ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 10th December, 2018

Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

• Christmas Wheel Race
• From the Desk of the Handicapper
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports

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

Ian Morton

Christmas Wheel Race

Roll up! Roll Up!

The Crit races due to be held on December 18th marks our Christmas Wheel Race. Catering will be provided and the top 5 riders from each grade will run off at the end of the night in a handicap. Prizes are on offer for first to third in each race on the evening. grade. To encourage conversation and families to attend, the club will provide catering for the event.

Dougal Torrence
Club President

From the Desk of the Handicapper

Promotions;
– Brad M Callum B to A
– Frank Zeller C to B
– Ian Preston C to B road and criterium
– David Gillies E to D

Watchlist: Ian Morton

Rob Langridge
Handicapper

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 11th December: Stromlo Criterium

Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
E/F/G @5:50 28 min + 2 laps
A/C @6:25 A 42m+2, C 38m+2
B/D @7:15 B 42m+2, D 38m+2

Race Director:  Richard Hedley Contact: Email: richard@hedleypropertyinvestments.com.au    Ph  0412886886

Marshals: Anthony Evans

Wednesday, 12th December: Track Racing

Wednesday 12 December – is the last 2018 race night – it’s the Xmas Trophy 6 lap wheel race handicap. Please attend for your opportunity to win this prestigious trophy!

The Program for Wednesday is;
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.30pm: 8-lap Graded Scratch;
6.30pm – 7.00pm: 6-lap Christmas Wheel Race (Handicap);
7.00pm – 7.20pm: Italian Pursuit.

Sunday, 16th December: Cotter Reserve Time Trial – Uphill

Where: Park and sign-on at the Cotter Reserve car park.
When: 9:00 am.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Cotter Reserve to Mt. McDonald

Race Director:  Ian Morton Contact: Email: mortoni@optusnet.com.au    Ph  0411112007

Marshals: Sue Powell, Bradley Peppinck

Special Thanks

A big ‘Thank You’ to Nick Boylan for his directing effort at Dairy Flat on Sunday. Despite the heat and trouble getting the van onto the course, Nick was out early, pruning back a load of shrubbery from the verges and sweeping the road to ensure a safe event.

Upcoming Marshal Roster

Thank you to those who have already volunteered to help. Nominees, in blue have been selected based on results from the previous race season and the period since they last helped at a race. Nominees are requested to advise their availability/unavailability to the race committee (race.committee@actvets.cc) as soon as possible.

Summer series crit races are held at Stromlo Forest Park on Tuesday evenings and road races are held on Sunday mornings.

* denotes ETC required for ACT races.

Ian McVay
Race Committee

RACE REPORTS:

Track Racing – 5th December

A new temporary Prime Minister of Australia? – and thus a new temporary Track regime, the Court has the gig for two weeks; this as our Chief Track Commissare/handicapper – Graeme O’Neill – has sort Xmas exile in Murray Bridge South Australia (on his Tinnie) thus and so, the Court Jester divined fine weather for Wednesday’s VETs track races:

A Grade 8 lap Scratch – had 5 riders – Dougal Torrance led out, there were pangs, usually El Presidente takes off on a time trial, he however seemed sedated – and so the group circulated taking turns until Craig Kentwell, (recently returned from: “hostage” training); burst off the front taking no prisoners! This completely split the field, with a couple of riders staying with Craig – those riders worked together to the line, however an under geared Dougal spun out in the sprint…

B Grade 8 lap scratch – had 6 riders – this bunch maintained an even pace over the race with riders taking one lap turns on the front. Bruce Griffin, recently returned from Yachting in Queensland (on a dry boat, which however had several ports of call), did well to find his “land legs”. Phil Anderson at second wheel was in good position on the bell lap; however Wayne Benham had the legs to hold off Phil and move away from the field for the win.

The 2 Lap Handicap – a 10 rider / 2 lap screamer. Riders are counted down to their handicap time and start off the fence. Phil Coulton took keen advantage of Ken Birch’s wheel – both starting with the same handicap. On the final lap – Dougal Torrance, off scratch, was coming in fast after making up ground – however Phil Coulton stayed away from the field and closely took the win from Ken Birch followed by Phil Anderson and Dougal Torrance.

The Mystery race – was set at 8 laps max; this another combined grades race. The Court Jester supplied a non-loaded dice to the First Aid Officer (Simon) to predetermine (lest collusion); the bell lap. Riders circulated. The bell lap as per the dice was for lap 3. Dougal Torrence once to the front surged with only Wayne Benham sensing the split, they took turns with no other riders closing the gap. As the bell went on lap 3, Wayne tried to get around Dougal, however he was a little under geared to do so.

The Italian Pursuit – this race had two 4 rider teams. Team 2 with Dougal Torrance as anchor has not lost an Italian this season. Team 1 cracked another great Phil Anderson start and were in the led until the final lap when Team 2 Dougal Torrance with a solid lead out by Tony Beasley – definitively – made up ground and then took the win by a few bike lengths (Team 1: under geared got smashed in the end) C’est la vie.

Major place getters were as follows:
8-Lap Scratch Race: (A Grade): Michael Langdon, Dougal Torrance, Craig Kentwell. (B Grade): Wayne Benham, Ross Scutts, Phil Anderson
2 Lap Handicap: Phil Coulton, Ken Birch, Phil Anderson
Mystery Race: (A Grade) Dougal Torrance, Ed Garnett, Tony Beasley. (B Grade) Wayne Benham, Ross Scutts, Bruce Griffin
Italian Pursuit: Team 2, Dougal Torrance, Phil Coulton, Tony Beasley, Ross Scutts

Season Point Score Update:
Dougal Torrance (108), Ross Scutts (91), Michael Langdon (77), Phil Anderson (77), Steve Hirsler (66), Wayne Benham (56), Craig Kentwell (52), Tony Beasley (51), Bruce Griffin (48).

Michael Langdon

Dairy Flat Criterium – 9th December

A solid pace was on in A grade with Christophe Barberet, Nathane Spillane and Seymour Savell-Boss sharing the load. Nathan tried to power away a few times which sent the newly appointed A graders out the back. Christophe started the sprint early from around the corner to easily out do Nathane with Seymour trailing behind for 3rd.

David Dickson ripped the legs of B grade on the straights and Damien Copeland did the same out of the corners, sending interstate champion Mark ‘Windsor’ off the back early. For a while there, due to the efforts of the dynamic duo, B grade was catching A grade, and they easily caught the newly appointed A graders. Damien got the better of David in the sprint with newbie visitor Alana Forster taking out 3rd place with a very strong ride, so Chris Nolan 4th gets the points (awesome).

Ian Morton blitzed the E/F grade crew riding to victory after a solo 6 laps. Brandie O’Connor and Mike Hayes worked together to chase Ian, with Brandie winning the sprint and Mike a comfortable third.

The C/D combo had the only incident of the day with John Stockman touching the gravel, but he managed to return to the finish with the bike after a small glad wrap job by Simon. Ian Preston was around for the B grade start and stated his grade was C grade unless otherwise notified by the handicapper. Ian smashed the field making them suffer all race and took out the sprint by 10mm from Andy Matz and Mick Hanbury. That is 2 outstanding wins in 2 weeks. Welcome to B grade Ian, in road and crit. The D grade restart and sprint results were changed on request, to the pre-crash positions, Darren 1st, Kirsty 2nd and Greg 3rd.

G grade saw Gai Monahan ride a strong even pace, Bernie and Bruce lookout.

Thanks to Des Brown (the expert timing board operator) for marshalling duties and Simon (First Aid).

Nick Boylan