Masters, In this week’s Bleat;
- Next Race – Uriarra Homestead, Handicap – Secret – Sat 8 July
- Race Report – Sutton Super Series Criteriums
- Race Officials – needed
- Racing Calendar changes
“When I attacked, I didn’t even evaluate if it was going to work or not. Then I was seeing the finishing line getting closer and my power getting lower in numbers but it has worked out. It’s crazy…” Victor Lafay (Confidis), Stage 2 winner, Tour de France
RACING – Next Race
Saturday 8 July , 1.30pm – Uriarra Homestead Handicap – Secret
Race Director, Van Driver and x 2 ETCs needed – if you can assist the Club then please email the race.committee@actvets.cc
Format: Uriarra Homestead
Two laps of Uriarra Homestead – top of Uriarra Crossing – Condor Creek – Homestead.
Description: Cole Family Trophy – Secret Handicap
Directions: 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.
Race Report – Sutton Super Series Criteriums – Sat 1 July
The afternoon sun came through with my phone telling me 18 degrees, but Alison tells me it was more like 13. The early debate centred around the wind, being mostly cross tail on down the main straight. But at other times barley fluttering the finish line flag. The second debate centred around the merits of racing Anti-Clockwise. The major climb being a downside, the upside being that small breakaway groups or lone riders who corner well can get around the top of the course pretty quickly.
The wind seemed to dissipate for the start of the A and B grade race, both 50 minutes plus one. The initial action in A grade was a lone rider away, We did not record his name due to lack of race number. The gap was never really that big, so it was no surprise to see Daniel Lekhac, (257) countered and got away up the road. A lap or so later Steve Crispin (23) joined Danial and they were away for good with Steve winning the two up sprint. Third place was taken out by Stuart Griffiths, with Jason Irwin close behind. John Bridge came in 5th, being a casualty of the second attack to take Steve up the road to join Daniel.
B grade was calmer initially. At around halfway attacks started to happen. As race officials we were hampered by not seeing most of the course and lack of race numbers. There were a few breakaway compositions before the final selection was made with a small group riding and contesting the finish. Tobias McLenaghan (378) 1st, Michael Rowland (495), Mark Harris (96) and Christopher van der Spek (161). A determined chase group just could not make it across and split eventually.
C Grade started much like B grade, but one could see the race was going to break up eventually. Darren Blackhurst (580) won a few of the first laps and told me later he thought it was a points race. His strong accelerations did have a major impact on the race, leading to a group of three getting away at around the 25 minute mark. Timothy Jolly (143), David Buckley, (336) and perpetual breakaway hard man David Dickson (114) got away but it was a hard task with a strong group of three looking like they may bring them back for quite a number of laps. In the end Timothy Jolly outsprinted David Dickson (2nd) and David Buckley, (3rd). The chase group came in together not too far off the pace set by the breakaway winners.
D Grade started with the inclusion of Ashley Sked from E grade. Again, the first few laps were reasonably calm, but even so there was pain on the face of some riders. Terry Moore had moved up the bunch, away from her pre-race tactic of being on the back. Robert Langridge (193) used the aero tuck to close the gap coming into the main straight on a few occasions. Anthony Beasley (231) and Mark Taylor (78) were seen putting on the pressure down the main straight, leaving the group in single file down the gutter. Late in the race the group broke up. A lone attack from Nick Boylan (182) in his 854th race with the club. Nick is well known for his early attacks, but this one was well timed and executed. Using climbing and cornering speed to stay away. Rumour has it that Ashley Sked (86) was the only one who tried to respond and blew up in the process. Elizabeth Lowe (287) won her grade as the lone rider in E. Tony Beasley won the bunch sprint for 2nd and Mark Taylor 3rd. Shirly-Anne came in 4th growing in race experience every week.
Thanks to: Alison Hale (Results); Gavin Stephens (Van) and Simon Whitehead (First Aid).
Allan Bontjer – Race Director
Results click here. Photos CRMCC Facebook page here . Series Points listed below.
Sutton Super Series – points score
Upcoming Races – Officials needed
Saturday 15 July 1.30pm – Lookout Hill, time trial graded – Van driver and a Marshall needed
Saturday 22 July 1.30pm – Smiths Rd – Naas Rd, graded scratch – Race Director, Van Driver and 1 ETC
If you can assist the Club then please email the race.committee@actvets.cc
Race calendar can be found here for other race dates needing Officials
Racing Calendar changes – please see below
Subject to approvals from NSW and ACT governments, the dates have changed for the following events:
| Sunday, October 15 | The 2023 Gunning (aka Peter McLennan Memorial) event. Start/Finish at Bredalbane, using the community hall as race central Consists of a TT event followed by the usual 48km lap – once or twice depending on your grade. The handicapper is considering letting D grade vote on their lap count… The single day approach facilitates (i) the ability to attract potential 2024 members though the use of the single day trial licence, and (ii) reduces event costs hiring NSW traffic controllers. |
| Saturday, July 29 | The M&H TT Age-Standard trophy race Moved from August 12 as several of the regular club TTers noted the clash with the NSW TT AusCycling championship at Bredalbane. |
| Saturday, August 26 | Iron Mike Moved from August 19 as the AusCycling ACT RR championship is being held that morning on the same course. |
FWIW, the dates of the NSW and ACT AusCycling events were not available at the time the Calendar was submitted to the ACT government for approval in 2022.
Chris Short – Race Committee
