Riders on the Storm as Fitzpatrick Thunders Home
US based Category 1 St George rider Peter Fitzpatrick used all his track and road skills to take out the fourth race of the season. With last week’s race cancelled due to rain and the arrival of David Beckham, racers across Sydney kept their fingers crossed for good weather but unfortunately thunderstorms rolled across Sydney all Tuesday. By 5pm it looked liked storms were hitting everywhere except Heffron Park and about 50 dedicated riders pulled up on the start line, however a large dark cloud had appeared to the south and it was only a matter of time before the heavens opened up.
With numbers down there was no where to hide in any grade and most riders set out to keep the pace up. By the third lap the inevitable happened and rain bucketed down for only a couple of minutes before stopping again. The speed in all grades came down a notch as the rain fell and a handful of riders called it quits. With the rain stopped, the race picked up pace as it looked like B grade was going to keep A grade at bay even though it was been driven by recently repatriated Olympian and Australian Champion Paul Rowney.
However the increase in speed and bravado became the undoing of more than one rider as Heffron Park soon resembled a NASCAR race. The tennis courts corner was the un-doing of half a dozen riders as their wheels slid on the wet and slippery track. The worst crash belonged to 2006 Summer Series winner Aaron Richardson who slid out and was taken to hospital to have a number of stitches.
The great escape did not eventuate and B grade was captured with two laps to go. After gingerly making their way through the squirkle, the sprint opened up early with a solid northerly tail wind. Fitzpatrick was able to kick with 100 metres to go to take the sprint over Ben Isaken and Brad Mills. Peter Hamilton secured fourth place over 2007 B grade winner John Peppard. Sydney City rider Kevin Black showed ever consistent form to take out another 1st place in B grade. Andy Mathews was able to keep seasoned warhorse Roger Shackleton at bay to win C grade.
Results
1. Peter Fitzpatrick - St. George
2. Ben Isaksen - Lidcombe
3. Brad Mills - Northern Sydney
4. Peter Hamilton - Sutherland
5. John Peppards - Eastern Suburbs
1st B Grade Kevin Black - Sydney
1st C Grade Andy Matthews - Randwick Botany
For information on Tuesday night racing at Heffron Bike Track, Maroubra, visit the Heffron Summer Series page.
Campagnolo support ESCC and Tuesday night racing at Heffron Bike Track with the provision of spare wheels to be used in the event of a puncture during the race. To use this service you must leave your punctured wheel at the tent. It may be picked up when the borrowed wheel is returned.
Our generous sponsors make it possible for our local youth to discover the magic of cycling. Visit our Sponsors page for more details on their respective areas of industry.
Wet Weather Line
In the event of inclement weather please call 0424 824 959
Archived Reports
Ex pat Paul Rowney and the Easts posse watching the storm clouds gather.
Easts hardman Dave Early leads the King of Heffron before the rain hits
David Cobcroft driving C grade hard before his exploits in A grade.
Peter Fitzpatrick shows the strain of a hard and dangerous race
Eventual winner Peter Fitzpatrick leads Richard Lang through the back straight
John Sunde limping home after a flat tyre ended his race
A grade hits warp speed in the final few laps
That's how it is done! Fitzpatrick accounts for Mills and Isaksen
