Medallists Catherine Hooton, left, with fellow Illawarra Cycle Club riders Scott Butler and Karen Thornton.
CYCLING
Illawarra cyclist Catherine Hooton is going for gold at the Australian Masters Track Cycling Championships at the Perth Superdome next month.
She hopes good form will help her win more medals at the World Masters Track Championships in Manchester later this year.
Fresh from a silver and two bronze medals at the NSW Masters Track Cycling Championships in Sydney, Hooton, 41, is looking to defend her gold medal and record-breaking ride in the 2012 National Teams Pursuit Championship with former rider Michelle Crawford, of Goulburn, and training partner Renee Covington, of Bathurst.
She is also hoping to top her wins in the 2010 National Masters scratch race and Champion of Champions.
Hooton is the only Illawarra Cycle Club member competing in the event in Perth. She will also contest the two lap teams sprint, the sprint, the 500 metre time trial and the 2000m individual pursuit.
Her coach Gary Mandy said she has been in good form leading up to the championships.
"Catt won the B grade women's keirin at the Bowral track carnival this season, the B grade keirin at our own club championships, the Pan Pac Masters scratch race and with Renee Covington, the State elite teams sprint," Mandy said.
"She won the state masters women's team sprint with Kylie Hilford last year and this year took the silver in that event with Karen Thornton from Woonona plus took two bronze medals in the sprint and individual pursuit."
Hooton travels two hours twice a week to train and race on the Unanderra velodrome.
