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Shane On The Line
Bicycle Express Apollo/Raceline GSR - 29/7/01
this report thanks to SDV&LCC MEDIA ..... Barry Timmins
A persistent Shane Gill fought a hard won first place in the A grade division of the Apollo/Raceline Graded Scratch races on Sunday.
His recent form marked him as one of the favourites. He was Runner up to Peter Moore in the State Championship Time Trials and a
winner in both the Trek Cycles event in May and the Dean Stephens race in June. Results from that event show Alan Gill and Peter
Moore continuing their impressive form to gain places once again. Blair Howell made an early break from the pack on
the first lap but was slowly reeled in. Sid Carter deserves a commendation after being dropped on the third lap he was able to catch
the leading pack but sadly could not go on with his effort on the last ascent of Heartbreak Hill. The last lap saw Shane and Peter
Grivel grab a hard fought break on the group on the Meadows road section. James Russell and Dave Martini made a move on the last hill
and formed a chasing duo. The surprise of the race was the amazing ride of Alan Gill. He came from the pack passed Russell and Martini
on the last climb powering Armstrong like towards the front runners and then contended the sprint surprising Peter Grivel and taking a
narrow second on the line from his brother Shane. James Russell and Dave Martini both working hard after being promoted up a grade
took fourth and fifth reward for their good showing in June at the Dean Stephens road race. They held out a fast finishing Blair Howell
in the sprint for the line.
B Grade was effectively won by a powerful Claude Altin who looks destined to A grade in the future winning by a clear 20 meters from a
fast finishing breakaway group of Peter Fry, Paul Bell and Ray Deed who had dropped the rest of the field on the difficult climb on the
second lap.
C grade was a fast paced affair with the group staying together for most of the race. It was a spirited well contested sprint with a
group of six riders contending fiercely for the line. Jimmy Olds took the honours from a hard working Chris White with Mike Tagell,
Joseph Hanuszewicz and Russell Osmond.
A flying Wayne Stephens stole the win from a large group of fast finishers in D Grade. He continues his recent run of good results improving
on his fourth place in the Dean Stephens event in June. A group of seven riders had a chance going for the line with Geoff Hillman once again
showing his consistency taking second from Mike Wilson, Vicky Birks, and Paul Weatherall. Missing out on places but finishing with the group
were Peter Blackburn and Dave Symmonds. Both riders unlucky not to place on the line.
E grade was won by Barry Timmins who seems to like this course. He was the winner in handicap D/E grade Detrac event in February and after
following Laurie Pearce to the line just managed to steal it. Laurie is continuing to show good form after winning the Dean Stephens event in
June. The race saw a breakaway of four riders on the second lap with Leah Wright and Caroline Salisbury working hard. The last hill was the
breaker with the group fighting out a tough battle which saw Leah and Caroline take third and fourth.
There is no place for the fainthearted if you race down south with the SDV&LCC and even more so when it comes to competing in their
annual road race championships each year. What a task the riders faced this year with a huge climb up "Willunga Hill" followed by a
long haul that then took riders along the Meadows Road to the Peters Creek turnoff, back along the undulating McLaren Flat Road, up
the nasty short climb at "Champans" before the final slog up heartbreak ridge commonly known as "Binneys". I was on Willunga Hill to
see the riders through and they were all magnificent in their individual efforts. Well done to each and every club member who competed.
Its was a truly glorious day, very uncharcateristic of what winter usually decrees with a clear blue sky and I must say, fabulous views
of the riders [ against a picture perfect backdrop of the vales and the coastline ] as they wended their way up from McLaren Vale. Blair
Howell was on the attack and leapt away from his group while the younger age groups pursued the field [ even though they were racing in age groups ]
and made a rapid accent to the top of the hill. Thanks to Barry the commentary continues below.
ELLAWAY BLITZES FIELD
this report thanks to SDV&LCC MEDIA ..... Barry Timmins reporting
Further information on the SDV&L CC please contact
Press officer Barry Timmins ph 8323 8634
email ...........here
An authoritative Mike Ellaway took out the 2001 Club Roadrace Championship with the fastest time of the day riding forcefully to victory in Category Two with a time of 1: 41: 40 averaging 37.4km/hr over a very challenging course in near perfect riding conditions. Category One riders who where in the hunt for the trophy early lost their chance this year with a wrong turn after Peters Creek.
There where some impressive efforts with in form riders once again featuring in the placings.
Category One was a close battle between Peter Fry and Ray Bishop with Peter taking the honours late in the race. A number of riders who rode strongly in this division took the wrong route with about twenty kms to go and lost a golden opportunity to take out the championship shield.
Mike Ellaway brought home the largest field of riders in Category Two with impressive performances from Peter grivel and Brenton MacDonald to take out the places.
Claude Altin showed his skills once again this season winning from Norman Hoy and John Giles in a very tough hard fought Category Three group.
A large field in Category Four was attacked by a strong riding Blair Howell and an unstoppable Ray Deed with Bob Seymour taking third.
Category Five was taken apart with John Disefano a clear winner with impact consistency front runner Geoff Hillman and Wayne Stephens taking the places.
Evergreen Peter Blackburn again showed his good form to win Category Seven from Brian Else.
Rowley Ferris reports .....
The SAVCC State Road Racing Championships were contested on the Keyenton, Angaston, Eden Valley Circuit in the world famous Barossa Valley,
South Australia. It was the first time this circuit had been used for six years and in spite of a forecast of early morning showers a strong
field of 85 riders assembled to compete in cold but dry conditions with a slight wind blowing accross the course. The CAT1 [35-39] mens
field broke up early when Shane Gill went on the attack with Mike Ridding. The two riders worked well together and quickly established a two
minute gap on the rest of the field but as Riddings tired, a bunch of six riders were eating into the gap and it was soon apparent that the
two riders in the breakaway were doomed. Pre-race favourite Peter Moore was in the chasing group and with the assistance of Dave Martini [who according to
Peter Moore "worked like a slave all day"] they soon caught the two riders. The joining of these riders was to produce a fantastic finish that had to go to
the online camera to seperate and confirm the placegetters. Shane Gill showed just how classy a rider he is by taking Gold from James Russell with Peter Moore
in the Bronze medal position. First year veteran rider Dave Matini had a good day taking fourth from Mike Riding with Rob Gaginni in sixth spot.
Team Mitiggas Peter Taylor showed just what a champion he is by taking the CAT2 [40-44] event in a solo time trial against a class field while
making a comeback to the sport after a long layoff due to work commitments. Ricki Staehr, Brenton McDonald, Peter Grivell & Mike Elleway followed
Taylor home in that order. Taylors Mitigga team mate Tony McLoughlin was forced to retire from the event due to illness.
Team Key Home Loans rider Greg Chivers continued his devestating form by taking the CAT3 [45-49] race from Syd Carter ,former state champion Dave
Gomer and the very strong John Giles. It was a superb showing by Chivers who has been in top form since the Twin Peaks RR.
In CAT4 [50-54] it was a long hard ride for SDV&LCC rider Ray Deeds who romped home solo and left everyone in his wake on the shorter race distance
[two laps] he was required to cover. V&LCC club champion 2001 Jim Olds took silver from Tony Cheyne.
Another rider in form was John DiStefano who used the CAT5 [55-59] as a hrad workout in his preperations for the AVCC National Road Championships in
Perth later this year. The pocket dynamo was too good for Wayne Stephens and Terry Stewart. Joe tells me he will tackle the Track Pursuit, Team Time
Trial and the road events this year. He is hoping to win back his national criterium crown he won in Tasmania in 1999.
Other winners in the mens divisions were Gary Scroop, Peter Blackburn, Frank Moore and Dean Whitehorn.
It was a small field for the womens events with the winners being Vicki Birks, Kate Logan and Kathy Jones.
reports thanks to SDV&LCC MEDIA ..... Barry Timmins reporting
Further information on the SDV&L CC please contact
Press officer Barry Timmins ph 8323 8634
email ...........here
Back Valley - Inman Valley
8-7-01
MARTINI CLIMBS TO VICTORY
An assertive Dave Martini produced a forceful ride to take out the Division One handicap event at
Back Valley this weekend. His victory is certain to cost him time from the handicapper in future
weeks. Starting with the 3 minute group Dave made the break on the long climb on the second lap
of the tough circuit with about seven kilometres to go leaving the pack to fight it out for the
minor placings behind him. Sid Carter who took a creditable second place leading the pack home
remarked at the presentations that Martini had 'rode like an animal' leaving the group struggling
behind him. Martini himself was modest about his efforts thanking the officials for a well
organised race which he obviously enjoyed.
Division One was not without controversy. The pack following Martini had riders go through a red
flag and the group where fortunate not to be disqualified. Had the marshal on the corner had the
numbers the result this weekend behind Martini could look a little different. Three riders went
through. Comments following the race suggested that the flag may have been a little late and that
stopping on wet roads at that speed may not have been easy but it would seem that once again we
have not enforced the rules strongly and riders have got away with it once more. It will not be
long before we are reporting disqualifications if riders do not start to follow the flags as the
rules state.
The race in Division One saw a large pack of about ten riders form made up of riders from the
three and five minute groups on the second lap on the long climb before Inman Valley. The scratch
riders caught this group with about five kilometres to go but at this stage Martini had already
made his break. Barry Smith, Peter Grivel, and Sid Carter continued their run of good form taking
out the minor placings. Fastest time went to third placed Brenton MacDonald with 1-09-42 an
average speed of 38.6 kms/hr on a steep and challenging course.
Division Two was also a hard run event with Vicki Birks proving too strong at the finish in a
close fought sprint for the line. A large group formed made up of early starters and riders from
scratch, one and three minute groups. On the decent in to Inman Valley Peter Weatherall lost
control in the pack when a rider in front cut the corner forcing him off the road in to a creek
bed. He got back on to finish although a little wet. Featuring in the places are in form riders
once again with Eddie Collins, Impact Consistency award front runner Geoff Hillman, Russell
Osmond and improving Dave Symmonds who must be due to break through for a first place soon.
It was hard to believe that here we are in the depths of winter and once again the day was ideal for racing. It may have started off
at just 3 degrees celcius but by the time racing got underway at "The Harbour" the sun was shining brightly, a warm northerly was luffing
across the course and the mercury was heading for a predicted 19 degrees celcius. Riders were panning for gold as it was the annual V&LCC
Age Road Racing Championships. Out on the course conditions for some groups were too hot to handle and the packs were breaking up early.
One rider I must single out for a great effort is Jim Olds. Jim raced the 50-54 division and this year he wasn't hanging around to contest
a bunch sprint. All that hard racing down south has certainly improved his form, so much so that he flogged the field by a whopping 7 minutes.
It was a brilliant ride and a great effort to time trial around the flat course and hold off the whole bunch on your own. Well done Jim.
One division that held a lot of interest was the 35-39 where Peter Moore was left to fend for himself against a big pack. Fortunately size doesn't matter
[that may be news to some!] and eventually after a few flurries from a number of triers, Moore escaped the pack with Rob Capelli in tow and thats how it stayed
to the end. In the bunch sprint it was a terrific effort by Mark Piro to take a big, fast finish with daylight between the riders. Greg Chivers continued his
recent winning form by taking out the 45-49 age group while Frank Moore chalked up another gold and added to a great year by winning the 70-74 group.
It was a very small field in the womens divisions with just five riders contesting three age groups but those ladies who turned up opted for a bunch start and
made a real effort of their individual distances. Kathy Jones, the oldest rider in the womens divisions did it the hard way, on her own and deserved to be rewarded with
a gold. Lets face it, if your prepared to have a go week after week then when it comes round to championships time and your still the only rider, I say this makes you a
real champion and a great club supporter too! Vicki Birks was just too strong and the World Masters Track Champ showed just how strong a rider she is by fleeing the
bunch to solo around the course to victory.
Congratulations to all riders who supported the championships.
reports thanks to SDV&LCC MEDIA ..... Barry Timmins reporting
Further information on the SDV&L CC please contact
Press officer Barry Timmins ph 8323 8634
email ...........here
Seymour hold out newcomer
1-7-01
Bob Seymour held of a fast finishing pack lead home by new rider Adrian Hornsby to win this weeks
club event run over the Mclaren Vale / McLaren Flat circuit in near perfect conditions for racing.
Bob made a welcome return to the winners list for the first time this year. The race was another
event where the markers kept the scratch riders at bay. The seven and nine minute starting groups
made a determined effort and a large pack of riders formed on the last run in to McLaren Vale
when the earlier starters where picked up. This large pack continued together at high speed until
the climb on Chapmans Ave when a smaller group of about twenty broke away. This hard working
group in turn lost a few more on the small climb up Binney before a pack of about twelve riders
where left to fight it out on the finishing straight down Strout Road.
Barry Bullivant, Justin Dawson, Eddie Collins and Dave Symmonds have maintained their recent run
of good results featuring again in the places. New rider Adrian Hornsby may find himself starting
later next week.. John Lapidge, Wayne Stevens and Richard Bishop where rewarded for their hard
work working as a team with minor placing on the day after starting together on nine minutes.
Both Barry Bullivant and Dave Symmonds hung on strongly after their groups where caught to stay
with the winning group.
Paul Bell took out the fastest time and had a very good race but was unable to catch the large
pack that formed with the seven and nine minute markers. It was a tough assignment with only a
small group of four starting on scratch.
Don't forget that the Port Broughton Classic has 10 bonus points and they could [at the end of the season]
mean the difference between being in the prize monies and awards or missing out all together. Also there is an ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD each OPEN RACE that is in the Consistency Awards
with beaut prizes to keep the interest high in this very challenging series open to all holders of a current AVCC licence who are registered with a south australian SACVV club.
Enquiries for the Southern Veterans(McLaren Vale) can be directed to Peter Blackburn on (08)8373 0224.
Enquiries for the Outer Harbour Veterans can be directed to Len Nieuwenhoven on (08)826 03181.
