ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 5th February, 2018

Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

• Wet Weather Racing
• Ellen’s Ride 2018
• Interstate Events
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports

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

Ian Morton

Wet weather racing

There were several enquiries last week about the crit race proceeding due to wet weather. There is no strict formula for cancelling a race because of bad weather. The race director makes the decision whether to conduct the race based on the current weather conditions, weather forecast, enthusiasm of officials and competitors present and other advice received from Club officials.

In general, crit, road and TT races will be conducted even if it is raining. Exceptions would be in case of lightning, extreme wind, extreme rain, poor visibility of other factors that would make racing unsafe. Riders should also take care to ensure their bike is safe in terms of tyres and brakes, and should also ride safely according to the weather conditions and their own skill level.

Ian McVay,
Race committee

Red Nose (formally SidsnKids), ‘Ellen’s Ride 2018’

On Friday March 9, 2018 I am heading off on a solo charity bike ride from Canberra to Queensland to raise money for Red Nose (formally SidsnKids), “Ellen’s Ride 2018”, I will be riding through NSW country towns such as Crookwell, Cowra, Wellington, Gunnedah & Tenterfield to name a few. I am aiming to raise $5000.

This ride is in memory of our daughter, Ellen, who was born still in January 2010. If you would like to help me raise money for this wonderful charity and sponsor me please click on the following link. https://everydayhero.com.au/event/ellensride2018

Cheers,
Tony O’Connor

Interstate Events

• 2018 Tolland Open Handicap Weekend
  3-4 March
  Saturday: 90km Handicap & Sunday: 72km Handicap.
  $17,000 in Cash & $3,000 in Prizes. Entry Fee: $52.
  Entries Close: Wednesday 21st February 2018.
  For All Enquiries Please Contact Club President – Barry O’Hagan 0431 919 803.

  Note: Any interested Vets members should check on licensing requirements for this event (you may need to be CA licensed).

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 6th 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 40m+2, D 35m+2
E/F/G 6:35 28 min + 2 laps
A/C 7:10 A 40m+2, C 35m+2

Race Director:  Bruce Griffin Contact: Email: griffy996@gmail.com    Ph  0402000619

Track Racing

Wednesday, 7th February: Track Racing

The Program for Wednesday is as follows:
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 10-lap graded scratch race;
6.20pm – 6.50pm: ; Team Pursuit
6.50pm – 7.10pm: ; 2 Lap Handicap
7.10pm – 7.30pm: Italian pursuit

Sunday, 11th February: Old Federal Highway Graded Scratch

Note: This race is still subject to road approvals.

Where: Gravel Pit, Old Federal Highway and Shingle Hill Way.
When: 9:00 am.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Old Federal Highway Gravel Pit to Lake George and back
ABCD 4 laps (48km),
EFG 3 laps (36km)

Marshals: Elizabeth Lowe, Gerald Van Ewyk, Christopher Kon, Andrew Chamberlain

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 – 30th January

The skies opened up about 10 minutes before the start of E, F & G grade. It was refreshing to see all those who had signed on, were determined that a little bit of moisture wasn’t going to ruin their night. Overall the numbers were low because of the rain that was sheeting down. Most members decided to keep warm and dry at home and I couldn’t really blame them as I’ve seen more pleasant days out at Stromlo.

G Grade

Tony Weir looking splendid in the Teradata labs kit decided to drop down a grade and give Bernie company. But about 2 laps into the race, Bernie didn’t want to get the bike wet any further and decided to pull out leaving Tony to ride solo for the rest of the race.

F Grade

Only the 2 riders to line up. After ensuring they knew who each other were they got started with E grade and rode with E grade for most of the race. In the end Penelope Anderson got home ahead of Doug Lean.

E Grade

5 brave riders began and there were several enterprising attacks throughout the race. They threw caution to the puddles on collarbone and attacked with gusto just like it was a dry track. Mark Kitchen & Frank O’Sullivan eventually stole a break from the others halfway through the race and built a small lead over the rest of the chasing field. With 2 laps to go, Mark attacked again and this time Frank just couldn’t hold his wheel long enough. Mark Kitchen saluted the judges on the line ahead of Frank O’Sullivan in 2nd and Tony Sheehan in 3rd.

D Grade

Would have been only 1 rider, had I not sold the race to Bruce Griffin over the phone 20 minutes before race start. So at the start line was Bruce Griffin and Darren Garnon who joined B grade as an all in start. Although it was wet and miserable, and those beers at home were waiting for Bruce, he stuck with B grade for a while and tailed off eventually to ride solo. Meanwhile Darren hung onto B grade for longer and rode a very good race mixing it up with them. Darren Garnon 1st, Bruce Griffin 2nd.

C Grade

Another 4 hardy souls at the start line. A wide open race with any of the 4 capable on the night. Ian Preston loves an attack in the early stages to test the legs of his competitors on a Tuesday night. Whilst he was brought in each time the efforts were taking their tolls. The final attack was well timed by Ian and he got away in the sprint ahead of Simon Farnbach and Duane Toohey in 3rd.

B Grade

Just the two B graders who joined D grade for an all-in race. It came down to a sprint with Tony Rowley taking it out over Bruce Goodfellow.

A Grade

Quality not quantity is what I would class A grade on the night. Only 4 riders, but another race where I couldn’t pick the winner, although I did about 10 mins into the race. I had a 25% chance so my odds were good. A grade rode like it was a training ride for several laps with 2 min laps on average. Then when it looked like C grade was gaining on them, they upped the tempo and rode a 4 man pursuit race for the other half. No real attacks to be concerned with and some sprint tactics being shown in the final lap with jockeying for positions. In the sprint it takes a lot to overcome the raw power of Seymour Savell-Boss and he edged out David Roberts with Rainer Wilton in 3rd.

Thanks to Simon the sports med who kept me company on the finish line as we stood there in the rain. Ian McVeigh also helped and Ian Morton for chasing kangaroos off the course.

Ben Davis

Narrabundah Track Racing – 31st January

Alack and Alas! – the Regime has received notice…that our Chief Commissare / Handicapper, Graeme O’Neill is back in town and wants in!

Was it Wednesday’s predicted super blue / blood moon? – who knows; the Trackies were agitated and keen to race! We had 14 riders on the night – 24°C @ the Bundadome; winds 19 to 30 kmph from the south-east.

B Grade 10 lap Scratch – the 4 riders in B grade decided to take turns into the shattering head wind – Tony Beasley, (well preserved having just returned from Antarctica), looked the money as the group circulated, – however, as the bell lap struck, it was the match fit Phil Anderson who punched into the head wind to come across the line 1st to Tony…

A Grade 10 lap scratch – 10 riders / 10 laps…on about the second lap, 4 riders went for it tail wind assisted, breaking away…The ante was upped; with two riders catching the 4… then the 2 worked ½ laps turns off the front of the group…[In this JP (Diesel De Sousa) drew the short straw; his turn was into the head wind)… Meanwhile… Martin Graham had covered the gap and continued to push the leaders – Martin came in fast for 2nd by a tyre lever…

2 Lap Sprint Match – this event is a 2/3 rider sprint – two laps – deploy tactics! (The race should really be 3 laps to preclude the whippets racing off on the first lap… (see El Presidente & M. Graham). Riders drew a card to determine who goes first off the fence…
B Grade
Heat 1 – Beasley/P. Anderson. – P. Anderson to final
Heat 2 – Scutts/Birch – Scutts to final
A Grade
Heat 1 – Jones/Torrance/McCook – Torrance to final
Heat 2 – H. Anderson/Langdon/Graham – Langdon to final
Heat 3 – Mineham/Robey/De Sousa – Mineham to final

The Italian Pursuit – Jarrah Anderson (ACT u17 Track rider), kindly volunteered to Commissare this race…The start sequence is:? “clipped in”…(thumbs up)…”riders attention”…”whistle”…we’re away. We got an efficiency dividend of: “ready” – “whistle”…Away. Ken Birch gave Team 2 the lead out of 2018…and…taken by surprise; Team 2’s JP (Diesel) De Sousa was still adjusting himself: Q. “do I look good in this MAMIL lycra”? – JP took ¼ of a lap to get onto his Team 2 bunch…Team 1 circulated swiftly with no gaps between its riders – the race was building and looking precariously close – however, Team 2’s Kerry Knowler steadied the Team 2 ship, and gave it the advantage for the win…!

Major place getters were as follows:
10-Lap Scratch Race: (A Grade): Michael Langdon, Martin Graham, Tim Mineham, (B Grade): Phil Anderson, Tony Beasley, Ross Scutts
Italian Pursuit – Team 2 – Ken Birch, Phil Anderson, Kerry Knowler, Martin Graham, Michael Langdon, David McCook, John-Paul De Sousa

Season points update:
Michael Langdon 261, Hamish Anderson 202, Ross Scutts 192, JP De Sousa 170, Tony Beasley 151, Steve Hirsler 126, Phil Anderson 113

Michael Langdon