ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 4th February, 2019

Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

• Annual General Meeting
• From the Desk of the Handicapper
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports

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

Ian Morton

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

From the Desk of the Handicapper

The changes this week;

Promotions
– Christopher Hodgson E to D

Rob Langridge
Handicapper

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 5th February: Stromlo Criterium

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

Race Director:  Heath Chester Contact: Email: heathtracy@iinet.net.au    Ph  0419162193

Marshals: Mark Kitchen

Wednesday, 6th February: Track Racing

The Program for Wednesday is;
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 10-Lap Graded Scratch;
6.20pm – 6.40pm: Team Pursuit
6.40pm – 7.00pm: 2-Handicap;
7.00pm – 7.20pm: Italian Pursuit.

Sunday, 10th February: Lookout Hill Graded Scratch

Where: Observation lookout on Tidbinbilla Road about 2.5 km towards Tharwa from Point Hut / Tidbinbilla Rd intersection (or about 4.5 km from Tharwa villiage).
When: 9:00 am.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Lookout Hill to Tidbinbilla Reserve and back. ABCD x 2 laps. EFG x 1 lap.

Race Director: Stephen Schwenke Contact: Email: schwenkes@homemail.com.au    Ph  0412485729

Marshals: Owain Tilley, Robert Brunato, Richard Gorrell, Simon Costello

Gunning 2 Day marshals

Gunning 2 Day race is on 18-19 May. We will need 6 marshals each day to safely and effectively run the race. If you are planning to race and have a partner, child, friend etc who would be interested in coming to help marshal, please let me know. Early volunteering to do marshalling would be appreciated.

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 – 30th January

Wednesday 30 January provided a hot evening for track racing. There was a stiff headwind in the back straight that remained a challenge throughout the evening. The turn-out was reasonable, with fourteen riders, eight in A grade and six in B grade.

The initial events were graded scratch races over ten laps. Martin Graham led out A Grade. However, Dougal Torrance immediately charged out to a five-metre gap. Martin closed the gap, increasing the race pace considerably. The pack then circulated until lap 7 when Martin Graham saw an opportunity and made a ferocious attack. Only Michael Langdon and Dougal Torrance could follow this attack. The remaining riders were splayed around the track, chasing hard. By the bell lap, Tim Minehan had regained the three rider, lead group. Michael Langdon accelerated from the lead group with about half a lap to go and took the win comfortably. The other lead group riders fought out the placings with Dougal Torrance taking second and Martin Graham holding on for third.

The B grade scratch race commenced at a comfortable pace. This continued until lap 5 when Steve Hirsler hit the front and accelerated. The pack hung on at pace. However, by lap 7, one rider was dropped. Two laps after that, the pace slowed, as riders manoeuvred for good position into the bell lap. At the bell lap, Steve Hirsler attacked. Steve is currently in great form. The remaining pack stayed in his wheel and competed for the sprint. However, Steve had ample power to hold out for a decisive win. Ross Scutts took second with quiet achiever Ken Birch a creditable third.

The second event was a series of paired match races over two laps. The match races were interesting to watch with a variety of tactics employed to gain a sprint advantage. Most of the races were reasonably close, with the X-factor playing a part in the contests. Riders who emerged as winners in their event were Michael Langdon, Dougal Torrance, Hamish Anderson, Tony Beasley, Steve Hirsler, Ken Birch and Bruce Griffin.

The track session closed with an all-in, Italian pursuit. This event had seven riders per team and was very evenly contested, as normally expected. Team 1 made a good start. Their small initial advantage blunted a searching counter attack mounted by the mid race riders in Team 2. With the teams down to three riders, Team 2 led by a small margin which was needed to counter the ability of Team 1’s anchor Michael Langdon. However, Team 2 could not sustain the margin over the final laps. A big effort by Tim Minehan saw Team 1 with a marginal lead going into the final lap. Michael Langdon then sealed the victory for Team 1 with a flawless final lap. The winning margin was 3 – 4 metres.

Place getters for this session were as follows:
10-Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Michael Langdon, Dougal Torrance, Martin Graham. (B Grade) Steve Hirsler, Ross Scutts, Ken Birch.
2 Lap Match Races: (A Grade Winners): Michael Langdon, Dougal Torrance, Hamish Anderson, Tony Beasley. (B Grade Winners) Steve Hirsler, Ken Birch, Bruce Griffin.
Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 1 (Michael Langdon, Tim Minehan, Tony Beasley, Craig Kentwell, Steve Hirsler, Phil Anderson, Graeme O’Neill).

Season Point Score Update:
Michael Langdon (169), Ross Scutts (166), Dougal Torrance (165), Steve Hirsler (145), Phil Anderson (118), Craig Kentwell (104), Bruce Griffin (104), Tony Beasley (103), Wayne Benham (97).

Graeme O’Neill

Tidbinbilla Handicap – 3rd February

Racing this week was a 41k handicap event out at Tinbinbilla. A total of 38 starters greeted a clear sunny start.

As no G graders were in attendance the gaps to the other grades were not overwhelming margins to the bunches behind making for some close racing. At the halfway mark the scratch bunch were working well together where other bunches had thinned out considerably.

At the end scratch rider Peter Marshall had broken clear and took the solo win, Seymour 2nd and Rainer Wilton 3rd.

Thanks to all other marshalls and helpers.

Cheers, Sean Ifland