CYCLING
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BATHURST cyclists Brad Roughley and Steve Bennett finished first and second in the 2012 Western Division Criterium Championship’s elite division last weekend to cap a brilliant day of racing for the host club.
The decisive move came as the pair got clear of breakaway companions Charlie Gascoyne (Orange) and Bruce Goddard (Bathurst) late in the race, which was staged in Bathurst.
It mean that breakaways were successful in all four senior divisions rather than a bunch sprint being needed to decide the victors.
A strong six-man chase bunch pursued the elite division breakaway all the way to the finish line and while not quite reeling them in, Bathurst’s Johno Cutler took fifth in the championship in front of the rapidly improving Adam Mitchell of Dubbo, who the day before won the under 17s race at the NSW Grand Prix Series event at Cronulla.
Well performed mountain biker Jarrod Bell was next in front of Rhys Baker, with Ryan O’Donnell and Andrew Foxall rounding out the top 10 in the event sponsored by Family First Credit Union.
The division two event was also dominated by a four-man breakaway group with recent Teams Tour victor Graeme Peadon winning the sprint from Paddy Corcoran, Geoff Short and Orange’s Mason Manwaring.
Bathurst’s Damien Bennett led the chasing bunch home for fifth place ahead of Gus McClelland, David Jones, Tully Richards and Tony Barlow
There was plenty of action in the final laps of the division three Western Division Champion-ships with Warren Stocks taking the title from Paul Waine and Rob Stephen.
Josh Corcoran was unlucky to miss the medals as he joined the three podium finishers in breaking clear of the field to battle for the title.
As always Jill Harris put in a very strong ride for fifth, with tough riding David Lowe and Greg Wills next to finish in front of Jamie Rivett, Craig Granger, Paul Turley and Michael Robinson.
Orange’s Drew Tuckwell was a bit too fast for promising 13-year-old Max Stewart in the division four event after the pair combined with Bathurst sportsman Nigel Swan to breakaway from the opposition in the early laps to fight it out for the medals.
Swan has returned to the sport this year and his third place comes 20 years after he won the Bathurst A grade Championship in 1992.
Ali Corcoran won the battle between the females in division four, beating home fellow Bathurst rider Marian Renshaw and Mudgee’s Cathy Adams.
In the juniors Dubbo’s Luke Ensor was an impressive winner in the under 13s boys division, defeating Bathurst pair Travis Stewart and Isaiah Bennett.
Eliza Bennett won the under 13s girls crown while Kalinda Robinson claimed the under 11s and her sister Ebony Robinson the under 9s girls title.
The under 11s boys championship went to Bathurst’s Baxter Rivett and Orange’s Luke Tuckwell defeated Cadel Lovett (Bathurst) to win the under 9 boys Western Division Criterium Championship.