The Southern Cross Cycling Club Junior Road Open started under threatening skies but on a clear track at Waratah Park in Sutherland.
Full results, report & photos.
Written by David Triggs
A band of Club members had spent several hours on the previous day clearing the track of debris from recent heavy rains. Racing commenced on time with nearly 90 competitors from around NSW and the ACT competing for trophies, prizes and money.
The morning session was a Criterium course and the afternoon featured a Road race with all age groups above Under 13 competing on the hilly Track 3. With high numbers in most age groups A and B Grades were formed.
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In the Under 9 and 11B grade Criterium race, Hollee Simons from Bathurst was too strong behind Kooragang’s Caleb De Gelder followed by Adam Brookfield of Southern Cross. In the road race Caleb broke away to reverse the top placings with Hollee second and Adam again third.
The Under 11A’s saw Pieden Telfer from the Central Coast out sprint Cameron Horne of Southern Cross(SCCC) and Lachlan Wheeler from Bathurst in the Criterium. In the afternoon, Nicholas Edwards from Lidcombe/Auburn (LACC) made up for a disappointing Criterium by pulling away from the bunch ahead Pieden and Cameron.
Peter Cridland became the first Southern Cross rider to win in the Under 13 Boys B grade Crit from a fast finishing Harrison Carter of Bathurst and another local James Horne in third. The boys had to contend with slight drizzle for much of the race which thankfully cleared for the remainder of the day. In the Road race Peter made it a double with Alex Skribins of Southern Cross having a great race for 2nd ahead of Ruben Ingwersen of St George 3rd.
St George rider Nathan Bradshaw took the honours in the 13A criterium in a close race with Jack Edwards of LACC and Brayden Clews -Proctor from the Canberra Club 3rd. Brayden enjoyed the challenge of the hilly Road course to win ahead of two St George riders, in crit winner Nathan and Luke Williams.
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The Under 13 Girls featured a strong field with local SCCC rider Laura Triggs holding off a fast finishing Jade Reynolds in the Criterium. The LACC rider was dropped on the first lap only to fight her way back ahead of Katherine Hebert from SCCC. Laura won the prime and the Road race ahead of another local Gillian Horne who held of Jade in the Road Race. Jade is a first year Under 13 and will be hard to catch next season.
The Under 15 Men B grade criterium featured a clean sweep by Southern cross riders. Josh Cornish took the honours in a mass sprint finish from Jacob Horne and Jonathon Rubie. The afternoon Road race once again saw Josh win the prime and race with Jonathon finishing 2nd .The field was far more spread out and Luke Youngman from Sydney Cycling Club took 3rd.
The Under 15 A Criterium featured many riders in contention for State representative honours. Jackson Law from Illawarra CC broke away early and left the main field in his wake until local Jared Triggs tried to bridge the gap. Within 3 laps Jackson and Jared had formed a slight lead on a chasing group of 4 and looked like they would all regroup when the chase
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group with two laps to go became 2 when SCCC rider Tirian McManus unluckily flatted. The race was eventually won by Jackson in a close finish from Jared. Tim McMillian(SCCC) showed his sprinting ability to take 3rd. Tim continued this good form by winning the Road Race prime but was pipped in the closest finish of the day by Jackson at the end of the road race with Tirian making up for his morning flat to take 3rd.
The Under 15 Women saw a three way battle in the Crit until Kirsty Mills from St George out sprinted Erin Doyle from Wagga Wagga with Imogen Hines (St George) not far behind. Track 3 split the field early in the Road race with Kirsty keeping pace with the U17 girls to pull away for a comfortable prime and race win. Imogen found the hill a bit tougher than Oatley Park to again finish 3rd behind Erin who collected her second 2nd placing.
Jessica Griffiths dominated the U17 Women’s races by winning both the Cit and Road Races as well as the prime. Jessica from St George had to help chase down an attempted breakaway from Lauren O’Dea (SCCC) in the first race but the results were exactly the same in both races with Emma Sprouster (LACC) finishing 2nd in front of Goulburn CC rider Mikaela Rose.
The last age group to race was the U17 Men. In the B grade, Kooragang’s Max Halstuedt was too quick for Owen Cook from Northern Sydney and Adriano Maradini from Bicisport. Adriano changed tactics in the afternoon race and won ahead of Max and Owen.
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| Adriano Maradini and Max Halstuedt |
A Grade stayed together for most of both races with several riders attempting to break away . Scott Law from Illawarra proved to strong in the sprints with LACC rider Alex Carver a close 2nd in the Crit and 3rd in the Road race. Liam Melville from Peloton Sports placed 3rd in the Crit and 2nd in the Road race but won the prime .
Southern Cross Cycling Club would like to thank all competitors who entered our Open for there sportsmanship and excellent racing. We would also like to thank the Commissaires under Chief Commissaire Ken Martin for running a safe and enjoyable meet.
Lastly thank you to all our sponsors who without your support the club would not be able to offer such an event.
Browse more photos from the Southern Cross Junior Open in the Photo Gallery
Photo (C) Brian Crawford
Photo (C) Brian Crawford
Photo (C) Brian Crawford
Photo (C) Brian Crawford
Photo (C) Brian Crawford
Photo (C) Brian Crawford
Photo (C) Brian Crawford
Photo (C) Brian Crawford
Photo (C) Brian Crawford
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