Race Results
Port Adelaide CC Cyclocross (2012) - Focus Crossfire Cup Race #1
Port Adelaide CC kicked off the morning with the Little Crossers showcasing the future talent in cycling, who completed 3 or 4 laps of the stinky forest with plenty of filth and wet leaves to keep them honest, plenty of smiles all around with a good crowd cheering them on.
In the Open race we had out smallest race so race – only 4 riders circulating the course. Not a dull race though with Sam “un poilu” England (PACC) pushing Jeff Wheeler (NCC) the whole race, with a lonely ride for Carl Purczel and Simon Chapman.
One of the possible reasons for a small Open grade is the huge uptake of the CX categories, with 40 riders on the start line together comprising A-CX Women, B-CX men and combine C-grade. A-Grade Women had a depleted field, with Gemma ‘G-Train’ Kernich, Margaret ‘The ‘Mercian’ Shanafield and Sam ‘Rack’ Farrell separating on the start line and finishing in that order with some good racing against B-grade Men. In The B-Mens, Tom Chapman took off right from the start showing the craziness of youth as several more ‘experienced’ or perhaps sensible groups formed behind him and worked to hunt him down. Derek Christian who was over 30secs down at the end of two laps ended up working with and passing Jonathan Rehrmann to take second, only a few seconds behind Chapman in the finale.
In the combined C-grade there was a bit of controversy as a few people including the two fastest riders couldn’t count to three! Instructed on the start line to race 3 laps, Tessa Manning and Darryl Smith had a ding-dong battle with Smith ahead after the regulation three laps (and the win) but they raced on for another lap getting extra value for their cheap entry fee, where a cornering mishap on Smith’s part let Manning through for the win of ‘four lap C-Grade race’. No matter as Manning couldn’t drink the Stella beers provided by Select Physiothapy – she is still a few years off drinking age so there was one beer less to donate to Dad. Robert Cannon came through for his first placing in a cycling race for third vastly improving his style since the last race where his racing lines comprised of running into trees and giving himself concussion.
The A-Grade mens had our strongest field yet with a return of quality riders Mark ‘Muddy’ Chadwick (broken collarbone) and Neil ‘SuperCoach’ Ross (broken hip) taking on this summer’s fastest improvers including Jade ‘El Leanio’ Lean and Chris Luxton, international riders Aron Huysmans and Jerry Van De Pol, top MTBer Shaun Lewis and consistent performers Josh Smith and Ryan Johnson. From the start Huysmans was on a mission on his replica Pink Stybar World Cup bike, with Luxton and Lewis hot on his heels. Mid-race disaster struck, with Huysmans rolling his front tubular over one of the dirt mounds and falling, luckily not far from the pits. He refused a spare wheel and chose to roll the tyre back on and rejoin the field, only to soon puncture the same wheel and DNF. While this was happening Chadwick was making his move to the pointy end of the race, with Lean not far behind and the race was looking like it might be a bunch of four riding for the win. Perhaps Luxton sensed the danger of the riders looming behind and he raised the pace as Lewis started to fade and Chadwick was getting his second wind. Smith and Ross were showing their experience over youth with consistent lap times moving forwards as others made mistakes. In the end it was a happy Luxton ahead of Chadwick, Lewis, Smith and Ross.
Luxton and Kernich will line up for the Round 2 in the Champion System Leaders’ Jerseys- next race Sunday 1 July.
Event 2: Open. Race Animation Full Results (excel)
Event 3: CX Women, CX-B Men, Combined C-, (note separate tabs and wave start) Race Animation Full Results (excel)
Event 4: CX-A Men. Race Animation Full Results (excel)
