Masters, In this week’s Bleat
- Next Race – Summer Series Evening Criterium Tuesday 17 October. 5.50 PM
- Next Road Race – Uriarra Homestead – Sunday 05 November
- Narrabundah Track Session – Thursday 19 October, 6.00 PM
- Crits Race Reports – 10 October 2023 – Summer Series Evening Criterium
- Peter McLennan Memorial – Breadalbane – Wrap Up
- From the Committee
- Capital Duathlon
- Research Project – Participants wanted
- Race calendar can be found here for other race dates needing Officials
RACING – Summer Series Evening Criterium Tuesday 17 October
| Grade | Time Week 01 | Race Duration [ sunset @ 7:14 ] |
| A/C | 5:50 | A 28min+2laps, C 25min+2laps |
| B/D | 6:25 | B 28min+2laps, D 25min+2laps |
| E/F/G | 6:55 | 20mins +2 laps |
(Volunteers are needed for various sessions so please check dates at the link)
NARRABUNDAH TRACK SESSION – THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 5:30 PM
The Program for Thursday is as follows:
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice.
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 8-lap graded scratch race.
6.20pm – 7.00pm: 1-SS Time Trial.
7.00pm – 7.20pm: Italian Pursuit.
Graeme O’Neill – Chief Commissaire
Race Reports – 10 October 2023 – Summer Series Evening Criterium
A grade kicked of with a bang seeing a 3 man break made up of Trent Smyth, Jeremy Gilman-Wells and Steve Crispin becoming well established and extending its lead by lap 2. With a Cartel and a Tiffen represented in this group the main bunch was becoming quite disrupted with a small group of riders wanting to chase being out matched by Cartel and Tiffen slowing the bunch down. Ben Morrison tried to get across and make it a group of 4 or 5 and almost did until he flicked his arm to gain help from a rider coming with him only to see a Cartel rider on his wheel and he sat up.
The main group almost caught the elusive 3 riders on a few occasion getting to within 5 bike lengths only for a rider from Tiffen or Cartel to slow things down again. After some convincing Ben was able to get a hand full of riders to roll over Cartel and Tiffen riders each time they moved up to the point where they stopped rolling through and slowing the chase and the catch started to look more likely.
It was clear that both the trio up front and the chase group were riding hard as a small group of riders had been dropped from the chase group and were later lapped by the trio and then the chase group. With 2 min left on the clock and what looked to be 3 laps to go Marc Vroomans (2nd at Crit Nationals) pulled a huge turn flipping the tables and suddenly it looked like the race was going to be all back together. With two laps to go thanks to Marc, now the chase group and leading trio were all one. This was disrupted almost as quickly has it happened as A grade caught the huge C grade bunch, which took half a lap to sort its self out.
Suddenly the BELL rings and it was a sea of Red on the front (Tiffen) followed by Pink/Blue (Cartel) as both teams perfectly lined up their lead outs pushing all the single riders to shuffle in behind them. Going around the last bend a Tiffen rider swung out wide off their lead out, with his job done but unfortunately a fast moving Stu Griffths was coming off his lead out and trying to go around the outside where the two meetup slowing Stu’s pace. This sudden disarray opened the doors for two single riders, James Thorp and Ben Morrison who sudden found them self on the back of the final Tiffen rider hitting the main straight.
James opened the sprint right away as Stu had managed to jump on Ben’s wheel and the 3 of them spread across the track for a fast finish of 67kph with Ben taking 2 in a row from a bunch sprint, Stu in 2ndand James 3rd.
Ben Morrison
B grade started with 28 riders in windy conditions where the My Ride crew led by Krusty Bryant and Ed Halls drove the pace from the start.
There were times when riders including Darren Blackhurst, Rowan McMurry, Gavin Stephens, Paul Scherl and Bruce Goodfellow along with the My Ride posse were on the front trying to break the elastic band within the peloton. Occasionally small gaps appeared from the front to the bunch but these were quickly closed.
Blackhurst did his customary attack with two to three laps left but was reeled in.
On the back half of the final lap Scherl and Seymour Savell-Boss attacked on the incline with Ed Logue (who had hung at the back for most of the race) following their wheel. Scherl and SSB hit the final straight where a gap appeared between the two for Ed to ride through and hit the lead with less than 100 metres left to take the surprising win while Seymour was second and Paul third.
Thanks to Mark Vardy, Kate Vandenberg and Simon Whitehead for marshalling and first aid.
Ed Logue
C grade showed again this week that it wasn’t willing to allow any daylight between the bunch and a break, promptly chasing down multiple strong efforts throughout the race. With a reasonable head wind up the back straight and a corresponding tail wind down the main straight, it looked like the deciding factor would be getting a jump into the tail wind up the top of the track and down to the finish. With Simon Costello stringing out the bunch in the final 2 laps, large gaps opened up and 2 riders pushed ahead with the tail wind down the main straight to take out the race. Places going to Matt Dunstall, Claire Aubrey, and Peta Brill.
Matt Dunstall
15 D graders set off onto a windy course and after a couple of laps Johnston put the hammer down and soon set a fast pace that had most of the riders hiding from the wind to keep up.
Lowe and Wells had a break mid race but the wind was cruel to them and they were soon reeled in by the chasing pack.
B grade passed the bunch twice during the race and left a lot to be desired in their advance warning and the close passing that ensued.
With one lap remaining Lowe and Sommariva went early at the last bend with Lowe taking the win by a small margin and the remainder of D group chasing to the finish for the minor placings.
Elizabeth Lowe
E Grade comprised five riders with the welcome addition of Shirley Anne Taylor from D Grade who acted as the bunny riding 30 metres ahead. The first two laps were set at a cracking pace by Robert Craine who then retired with a mechanical. The front was quickly taken over by Mick Donaldson and with true grit and determination was powering out front for the rest of the race – well except for the last 10 seconds when the rubber suckers Rico Fitch, Bruce Griffin and Chris Copeland decided that they should spend some time in front. Griffo took off at the top of the hill of the final lap followed by Mick who was shot from dragging the rest around for 20 odd minutes and then Rico and Chris. It came down to a photo with Rico just pipping out Griffo and then Mick Donaldson with Chris Copeland bringing up the tail. Credit and koudos goes to Mick Donaldson who didn’t wave the elbow once and shame on the rest who bludged the whole race.
Rico Fitch
With only two riders in F grade, Bob Miller and Lindsay Graham started with E grade. The first few laps were smooth with both Lindsay and Bob contributing to the pacemaking in the early laps. The order then settled down to a steady pace holding onto the back of E grade. The headwind up the back straight kept the group together with those at the back benefiting to the formation riding. The tail wind down the finishing straight was great and the group would be all together for collarbone. As expected a sprint started on the bell lap as the E graders put the pressure on and the two F grade riders couldn’t match the pace with a gap opening up, with Bob Miller finishing a few bike lengths ahead of Lindsay Graham.
Bob Miller
Peter McLennan Memorial 2023 – Breadalbane
This is our only event in NSW for 2023 and approvals were in well before the scheduled event thanks to the efforts of Chris Short who also ensuring we had a venue for shelter, traffic controllers and a Race Commissaire. For the first time we had a Race Commissaire in Bill Walker who started the Time Trial and monitored the road race in his vehicle following around riders in the race.
The Community Hall at Breadalbane was our base and we had initial challenges with the toilets not flushing but thanks to our engineers in the group it was worked out to reset the pump from the water tanks before the emergency contact returned my call.
After the slight delay we struggled with our recording system SORS but managed to get underway by 10.15am. We had 31 registered to race and some good times were made for the 3km point to point course heading south from the Community Hall. Riders took off in grade order and a somewhat random order defined by SORS within each grade. The weather was clear and fine with a little breeze. All riders were through and back within 40 minutes. After a short break we were ready for the road. Of course just after the start the conditions changed after midday with a stronger wind and cloudy cooler weather which made the ride to Gunning a challenge.
With smaller numbers some grades were combined to give sufficient numbers in each group. A & B combined to start with 8 riders and E & F combined for a group of 4 riders. A, B & C were to complete 2 laps with the other grades doing just 1. This race implemented a time bonus for those finishing in the first 5 road race positions.
A&B stayed together for the first lap with a couple struggling off the back. During the second lap the number reduced to 6 at the Gunning turn and by the end a bunch of 4 charged for the finish line. First over the line Conan Liu from David Parker then Tristan Fuge with A grader Jason Irwin a close 4th. When taking into account time bonuses and time trial times the overall placings were all within 16 seconds for B grade.
Overall Winner in A grade was Jason Irwin followed by Dimitar Dojcinoski.
Overall B Grade results were first to David Parker, second to Tristan Fuge and third to Conan Liu.
C Grade had a pack of 7 start the road race and by the end of the first lap it had split a little with Ian Preston slightly in front of a group of five who were content to let him stay out on his own. By the first time passed the Hume Memorial Michael Hanbury and John Paul De Sousa had been spat out the back of the pack. By the return to the finish line the group had broken up with first over the line John Gardner followed closely by Ian Preston and further back Bruce McMillan. After considering the time trial and time bonuses this order remained in the overall placings.
D Grade was our biggest contingent with 12 starters. This group proved the most difficult to separate with close times. A group of 5 sprinted for the finish line with first over being Rob Langridge, just edging out Andrew Hislop, next Anthony Dick, then Brian Chugg and Nick Boylan. After applying time bonuses and time trial results only a few seconds separated the top 3. Overall winner was Anthony Dick, second Robert Langridge and third overall Andrew Hislop.
E & F Grade were the final 1 lap group with big gaps between all riders. Unfortunately a mechanical hindered Elizabeth Lowe and left only 2 finishers in E Grade. Kevin Newhouse was first overall after a massive effort in the road race, followed by Ian Morton. F Grade finisher Robert Miller managed a solo effort to achieve his trophy.
Thanks to all our assistants in our drivers Russell Marston (lead) and Paul Robey (trail/follow), our marshal on bike Rowan McMurray, Van driver Rob Langridge, first aid Simon Whitehead and our Commissaire Bill Walker.
Thanks also goes to behind the scenes work of David Parker in getting the race program together and the input of our handicapper and time bonuses master in Rob Langridge. A big thanks to Conan Liu for ensuring all our registrations were financial and arranging a trial rider for the event. Also thank you to Ian Hutchings for the camera work on the day. I’m sure Facebook has a few good action shots up.
Kim Malcolm
Race Referee/Director
A grade L to R Dimitar Docinoski, Jason Irwin and club President Kim Malcolm
B Grade L to R Conan Liu, David Parker, Tristan Fuge and Club President Kim Malcolm
C Grade L to R Ian Preston, John Gardner, Bruce McMillan and Club President Kim Malcolm
D Grade L to R Rob Langridge, Anthony Dick, Andrew Hislop and Club President Kim Malcolm
E Grade L to R Kevin Newhouse, Ian Morton and Club President Kim Malcolm
F Grade Bob Miller and Club President Kim Malcolm
Orphaned Water Bottles – Please help them find their respective homes (emailrace.committee@actvets.cc)
From the Committee
Dear CRMCC members
Thank you to the 105 riders and 3 marshals who participated in last
Tuesday’s criterium race. We had 100% online and on-time registration by
3:50pm.
Here are some reminders:
• Register for the race and pay before the designated cut off
time. The Committee will impose a $10 late fee on top of the $10 race entry
for anyone failing to make the online cut-off for race registration. If you
fail to make this cut off, email race.committee@actvets.cc
<mailto:race.committee@actvets.cc> and identify yourself to the crit side
committee member, with your race number and that evidence that you are a
financial member in good standing (i.e. you either paid the $120 at the
beginning of this year or the reduced fee of $85 from October onwards.) You
will be manually registered by a committee member, and then you will be
asked to EFT the $10 race entry plus a $10 late fee.
• Wear your assigned race number for the event. During roll
call, the Race Director has the right to reject you from participating
without a number. White card numbers can be posted to you by
membership@actvets.cc whereas the newer cloth race numbers will now be
available at SFP on a weekly basis. In both cases you will need to supply
your preferred fastener, either pinless clips, or magnets, or safety pins.
Please note that with safety pins, we have documented cases of pins causing
punctures on the crit track that have resulted in serious injury, and we
have a duty to prevent these accidents from happening again.
• If you have paid for a criterium or track race, and can no
longer make it, we can carry your credit over to the next session, if you
email race.committee@actvets.cc <mailto:race.committee@actvets.cc> with your
race number and name before the race has commenced.
Reduced Membership Fee for Racing in the Remainder of 2023
As in previous years, a reduced membership fee of $85 has been set by AVCC
and is now available for new members and non-financial members wishing to
rejoin the club and race between now and 31 December 2023. This offer
typically gives previously non-financial members insurance coverage and
eligibility to race for 3 months in the first part of the criterium or track
season. Register and pay via the AVCC online membership portal at
https://memberdesq.sportstg.com//index.cfm?fuseaction=main
<https://sitedesq.sportstg.com/clubscripts/linkblast.cfm?key=DF5D2CAB-254E-4
AFA-AC80-20B30CF8E692&memID=9102007> &OrgID=10244. Full 12 month membership
pricing and registration for 2024 will not be known until around
mid-December 2023 at which point we will announce it in the Bleat.
Astute readers will see that the annual membership of $120 offers a better
value racing proposition than the reduced membership fee of $85 for 3 months
of racing, in addition to year round insurance coverage. These minimum price
points are set by the AVCC and not by the club.
Track racing has moved to online registration and payment for 2023-24
Following the online registration and payment method for criterium racing,
track racing has also moved to the same online system and will not be
accepting cash on the day.
Track racers can either pay as they go $10 online per session by looking up
the calendar entry in the RMS https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar
<https://sitedesq.sportstg.com/clubscripts/linkblast.cfm?key=7970336E-5B66-4
E89-A669-EE0BEB10324C&memID=9102007> , or by paying one time $140 online for
an annual season pass for a theoretical 23 racing sessions (weather
permitting), or $6 per session. To select and pay the $140 annual season
pass option, look for the 28/3/2023 annual pass entry in the RMS
https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar
<https://sitedesq.sportstg.com/clubscripts/linkblast.cfm?key=7970336E-5B66-4
E89-A669-EE0BEB10324C&memID=9102007>
In either case, trackies unfamiliar with the RMS registration system, will
need their seldom used club-assigned race number and a credit card to pay.
You can lookup your club assigned race number in the RMS results section
https://rms.crmcc.org.au/index
<https://sitedesq.sportstg.com/clubscripts/linkblast.cfm?key=FAF90FE1-4CC8-4
F13-8753-4B7D19439765&memID=9102007> , under your name.
Thanks
Conan Liu – CRMCC Club Membership Officer
Capital Duathlon
Whilst most were having fun in the Gunning, three club members stayed closer to home and raced the Capital Duathlon which incorporated the ACT championships.
A Fantastic performance from Craig Lindenmayer coming in 5th overall and 3rd in the 45-49 age group as well as solid results from Mark Porter (17th and 6th in the 45-49 age group) and Darren Blackhurst (14th and 2nd in the 55-59 age group). More points were also gained towards selection for the World Champs in Townsville next year.
Darren Blackhurst
Research Project – Participants Wanted!
Research Project on the Language of Cyclists – Andy Ross – University of Canberra
My name is Andy Ross and I am a linguist from the University of Canberra. I love cycling (although
am far from elite!) and am currently looking for cyclists who might be interested in participating in
a study about language and cycling.
I am currently putting together a book focusing on Language in Sport with an emphasis on ‘language
in action’, so how coaches and athletes use language in the heat of the moment and mid-activity
rather than, say, how people talk about sport in the media or in commentary etc.
It should be a nice book and we have chapters on a range of contexts such as Formula 1 motor
sport, rugby, volleyball, basketball and skiing, among others. My own study is about cycling.
I am interested in how elite or high-level cyclists use language and communication in group rides
or races such as crits (both verbal and non-verbal language).
What I am proposing is to use a GoPro and/or 360o camera and small mics to connect a rider while
on a bunch ride that is high intensity but not competitive, and then also in races (for anyone willing
of course). This is a kind of language tracking to see the way language is used at different stages
of a ride/race.
This is a new focus in cycling language research for me and I hope that it may sound of interest to
other ACT cyclists. I have published other work on language and communication in cycling to this
point but not on ‘language in action’. I am happy to share that work to any who may be interested.
If you are interested, please contact me at andrew.ross@canberra.edu.au – Thank you.
