A Long Time Between Drinks

Graded Criteriums, Airport Circuit, Sunday 1 February 2009

A Long Time Between Drinks

Mildura-Coomealla Cycling Club staged a graded criterium at its Airport circuit on Sunday 1 February 2009. With the temperature hitting the 30 degrees Celsius mark just after 9.00 am, the Race Panel elected to reduce the duration of each event. A light breeze out of the east didn’t have much impact on the riders, other than to keep pushing the temperature up. The Club welcomed back Barry Pollock after having spent the last three months visiting family in Europe.

The juniors rode off first Martin and Lachlan Ryan enjoying a one lap advantage on Tyler Beruldsen, Toby and Tate Simpson, Brodie Athorn and Bridget and Megan Hale. The limit pair had a further lap advantage on the scratch trio of Alana Hale, Ben Athorn and Thomas Henderson. Megan punctured part way through the race and a quick wheel change thanks to Mark Busch saw her get away again, using the one lap out rule to her advantage. Brodie managed to hold off the fast charging Ben and Alana, as did Martin who only sacrificed one lap of his lead. Brodie took the win from Martin, with Megan just managing to scramble home in third place. Ben came home fourth to claim fastest time in 21:28 minutes.

Gary Henderson was unlucky to puncture on the first lap in the A Grade race, but a another quick wheel swap by Buschy saw him rejoin the race after a lap out. A hard chase by Henderson saw him catch the other four scratch riders early in the race. With the heat dampening even the usual enthusiasm of Kevin Tankard to attack the bunch, the riders were altogether when the bell went. Richard Hale used a lead out by Tankard to perfection, to claim a long overdue win.

Ian Beruldsen also returned to the winners podium, taking out the B Grade race. Beruldsen held off a fast finishing Rob Akkermans and a newly promoted Les Jordan. Ben Vagnarelli continued with his winning form to take out the C Grade criterium, whilst Gary Simpson did likewise in the D Grade event.

Thanks to Penny Hale, Julieanne Ryan, Kevin Tankard and Barry Pollock for helping out today. The next scheduled event is a 24 km time trial on Tuesday 3 February but the current weather forecast makes it likely that this will be the third consecutive TT to be cancelled. Otherwise, the next event is a graded handicap road race at the Merbein Cemetery course on Sunday 8 February.

Results:

Juniors (20 minutes):
1. Brodie Athorn (JW17) 15 laps 21:17.8 mins (1 lap)
2. Martin Ryan (JM15) 14 21:29.1 (2 laps)
3. Megan Hale (JW15) 13 21:24.4 (1 lap out for puncture)
4. Ben Athorn (JM17) 15 21:27.6 (Scratch)
5. Alana Hale (JW15) 15 21:27.8 (Scratch)
6. Tate Simpson (JM13) 14 22:39.7 (1 lap)
7. Lachlan Ryan (JM13) 13 21:51.9 (2 laps)
8. Bridget Hale (JW17) 13 21:37.8 (1 lap)
9. Thomas Henderson (JM15) 14 21:47.1 (Scratch)
10. Tyler Beruldsen (JM13) 13 22:18.8 (1 lap)
11. Toby Simpson (JM15) 13 23:25.4 (1 lap)

Seniors:

A Grade (30 minutes):
1. Richard Hale 26 laps 31:27.8 mins
2. Simon Wilkinson 26 31:28.2
3. Kevin Tankard 26 31:28.5
4. Mark Phillips 26 31:28.6
5. Gary Henderson 24 31:33.2 (lap out for puncture)

B Grade (30 minutes):
1. Ian Beruldsen 25 laps 31:10.4 mins
2. Rob Akkermans 25 31:10.6
3. Les Jordan 25 31:10.9
4. Tom Athorn 24 31:24.9
5. Garry Pitt 24 31:59.2 (Awarded 5th but lap 21 time?)

C Grade (25 minutes):
1. Ben Vagnarelli 21 laps 26:39.8 mins
2. Arthur Anderson 21 26:42.5
3. Adrian Lloyd 21 26:42.7
4. Greg Scott 20 26:49.3
5. Andrew Ryan (JM17) 20 27:11.5

D Grade (25 minutes):
1. Gary Simpson 19 laps 26:31.5 mins
2. Jess Butler 19 27:52.2