MIVA BOXWOOD SENIOR AND YOUTH CRITERIUIMS 120710
MIVA BOXWOOD CRITERIUM, JULY 10TH. 2012 30 Minutes plus 5 Laps
e fine weather and the presence of SHAW Cable produced a hoard of youth riders and the most exciting senior and youth races to date.
Unfortunately, a first lap crash in the youth race ton Death Corner took out Lindsay Harmsworth but she survived with just a couple of small abrasions. After a couple of laps, the pack was down to six, with Max Creightton, Isaac Van der Vliet and Jane Harmsworth chasing hard and newbie Ben Harmsworth falling back quickly. By the first prime, Ben had been lapped and the sprint was won by Eli Van der Vliet from James Grant.
That's the way it stayed until just before the second prime, with the chase group finally being lapped. The sprint was won by James who just edged Eli for the four points.
With three laps to go the leaders were down to just James, Eli, Brodie Hay and Kia Van der Vliet. Jane and Isaac followed and then the rest. At the start of the final lap, Eli and James pulled away, while Brodie and Kia were rejoined by Jane and Isaac six seconds back.
The final sprint was won by James who again out sprinted Eli for the win. in the dash for third, Kia beat Brodie, Jessica and Mark, with Ben soloing in for seventh as the rest of the riders had not crossed the line. It was a good contest, with the young competitors putting on a great show for the SHAW camera.
The senior event was exciting, with constant attacks but none succeeded and the pack stayed together for the majority of the race.. The sprint for the first prime however was easily taken by Ian Smith who rode away from the rest of the field and cruised across the line ten seconds up. He then eased off and the pack rejoined. He showed his class by repeating the performance for the second prime. Hopefully, the rest of the riders will get stronger over the season and be able to really challenge him.
Just before the second prime, a rider not entered in the event joined the pack on the understanding that he would not get in the way of the other riders. However, he appeared, first behind a break attempt by Ian, and Ray Wagner and then towing the entire pack. but when requested by the commissaire, remained behind the pack for the rest of the race.
As the third prime was approached, the spectators (yes, there were indeed spectators!) expected to see Ian at the front again and, sure enough, the first category rider took the flag again, with CVCC's hard-working Ray Wagner in hot pursuit.
Shortly after, Mike Sevcov, Everti, went off the front with Ron Hewitson, Ray Wagner and Iain Hay but they were brought back in short order. Then Shepherd Stewart and Paul Thompson, together with the ever present Ray, led the pack around for a lap. Ray stayed at the front a bit longer and then,was adsorbed. With three laps to go, the bell rang for the final prime and Steve Crowley took off like a scalded cat to take it. He pressed his advantage and made a desperate dash for the line. At the start of the last lap, he crossed the line five seconds ahead of the pack, thinking he had won but the rest of the riders had either counted correctly or had seen the lap board and let him stay ahead.
At the real finish it was Ian followed by elite triathlete Steve Struthers and then Kyle Waring who has shown remarkable improvement over the last few weeks. Fourth was Shepherd Stewart, another much rider who showed his returning form. Fifth was Iain Hay and sixth Paul Thompson