Hello CRMCCers,
For this week’s Bleat –

  • Upcoming changes to crits from 4 Feb
  • Next Crit Race – Tues 28 Jan from 5.50pm
  • Narrabundah Track Racing – Thurs 30 Jan, 5.30pm
  • First road race of 2025 – Lookout Hill graded scratch on Sun, 2 Feb
  • Crits race report for 21 Jan – Boyd Statton
  • Track race report for 23 Jan – Graeme O’Neill
  • Handicapper’s hammer – Rob Langridge
  • CRMCC 2025 road season
  • Notice of CRMCC Annual General Meeting on Mon 10 Feb 2025
  • Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here

Upcoming changes to CRMCC crits from 4 Febuary

  • We will be implementing a clipboard check-in before each crit race from Tuesday 4th February 2025.
  • Grades E, F and G will always start in time slot 1 – 5.50 pm at SFP from this date. The only exception could be when we run the club crit championships.
    The calendar in RMS will be updated for the second and third time slots for the remaining crits of the 2024/5 summer evening season.

Summer evening criterium series – Tuesday 28 January – week 15
The club will be implementing some extra checks to ensure that everyone on the crit track is a financial member before the race. This will involve the use of an entry chute before the start of each race.

Race director Stephen Terracini, marshal Mark Terracini, first aid Ryan Fawke
Bell for the final lap.
Direction clockwise

Grades Time Race Duration [sunset 2014]
A/C 17:50 A 45 mins + 2L, C 40mins + 2L
B/D 18:40 B 45 mins + 2L, D 40mins + 2L
E/F/G 19:30 30 mins + 2L

Race registration cut-off is Tuesday 28th January at 12.50pm.
Cost is $10.
You need to register by looking up the calendar entry in the RMS https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar?5021188

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.

Race Committee

Narrabundah Track Racing – 30 January
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: 1-lap standing time trial.
6.40pm – 7.00pm: 2-lap handicap
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 either be a financial member, or have a trial membership to participate. Please see capitalregionmasterscyclingclub.org.au/membership .
Riders will need to bring their 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.
New or returning members who wish to ease their way into track racing may do the just the warm-up and single event at nil cost for the session. Just show up at the Narrabundah track by 5.30pm.

Graeme O’Neill

Upcoming Road Race – Lookout Hill graded scratch at 0900 on Sun, 2 Feb

Our first road race for 2025 is on next Sunday, 2nd February from 0900 AET on the Lookout Hill course.

Transfer some of the summer kms and crit racing to a road course including a punchy finish up Lookout Hill. Cycle to the event, have a fun/hard race, post race coffee/cake and ride home before lunch.

We require one ETC, a marshal and a van driver for this event to be held.
The van driver can also participate in the race. The driver will have tasks to do when they arrive with the van at the event but will still have plenty of time to prepare for the race.

Email race.committee@crmcc.org.au if you can fulfil one of these roles.

****Twenty riders need to register for the race to proceed.****

Format: A lap starts at Lookout Hill, ride 1.5km north to U-turn near Point Hut intersection, 5km south to Tharwa turn point, 3.5km back to the start line. Finish will be an extra half lap from the Point Hut end up the punch of Lookout Hill.

For new members – the race starts and ends at Lambriggs’s Lookout on Tidbinbilla Road. https://maps.app.goo.gl/uajjwh6TACLywfza9

It is a graded scratch race.
A/B/C/D 4.5 laps for approx. 43km.
E/F/G 3.5 laps for 33 km.
D Grade can do 3.5 laps if they prefer that.

Registration is $10, which closes at 1700 AET on Saturday, 1st February.
https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar?5024987

Crits race report – 21 January – Boyd Statton
Hot and humid conditions for the latest round of crit racing at SFP with temperatures of 32c and the humidity reaching 60% towards the end of the final race. Races were run for A, B, C, D and E grades.

B Grade

B grade started the events for the evening and whilst the first couple of laps were sedate it wasn’t long before Krusty Bryant decided to test the bunch by upping the tempo. Whilst Krusty didn’t succeed initially it wasn’t long before he was joined at the front by Mark Terracini, Darren Blackhurst, Matt Pooley and Bruce Goodfellow and the five gapped the main bunch to get away off the front. The breakaway were on their own for a good number of laps before the main bunch managed to reel them in again. Not too long after Mark and Krusty were at it again off the front and were soon bridged to by Paul Connor where the three put in a good effort to stay away from the main bunch in the heat but were once again reeled back in.
A final break of Nathan Rickerby, Paul Connor, Matt Pooley and Mark Terracini pulled away in what was to be the break the held the main bunch off to the finish. It came down to close sprint finish with Matt Pooley prevailing over Nathan Rickerby in second and a well deserved third for Krusty Bryant.

D Grade
D grade set off shortly after B grade and worked together for the most part to put the 40 minutes plus two laps away in what were sweltering conditions. No breaks got away during the race although there were a few faster laps which tested the legs of the riders with a few unfortunately coming off the back of the bunch. The race came down to a sprint finish with Kevin Newhouse taking the win, closely followed by Eddie Humeniuk in second and Dale Dummett in third.

E Grade
E grade sported seven riders for 30 minutes plus two laps. Whilst the bunch stayed together for the entirety of the race Rico Fitch was on the front testing the other riders legs at fairly regular intervals throughout the 30 minutes. As with D grade it came down to sprint finish with Bruce Griffin taking the win ahead of Chris Copeland in second and Mick Donaldson in third.

A Grade
A grade took to the track with a slightly cooler temp but with the humidity hitting 60% for 45 minutes plus two laps.
An early break formed with Stuart Griffiths and Ben Morrison getting away for a short stint before being brought back by Gerard Tiffen. However it wasn’t too long before a second break made up of Mathew Corby and Matthew Rizzuto got away again only for a short stint before being reeled in by Morrison. With the bunch back together the pace went up and it wasn’t long until a split formed with eight riders leaving the main bunch behind.
This break established a significant gap on the rest of the group who slowed initially but then started to work together to try and bring the eight back. However it wasn’t to be and when Kris McGrath and Rizzuto gapped the break of eight the race winning move was made. Morrison and Croby gave chase but it wasn’t to be with McGrath and Rizzuto proving to strong on the night. Coming into the final straight McGrath opened up the sprint and created a good sized gap to take the win over Rizzuto in second and Jason Chalker in third.

C Grade
C grade took to the track and stayed together for a good while whilst the bunch felt each other and the track out. There were a few pushes on the front by John Stockman and Michael Hanbury pushing the pace up and stretching the bunch out but not getting away. In the second half of the race Wesley Pendlebury got away from the bunch by himself and managed to keep them at bay for a good number of laps. However it wasn’t to be with Pendlebury being caught by the bunch with a handful of laps to go.
The bunch then stayed together and the pace slowed a little with riders aiming to save their legs for the sprint. A final sprint ensued and Alfred Cook came out on top by roughly a bike length followed by Mick Hanbury in second and Lance Purdon in third.

Race director – Boyd Statton

Thanks to Ian Hutchings for the pics from last week’s SFP crits – (B&D) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18BQLwj47P/, (B&D) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18LaBwVrdt/, (E) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B1yf6Mdfj/ , (A&C) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GAmAtroRc/ , (A&C) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18RnzXVFDj/ and (A&C) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EsLDeCvDk/ .

“Hurry up…” – pic courtesy of Ian Hutchings during E grade on 21 Jan 25

Narrabundah track racing report – Thursday 23 January – Graeme O’Neill
Thursday 23 January saw the twelfth track racing session for 2024-25.

Conditions at the Bundadome were cool, overcast, with a brisk wind across the track providing a headwind in turn 1. Attendance was only six riders, fortunately with even numbers in A and B grades.

The 8-lap A grade scratch race had a field of three starters. The race commenced with Craig Kentwell leading out at an easy pace. It was an orderly progression until lap 4 when Hamish Anderson had a spill.
Hamish remounted and after a lap out, rejoined the other two riders. The adrenaline from the spill might have helped, as Hamish took the sprint win from Wayne Benham and Craig Kentwell in that order.
The 8-lap B grade scratch race had a field of three starters. As usual, the race was orderly with Phil Coulton, Graeme O’Neill and Ken Birch doing one lap turns on the front. Graeme attacked at the bell lap entry and managed to gain a small lead. However, Phil Coulton passed Graeme easily on the back straight and went on for the win. Ken Birch is improving after just a few track sessions. He rounded Graeme in the final turn to take second place.

The evening’s second event was a 200-metre flying start time trial (200 fly). This is a favourite event for Hamish Anderson and, as usual, he set the fastest time of 13.51 seconds (53.3 km/hr). Other A grade times were Craig Kentwell (14.40s), Wayne Benham (14.69s). Best B grade time was Phil Coulton (15.42s). Other B grade time were Graeme O’Neill (16.51s) and Ken Birch (17.27s).

The evening’s third event was scheduled as 2-lap, paired match races. However, with the small numbers, each match race was between three riders. In A grade, Hamish Anderson outsprinted Craig Kentwell and Wayne Benham in that finishing order. In B grade Phil Coulton outsprinted Ken Birch and Graeme O’Neill.

The final event for the evening was the usual Italian Pursuit. The event had teams of three riders. On paper Team 2 (Hamish Anderson, Craig Kentwell and Ken Birch) appeared favourites. Both teams put in sound, disciplined pursuits with the favourites gaining a comfortable win.
Major place getters were as follows:
8-Lap Scratch: (A1 Grade) Wayne Benham. (A2 Grade) Hamish Anderson, Craig Kentwell.
(B Grade) Phil Coulton, Ken Birch, Graeme O’Neill.
200m fly: (A1 Grade) Wayne Benham (14.69s) (A2 Grade) Hamish Anderson (13.51s), Craig Kentwell (14.40s) (B grade) Phil Coulton (15.42s), Graeme O’Neill (16.51s), Ken Birch (17.27s).
2-lap match races: (A Grade) Hamish Anderson, Craig Kentwell, Wayne Benham (B Grade) Phil Coulton, Ken Birch, Graeme O’Neill.
Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 2 (Hamish Anderson, Craig Kentwell, Ken Birch).

Season Point Score:
Hamish Anderson (222), Conan Liu (178), Phil Coulton (172), Graeme O’Neill (171), Craig Kentwell (149), Ian Drayton (147), Steve Jones (124), Sarah Stephens (101), Wayne Benham (81), Ben Davis (78), John Paul De Sousa (72), Warwick Wilson (67), Alison Hale (64), Ken Birch (52), Dave Buckley (16), Paul Connor (16).

Handicapper’s hammer
Upgrades:
Matt Pooley B to A
Alfred Cook C to B
Mick Hanbury C to B

Upcoming 2025 road season
Our 2025 road season begins with a graded scratch road race on the Lookout Hill course next Sunday 2 February.

The calendar includes a six-event Sutton Super Series, Dairy Road criteriums, graded scratch and handicap races, with two events a month from February to September.
Please check the calendar for a date where you could help the club run these events. https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar


Notice of CRMCC Annual General Meeting – Monday 10 February 2025 at 7pm (via Google Meet)
The 2025 AGM for the Capital Region Masters Cycling Club will be held on Monday 10th February at 7:00pm via Google Meet:
https://meet.google.com/qnx-uion-ace?hs=224

All CRMCC Members are invited to attend and encouraged to consider joining the committee. There will be multiple vacant positions declared open.

In contrast to previous years, we will not be offering an in-person AGM; if the online mode of attendance is a problem for you, please contact the committee via email (committee@crmcc.or.au).

The Committee membership nomination form is at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tt7NK_6jAoJRclpWUiMxWRqO1aaT_5pH

Please direct any questions about membership to the Club Secretary (secretary@crmcc.or.au).

If you have specific questions about vacant committee roles and responsibilities, please contact president@crmcc.org.au .

Upcoming races needing volunteers:

2 Feb 2025 – Lookout Hill graded scratch road race
1 ETC, marshal, van driver.

16 Feb 2025 – Dairy Road criterium
First aid

2 Mar 2025 – Smiths/Naas Rd handicap
Race director, 2 ETCs, marshal, van driver

11 Mar 2025 – SFP crit
Race director

16 Mar 2025 – Dairy Road criterium – points race
Race director, marshal, van driver, first aid

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. https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar

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