G’day Masters,
In this week’s Bleat
- From the desk of the President
* Race etiquette
* Monthly meeting – committee, 2025 AGM, volunteers
* 2025 draft calendar – NSW racing, train ETCs
* 2025 TDU – possible crit racing for CRMCC members in Adelaide - Next Crit Race – summer evening criterium series – Tuesday 5 November
- Narrabundah Track Racing – Thursday 7 November, 5.30pm
- Crits race report for 29 November – Mick Rose
- Track race report for 31 October – Graeme O’Neill
- Road race report for Mt Tennent Terror on 3 November – Shirley-Anne Taylor
- Handicapper’s hammer
- Next Road Race – Sutton Road Training Centre graded scratch on Sunday 8 December
- Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here
From the desk of the President
I cannot believe that we are now in our fifth week of the criterium racing season! Apart from a few minor incidents, we have had remained mostly unscathed. It’s a good time to remind everyone that we’re expecting to see peak numbers in crits around about now based on data from previous seasons, which most probably corresponds to the warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and riders finding their early spring form.
All the talk in our close-knit racing community over the past week has been about the sketchy riding observed at SFP. Therefore, it is responsible and incumbent on all of us to reconsider how we ride, the lines we take, the wheels we follow, and to act as predictably as possible, without cutting the lines of others, or chopping other wheels. I would also like to think that as members of our club community that we conduct our behaviour in an exemplary fashion during the heat of the race, in a fair and respectful manner. If you feel inclined to provide feedback to other riders, then doing so after the race has finished, in a calmer state and after processing, is sometimes a better way than in the heat of the moment which can elicit hostile responses. If you are an experienced seasoned rider, and see unsafe or inhospitable behaviour, then please call it out, to make it a safer and more inclusive environment for others.
The committee held its monthly meeting last night and we covered a range of issues including how we can sustain the organisation of races from so few committee members, and share the load so that we don’t over specialise, and become reliant on only one member being able to perform a specific role. We’re also asking for volunteers to step up and join the committee in some capacity, so as to help distribute tasks. Our Annual General Meeting will be held online on Mon 3 February 2025, at which point all committee positions will be declared open for refilling, and I expect most roles will be refilled with the incumbent person, including my own. However, we need additional people to join us to bring fresh ideas and new perspectives, and it takes about 6-9 months until a new member can learn how we operate, the processes, and systems we have in place, and to learn about how they can meaningfully contribute. Thank you to the handful of members who have approached me, to offer their time and support to the club. We ran our last open road race of the season on Sunday at Smith’s Rd, and I would like to thank Shirley-Anne for running her first race as Director, and the other ETCs, marshal and van driver who ably assisted her.
We exchanged our first draft race calendar for 2025, and have envisioned road racing in NSW again. We are putting five members with ACT ETC experience through a pilot 1.5 day training program on 11-12 November so that they can attain NSW traffic control qualifications. I want to thank these five members for giving up their mid-week time to do this for the club, as the recent Bowral cancellation experience demonstrated, that outsourcing traffic control is not the complete answer to all of our problems.
For those members planning their trip to the Tour Down Under in January 2025, I have been liaising with the Adelaide Masters CC about how we can participate in their crit racing that week at Victoria Park, as I am aware of a large Canberra contingent amassing to ‘go TDU’, and hope to have further news soon about those arrangements.
Conan
CRMCC President
Summer evening criterium series week 5 – Tuesday 5 November
Race director Bruce Goodfellow, marshal Lance Purdon, first aid Matt Sainsbery
Bell for the final lap.
Direction anti-clockwise
| Grades | Time | Race Duration [sunset 1937] |
| B/D | 17:50 | B 35mins + 2 laps, D 30min +2L |
| E/F/G | 18:25 | 22 mins + 2 laps |
| A/C | 18:55 | A 35mins + 2 laps, C 30min +2L |
Race registration cut-off is Tuesday 5th November 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?5021178
Late registration 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 now covers 21 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 seven SFP crits left 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 Tuesday of the crit.
Narrabundah Track Racing
NARRABUNDAH TRACK RACING – THURSDAY 7 NOVEMBER, 5.30 PM
The season’s second 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 – 6.40pm: 2-lap handicap.
6:40pm – 7.10pm: 2-lap SS time trial
7.10pm – 7.30pm: 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 (200m fly) at nil cost for the session. Just show up at the
Narrabundah track at 5.30pm.
Graeme O’Neill
Crits race report – 29 October 2024 – Mick Rose
Kicked off the night with a combined E and F grade start. The pace was steady, and then at around the 10th minute the race really started to ramp up. Ian Drayton found his legs and they took him to the finish line with a small but tight group. Rico Fitch nabbed the silver and Jan Koehler took out the third place proving herself as a stand out rider and demonstrating she may well line up with E-graders in the coming weeks.
C grade was on the chase when Mick Hanbury made several early breaks but with no others wanting to expend energy with him, he was soon pulled back into the lead group. Thomas Stuart-Moore thought he may be able to show the crowds how to do it solo, wheeling it out in front for a number of laps. However, the peloton working together pulled him back in to ride with them for the last few laps. The sprint was aggressive and when James Watt took off rolled over for the top spot on the podium while Luke Wines punched the air and took the silver. Thomas screamed for one more lap cause maybe his third place could have been improved with the rest of the pack with one more go round.
The A grade Tiffen whatsapp chat was blowing up in the lead up to the headline race, as it was clear the Tiffen riders had their plan to execute. Dennis Mungoven bolted while the rest of the pack laid down some tactical play at the front of the bunch. The wheels spun and the legs did what a cyclists expects of them, just to keep going round and round. The hot pace of the bunch ensured the pack pulled back Dennis and allowed Gerard Tiffen a narrow win over John Forrest and Steve Crispin.
As the lights faded and the desire to race set in the B & D’s frenetic pace resulted in an early strung out field and a few early casualties. Both grades had riders who wanted to break away but the short lived attacks were quickly lost as the energy of the bunch brought them back. Team mates worked together (or did they) and both races resulted in a sprint finish.
D Grade belonged to Bryan Holloway taking out the win followed by Tim Moore and Allan Bontjer.
It was hard to tell who won B grade, as fans of Andy Yates couldn’t quite find the zebra print they’re accustomed to. Nonetheless the win went to the animal and Lenny Pooley and Ben McDuff thought they may try out leopard print next week, cause that may bump him up to the top spot (or A grade).
Mick Rose
Too many smiles from B grade before their race on 29 October 😉
Links to photos, courtesy of Ian Hutchings, from last week’s criterium are here – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/k2rUNv2CQpRaawtR/ , https://www.facebook.com/share/p/eYmoEVPPyecebkn2/ , https://www.facebook.com/share/p/dqYk7ytbHmc1ep5t/ and https://www.facebook.com/share/p/PBbbTxgitFVK1xuL/ .
Ian has also made some videos, with the links here – https://www.facebook.com/share/v/NhUnv2nyFNf4oGNY/ , https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Hwg9Jo2iKAoRsu5C/ and https://www.facebook.com/share/v/pUQaXPj3XCxASt3d/ .
Narrabundah track racing report – Thursday 31 October – Graeme O’Neill
Thursday 31 October saw the third track racing session for the 2024-25 season. The weather was warm with a light head wind in the back straight. Attendance (7 riders) was below par for the current season.
The 8-lap A grade scratch race had a field of only four starters. The race commenced with Hamish Anderson leading out at a comfortable tempo. Hamish was the sole representative for A2 grade and harvested a swag of points for the evening. The pace ramped up after turns on the front by Conan Liu and John Paul De Sousa. On lap six, Steve Jones feigned an attack. When Steve slowed, the bunch became very compact with riders spread across the track. This status continued until the entry to the bell lap. At this point, all riders accelerated in unison. Steve Jones and Conan Liu had the pace to open a significant gap on the remaining duo. They had their usual close sprint to the line with Steve a victor by a narrow margin. Hamish overcame John Paul to take the third spot.
The B grade scratch race had the same three starters as last two weeks, namely Phil Coulton, Ian Drayton and Graeme O’Neill. The trio had a good race with riders holding a good tempo and swapping out the lead in an orderly fashion. The pace stepped up as the trio approached the bell lap. As usual, Ian and Phil launched together at this point with Graeme outclassed but pursuing doggedly. In a reversal from last week, Ian gained the win with Phil following in second place. Graeme held on for third place.
The second event was a points race. A grade did 20 laps with 5 sprint contests and B grade did 16 laps with four sprints. This is a taxing event for riders. A grade was largely a contest between Steve Jones and Conan Liu as the pair opened up a big gap on the first sprint and maintained the gap as the race progressed. Conan won three of the intermediate sprints to gain a total 25 points. Steve rode tactically, winning the first and last sprint. With double points for the last sprint Steve gained a total 28 points to win the event. John Paul De Sousa and Hamish Anderson finished with 16 and 15 points respectively.
In B grade, Ian Drayton dominated, winning all the sprints to take out the event with 25 points. Phil Coulton and Graeme O’Neill finished with 20 and 15 points respectively.
The evening’s racing closed with the usual Italian Pursuit. Each team had only 3 riders. However, the handicapper got things right for this event and it ended up being a close contest. Both teams rode well with Team 1 taking out the event by a narrow margin.
Major place getters were as follows:
8-Lap Scratch: (A1 Grade) Steve Jones, Conan Liu, John Paul De Sousa.
(A2 Grade) Hamish Anderson.
(B Grade) Ian Drayton, Phil Coulton, Graeme O’Neill.
Points race: (A1 Grade): Steve Jones (28pts), Conan Liu (25pts), John Paul De Sousa (16 pts).
(A2 Grade): Hamish Anderson (15 pts).
(B grade): Ian Drayton (25pts), Phil Coulton (20pts), Graeme O’Neill (15pts).
Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 1 (John Paul De Sousa, Hamish Anderson, Graeme O’Neill).
Season Point Score:
Hamish Anderson (61), Phil Coulton (55), Ian Drayton (55), Conan Liu (52), Steve Jones (47), Graeme O’Neill (46), Sarah Stephens (33), John Paul De Sousa (33), Wayne Benham (29), Craig Kentwell (26), Warwick Wilson (14), Alison Hale (13).
Graeme O’Neill
Race report – Mt Tennent Terror graded scratch 3 November – Shirley-Anne Taylor
Excellent turn out for the last race of the year, 30 riders in all with A grade having the most riders and the tightest bunch finish.
Daniel Lekhac was first to turn on the first lap by 100 meters and I heard one of the riders say, “He will wear himself out”, sure enough they had caught Daniel on the second lap. There were nine riders together for most of the race and luckily there was a tailwind over Mount Tennent so they made short work of the third and final lap. Stuart Griffiths was first over the line followed by Daniel, Jared Greenville and Denis Mungoven.
Did you know that Denis was an Australian Under 23 time trial champion and won on an old Repco bike that he converted into a time trial bike and he has also won all four grades on the Canberra two day tour?
In B grade the riders turned together on the first lap, Gerard Tiffen leading and by the second lap the group had split into two groups. Gerard Tiffen first to finish followed by Conan Lui then Christophe Barberet third.
John Brotherton was first to turn after the first lap in C grade but finished third behind duo Steven Duncan and Phillip Lewington, who drove the pace on the climbs and finished in a two-up sprint.
There were only five riders in total in D, E and F so they started together. Simon Porombka was in front the whole race, winning D grade, Russel Marston rode solo in E grade and Polly rode very strong to win her grade. Russel had a smile on his race at the finish line knowing that A grade had not finished before him.
This is my first time as race director and very intimidating, so a big thank you to Dave Buckley for steering me in the right direction, Owain for arriving early with the van ensuring the race ran on time and to Brian, Liz and Matt you were amazing in your allocated roles and ensuring the riders safety and to all the riders thank you for not crashing.
Shirley-Anne
Pictures from Sunday’s race courtesy of Ian Hutchings are here – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/xC2hYm5hccto89Md/ , https://www.facebook.com/share/p/upbggiJHWg6Yjzwx/ and https://www.facebook.com/share/p/HYviDTvB2AA4je3y/ .
Handicapper’s hammer
Criterium grades:
Bryan Hollaway D to C
Allan Bontjer D to C
Ben McDuff B to A
Andrew Yates B to A
Luke Wines C to B
James Watt C to B
Rob Langridge – handicapper
Next road race – Sutton Road Training Centre graded scratch on Sun 8 December
One to book in your calendars – our last road event of 2024 is a graded scratch race at the Sutton Road Training Centre on Sunday 8th December.
Cost is $10. Here is the link to register – https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar?5019058
Registration cut-off is 5pm on Saturday, 7 December.
Race director – Gerard Tiffen, marshal – Stephen Blackburn, van driver – Dimitar Dojcinoski.
Upcoming races needing volunteers
26 November 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director
10 December 2024 – SFP crit
Race director
2025
14 Jan 2025 – SFP crit
Race director
21 Jan 2025 – SFP crit
Race director
4 Feb 2025 – SFP crit
Race director
11 Feb 2025 – SFP crit
Race director
18 Feb 2025 – SFP crit
Race director (club championships)
25 Feb 2025 – SFP crit
Race director
11 Mar 2025 – SFP crit
Race director, marshal
18 Mar 2025 – SFP crit
Race director, marshal
25 Mar 2025 – SFP crit
Race director, marshal
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.
