ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 21st January, 2019

Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

• Annual General Meeting
• From the Desk of the Handicapper
• Registration Renewal for 2019
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports

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

Ian Morton

From the Desk of the Handicapper

A few promotions have emerged from the heat haze;

– Darren Blackhurst C to B
– Dale Dummett E to D

Rob Langridge
Handicapper

Registration Renewal for 2019

Note: For new members who registered after 1 Oct, your membership is valid up until the end of 2019.

2019 membership renewals are now due. To renew, go to https://memberdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&OrgID=10244 or follow the prompts via our website www.actvets.cc. Click on the Login link and enter the username and password from last year. If you have forgotten your login and password , after clicking on ‘login’ – go to the tab at the top right hand side of the screen and click on ‘Username & Password’ – then forward your email address as requested in the box that will appear. SportsTG will then forward you the information.

You need to renew your membership prior to your first race in 2019.

Before each race, a check has to be done of all those registered to race to ensure they are financial members and covered by insurance. As a courtesy to those committee members who work hard to ensure the club complies with the terms of our insurance cover and also produce the race results, please renew your membership at least 2 days prior to racing. Membership costs are:

• A full competitive membership for 2019 is $120
• Non competitive membership for 2019 is $5

Upon renewal, your 2019 licence will be emailed to you direct from SportsTG. Please print out a copy and it is suggested that you laminate it or place it in plastic for future reference during the year ahead. You will need to show this licence if you enter events run by other Veteran Cycling Clubs or the AVCC.

Please ensure that your personal particulars are always kept up to date, in particular your emergency contact details. For those members with First Aid qualifications please also update the site. It is a member’s responsibility to keep these updated via the SportsTG website.

Please note that all members are expected to contribute to club administrative functions during the year. These may include: directing or marshalling races, providing first aid or joining the club committee.

Kirsti McVay
Membership Secretary

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 22nd January: Stromlo Criterium

Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
E/FG 5:50 30 min + 2 laps
A/C 6:30 A 45m+2, C 40m+2
B/D 7:20 B 45m+2, D 40m+2

Race Director:  Ben Morrison Contact: Email: division.one@mail.org    Ph  0421278899

Marshals: Trish Halligan

Wednesday, 23rd January: Track Racing

The Program for Wednesday is;
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 8-Lap Graded Scratch;
6.20pm – 6.40pm: 1-Lap SS Time Trial;
6.40pm – 7.00pm: 4-Lap Handicap;
7.00pm – 7.20pm: Italian Pursuit.

Sunday, 27th January: No scheduled race

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:

Stromlo Criterium – 15th January

It was hot hot hot on Tuesday with heat warnings issued and temperatures nudging 40 degrees. But a healthy turnout of over 50 riders eager to race. I recall someone saying it was balmy!!

A and C grade got things going with A graders SSB and Mark Terracini attacking early and staying clear for most of the race only to get pulled back in. Mark Terracini taking it out in the sprint from David Cook in 2nd and Rainer Wilton 3rd. C grade pretty much together for the whole race with Darren Blackhurst winning and Kevin Wells in 2nd and Stephen Terracini in 3rd.

B and D grades were next away with some attacking in B grade then a bit of lull and and a break in D grade almost getting a draught from B grade. In the end James Curren 1st with Douglas Torrence 2nd and Mark Taylor 3rd.

E, F and G finish the night of and temperatures must have dropped by at lease one degree !

All grades were happy to conserve energy and hold it for the final sprint, apart from Jonathan Chownes in E grade who made several attacks but got reeled in by the chasing pack each time. In the end it was Dale Dummet who burst over the line to take the win from Christopher Hodgson in 2nd and Ian Morton claiming 3rd. F were conservative with the energy output but could be heard having a bit of a chat from the other side of the track. It was ultimately won by Mike Hayes with Adrian Breen 2nd and Sue Frost 3rd.

Berney Crowe was the sole rider in G and percevered in the heat to take it out.

Thanks to Bob Perkins for his expert marshalling help.

Tony Sheehan

Track Racing – 16th January

Wednesday 16 January was a scorcher. Race start time was delayed 15 minutes in the hope that conditions would moderate a little. However, by race start time there was no wind and the air temperature was 39oC. Ten riders braved the conditions with equal representation in A and B grades.

The initial events were graded scratch races over eight laps. A Grade had five riders and began at a with a 2-lap lead out by Craig Kentwell. The pace was sufficient to stifle any attacks until lap six when Michael Langdon hit the front. Michael cranked up the pace. However, the pack stuck like glue, so Michael rotated off the front leaving Tony Beasley to provide a lead out into the final laps. Everyone sat in Tony’s wheel until the back straight when the whole pack exploded around Tony. Michael Langdon gapped the bunch for a comfortable win. He was followed by Dougal Torrance. Wayne Benham, in his first A grade event, took a creditable third place.

The B grade scratch race started at a solid pace that dropped one rider by lap 4. A small bunch of four riders barrelled around the remaining laps with the pace undiminished. All of the riders looked hungry going into the bell lap with Steve Hirsler leading out. The sprint commenced in the back straight with Ian Drayton soon taking the lead and holding it for a close win over Ross Scutts and Bruce Griffin.

The second event was a 2-Lap handicap which was all-in thanks to the limited rider numbers. This race was closely contested with the spread of riders rapidly narrowing over the second lap. Wayne Benham had the best handicap in A grade and must have sensed that he had a good chance in the event. He launched out strongly and just kept driving until he overtook Ian Drayton for the win. Ian was limit rider by a small margin. He rode exceptionally well from limit and could not be caught by any riders except Wayne. Steve Hirsler also rode well, holding on for third place from a rapidly closing Craig Kentwell.

The next event was an all-in, Belgium win & out. This event had three sprints over nine laps with some modest handicapping incorporated in the start. Unusually, the winner of the first sprint was allocated third place, second sprint second place and final sprint first place. Each intermediate sprint winner dropped out of the race. Dougal Torrance took the first sprint decisively by launching early and gapping the bunch to the extent that it was pointless to pursue. Craig Kentwell took the second sprint with pure power over the remaining bunch. Michael Langdon held back to contest for the race win in the final sprint. With the pack softened up, Michael made easy work of the finish by cruising to victory. The placegetters in the final sprint were allocated fifth and sixth place for the season points scoring.

The track session closed with the usual all-in, Italian pursuit. By this stage, the blistering heat had taken its toll and only three riders per team could be mustered. Graeme O’Neill led out for team 2. While Graeme can usually be relied on for a good start, this time disaster struck as he pulled out of his right cleat during initial acceleration. Graeme struggled around lap one, powering on one leg. The remaining Team 2 riders (Tony Beasley and Michael Langdon) did their best to recover from this fatal handicap. However, it was a lost cause. Team 1 (Craig, Kentwell, Wayne Benham & Ross Scutts) rode faultlessly and cruised to a decisive victory.

Place getters for this session were as follows:
8-Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Michael Langdon, Dougal Torrance, Wayne Benham. (B Grade) Ian Drayton, Ross Scutts, Bruce Griffin.
2-Lap Handicap: (A&B Grade): Wayne Benham, Ian Drayton, Steve Hirsler.
Belgium Win & Out: (A&B Grade): Michael Langdon, Craig Kentwell, Dougal Torrance.
Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 1 (Craig Kentwell, Tony Beasley, Ross Scutts).

Season Point Score Update:
Ross Scutts (139), Dougal Torrance (137), Michael Langdon (134), Steve Hirsler (111), Phil Anderson (97), Wayne Benham (97), Tony Beasley (88), Craig Kentwell (84), Bruce Griffin (79).

Graeme O’Neill