- Crits check-in system at SFP
- Next Crit Race on 1 April from 5.50pm
- Handicapper’s Promotions and Demotions
- Sutton Super Series
- Track Racing Season 2024/25 – Graeme O’Neill
- Crits Race Report 25 March
- Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here
Crits check-in system at SFP
There is now a criterium check-in system at SFP, so that registered riders can place a tick mark in front of their name on a registered rider start list to indicate they have arrived at the SFP track.
- This registered rider start list will be placed on a clipboard, next to the fence, adjacent to the timing board. It will be retrieved and used by the RD to speed up the efficiency of the entry chute rollout.
- These ‘checked-in riders’ will then be called to roll on to the track one-by-one in ascending numerical race order, like ‘priority boarding’. You can help make the process more efficient by assembling behind the race number ahead of you in your grade.
- During the entry-chute rollout, your race number will be checked against the registered rider list.
- If you arrive after entry chute roll-out, and prior to the start of the race, you will need to verbally check-in with either the RD or marshal during the safety briefing.
- Unregistered riders will not be permitted to race.
- Riders without a valid race number will not be permitted to race.
- Registered riders arriving late to the track may be permitted to race subject to the RD’s discretion.
- Your cooperation to help implement this step, means that only financial members who have registered for the race are competing on the SFP track, and that our insurance coverage is not compromised
- Committee members will be on hand to help provide guidance.
Summer evening Criterium series – Tuesday 1 April
Cost is $10. Those members with the 2024/25 summer crit pass, you will just have to enter your race number.
To register here, https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar
Registration cut-off is 1250 on Tuesday.
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
Handicapper’s Promotions and Demotions
Promotions
Ben McDuff B to A
Paul Connor B to A
Demotions
Mick Hanbury B to C
Ben Healy B to C
Simon Costello B to C
Eddie Humenuik C to D
Jonathan Chowns C to D
Rob Langridge
Handicapper
Sutton Super Series
Sutton Super Series III Kicks off this Saturday!
That’s correct! Thought you could have a break from racing after the final crit race on Tuesday: NEVER. In the words of the late and great Peter McLennan and printed on your cloth race number: ‘Race Forever’.
Six races will be held over the winter season at the Sutton Road Training Centre, with riders accumulating the points gained as per the list :
1st 10 points
2nd 8 points
3rd 6 points
4th 4 points
5th 3 points
6th+ 2 points
This scoring system differs from the RMS. 10 points will still be awarded to the winner even if only one rider starts the race.
Riders with the most points accumulated at the end of the series will be crowned grand champions for their grade.
Here are the main rules:
- The final round will be worth double points and riders that participate in all races will get a bonus 12 points.
- Prizes such as gift vouchers will be presented after the final race for first, second and third places.
- Riders must compete in the final race to receive a prize and be present at the prize ceremony.
- Riders who are promoted will take half their points with them to the higher grade.
- Point scores will be kept for each grade and updated after each round.
- If more than one rider finishes with the same final score, a count-back of the overall results will determine the higher place getter.
- The races may not all be scratch races, with a points race as another option.
Riders intending to compete in the series should make themselves familiar with all the rules. Any feedback will be welcome prior to the first race but it won’t be possible to make changes to the format after that.
TRACK RACING SEASON 2024-25
The 2024-25 track racing season concluded on Thursday 27 March with a team race, trophy presentation and drinks to celebrate another successful season. The season was blessed with good weather. Only one race session was disrupted by rain and a warm spell held on until the end of the season.
A total of 17 riders participated in one or more of the track racing sessions. Since the transfer of the track program to the Bundadome venue in 2014, over 80 riders from the club have participated in track racing. This season’s attendance continued a downtrend, with around 5 – 10 riders per session being the norm. The decline over the past few years seems to be characteristic of masters cycling, at present. However, there was a keen, core group of trackies who kept the enjoyment level as high as ever.
There were 19 evening track sessions with over 70 races for the season. The season provided a variety of race formats including scratch races, handicaps, pursuits, match races, points races, sprints and time trials. All races contributed points to an overall Track Championship. This year Hamish Anderson took out the Track Championship. Hamish is a most deserving winner as he missed only a single, track session and was king of the short sprint and timed events where peak power is all important. The club president Conan Liu was second in the track championship. Sadly, Conan has decided to forego future track races to concentrate on endurance events. He will be missed from the track group. Third place in the track championship went to the track convenor, Graeme O’Neill. Graeme’s success shows the benefit of attending all events.
24-25 Track Medals Winners (Left to Right: Conan Liu – 2nd Track Championship, Phil Coulton – Most Improved Rider, Graeme O’Neill – 3rd Track Championship, Hamish Anderson – Winner Track and Omnium Championships, Ian Drayton – Winner Christmas Wheel Race.
The standard of riding was high and most of the regular riders improved considerably over the season. This year it was not difficult to select the most improved rider. Phil Coulton started to improve late last season and just kept going. Phil was one of two strong B grade riders. It must feel great to get better with age.
The track season included a handicap Wheel Race just prior to Christmas, with the trophy taken by Ian Drayton. Towards the end of the season, we ran a four-event Omnium Championship. The results for this event are decided by “the algorithm” which attempts to equalise the chances of all track participants, regardless of grading. This year Hamish Anderson took out the Omnium Championship by one point over Craig Kentwell and Conan Liu. The one-point win reversed last year’s result so congratulations to a deserving winner.
Track Group Attending the Presentation
(Left to Right: Craig Kentwell, Ken Birch, Sarah Stephens, Ian Drayton, Alison Hale, Phil Coulton, Conan Liu, Hamish Anderson, Ben Davis, Graeme O’Neill, Matt Sainsbury, John Paul De Sousa, Photographed by Michael Langdon)
The track season was almost injury free. There were one or two minor spills but fortunately nothing serious. Track racing still averages just over one (mostly minor) accident per year. Despite the speed, close quarters racing and lack of brakes, track racing is consistently the safest race discipline offered by the club.
This summary would not be complete without acknowledging and thanking all the parties who contributed to the track season. Members of the club and committee including Phil Coulton, Conan Liu, Simon Costello and David Parker provided great support by booking and paying for the venue, setting up the rider payment system, preparing medals and publishing results in The Bleat. Matt Sainsbury kept the racing viable with sports medicine support and assistance starting races. Finally, the riding group assisted in myriad ways over the season and, as importantly, were a very agreeable and fun group to be around.
Graeme O’Neill
Track Commissaire
Track Season Results
Xmax Handicap (1st – 5th)
Ian Drayton, Conan Liu, Wayne Benham, Craig Kentwell, Hamish Anderson
Final Omnium Championship Scores:
Hamish Anderson (16), Craig Kentwell (15), Conan Liu (15), Graeme O’Neill (11), Phil Coulton (10), Ben Davis (10), John Paul De Sousa (9), Ken Birch (8), Sarah Stephens (4), Alison Hale (2), Gary Aisbitt (2).
Final Track Championship Point Scores:
Hamish Anderson (349), Conan Liu (298), Graeme O’Neill (266), Phil Coulton (248), Craig Kentwell (219), Ian Drayton (212), Ken Birch (144), Sarah Stephens (139), Ben Davis (131), John Paul De Sousa (127), Steve Jones (124), Wayne Benham (100), Alison Hale (92), Warwick Wilson (84), Dave Buckley (16), Paul Connor (16), Gary Aisbitt (15).
Most Improved Rider
Phil Coulton
Crits Race Report – Tuesday 25 March
Riders were greeted with perfect conditions for the penultimate crit race of the season. Well, perfect if you don’t like echelons and are looking for a bunch sprint finish.
E grade started proceedings and with four riders there would be no guarantees of a podium. This week was an experiment with riders from higher grades allowed to warm up on the track and fill out the E grade bunch provided they did not interfere with the race. Things seemed to start well – other than the race director messing up the timing clock. The additional riders from higher grades continued to roll with E grade and also provided on-track commentary of the race as it proceeded. About halfway through things went a bit awry so the great experiment was called off and the extra riders were pulled from the track (oh well, at least we tried). With two laps to go, the bunch was all together as the tempo picked up. In the end it was a sprint finish with Jan Koehler putting the guys to the sword, and Mick Donaldson and Marcel Chaloupka taking the minor placings.
A grade started rapidly – as usual. The bunch stretched out and a three-man break was established with Crispy, Tristan and Kris. The break looked pretty solid with a gap of about 15 seconds but counter attacks from the peloton saw them reeled back in. A grade saw some less than stellar riding as the bunch squeezed C grade when they passed mid race. (Top tip: everyone stick to your side of the track until the bunch completes the pass!). Jason and Gerard tried their luck with a late break but again they too were reeled back in. Ultimately it was Stu Griffith taking the win with a storming finish sprint. Dennis Mungoven and Gerard Tiffin contested a very close sprint for the minor placings.
C Grade started with Ben Schillong riding off the front – he did his own ITT gaining almost half a lap on the bunch. Then mysteriously Ben was reeled back in only to ride away again a short time later. But then Ben was again strangely reeled back in by the bunch. Perhaps Ben was hoping to avoid catching the attention of the handicapper, but I suspect he was watching closely from his position within the peloton. In the finale it was a bunch sprint with Wesley Pendlebury taking the win. Ben Schillong rolled in for second and Mark Vardy took third.
B grade started with pace. The usual suspects – Andrew, Krusty, Gareth – pushed the pace and jumped off the front. The pace stayed high as breaks kept trying to go and got reeled back in. A few riders were ejected out the back. Ultimately, it was a bunch sprint. Ben McDuff took the win and a promotion to A grade. Paul Connor followed closely behind with Christophe Barberet filling the podium.
D grade were keen on a bunch ride. They rode together as a nice and well-behaved pack for pretty much the whole time. Things were relatively unexciting until the bell lap when they got passed by B grade while gearing up for their final sprint. Luckily, B grade were also on the move and quickly and courteously passed to get out of their way. In the sprint finish, it was Timothy Moore taking the win in front of Kevin Newhouse and Dale Dummott.
Thanks to the riders for keeping it upright. Big thanks to Ian for opening up the track, Ryan for first aid, and Tristan for marshalling.
Looking forward to a big final night of crit racing next week!
Craig Lindenmayer (Race Director)
Photos from Ian Hutchings:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18J5oGnAmQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Kbhdsvzqq/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18BkqSQKLC/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HvEMtRhRU/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/156jPqiokS/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/164ZjqUo81/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Upcoming races needing volunteers
2025
26 Apr 2025 – The Apollo
1 ETC, first aid
10 May 2025 – Lookout Hill
Race Director, van driver, first aid
17 May 2025 – Sutton Driver Training Centre
van driver, first aid
31 May 2025 – Uriarra Homestead
Race Director, 3 ETC, van driver, first aid
Please contact 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 can run.
