WORLD & SOUTH PACIFIC VETERAN CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS impact internet services exclusive coverage on the world wide web from MARYBOROUGH-VICTORIA AUSTRALIA SOUTH PACIFIC CRITERIUM CHAMPIONSHIP George & Audrey Goodwin Cycling partnership of 58 years MARYBOROUGH-VICTORIA APRIL 24TH 2000 What a days racing and what a fabulous venue for a championship criterium alongside Princess Park. The heavy programme had not weakened the resolve of those who were still here at Maryborough to compete for more gold today. Once again the morning was crisp but the sky was clear and the sun was working its magic as Maryborough put on a fabulous autumn display of reds, brown and gold in the foliage of the trees lining the course. Color was also on the minds of the riders. Gold, silver and bronze were emblazened in their minds as day four got underway at nine am sharp. If you ever had the impression that age brings a lessening of enthusiasm or drive then you've never been to a veterans cycling race. These men and women train long and work hard at their sport no matter what level of ability and they don't have the advantage of quick recovery as the younger riders do. In fact I have nothing but admiration for all veteran cycling competitors who deserve far better recognition than they usually get. Today the competition was pretty tough as the skills required for criterium racing differ vastly from those of the road. In the 35-39 division south australias Peter Moore finally picked up that elusive Gold that had evaded him for the past three days. Tasmanias David Dennis triumphed over south australias Peter Taylor in a great sprint battle with the trackie Dennis using his pedalling speed to nip Taylor on the line. Phillip Sawyer was just superb in the 45-49 men hanging on till the sprint to show brute speed in beating Marcus Coppock easily. In the 50-54 division Bruce Will wasn't in the mood to give any other ride even a sniff at the gold. He applied the pressure early and using his strength ended up with a one minute thirty eight second lead and cruised to a comfortable victory leaving Malcolm Clasohm to show his sprinting prowess once again even if the only reward was a silver. The 55-59 was a great battle and a terrific sprint finish with three riders hitting the tape together but Lloyd Paterson was too good for Bill Mackay who was unusually slow of the mark.In other events the womens was a three way tussle that went to Kim Howard, the luckless Brian Long finally got his gold in the 65-69 men, Bill Mantova blitzed the 75+ men, Bruce Cochrane was the happy winner from Bill Dove in the 70-74 men and 60-64 riders had a long wait while the video tape was scrutinized by the referees. In the end it went to Geoff Vincent from Terry Wallace and Martin Peeters in the closest of margins all day. Once again it was a great day for all the organizers, riders and officials.

35-39 1 PETER MOORE 2 DAVID STURT 3 PETER MARTIN

40-44 1 DAVID DENNIS 2 PETER TAYLOR 3 CHARLIE BOTTERO

45-49 1 PHILLIP SAWYER 2 MARCUS COPPOCK 3 SYDNEY CARTER

50-54 1 BRUCE WILL 2 MALCOLM CLASOHM 3 DENNIS BOWEN-DAY

55-59 1 LLOYD PATERSON 2 BILL MACKAY 3 ROBERT BRASZELL

60-64 1 GEOFF VINCENT 2 TERRY WALLACE 3 MARTIN PEETERS

65-69 1 BRIAN LONG 2 JACK TRICKEY 3 DES KIDD

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

75+ 1 BILL MANTOVA 2 RAY BRETT 3 GEORGE GOODWIN

WOMEN 30+ 1 KIM HOWARD 2 GILLLIAN GOVAN 3 CAROLYNE DANGERFIELD

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.

TECHNO PRINT embroidery & screen printing suplier of souvenir sportswear to the championships 38 Sutton Road Maryborough Victoria 3465 Phone Brendan Severino on (03)5460 5099 email techno print

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