54 1 MALCOLM CLASOHM 2 DENNIS BOWEN-DAY 3 ROB JACOBSON

25.47

55-59 1 LLOYD PATTERSON 2 BILL MACKAY 3 JOHM LEWIS

26.49

60-64 1 MARTIN PEETERS 2 RON GRANT 3 GEOFF VINCENT

27.09

65-69 1 RON TRUMAN 2 DES KIDD 3 DAVID HILL

26.72

70-74 1 BILL DOVE 2 COLIN SPELLER 3 BRUCE COCHRANE

29.33

75+ 1 BILL MANTOVA 2 RAY BRETT 3 GEORGE GOODWIN

29.57

WOMEN 30+ 1 LOUISE GOMES 2 DALE MAIZELS 3 GILLIAN GOVAN

28.96

Impact wishes to thank the following people and organizations for their kind assistance. Ray Aldridge/Malcolm Clasohm/The Junction Motel/Central Goldfields Shire Council & the VVCC.
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