ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 26th February, 2018

Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

• Notice of Annual General Meeting 2018
• From the Desk of the Handicapper
• Interstate Events
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports

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

Ian Morton

Annual General Meeting

Members wishing to nominate for a Committee position can download a nomination form here

From the Desk of the Handicapper

The now defunct ACT Cross Country (running) Club had the claim to fame that it was only club to hold a sporting event during the Canberra-Queanbeyan floods of 1974. Now, the Vets can boast that 24 riders turned up and raced while parts of Canberra were being washed away. Those who raced early had to cope with drizzle and a zephyr down the back straight while the young guys, appropriately, had to counter a downpour, a brown river flowing from the car park and across the track and a stiff breeze. Special thanks go to race director Mick Donaldson who stood in the pouring rain adjusting the time clock, signalling laps to go and taking results. Thanks Mick.

Handicaps;
– Michael Brice C to B
– Bruce Macaulay E to D
– Sam Agostino E to D

Regards,
Rob Langridge
Handicapper

Interstate and Local Events

• AVCC Championships – Maryborough, Vic
  Easter Weekend 31st Mar – 2 April
  Saturday: 25km Time Trial, Sunday: Criterium and Monday: Road Races.
  Championship Jerseys, Medals and Prize Money. Entry Fee: $25 per event, $5 transponder hire for the weekend.
  Entries open soon:www.veterancycling.com.au. For further information: Tom Finning Mob: 0418 521 420 EMail: veterancycling@yahoo.com.au.

• Giro d’Canberra
  20 May 2018
  • Want to take on the challenge? The ride features 2500 metre climbs and 130km of stunning Canberra Brindabella countryside
  • Cycling is powering ahead in Canberra
  • Giro d’ Canberra is in its third year and growing
  • Lots of interest from Sydney based riders
  • Get in on the early stages of a growing annual event
  • A chance to promote your community cycling activities
  • Fully supported ride with vehicles and food stations
  • Organised by the Rotary Club of Woden Daybreak

  Entries:www.GirodCanberra.gofundraise.com.au. For further information: Barry Welsby Mob: 0413729951 EMail: welsbw@internode.on.net.

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 27th February: Stromlo Criterium

Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
B/D 5:50 B 30m+2, D 25m+2
E/F/G 6:25 E/F/G 22 m + 2
A/C 6:55 A 30m+2, C 25m+2

Race Director:  Kim Malcolm Contact: Email: d.kimmalcolm@icloud.com    Ph  0418643623

Wednesday, 28th February: 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;
6.20pm – 6.50pm: 2 lap SS time trial;
6.50pm – 7.10pm: 4-lap Handicap
7.10pm – 7.30pm: Italian Pursuit.

Sunday, 4th March: Uriarra Homestead Time Trial – Graded

Where: Uriarra Rd / Brindabella Rd, T-Junction
When: 9:00 am.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Homestead – Blue Range Spur – Top of Crossing – Blue Range Spur – Top of Crossing – Finish.

Race Director:  Ben Davis Contact: Email: bdavis@internode.on.ne    Ph  0416014629

Marshals: Lindsay Graham, Polly Templeton

Needing Race Directors & ATC’s

We still require a number of Race Director’s and ATC’s to fill several races before the end of June. If you’ve never been Race Director before, then we provide training and assistance, plus it’s an easy 20 points for the season pointscore! Contact Ben Davis (bdavis@internode.on.net) to get your name up for a race.

Upcoming Marshal Roster

Basically anyone who raced in 2017 will be required to marshal at least 1 race throughout the 2018 season. Marshals are critical to the running of events through the helping of finish line duties, driving trail/lead cars, turn points and setting up/packing up. The marshal assignment schedule for the first 6 months of the year is below. It is also on the race calendar and you receive an email advising you of it several weeks in advance, so there should be no excuses to missing your allocated race. If you are unavailable for your allocated race you need to organize a swap with another rider and advise the race committee (race.committee@actvets.cc).

RACE REPORTS:

Stromlo – 20th February

Cool, breezy conditions greeted the 100 riders who turned up for Tuesday’s criterium races at Stromlo Park. The breeze meant any rider who wasn’t concentrating on staying in contact faced a difficult task getting back on, given the late season speed some of the grades are displaying, and there were more DNFs than usual.

In A grade the attacks began almost from the first lap. But the decisive attack came with about a third of the race to go, with Anthony Evans, Paul Scherl, Mark Terracini , Lewis Cressy and Mark Harris setting the pace. They stayed away for the rest of the race with Cressy taking out a good win from Mark Harris and Mark Terracini.

B grade attracted a big turnout of 22 riders and was also a hot contest, with some heroic early breakaway attempts. The bunch eventually split into two under the pressure with Allan Bontjer taking out a close sprint from Conan Liu and Ben McDuff.

In C grade, a couple of early breakaway attempts found the breeze too much of a hurdle and were reined in by the bunch. Michael Brice rode strongly to take out the sprint, edging out John Thorne and Daniel Grillo.

There was another good turnout in D grade with 21 riders greeting the starter. The big bunch stuck together ensuring an exciting sprint finish. Felipe Lopes Reis edged out Elton Cameiro and Gillian Lugg.

In E grade, Ian Morton was active in an early breakaway. But newcomer Bruce Macaulay slipped away after a few laps without anyone noticing, establishing a race-winning lead. In fact he was so comfortable he was able to have a chat with mates on the sidelines as he motored on to victory! Sam Agostino led the bunch in for second with Morton taking out a well deserved third.

F grade was scattered by the end of the race, the windy conditions taking its toll. Adrian Priddon took out a strong win, with Nigel Wines and Susan Frost filling out the minor placings. Michael Spoljaric, riding solo in G grade, hung on to the F grade bunch all the way to grab maximum points.

Cheers,
Mick Donaldson

Narrabundah Track Racing – 21st February

A total of 16 riders turned out of for Session 17 of the track racing season, with equal numbers in A and B grades. The day was hot and, initially, provided a stiff headwind in the back straight. This wind moderated over the race session, providing very good conditions for racing.

The race events commenced with a 10-lap graded scratch race. The A grade race was entertaining with attacks from the start. Initially, John Paul De Sousa cracked on the pace causing immediate splits in the bunch. As soon as the bunch recaptured John Paul, Dougal Torrance tried his hand. Dougal created and held a 50m gap over several laps until Michael Langdon and Tim Minehan decided on a serious pursuit. By mid race, the riders were all back together. Again, Dougal tried his hand. This time the bunch conceded less than 10 metres and it was not long before Kerry Knowler closed that small gap. Finally, Michael Langdon put in an attack as the bell lap approached. Michael had several riders in tow and had to sprint it out for a close win from Steve Jones and Tim Minehan.

The 10-lap B grade scratch race was a much tidier affair. The bunch circulated in unison dropping one rider around mid race. The pace quickened from mid race and increased again as the riders accelerated and positioned for the bell lap. Tony Beasley had plenty of pace in the bell lap and was able to hold out Phil Coulton and Ross Scutts in that order. It was a great ride into second place by Phil Coulton.

The evening’s second event was a 200 metre, flying start, time trial. The set up and initial acceleration for this short distance is a decisive factor. There were a number of different approaches exploited by riders with a view to gaining small, time margins. The importance of small margins was demonstrated by very close A grade times (all within 0.8 seconds) and several dead heats or near dead heats for riders in both A and B grades. The best A grade time was set by Michael Langdon and Ed Garnett (both 13.18 seconds). The best B grade time was by Tony Beasley (14.36 seconds). Performances in this event were typically, excellent.

The third event for the night was a 2 lap handicap with A & B grades mixed in two separate races. Both races were very satisfying for the handicapper, as the finishes were unpredictable and hotly contested between grades. Ken Birch took Race 1 from John Paul De Sousa and Tim Minehan. Steve Hirsler took Race 2 from Phil Anderson and Dougal Torrance.

The evening finished with the usual all-in Italian Pursuit. The pursuit race was a typical, close fought contest with the result uncertain until the final laps. Both teams made good starts, with Team 2 eking out a small lead until the last two riders. For team 1, Rowan McMurray and Michael Langdon combined well over the last two laps to peg back the gap and go on for a win. However, the event was marred when Rowan touched a pedal onto the high banking as he wound down from his fast lap. Rowan lost control and tumbled down the banking suffering abrasions and bruising. This was an unfortunate, but rare, incident. We all hope that Rowan will make a quick recovery as he is one of our track stalwarts and always an enthusiastic racer.

Major place getters were as follows:
10-Lap Scratch: (A Grade): Michael Langdon, Steve Jones, Tim Minehan (B Grade) Steve Hirsler, Phil Coulton, Ross Scutts.
200 m Fly TT: (A Grade) Michael Langdon & Ed Garnett (13.18s), John Paul De Sousa (13.55s), Steve Jones & Kerry Knowler (13.80s). (B Grade), Tony Beasley (14.36s), Steve Hirsler (14.37s), Ken Birch (15.03s).
2-Lap Handicap: (A&B Grade Race 1) Ken Birch, John Paul De Sousa, Tim Minehan. (A&B Grade Race 2) Steve Hirsler. Phil Anderson, Dougal Torrance.
Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 1 (Michael Langdon, Rowan McMurray, Dougal Torrance, Phil Anderson, Phil Coulton, Steve Hirsler).

Season Point Score Update:
Michael Langdon (306), Ross Scutts (238), Hamish Anderson (234), John Paul DeSousa (209), Tony Beasley (202), Steve Hirsler (194), Phil Anderson (142), Ed Garnett (133), Phil Coulton (132).

Graeme O’Neill

Club Championship, Stromlo Forest Park – 25th February

Rain, heavy at times, greeted the brave riders who turned up to contest the ACT Vets Criterium Championships on Sunday. Every one of the 24 riders who started deserved a medal. Thankfully there were no crashes, despite the best efforts of mother nature and the kangaroos.

Aaron Thomson and Rainer Wilton contested a shortened race in the M2 division. After a comradely start, Aaron eventually pulled away for a comfortable win.

Seymour Savell-Boss and Bruce Goodfellow in M3 and Peter Taylor in M4 encountered probably the worst of the conditions, but didn’t miss a beat. Seymour broke away from a gallant Bruce for a good win, while Peter didn’t let the lack of opposition stop him from putting in a very strong ride to take the medal in M4.

Conditions weren’t much better in the women’s races, with strong wind and rain. The four competitors stuck together for much of the race, with the pace building strongly from about halfway. Gillian Lugg rode a great race to finish ahead in W1 with Theresa McLachlan battling on bravely for a well deserved silver medal. Linda Stals in W3 and Penelope Anderson in W4 never let up to take the medals.

In M5 Rob Langridge, Ian Preston and Nick Boylan put in probably the most hotly contested event of the day, with Nick unable to hold on to a brave, late breakaway. Rob took the honours in a strong finish from Ian and Nick.

Owain Tilley broke away early for a great win in M6 from Anthony Beasley and Dale Kleeman while Mark Taylor and Rico Fitch staged a ding dong battle in M7 before Mark took the honours with Alex Sommariva a gallant third and Howard Moffat and Phillip Anderson hanging on gamely to the finish.

In M8 Graham Hendrie added to a bulging trophy cabinet with a nicely judged sprint to edge out Paul Robey, while Bernie Crowe took the honours in M9

Thanks to Graham for saving the race director from hypothermia, and Phil for the coffee and a medal presentations.

Cheers,
Mick Donaldson