G’day Masters,
For this week’s Bleat –

  • From the desk of the President
    * SFP fence soon to deter roos
  • Next Crit Race – Grade of Origin Club Championships – Tuesday 3 December
    * Riders will compete in the highest grade that they have raced in since the 2019-2020 season.
    * Prizes for the first three finishers in each grade.
  • Narrabundah Track Racing – Thursday 5 December, 5.30pm
  • Crits race report for 26 November – Michael Golding
  • Track race report for 28 November – Graeme O’Neill
  • Next Road Race – Sutton Road Training Centre graded scratch on Sunday 8 December
  • Handicapper’s hammer – Downtube shifter derby on 10 December 2024
  • Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here

From the desk of the President

Stromlo Forest Park Management has confirmed that there will be a fence erected around the criterium track shortly, as a trial to see if it will deter kangaroos from entering the track. No further details are known at this stage.

Conan

Summer evening criterium series – Grade of Origin club championships – Tuesday 3 December

+++++We require a race director for the criterium on Tuesday 10 December 2024. If you can fill this role, please contact race.committee@crmcc.org.au .+++++

For the Grade of Origin club championships riders will ride in the highest grade they have raced in since the 2019-2020 season.

  • Prizes, not prize money, will be awarded to the first three finishers in each grade.

Administration of this event will involve entries closing on the Monday – 2 December – of the race to allow final checks of the grades and start lists to be created.
Start times will be published at the same time as the start lists on the morning of Tuesday 3 December. We hope riders who don’t read the club’s communications won’t be disappointed if prevented from racing in their desired grade.
Results in the Grade of Origin Championships will not affect their regular grade.

Rob Langridge – handicapper

Race director Michael Tolhurst, marshals Mark Bauer, Rob Langridge, Steven Simms
Bell for the final lap.
Direction clockwise

GradesTimeRace Duration [sunset 2005]
E/F/G17:5025mins + 2 laps
C/D18:2535mins + 2 laps
A/B19:1045mins + 2 laps


Race registration cut-off is Monday 2nd December at 9.00pm. 
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?5024322

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.

Switch race entry:
In the event of rain or another event, the members who have paid $10 to enter and decide to not race, those riders have to send an email to committee@crmcc.org.au before their race starts, where they would like to transfer their $10 with their name and race number, and the date to which they want the credit transferred.
Such requests via Facebook will be ignored.

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.

C grade with Black Mountain in the distance, courtesy of Ian Hutchings.

Narrabundah Track Racing

NARRABUNDAH TRACK RACING – THURSDAY 5 DECEMBER, 5.30 PM
The season’s eighth 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: 200m fly
6.40pm – 7.10pm: 2-lap handicap
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.
New or returning members who wish to ease their way into track racing may do just the warm-up and single, timed event (200m Fly) at nil cost for the session. Just show up at the Narrabundah track by 5.30pm.

Graeme O’Neill

Crits race report – 26 November 2024 – Michael Golding

Looming clouds and threats (unfulfilled) of rain failed to deter 77 club members who took advantage of the absence of any wind beyond a gentle NNW breeze that made for great racing conditions and fast sustained breakaway action across the grades.

First away were B and D grades. B grade saw an early break away by Cycle Co-op riders Mick Rose, Leonard and Matt Pooley. The effort was challenged from the bunch with the lead changing several times before John Brotherton replaced Leonard Pooley to establish an unassailable lead group with Matt and Mick in the final laps. Matt Pooley finished first with John Brotherton and Mick Rose fast finishing in second and third respectively.

D grade similarly saw an early breakaway comprising Chris Daly, Russell Marston and David Rowe. They were joined a few laps later by Kevin Newhouse. David was unable to maintain the pace, and despite solo efforts by Ian Morton and Eddie Humeniuk the breakaway was never successfully challenged. It was a hotly contested finish for the break with Chris Daly edging out Russell Marston and Kevin Newhouse taking third. A return to form for Rico Fitch saw him taking fourth place following his recent promotion.

The three E graders raced as a steady and consistent bunch until the bell lap when the need for speed replaced their previous gentlemanly demeanour. Mick Donaldson was clear the winner of the final sprint with Chris Copeland and Bruce Copeland in a tight fight for second and third respectively.

Stuart Griffiths set the A grade pace from the start with a massive solo breakaway. Andrew Foster joined him a few laps in, followed by Steve Crispin and Gerard Tiffen. The pace eventually proved too much for Stuart and Andrew who returned to the bunch leaving Steve and Gerard to establish a full half lap lead. Stuart Griffiths repeated chases from the bunch were eventually rewarded with a well earned third place, while Gerard inched out Steve for first place in a fast, and furious finish.

C grade ran a mixed race with no clear lead rider(s) until half way through their 35 minutes when Grant Johnston made his way to, and off, the front. Grant was joined first by Mick Hanbury and then Lance Purdon. This group saw off several challenges for the lead with the repeat efforts taking a toll on Grant who rejoined the bunch. Line honours went to Lance Purdon ahead of Mick Hanbury and Charles Black.

My thanks to the club members who assisted by setting up and refurbishing the track, to the invaluable first aid officer on whose services I was fortunate not to have to call and to Luke (Philps) for his generous gift of time to carry out marshal duties. Without each of the races would not have been possible.

Michael Golding – race director

Link to the results for last week’s crits here – https://rms.crmcc.org.au/index

Thanks as always to Ian Hutchings for the pictures from last week’s criterium – (Post 1 B&D grades) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/HtH9D3jWRZw97mZ8/ , (Post 2 B&D) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/xLNN29LytEJ8hSR2/ , (Post 3 E and socials) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wLFz9KbMgnoWstA5/, (Post 4 A&C) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/UNrWE7ohowcP8V7G/, (Post 5 A&C) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/xoWWsMUwAjt4HY47/ and (Post 6 A&C) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/rT7asVvokk4RR2vb/.

Narrabundah track racing report – Thursday 28 November – Graeme O’Neill

Thursday 28 November saw the seventh track racing session for the 2024-25 season. The weather was hot and muggy. Wind was erratic. There was bad weather on the horizon. Fortunately, it stayed there.
Attendance (seven riders) was again poor. However, it was still a good evening’s competition. The group were joined by new trackie, Dave Buckley. Dave has ridden track before in the UK and looks like he will fit in well.

The 8-lap A grade scratch race had a field of seven starters. As Graeme O’Neill was again the sole representative from B grade, A grade riders again invited him to participate in their race, giving him a one lap start on the A grade field. The race commenced at a modest pace. This week, Graeme managed to stick on the back of the pack for four laps. This gave him a chance at the win. However, the A grade pack built up speed over the final four laps. By the bell lap Graeme had about a third of a lap lead.
However, the A grade sprint was ferocious with Conan Liu streaming past Graeme in the back straight, soon followed by Hamish Anderson and the rest of the pack. Conan took an emphatic win with Hamish Anderson second and Wayne Benham third.

The evenings second event was a taxing 20-lap snowball points race. This event had five points sprints (every 4 laps) with the points escalating for successive sprints. Wayne Benham did a good job to hold off the pack for the first sprint win. After that, the race belonged to Conan Liu. After winning the second sprint, Conan ramped up his lead to almost half a lap and held that to the finish, winning the remaining three sprints for a total points score of 14. Points for the other riders were Dave Buckley (7), Craig Kentwell and Wayne Benham (5), Warwick Wilson (3), Hamish Anderson (2).

The evening’s racing closed with the usual Italian Pursuit. Each team had three riders.
Team 2 put Wayne Benham on the front, an interesting strategy, likely aimed at gaining an early lead. This worked in practice and Team 2 impressed with a smooth, disciplined pursuit. Team 1 was a little ragged and possibly over relied on anchor rider Conan Liu to retrieve their fortunes on the final lap. In the event, Conan had too big a deficit to make up. Hamish Anderson and Craig Kentwell powered home to a good win for Team 2.

Major place getters were as follows:
8-Lap Scratch: (A1 Grade) Conan Liu, Wayne Benham.
(A2 Grade) Hamish Anderson, Warwick Wilson, Dave Buckley.
(B Grade) Graeme O’Neill.
20-lap Snowball: (A1 Grade): Conan Liu (14 pts), Wayne Benham (5pts).
(A2 Grade): Dave Buckley (7pts), Craig Kentwell (5pts), Wilson (3pts), Hamish Anderson (2pts).
Combined Italian Pursuit:
Winner Team 2 (Wayne Benham, Craig Kentwell, Hamish Anderson).

Season Point Score:
Hamish Anderson (123), Conan Liu (114), Steve Jones (106), Graeme O’Neill (102), Ian Drayton (97), Phil Coulton (91), Sarah Stephens (84), Craig Kentwell (79), John Paul De Sousa (52), Warwick Wilson (49), Ben Davis (48), Wayne Benham (47), Alison Hale (27), Dave Buckley (16).

Next road race – Sutton Road Training Centre graded scratch on Sun 8 December

Our final road event of 2024 is a graded scratch race at the Sutton Road Training Centre on Sunday 8th December.

GradesTimeRace Duration
A/B08:0050mins + 1 lap
C/D09:0040mins + 1 lap
E/F/G09:5030mins + 1 lap

Direction is anti-clockwise.
Bell for the final lap.

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.

Handicapper’s hammer – Downtube shifter derby on 10 December 2024

DOWNTUBE SHIFTER DERBY ON 10 DECEMBER 2024

Men and women of steel, mark your calendars for 1725 AEDT on December 10th for the third annual Downtube Shifter Derby! Yes, it’s back by popular demand (well, there has been one inquiry to date)–same rules: a road worthy bike with downtube shifters. Twenty minutes plus two laps will ensure fast and furious racing, so don’t miss out.

Race will feature two ceremonial laps before the hostilities begin. Once again, there’ll be a barrel draw after the race, and one winner will take home the coveted tube of Autosol Metal Polish or their choice of many other fabulous prizes.

I have three additional downtube shifter bikes if anyone would like to borrow them for this grand event. Two are for riders around 175-180 cm and one around 170cm. You’ll need to have your own pedals and pick them up from my house in Curtin prior to the race.

Entry via the RMS – https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar?5024326
Riders with a Crit Pass can enter by emailing race.committee@crmcc.org.au.

Rob Langride – Race Committee


Upcoming races needing volunteers

10 December 2024 – SFP crit
Race director

2025
21 Jan 2025 – SFP crit
Race director

4 Feb 2025 – SFP crit
Race director

11 Feb 2025 – SFP crit
Race director

25 Feb 2025 – SFP crit
Race director

11 Mar 2025 – SFP crit
Race director

18 Mar 2025 – SFP crit
Race director

25 Mar 2025 – SFP crit
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.