Sandown Twilight Racing January 13
Sandown Racecourse
Jan 13 2009
Written by Mal Sawford

Rowbotham beats the heat

The first really hot day of the Melbourne summer made for very tough conditions at Sandown tonight. The temperature stayed on the high side of 35 degrees throughout racing, with the strong northerly wind that usually brings the hot weather making things extra tough.

A break of nine took the initiative early in A Grade, and by the 20 minute mark led by almost the length of the long finishing straight. The group included Paul Mason and Vaughan Bowman (CCCC Elite), Sunday's winner Anthony Smith (Promains/Richmond Cyclery), Tom Leaper and Stefan Kirsch (Brighstar), Troy Clarke (ARC) and Charles Howlett (Felt), and despite their big lead there wasn't much sign of a chase from the bunch behind.

As the heat and wind took it's toll on the attackers and their advantage began to shrink, counter attacks from the bunch saw four chasers, Brendan Rowbotham (Richmond Cyclery), Danny Kah (CCCC Elite), Roy Clark (Croydon Cycleworks) and New Zealand visitor Rico Rogers, break free and reach the remnants of the lead group.

By race end, just 12 riders circulated, with Justin Davis (O'Mara Cycles) and Matt Shea (Inexa/Tour de Café) the only hard nut(ter)s from the bunch who chased to the death. Davis eventually reached Mason on the final lap but was too far back to reach the front runners. Rowbotham attacked before the final corner and stayed clear to win, with Leaper leading the rest of the break home ahead of Howlett, Troy Clarke, Kah, Rogers, Smith, Roy Clarke and Kirsch.

Early attacks in B Grade came from Steve Morrow and Paul Kelly (Burnley Finance), and Josh Morrison (Burnley) and Martin Bole, before the winning break formed. David Edwards (CBD Cycles) and Tim Calkins (King's Men) started the move, and were joined a lap later by Andrew Downie. Richard Vial and Richard Cormick (Burnley) almost reached the leaders, before they were swallowed up, and no one else got any closer as the finish neared.

Calkins lost contact with the break at two to go, but battled on to safeguard his third place, while Downie and Edwards cruised to the finish, and crossed the line together without contesting the finish: Downie got the judges nod but both have earned promotion to A Grade.

Oliver Scott and Peter Robinson (The Freedom Machine) escaped the bunch to take fourth and fifth places, with the leading women at the front of the bunch sprint behind them. Rachel Heal (Colavita) took the win ahead of Sydney siders Amber Jenkins and Sue Forsyth.

An early break in C Grade also contained the eventual winner. Doug Reynolds (Great Doherty's), Nick Youngs and Jono Thompson made the early move, and were joined for the middle part of the race by Will Allen.

Allen popped with a couple of laps remaining, and Reynolds faltered on the final lap, leaving Youngs and Thompson to fight out the win, with Youngs taking the sprint and the bump up to B Grade.

Anthony Mitchell led the sprinters home in third place, with Spiros Mouzakis close behind. Amber Saunders (Burnley) took the women's cash in her first C Grade appearance.

D Grade continued the break away theme, and ensured a rare night without a bunch sprint. Ben Keating escaped the big bunch's clutches with two laps remaining and powered clear to the win in his last D Grade appearance.

The bunch sprinted for second, with Glenn Newnham leading Paul Bruders and Stuart McNeil (Terry Hammond Cycles) home. Annette Curnow (The Freedom Machine) sprinted well to take the women's win ahead of Rebecca Williamson.

Photos from tonight's racing are coutesy of CJ Farqharson, www.VeloPhoto.net.

Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue on Sunday at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80 B2). B and D Grades start at 9am, while A and C Grade ride at 10.15am. Tuesdays are at Sandown motor raceway. Entry is via the overpass near Bunnings on the Princes Highway (Melways map 80 D7). Gates open at 5.45pm, with racing from 6.30pm. Sundays resume on January 11 at

For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts novice racing clinics every week at Glenvale Crescent at 8.30am. For further details, go to http://www.carnegiecycling.com.au/.

All holders of 2009 Cycling Australia licenses are welcome (don't forget to bring your license or receipt!) and non-members can have a go by taking out a day license for $30. Licenses are now available at all CCCC events. All returning riders must resume in the grade they last raced in, unless prior arrangement has been made.

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