Capital Region Masters – Weekly Bleat, 14 October 2024

G’day Masters,
In this week’s Bleat

• Next Crit Race – summer evening criterium series on Tuesday 15 October
• Narrabundah Track Racing – Thursday 17 October, 5.30pm
• Crits race report for 8 October – Jason Irwin
• Handicapper’s musings
• Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here
  

Upcoming Racing

Summer evening criterium series week 2 – Tuesday 15 October

Race director Craig Lindenmayer, marshal Dale Riley
Bell for the final lap.

Those members that are in two minds about registering due to the weather forecast can sign up early, and if the conditions are still poor so that they won’t race, can send an email to committee@crmcc.org.au to request their single race entry to be transferred to the following week.

Race registration cut-off is Tuesday 15th October at 12.50pm. 
Cost is $10 for a single race or $160 for a season pass.
You need to register by looking up the calendar entry in the RMS https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar?5021175

Late registrations will be assessed by Race.committee@crmcc.org.au and if allowed, a late fee of an extra $10 will be applied.
If you are unregistered and show up to the event, you must convince a committee member (not the Race Director) of your club member financial status for insurance purposes, before being allowed to participate.

You must wear your CRMCC assigned number to race. No number on the day, no race.

The club is offering a season pass for $160, which will cover 24 SFP crit races concluding on Tuesday 1 April 2025, contingent upon your renewal as a fully paid financial member from 1 Jan 2025 (once we know the amount set by the national committee).
You will need to participate in 16 crits to break even. There are 11 SFP crits in the 2024 calendar year. The season crit pass covers the Christmas wheel race, and also the Club Criterium championships on Tuesday 18 February 2025.
NOTE – the registration cut-off this season will be at 12.50pm on the day of the crit.

A friend checking the action of E grade on 8 October 2024 – picture is courtesy of Ian Hutchings.

Narrabundah Track Racing

NARRABUNDAH TRACK RACING – THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER, 5.30 PM
The season’s first track racing session is scheduled for this Thursday.
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.

Spare Track Bikes
We have several spare track bikes if you wish to try track racing. Note that you will need to
bring your own pedals. You may need to pump up tyres (we will have a pump available) and
adjust saddle / bar position. You will need to check over the bike for safety purposes. Although
we will assist as far as practical, equipment safety and providing tools for fitting / adjustments is
your responsibility.

Attendance
Please register your attendance at https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar?5021918 , where each race
will cost $10, or purchase the season track pass at $80. We have decided to substantially reduce
the cost of this year’s season’s pass to return value to members, and to incentivise participation.
Any new or returning riders who wish to ease their way into track racing may do the just the
warm-up and the single, timed event (1 lap SS TT) at nil cost for the session. Just show up at the
Narrabundah track at 5.30pm.

Graeme O’Neill

Crit race report – 8 October 2024 – Jason Irwin

The excitement for round one of the crits was felt throughout the riders and it showed on the track
with all grades having attacks early and often resulting in riders all over the track. With those who
put the training in over winter keen to show off their form while the others went looking for a place
to hide and survive the first race of the season.

E grade was first off with the three riders sticking together for only one lap then an attack up the hill split
them apart and breaking up into time trial mode with Rico Fitch taking victory over Adrian Breen and
Sal Campisi.

A followed the same theme of the day with early attacks by Stu Griffiths being followed and a
strong group forming quickly. Deciding it wasn’t hard enough he attacked again to separate himself
and only Dennis Mungoven could follow this time. The two staying away while the chasing group
reformed into a larger peloton that only lost more time. Stu held on for the win over Dennis and Ben
Morrison winning the bunch sprint for third.

C Grade were no different with attacks coming early also with the grade almost split into two equal
groups this is the way it stayed for most of the race until James Watt slipped off the front in the final
laps and hung on for the win over Simon Porombka and Scott Bird rounding out the podium.

B and D grades were on last with the fading light and temperature dropping. The script certainly didn’t
change, and attacks were on. The Cycle Co-op riders in B grade were all trying to out do each other
as an early break formed, it didn’t last long before the bunch regrouped, and more attacks came.
Around the midway point the break of the day formed with the grade spilt into two groups. It stayed
this way until the closing laps and Luka Manson rode off the front gaining a small gap which the
chasers couldn’t close and coming across the line solo ahead of Mick Rose second and Matt Pooley third .

D grade seemed to be the closest contest of the night with the grade staying together where a only
a couple of riders where dropped. The pace looked on at times with attacks up the hill by different
riders. In the end the bunch mostly came to the line together with Charles Black claiming the win
over Allan Bontjer and Tim Moore.

Thanks to marshal Gareth Downey, Ryan Fawke for first aid and Ian Hutchings for opening and photos.
Jason Irwin

Links to photos, courtesy of Ian Hutchings, from last week’s criterium are here – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/VaZLyz1cJwKkn65d/ , https://www.facebook.com/share/p/y7ctEcJUtmTP8ZYb/ and https://www.facebook.com/share/p/raeDVhiuywLz5Am6/ .

Handicapper’s musings

Special mention to Charles Black, who didn’t spend the winter watching dust accumulate on his bike, but worked hard to improve his fitness from dangling between E and D grades in February to winning D grade on Tuesday!
Second in D was Allan Bontjer, who, despite numerous health challenges, never stops riding and kicked off his season with a number of attacks off the front.

Rob Langridge – handicapper

Upcoming races needing volunteers

3 November 2024 – Tharwa – Mt Tennent Terror graded scratch:
An ETC.

26 November 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director

10 December 2024 – SFP
Race director

Please contact race.committee@crmcc.org.au if you can fill any of these roles for the club. Also look at the dates in the 2025 calendar where you could help the club. https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar

Thank you to those members who have offered their services to fill roles so our races are run.