Hello Vets,
In the Bleat this week;
• From the Desk of the President
• Member Advertising
• COVID-19 Restrictions
• First Aid Course
• AVCC 2021 Nationals
• Racing this Week
• Race Report
Ian Morton
From the Desk of the President
Dear Fellow Vets,
This weekend the club raced for the ninth time since social distancing restrictions eased to the point where racing was allowed. Equalling the number of races that had had to be cancelled/postponed due to Covid-19.
Since the resumption of racing, 355 riders have signed on (I know many have signed on multiple times) averaging just over 39 racers per event. And whilst it is always nice to catch up with the current crop of talent, it has been especially nice seeing some past members re-joining the club, so let’s all encourage each other as always and bring on the rest of the season!
Thank you to all those that have come out to support the racing, thank you to all those that have volunteered with race directing and marshalling duties, and lastly a massive thank you to the club committee members whose endeavors have succeeded with all these races going ahead (along with all the other committee duties undertaken in the background).
I hope to see as many of you as possible out at Sutton Road this weekend for what is always some spectacular racing – just bring thermals as it looks like a chilly one again!
I hope you all have a happy and safe week.
Regards,
Seymour
ACT Vets President
Member Advertising
The committee has agreed that we should support club members with cycling/sports related businesses by allowing advertisements on our Facebook page. You can send through your advert to the committee at committee@actvets.cc, where it will be reviewed and if suitable will be posted on your behalf.
Advertising for and by ACT Vets Cycling Club members.
Advertising for cycling related businesses can now be put on the club’s Facebook page.
If you have, or work for, a sports related business (bike shop, physiotherapy or similar) we can now post an advertisement for the business on the ACT Vets Cycling Club Facebook page.
There are a few rules:
- All adverts should be emailed to the ACT Vets Cycling Club Committee at committee@actvets.cc for uploading on to the Facebook page. The club will not accept self-posted advertisements.
- The club supports local businesses noting that the club hasn’t vetted the advertiser and isn’t endorsing them.
- The person seeking to advertise must be a paid-up member.
- Advertisements should be on a “by members for members” basis.
- If the advertisement is for an event or function that clashes with a club organised event, these will likely not be supported.
- We reserve the right not to allow advertisements at our discretion – to allow us to refuse adverts for services or products that might be illegal or offensive, etc.
- The committee will accept one advert per business per month, to ensure currency for the business.
COVID-19 Restrictions
There are legal requirements in place for people returning to the ACT from Victoria and particular places in New South Wales to self-quarantine.
Members who have been to any of these locations in the past 14 days should be complying with ACT Government quarantine restrictions.
Members should stay home if you have been feeling unwell or showing symptoms of COVID-19 or been in contact with someone who has felt unwell in the past 2 weeks.
First Aid Course
Dear Members,
Would you know what to do if you were first on the scene of a road accident involving a cyclist? Would you know how to help one of your friends if they had a fall during a ride?
The club has been successful in bidding for an ACT Government Grant for road safety. This allows us to offer members First Aid courses free of charge.
We estimate our nearly 300 members cycle more than 180,000km on ACT Roads every year. This makes it quite likely one of us will be first on scene at an accident at some time.
A First Aid course would provide you with a nationally recognised qualification, and would equip you to help others in the event of an emergency. It would also help the club to continue to conduct racing in the ACT. The club uses, and will continue to use, an external contractor to provide first aid support to races, however there are times when this service is unavailable. In order for the club to be able to undertake our scheduled race calendar, the club will, from time to time, ask a first aid qualified member to attend a race.
The committee has experience of a course provider in the ACT that has adapted to COVID-19 restrictions by taking the theory components on-line, and adapting the practical elements in line with social distancing requirements. If there’s interest from members, the Committee will organise a group booking with this provider. Please e-mail committee@actvets.cc if you would like to take up this option.
Otherwise, members may register for the first aid course of their choice, provided that:
1) the course provides a recognised Australian first aid qualification;
2) the cost of the course is less than or equal to $200; and
3) members acknowledge and agree to being placed on a list of first aid providers that, from time to time, will be utilised to provide first aid services to club races.
Contact the committee to ensure that your intended course meets the club’s needs. Following completion of the course, contact the Treasurer at treasurer@actvets.cc to provide a copy of your qualification and organise a reimbursement.
AVCC 2021 Nationals
RACING THIS WEEK:
Saturday, 22nd August: Sutton Driver Training – Graded Criterium
Where: Approx 0.5 km along Sutton Rd from intersection of Sutton Rd and Pialligo Avenue.
When: 1:30 pm.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number
Race Description:
C/D: 1.30am 40 mins + 1 lap
E/F/G: 2.20am 30 mins + 1 lap
A/B: 3.00am 50 mins + 1 lap
Race in your road grade
Race Director: Ben Morrison Contact: Email: division.one@mail.org Ph 0421278899
Marshals: Cat Riley
Framework for “Return to Play in a COVID-safe Environment”
This Framework details how cycling events will be delivered by the ACT Veterans Cycling Club to meet the recommendations of Canberra’s Recovery Plan. From 19 June 2020, Stage 2.2 allows for groups of no more than 100 participants. Refer to the ACT Government guidelines at http://www.covid19.act.gov.au.
Stage 2.2 & 3 Arrangements
- On the day of the event, the race Director will be responsible for ensuring that participants follow these guidelines. Where a participant fails to comply they will be asked to leave the event.
- Any rider who is feeling unwell should not participate. If a rider experiences symptoms such as fever, cough, headache, sore throat, and tiredness, they should stay at home. Consult a doctor if symptoms persist. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker is available at https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/symptom-checker/tool/basic-details.
- Riders with higher risks from Covid19 are advised not to participate:
- People aged 70 years and over;
- People aged 65 years and over with chronic medical conditions;
- People with compromised immune systems; and
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 50 with one or more chronic medical conditions.
- Race Officials will maintain 1.5m separation and hygiene standards during event setup, running and shutdown. When handling equipment such as signs and radios, Officials are to maintain hygiene by cleaning, wearing gloves and/or regular hand cleaning.
- The Club will organise first aid at each event provided by either a professional organisation or by a Club member with a current first aid certificate.
- Riders and spectators are to maintain a distance of 1.5m from other participants while at the event.
- Hand hygiene is imperative and hand sanitiser will be available at the event.
- No physical contact. Participants are to refrain from shaking hands, pats on the back, etc.
- If any rider feels unwell in the two weeks following the race, they must advise the Race Committee who will follow up with health authorities. The Rider Management System is used to record event attendees and has their contact details.
Thanks,
ACTVets Committee
RACE REPORT:
Old Federal Highway Graded Scratch – 15th August
The forecast on Friday night suggested that the rain would arrive on Saturday just about the time the race was due to start. The forecast was wrong, it essentially rained all day. Fortunately the worst of it held off until towards the end of the race. Unfortunately it did catch the end of the race and those riding home. It was a cold and wet day. Luckily the wind did not decide to join in on the fun.
For some time the only people standing around the van were a bunch of marshals trying to keep warm, but riders did eventually show up and we had 27 brave (translation: foolhardy) riders at the start line.
The race was 3 or 4 laps, depending on the grade, from the Gravel Pit to Lake George. Many of the grades had broken up before the end of the first lap and the conditions on the course must have been somewhat brutal as we had 6 DNFs.
A grade blitzed the course and substantially increased their distance over B grade each lap. It looked like Steve Crispin had it in the bag, but apparently strategy games were at play as Rob McLachlan came first, followed by Steve Crispin and then Tristan Dimmock. (I told A grade at the start line there were as many riders as there were laps, in the end I was correct).
B grade was one of the larger grades and mostly stayed together during the course. They also offered one of the few sprint finishes with Grant Shaw just beating David Dickson followed by Christophe Barberet.
C grade started after D grade. The aim apparently was for C grade to catch D grade. D grade gave them a run for their money staying out in front until just before the turn for the last lap. C grade stayed together for a close finish with John Paul De Sousa beating David Stewart-Thomson and then Ian McVay. With three finishers in D grade everyone got a place. They were Corey Beatson for first, Nick Boylan for second and Allan Bontjer for third.
E grade and our lone F grade rider, Michelle Hodgetts, started together but had split apart before the end of the first lap. The two first placed riders, Russel Marston and Shirley-Anne Taylor, held their positions the whole race. Third place went to Ian Morton.
A special thanks goes to all of the marshals for holding the race together in nonoptimal conditions. They were Alison Hale (lead car), Anthony Willemsen (Lake George turn), Bruce McMillan (trail car), Peter Balint (Gravel Pit turn) and Graham Hendrie (everything else). I very much appreciated their help. Also thank you to the first aider Simon Whitehead for actively keeping an eye on all of the riders.
Linda Stals,
Race Director
