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As if you need proof of the advantages of FNWTR Check out the results of the recent Australian titles FNWTR riders take on the rest of OZ
Men
Shaun Hopkins – Marconi CC -Two time FNWTR series winner Shaun Hopkins, can now add dual Australian Titles to his already healthy list of wins. Shaun was a strategic member of the NSW team which defeated Victoria in the final of the Team Sprint. He than backed up to compete in the men’s 15km scratch race. Shaun used his DGV knowledge to place himself on the tail of the Victorian train with 6 laps remaining. Some more clever and aggressive riding had Shaun placed perfectly to blast past the Victorians and claim the Australian Jersey. Hoppy capped off his series with an amazing display of speed skill and power to finish second, in an explosive Kierin Final to Ben Kersten (NSW).
Greg McFarlane – Bankstown Sports CC - Better Known as Rocky, joined with Shaun as a member of the Gold medal winning NSW team Sprint squad. Rocky also had individual success at the championships by blasting his way into the sprint Semi finals were he claimed 4th. Now the way I see it claiming fourth in an Aussie sprint title is equivalent to a top 15 at world titles, as the depth of Australian sprinting is so strong. Rocky finished with a 5th in the Kierin final to end a successful summer.
Peter Fitzpatrick – St George CC Peter was a driving force in the gold medal winning NSW teams pursuit. Peter was also the work-horse of the NSW team in the scratch race putting in 100% to enable Shaun Hopkins the victory.
Steve Fitzpatrick – St George CC teamed with his Brother to claim the Australian Teams pursuit title. The NSW team clocked 4min 16sec to defeat the Victorian team. Steve was a key man in Chris Sutton’s (NSW) pointscore victory.
Michael Lewis –Hunter Districts CC -was the youngster of the NSW team riding the individual pursuit. It appears that Michael is being groomed for future success.
Sean Eadie – Bankstown Sports CC -2003 was spent in physiotherapy for this world class superstar. But he still managed to find the time to come along to FNWTR to show his support and do a bit of commentary. 2004 being an Olympic year and Sean is on the comeback. The big man kicked some serious butt in winning Gold in the 1 lap time trail (18.09), 200m flyer (10.572) and sprint titles. All of us at FNWTR wish Sean all the best for his Olympic ambitions.
Kial Stewart – Canberra CC -FNWTR participant Kial Stewart represented ACT at the Australian titles. The young rider also joined with Canberra teammate Anthony Biddle to claim the bronze medal in the multi-disability tandem sprint and Gold for the Tandem 1km Time Trial.
Special Note – Five of the Ten man NSW state team were FNWTR patrons
U/19 Men
Phillip Stokes - Penrtith Panthers CC- Stokesy was a member of the NSW team Pursuit which gained him a Silver and remarkably 4th place in the opens team pursuit. Phil was also the anchor man of the NSW Team Sprint to gain him his second Australian medal. The young speedster road aggressively through out the titles and did himself proud in all the events in which he competed. On the final day of competition Phillip fired up again making the final of the kierin before entering his pet event the Madison. Unfortunately Stokesy came up against the superb world record smashing Victorian Michael Ford. Phil was the only rider capable of challenging the soon to be superstar but in the end had to settle for another Silver. You may remember Phil was unbeaten at FNWTR Madisons in 2003.
Stephan Phelan – Canberra CC – Stephan has shown immense improvement from when he first showed his face at FNWTR riding Division 2B to claiming 4th in the one lap time trial, 1/100th of second off a bronze medal
Elite Women
Rebecca Ellis - Parramatta CC- Had a sensational National Titles. First off claiming a Silver in the team sprint, followed by 3rd in the 200m fly. Rebecca rode with great skill to make it to the semi finals of the sprint were she claimed 4th place (third Australian). One of the highlights of Rebecca’s results was the women’s scratch race. Perfectly positioned with 200m to go Rebecca realised she had inadvertently boxed in her NSW team mate Rochelle Gilmore. Showing great sportsmanship Rebecca moved higher to allow Gilmore out, than took on the superstar in drag race to the finish. In the end a photo had to decide the outcome (I Thought Ellis had won) the photo was in favour of Gilmore. Rebecca capped off a successful campaign with an impressive 4th in the kierin final. Her consistent results earned her a spot on the National squad at the coming World Cup.
Leonie Aisbett - Parramatta CC- Leonie rode the Individual Pursuit and teamed with Georgouras in the Team Sprint, however Leonie’s greatest value lied in the tireless work she did for her NSW teammates in the scratch race and pointsscore.
Elizabeth Georgouras - Bicisport CC FNWTR regular, Elizabeth Georgouras suffered a serious accident involving a truck late last year. She made an amazing comeback to gain some quality experience at the National titles.
Lucy Stewart & Lauren Carroll Canberra CC Both of these riders have participated at FNWTR in 2003 and rode strongly for the ACT at the National Titles. I hope these talented riders make the trip to Sydney again this coming series.
Special Note – Three of the Six women NSW state team were FNWTR patrons
Junior U/19 Women
Skye Lee Armstrong - Parramatta CC- Skye road with maturity above her years to claim the Australian Kierin title Gold Medal. She also road brilliantly in the scratch race screaming home to claim the bronze. As if that wasn’t enough Skye helped her teammate Spratt to gold in the pointscore and took bronze for herself. This talented rider is in the mould of Rochelle Gilmore, in that she can win on the Road or Track in just about any discipline, and lets not forget she is first a year Jnr.
Eve Hood - Parramatta CC – Eve rode superbly and tirelessly for her NSW teammates especially in the pointscore, where she dug deep to close the gaps in the constantly breaking group, to enable NSW to score Gold and Bronze. We at FNWTR are very proud of Eve’s achievements.
Jackie Kedja - Illawarra CC- Jackie rode one of the most amazing kierins I have ever witnessed. Three NSW girls had made the final and it seemed clear, early in the race what the team tactics were to be. Amanda Spratt was to lead out with Sky Lee on her wheel Jackie’s Job was to unsettle the much fancied opponents. This she did with a heap of enthusiasm smashing just about everyone who came near her. The Plan worked fabulously but what wasn’t in the plan was the amazing speed Jackie produced to storm home for the bronze medal.
Special Note – Three of the Four U19woman NSW state team were FNWTR patrons
David Short St George – In what turned out to be one of the most thrilling events of the titles. Shorty rode superbly piloting his visually impaired teammate to Gold in the tandem sprint title. David had to contend with a headstrong western Australian team and the Fence to beat the world record holding team 2 nil. Next Stop Athens?
Just how much metal got thrown around the necks of FNWTR patrons?
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Contact Paul via email
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