Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

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

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

Ian Morton

From the Desk of the Handicapper

In a departure from the not-riding-for-sheep-stations format, the club will conduct prize money races on March 12. The format will be combined AB, CD and EFG races with prize money for first to third, a sprint prime and first from the lower grade. The club will match the $10 entry fee for each rider with an additional $10.

Entries will be limited to 40 riders per race so that means the maximum first place prize could be $400! Eligibility rules:

AB riders must be a financial member and have ridden at least one race during the season (starting October).

C to G riders must be a financial member and have ridden at least three races during the season. C to G riders must ride in the highest grade they have ridden during the season. Entries will be via the SportsTG Event website and eligibility will be closely scrutinised to avoid burglars taking the loot. Details to follow in the coming weeks.

On-line Registration closes: 10:00pm MONDAY 11th MARCH

Entry is by on-line registration only. No registrations will be accepted on the night.

Go to https://eventdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=32195&OrgID=10345 and use your StortsTG login. If you have forgotten your password, there is a password reset facility.

Select your event (per the rules above) and confirm your eligibility.

Handicaps

Just one change this week;

Neil Skipper B to A

Rob Langridge
Handicapper

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 12th March: Stromlo Criterium – Scratch Race

Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Special event Prize money criterium races. A/B, C/D and E/F/G combined races.
E/F/G @5:50 25 min + 2 laps
C/D @6:20 30m + 2 laps
A/B @6:55 30m + 2 laps

Race Director:  Robert Langridge Contact: Email: rlangridge88@gmail.com    Ph  0450400658

Marshals: Brendan Chadwick

Wednesday, 13th March: 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: 10-Lap Snowball;
6.40pm – 7.00pm: 4-Lap Win & Out
7.00pm – 7.20pm: Italian Pursuit.

Sunday, 17th March: Old Federal Highway Graded Scratch

Where: Turn left off new Federal Hwy (dual carriageway) after Bywong Rd. The intersection is signposted to Gundaroo and approx 9 km after Sutton Rd overpass. Park in gravel pit on corner of next intersection about 100 m in from highway.
When: 9:00 am.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number
Race Description:
Gravel Pit – Tulip Farm. ABCD – 3 laps. EFG – 2 laps

Race Director: Ian Drayton Contact: Email: ian.drayton@canberra.edu.au    Ph  0429579162

Marshals: Scott Tozer, Paul Hollings, Rob McLachlan, David Gunther

Dale Kleeman update

Luckily Dale didn’t require surgery on his collarbone and got out of hospital on Friday. Hopefully he’ll be back on his bike soon.

Gunning 2 Day marshals

We still need a few more marshals for Gunning 2 day. I will shortly need to start nominating people to help. Which may be inconvenient for those hoping to race.

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:

Criterium Racing – 5th March

With the threat of rain heading our way mid-afternoon there was doubt if the race would indeed go ahead however the heavens cleared and riders were greeted with patches of sunshine and minimal wind for what was the 19th scheduled Criterium race of the 20118/19 series.

E/F/G Grade

A total of 21 riders toed the start line for their 25 minute plus 2 lap race. The 9 E grade riders were first away and kept it together for the entirety of the race. The downhill sprint direction would favour riders who could get up the back straight hill with a surge of power and continue down the other side. Ian Morton did this and came away with the win, followed in second by David Gunther with third place going to Alex Sommariva. Most combative ride of the grade goes to Tess McLachlan for her ‘never give up chasing’ attitude.

A similarly numbered group of 9 was next up in F grade. Notable return from a 6 year hiatus was Malcolm Paterson. The first half of the race saw the pack together with riders taking turns to get to the front but no real effort to go off the front. This changed when Sue Frost decided to throw it up the road and test what would happen. No immediate reaction prevailed but after a lengthy time off the front Sue was caught. Leanne Tennant won from, Mike Hayes and Sue Frost hanging on for third.

Three riders took to the start line for G and they were soon split to three separate places on the track. The race was a foregone conclusion by about lap 3 with Spoljaric Mijo (Michael) taking first place, Gai Monahan in second and Bernard Crowe in third.

A/C Grade

A grade had 35 plus 2 laps and 18 riders took off under the instruction of the race referee. As usual no sooner had the flag dropped than someone had gone on the attack, this time it was Jeremy Ross. Not wanting to be outdone Lewis Cressy and Ben Morrison leapt across to join Jeremy and the trio worked well together. With 15 minutes gone a ferocious attack by Rainer Wilton saw him leap out of the pack and look like he would effortlessly ride across what was a considerable gap to join the breakaway three rider. Either the speed with which he closed the initial gap, or an increase in pace from the front group resulted in Reiner not making contact (although he was only metres away) and he was eventually brought back in by the chasing group This attack would earn him the most combative rider. It appeared that Jeremy decided that the pace was a little slow and upped the ante resulting in Ben and Lewis also making their way back to the bunch. The bunch then applied pressure in fits and spurts to try and get across with notable efforts from Gerard Tiffen, Seymour Savell-Boss and Mark Terracini. Jeremy was working at a consistent pace and didn’t look like he was going to get caught. With over half the race completed a nasty accident occurred on collarbone corner and the race was neutralised for a couple of laps. The course was shortened and continued. Seymour had another go at bridging across to Jeremey and was joined a short time later by Stephen Blackburn. The two worked for a while but Stephen was too strong and soon dropped Seymour and made his way across to Jeremey. All that was left now was for the Tiffen boys to determine who take the top step. Jeremey Ross won with Stephen Blackburn second and Jeremy Gillman Wells taking out a clean sweep for the Tiffen team.

C grade started at a pedestrian pace with the group of 10 remaining together for what would be the duration of their race. A flat tyre coming into collarbone corner caused an accident for the complete bunch and the race was stopped. John Marinov and Dale Kleeman suffered injuries during the fall and we wish them all the best for their recovery.

B/D Grade

B grade was by far the most populated grade of the night with 24 riders lining up for their 35 minute plus 2 laps race. The accident in the previous grade was still being attended to so the race adopted the shorter version of the course using the U turn before the bottom corner. This proved challenging as the turn was neutralised and riders needed to negotiate the uphill straight immediately after. Riders handled the course well on their initial laps and it was obvious to see that the shortened course did not lend itself to an easy breakaway forming. Neil Skipper, Craig Tozer Ben Healy and visitor Adam Dimech didn’t get this memo and slipped off the front about halfway through the race. The pack maintained a steady pace with small attacks trying to get across the gap but the group out front were working consistently well and were never going to get caught. With the fading light there may have been minutes or two snuck off the overall time however this would prove inconsequential as the front group had it in the bag. In the end it was Neil Skipper who took the first place honours followed by Craig Tozer and Ben Healy into third.

12 riders rolled away for the final grade of the night. 32 plus 2 laps and a shortened race course on the agenda. Apologies must go to this group as with the fading light, the shortened course, the large group in B grade and the anticipation of the ambulance I did not pay significant attention to determine how this race unfolded. I can however advise that Jeremy Keen stood on the top step, Craig O’Neall in second and Kevin Newhouse into third. Sorry again D grade.

Nathan Spillane

Track Racing – 6th March

Wednesday 6 March provided warm, dry conditions for track racing. There was a strong headwind against riders coming out of Turn 1 and this persisted for most of the evening. The turn-out was again fair, with thirteen riders, 6 in A grade and 7 in B grade.

The initial events were graded scratch races over eight laps. Dougal Torrance led out A Grade. The pace was slow initially, with lead riders rolling over each lap in a tidy manner. When Michael Langdon rotated into the lead on lap 5, he cranked up the pace and created disorder in the bunch. Soon Michael eased off and Dougal Torrance launched a full-blown attack. Michael Langdon and John Paul De Sousa pursued. Michael and John Paul caught Dougal on lap 7. As they approached the bell lap John Paul climbed the banking and launched off Turn 2. Michael Langdon pursued hard to catch and pass John Paul in the back straight, setting up a comfortable win. By the finish, there were big gaps in the bunch. John Paul De Sousa held on for second with Dougal Torrance taking third place.

The B grade scratch race was a dramatic affair refereed by Michael Langdon. Here is Michael’s report in his own entertaining style: “B grade riders begun circulating, taking 1 lap turns. Bruce Griffin has hunger in his eyes every race and needs to be watched. However, at mid race Ross Scutts found himself completing a turn on the front and then hedging his bets by half wheeling the bunch…just in case. Indeed, after Ross had a turn; Monsieur Phil Coulton, (making his track return from a multi-week layoff) hit the front and launched a kamikaze attack, splitting the field – there was now about 2 bike lengths between individual riders. As fast as he started, Phil then decided he had had enough and swung up. Ben (Singapore Sling) Davis hit the front and was his timing was impeccable? He thought – we thought. Well might you say God save the Queen as nothing with save El Presidente! With 2 laps to go Dougal rang (a) bell he had grabbed from the container – Ben was off like a rabbit. (The Court Jester & First Aid Officer already had a bell, however Dougal had to get his brass out…it was like 2 rugby balls on the field at the same time). Anyhow, Ben was greeted with another lap to go and did well to maintain pace to take a nice, all be it risky, win. He was a little cranky – but hey it ain’t sheep stations. A very controversial race.”

The second event was an individual time trial over 2-laps from a standing start. This is a very hard event, probably the equivalent of a 400m sprint in running. The times were interesting with A grade averaging around 55 seconds and B grade averaging around 61 seconds. The standout performance was 50.90 seconds by Michael Langdon, an average speed of around 51 km/hr from a standing start. The best times in A grade were Michael Langdon (50.90s), Hamish Anderson (53.40s) and John Paul De Sousa (55.22s). In B grade the best times were Ben Davis (58.25s), Ken Birch (60.03s) and Bruce Griffin (60.85s).

The track session closed with an all-in, Italian pursuit. This event had six riders per team and was, as usual, closely contested. Both teams made good starts which set the teams in lockstep. The margin was never more than 1-2 metres as the laps ticked off. Team 1 held a slight lead for most of the race. However, Dougal Torrance dragged Team 2 up to level pegging with Team 1 for the final lap. Michael Langdon was paced against John Paul De Sousa for this lap. Unlike last week, Michael was fresh and in great form for his turn as team anchor. He blitzed around the first half lap with John Paul struggling to hold the pace. This set Team 1 up for a more comfortable win than was expected at mid race.

Place getters for this session were as follows:
8-Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Michael Langdon, John Paul De Sousa, Dougal Torrance. (B Grade) Ben Davis, Ross Scutts, Phil Anderson. 2-Lap SS TT: (A grade) Michael Langdon (50.90s), Hamish Anderson (53.40s), John Paul De Sousa (55.22s). (B grade) Ben Davis (58.25s), Ken Birch (60.03s), Bruce Griffin (60.85s). Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 1 (Michael Langdon, Tony Beasley, Hamish Anderson, Ken Birch, Ross Scutts, Graeme O’Neill).

Season Point Score Update:
Michael Langdon (263), Ross Scutts (255), Dougal Torrance (238), Steve Hirsler (205), Phil Anderson (205), Bruce Griffin (172), Tony Beasley (163), Craig Kentwell (162), Hamish Anderson (132).

Final Omnium Points:
Ken Birch (13), Craig Kentwell (12), Tony Beasley (12), Phil Anderson (12), Michael Langdon (11), Steve Hirsler (10), Ben Davis (10), Hamish Anderson (9), Bruce Griffin (6).

Graeme O’Neill