Hello Vets,

In the Bleat this week;

  • From the Desk of the Handicapper
  • Call for ATC’s for last 2 road races in 2017
  • Racing this Week
  • Race Reports

Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc

Ian Morton

From the desk of the handicapper

The vets are getting younger! There were some impressive performances last Tuesday with some “younger” riders giving the old stagers a hard time across the grades. The exceptions being Mark Harris who joined a large breakaway group disposed of a few on the way and won the sprint in A, and James Curran who’s on the cusp of B grade after his C grade win. There was a strong breakaway in B grade, and it won’t be long before Karl Heys, Rainer Wilton and David Roberts will be up in A, while a skillful application of the brakes in the home straight will keep Simon Junokovic flying under the radar for a little longer. Tim Brown backed up his Gunning win with a strong burst up the finish straight to claim victory in D grade. Gregg Larcombe won on début in E so he’s straight up to D. Sue Duckett, with her family cheering her on, won F, but the F to E chasm is a large one so we’ll see how things pan out this Tuesday with regards to promotions.

This week’s Promotions;
– Gregg Larcombe E to D

Rob Langridge

Call for ATC’s for last 2 road races in 2017

Uriarra 12/11

3 x ATC’s required

Mt MacDonald TT- 3rd December

2 x ATC’s required.

A lot of the ATC’s who re-certified in the last few months will be aware of the mentor sign-off to be completed before you can renew your licence. We will have a mentor available at both of these road races, so it is a great opportunity to complete the renewal process for your ATC licence. And all ATC’s are now eligible for a $50 payment for volunteering at each race. If you are available, please let me know bdavis@internode.on.net.

Ben Davis

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 24th October: Stromlo Criterium

Note: The new Race Fee of $10 per event is in effect.

Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
E/F/G 5:50 20 min + 2 laps
A/C 6:15 A 30m+2, C 25m+2
B/D 6:50 B 30m+2, D 25m+2

Race Director:  tba
Contact: Email: tba    Ph  tba

 

Upcoming Marshall Roster

The nominated marshals for upcoming events are;
Date: Event – Marshals
10-10-2017: Stromlo FP – Simon Johnston
17-10-2017: Stromlo FP – Liz Lowe
24-10-2017: Stromlo FP – Simon Milnes
31-10-2017: Stromlo FP – Christophe Barberet
7-11-2017: Stromlo FP – Heath Chester
12-11-2017: Uriarra – Sue Duckett, John Hermes
14-11-2017: Stromlo FP – Andrew McRae
19-11-2017: Old Fededral Highway – Don De Smet, Sean Fleming, Radi Kovacevic, Dale Dummett, Robert Mackey
21-11-2017: Stromlo FP – Brendan Lakey
26-11-2017: Dairy Road – Rico Fitch
28-11-2017: Stromlo FP – Peter Kitchen
3-12-2017: Cotter/Mt MacDonald – Michael Fawke
5-12-2017: Stromlo FP – Terence Merrigan
10-12-2017: Dairy Road – David Dickson
12-12-2017: Stromlo FP – Duane Toohey
17-12-2017: Dairy Road – Matthew Haddock
19-12-2017: Stromlo FP – Andrew Hislop

 

Wednesday, 25th October: Track Racing

The Program for Wednesday is as follows:
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 8-lap Graded Scratch Race;
6.20pm – 7.00pm: 20-lap Graded Points Race;
7.00pm – 7.10pm: Italian Pursuit.

 

RACE REPORTS:

Stromlo – 17th October

A Grade

First up was a big field of 24 A graders and it was on from the word go with a group of 5 breaking away after 2 laps. 3 riders were chasing with the bunch behind them splitting up early. The break developed into a very strong group of 10 riders with the lead building on each lap. The hot pace set by the break started to take it’s toll with a few riders dropping off leaving 7 riders with 9 mins to go. Even our club Prez Dougal was popped out the back going up the rise. It only took a few seconds and all of a sudden he was being joined by the remnants of the chasing bunch such was the ferocity of the race. With 1 lap to go, the lead group were playing strategy knowing that they weren’t going to get caught. Ever the master in the sprint, Mark Harris and Aaron Thomson couldn’t be split on the line and we had to refer to our line camera technology to judge the winner with Mark Harris winning by a 700c tyre. Aaron Thomson 2nd with Paul Scherl just behind in 3rd.

B Grade

Another big grade with 23 riders at the start line. Conditions were perfect on the night for a break, however on the night B grade decided to ride as a group with very little movement in terms of attacks. With 7 mins to go, things started to heat up with 5 riders establishing a 100 mtr break. However, holding off a large field was always going to be hard and as the laps whittled down they were consumed back into the field. A final lap frenzy resulted with riders dropping like flies as they led out their sprint riders. Karl Heys was able to find the perfect sit and emerged the winner. Currently graded C, he might see a more permanent move to B soon. David Roberts was 2nd with Rainer Wilton rounding out 3rd place.

C Grade

Only 11 riders in C grade with several testing their mettle up in B grade. Ian Preston and Michael hanbury kicked things off early with a small attack which lasted a few laps. But with 13 mins to go, they were reeled back into the fold. It stayed this way for the remainder of the race and the result was on par for the night with a bunch sprint. James Curran rode brilliantly and showed a clean pair of sprinting heels to win the sprint rather easily ahead of Luke Healy riding only his 2nd race and probably still finding his right grade with Jason McAvoy in 3rd. Ben Robey must have got his brakes confused with his gears as he went from 3rd place to 10th with 5 metres to go.

D Grade

Another big field with 24 riders. With 23 in B grade, we had 47 riders on the track at once and the passing moves by the grades were very clean. Paul Kennedy was the aggressor in D with an attack early on. But like many of the other races on the night it was going to prove difficult to hold off a large marauding field for any length of time and they came together for a sprint finish. Tim Brown who is new to the club made it 2 weeks in a row by winning ahead of another new rider Tim Green with Sean Fleming in 3rd place.

E Grade

In the dwindling light a field of 11 riders got underway. The pace was up and down often controlled by the old wily’s of the grade who knew when to surge to drop a few riders off the back. With 8 mins to go there was a select few riders together with the tandem staying in contact. On the final lap, the tandem turbo power started to kick in down the back straight, but the riders were onto the back quicker than flies to a BBQ. Emerging in the sprint straight was several riders who came out of the shadows to setup a thrilling finish. Gregg Larcombe claimed the honors on the night just ahead of Phil Coulton and Mick Donaldson.

F Grade

5 riders rolled away and a group of 4 formed soon after to ride strongly over the shortened down to 18 min race due to the late start and light. Sue Duckett took the sprint win ahead of Susan Frost and Ian Lake in 3rd place.

G Grade

Bernie stuck with F grade for a fair chunk of the race and when it was time to roll off the back he did so very gracefully and rode a solo ride to the end.

Thanks to the helpers on the night. Kirsti helping to sign-on all the new riders we have turning up. Mark Taylor for getting the alarm combo right this week in opening up and closing. Dougal for covering marshal duties after his race and Simon our Sports Med who wasn’t bothered on the night with no accidents or injuries to report of.

 

Ben Davis
Race Referee

 

Narrabundah Track Racing – 18th October

The second Track Racing session for the 2017-18 season attracted twenty-three riders, an encouraging start to the season. It was good to see Lindy Hou and Dave Mullens return to track after a season off. Lindy was partnered on a track tandem by Kerry Knowler. They will likely be an aggressive combination.

The weather was again balmy with a modest headwind in the back straight. As usual, the wind moderated as racing progressed. The bad news was that our normal first aider, Simon Whitehead, had a bike accident earlier in the day and sustained several fractures. The trackies all wish Simon a speedy recovery. Fortunately, with the recent push to have more qualified first aiders in the club, we had several suitably qualified riders to cover for Simon’s absence.

The 9-lap A grade scratch race was intriguing. Dougal Torrance attacked from the start and soon had the field splitting into small groups splayed all over the track. John Paul DeSousa kept up a steady pursuit with the second bunch and by the end of Lap 3 had consolidated half the field at the front. Martin Graham attacked from this bunch around Lap 4. However, no one gave up and the field slowly converged. Dougal Torrance had a drama on lap 5 with a chain breakage. Fortunately, Dougal stayed upright and was able to pull out of the bunch without too much obstruction. The drama continued with another attack by Paul Kennedy. However, this attack was marked by Alec Millett, Michael Langdon and Jim Davey. It was no sooner shut down, when Michael Langdon launched into the bell lap. Michael immediately pulled a gap with a following bunch in hot pursuit. Michael proved too strong for the field, holding on for a win from Dave Mullens and Martin Graham in second and third respectively.

The B Grade scratch race was a much tidier affair. However, the pace was on from the start with the first rider spat out after only 3 laps. Riders hung on determinedly and began to jockey for position as the bell lap approached. When the bell lap commenced, Phil Anderson attacked and looked a good prospect for more than half a lap. However, Steve Hirsler and Hamish Anderson were hunting in Phil’s slipstream. They pounced in the final quarter lap with Hamish Anderson rounding all riders for a win and Steve Hirsler scorching in for second. Phil Anderson held on for a well deserved third place.

The evening’s second event was a 1-lap time trial from a standing start. This event requires maximal initial acceleration for the best time. Michael Langdon showed great form with easily the best A grade time of 26.81 seconds. He bettered last year’s time by 0.4 seconds. The next best A grade times were 28.45 seconds for Paul Kennedy and 28.85 seconds for Alec Millett. The A grade times were all quite competitive with Jim Davey and John Paul DeSousa at 28.87 and all of the A grade below 32 seconds. For B Grade, the time spread was out to 33 seconds. However, Hamish Anderson’s time of 28.02 seconds would have seen him place second in A grade. The next best times for B grade were a creditable 29.47 seconds for Aaron Rockey and 29.48 seconds for Steve Hirsler.

The track session closed with an all-in, Italian pursuit. This was an interesting affair with 9 riders per team. Unfortunately, Team 1 seemed to make an error in ordering their riders as the team split twice during the event. Initially Steve Hirsler spent a few laps in the wind with little ill effect on the team’s position. In the latter part of the race, Hamish Anderson was exposed to the wind for nearly four laps after a split. Hamish struggled mightily to hold pace. However, by the time that anchor rider, Michael Langdon, took over, Team 2 had an unbeatable advantage. Team 2 rode well and remained a tight bunch throughout the event to take a well deserved win.

Major place getters were as follows:
9-Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Michael Langdon; Dave Mullens, Martin Graham (B Grade) Hamish Anderson, Steve Hirsler, Phil Anderson.
1-Lap SS Time Trial: (A Grade) Michael Langdon (26.81s), Paul Kennedy (28.45s), Alec Millett (28.85s); (B Grade) Hamish Anderson (28.02s), Aaron Rockey (29.47s), Steve Hirsler (29.48s).
Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 2 (Jim Davey, John Paul De Sousa, Paul Kennedy, Martin Graham, Nick Boylan, Dan Gamper, Phil Coulton, Phil Anderson, Tony Beasley).

Season Point Score Update:
Hamish Anderson (34), Paul Kennedy (29), Phil Anderson (27), Phil Coulton (26), John Paul DeSousa (25), Tony Beasley (22), Jim Davey (22), Sue Powell (21), Dan Gamper (21).

 

Graeme O’Neill