Masters,
In this week’s Bleat;
• 2023 Annual General Meeting
• From the Desk of the Handicapper
• From the Race Committee
• Five Peaks Challenge
• Racing this Week
• Race Report
Ian Morton
thebleat@actvets.cc
2023 Annual General Meeting
The AGM for the Capital Region Masters Cycling Club for 2023 will be held on Monday 13th February at 7:00pm at the Raiders Club Weston.
Members are invited to attend in person or can join via a zoom meeting (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88327935272?pwd=VGZaL242bDhvMSt0bUZ3bHBBMkt3Zz09).
For those that use zoom we need you to register your attendance. Use Chat in zoom to fully identify yourself. For example “Joe Blow is attending CRMCC AGM”.
NOTE: Any Apologies should be advised to the secretary.
Craig Tozer
Secretary Capital Region Masters Cycling Club
secretary@actvets.cc
ps We are always seeking members who are willing to join the Committee. You can download a nomination from: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tt7NK_6jAoJRclpWUiMxWRqO1aaT_5pH
From the Desk of the Handicapper
Promotions
Jarrod Taylor C to B
Ian Preston C to B
Alison Hale D to C
Brian Chugg D to C
Robert Craine F to E
Rob Langridge
Handicapper
From the Race Committee
Road Races and Directors
We are still lacking a few Race Directors for upcoming races. Anyone able to assist, please advise the Race Committee (race.committe@actvets.cc).
Registration for 2023
All members must be registered prior to racing in 2023.
Five Peaks Challenge
The Five Peaks Challenge non-competitive cyclo-sportive bike riding event is on again in Canberra on Sunday 23 April 2023. It is a personal challenge conducted by the Murrumbidgee Canberra Rotary Club with all profits going to charity.
There are two ride lengths: 120 km and 88 km and you can bypass as many of the peaks as you desire. You ride the peaks and your partner does the flat.
Full details and registration are at: https://www.rotaryrides.org.au/
RACING THIS WEEK:
Tuesday, 31st January: Stromlo Criterium
Note: Registration required by 31 Jan 2023 3:50 pm.
Any requests for Grade changes should be sorted out with the Handicapper prior to registration.
Late entries may be considered in exceptional circumstances. Please email race.committee@actvets.cc
Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Race Description:
A/C 5:50PM 40mins/35mins
B/D 6:40PM 40mins/35mins
E/F/G 7:25PM 30mins
Race Director: Mark Vardy Contact: Email: mvardy10@gmail.com Ph: 0467 761 979
Marshals: Cat Riley
Thursday, 2nd February: Track Racing
The Program for Thursday is;
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice.
10-lap graded scratch
2-lap Paired Match Races
Italian Pursuit
Sunday, 5th February – Uriarra Homestead
WE ARE STILL AWAITING CONFIRMATION FROM ACT GOVT ON ROAD APPROVAL.
Reminder: All riders must register on the CRMCC Web site (https://rms.actvets.cc/calendar) by 4/2/2023 6:00 PM prior to the race. There is no registration at the event.
Any requests for Grade changes should be sorted out with the Handicapper prior to registration.
Where: Assemble at Uriarra Rd / Brindabella Rd, T-Junction. From North Canberra slightly faster Coppins crossing & right onto Uriarra Road. From Sth Canberra follow Cotter Road down to bridge crossing, turn right onto Brindabella Road.
When: 9:00 am.
Race Description:
Uriarra Homestead – Uphill to Short turn before the climb – downhill to top of Uriarra Crossing – back up to Homestead.
3 laps for A-D Grades. 2 Laps others.
Race Director: tba Contact: Email: tba Ph tba
Marshals: Ben Healy ETC, Vacant ETC, Vacant, , Vacant Van Driver.
RACE REPORTS:
SFP Criterium – 24th January
B and D grades kicked of the evening’s racing with a cautious start due to the mob of kangaroos that decided it was good time to move down the track. Following some careful laps and proactive engagement by our race marshal Kerrie, the racing was able to commence in earnest. D grade was characterised by a strong early break by Andrew Peel, Alison Hale, Nick Boylan, Rob Langridge and Brian Chugg. Despite an early chase by the pack, the four riders of the breakaway were able to hold out to the bell lap, where Nick Boylan launched a hard attack only to be beaten to the line with Alison Hale taking the win, followed by Andrew Peel in second and Brian Chugg in third. In contrast, none of the breakaway attempts in B grade held, despite the prolific efforts of Stephen Terracini who featured in several attempts, along with Darren Blackhurst, Ben Healy and Nicholas Jeffries. A split in the bunch with two laps to go put a few racers out of contention with Krusty Bryant the clear winner in the sprint, followed by Tobias McLenaghan and Michael Foulds.
E, F and G grades commenced as the inclement weather threatened, though the extent of the precipitation for the evening was a smattering of rain. Theresa McLachlan, Chris Copeland and Mick Donaldson worked together in E grade, staying together for the race. Chris Copeland eventually edged out the win, followed by Mick Donaldson in second and Theresa McLachlan in third. In F grade, Robert Craine had a strong race to take the win with Lindsay Graham second and Paul Robey third. G grade saw Gai Monahan take the win ahead of Robyn Smallwood.
Like D grade earlier in the night, C grade featured a strong early breakaway. A first lap break by Ian Preston, Mark Taylor, Wayne Benham gained a good gap on the field, before Warwick Wilson and Jarrod Taylor bridged across. The chase by the field seemed to fizzle as the break built an impressive gap, with four riders from the break eventually contesting for the top spots. Jarrod Taylor took the win, followed by Warwick Wilson, Wayne Benham and Ian Preston. A grade was a fast strung-out affair, with several breakaway attempts quickly wound back. These attempts progressed from several digs by Dominic Romano to Kris McCreath and James Thorp pushing the pace. A final five rider break with a good mix of teams seemed like it may have the mix to stay clear, only to be bought back by the bunch. The group sprint was taken by Kris McCreath, followed by Gerard Tiffen and Mathew Corby.
My thanks to Kerrie for her excellent marshalling, Simon for medic support (thankfully not required) and David/Ian for opening/closing and general guidance.
Michael Rowland
Track Racing – 26th January
The evening started out hot and still – a late afternoon thunderstorm at the Bundadome had cleared and the track dried out quickly. Attendance was 10 riders.
A Scratch (8 laps)
A relaxed A Grade rode one lap turns. Then with 3 laps to go Warwick Wilson (most combative rider), attacked out of the saddle lifting the pace. Tim Jolly stuck to Warwick to cover off any positioning threats. Then Steve Jones, with 1.5 laps to go put in a significant attack – Tim Jolly was right onto his wheel, and down the back straight Steve Jones kicked again with Wayne Benham in the draft also timing his sprint well. Tim Jolly 1st and Wayne Benham 2nd were able to get around Steve Jones 3rd on the final corner.
B Scratch (8 laps)
In B Grade there were four riders with no wind during the race. B Grade kept a steady pace for one lap turns and stayed together for the race. With 1.5 laps to go the riders went high on the track, with James Newhouse attacking on the back straight and sticking to the sprinter’s lane – Ali Hale once again timed her attack well to come around James to take a very close win. Ali Hale 1st, James Newhouse 2nd, Ed Garnett 3rd.
1 Lap standing start (SS) timed.
And right on cue the wind picked up for this time trial event. The times were very close. A Grade – Tim Jolly was fastest on 27.40 and B Grade – James Newhouse fastest with a scorching 30.06.
| 333 meters | Seconds | Km/h |
| T. Jolly | 27.40 | 43.7 |
| S. Jones | 29.28 | 40.9 |
| W. Wilson | 29.52 | 40.6 |
| W. Benham | 29.58 | 40.5 |
| J. Newhouse | 30.06 | 39.8 |
| K. Clutson | 30.36 | 39.4 |
| M. Graham | 30.97 | 38.7 |
| B. Davis | 31.02 | 38.6 |
| E. Garnett | 31.70 | 37.8 |
| A. Hale | 33.51 | 35.7 |
2 Lap Handicap
This is two laps with a start of the Bundadome fence. It’s a flat-out sprint. Ali Hale went straight to the front and powered away with Tim Jolly and Steve Jones in hot pursuit going high on the track around the limit riders. Ali Hale 1st took an emphatic win with Tim Jolly 2nd and James Newhouse 3rd.
Italian Pursuit
The teams were even for the usual CRMCC Italian Pursuit – 5 riders each. Team 2 had an uneven start with some riders overlapping. However, once again Karen Clutson was a quick and smooth lead out for Team 1. Overall, the Teams both rode a very fast Italian race. (The Commentator (attached audio) eagerly called the race finish half a lap early). In that half lap Tim Jolly pulled out a blistering ride to give Team 1 the win.
Michael Langdon’s Italian Pursuit commentary here.
Season Point Score Update:
Tim Jolly 246, Alison Hale 213, James Newhouse 210, Craig Kentwell 180, Conan Liu 165, Steve Jones 148, Ed Garnett 121, John Paul De Sousa 117, Wayne Benham 111, Warwick Wilson 92, Mark Canaider 89, Karen Clutson 86, Graeme O’Neill 78, Ian Drayton 75, Hamish Anderson 73.
Michael Langdon
