- From the Desk of the President
- Next Race – Stromlo Crits
- Reduced Price Membership
- Handicaps
- NARRABUNDAH TRACK RACING
- Race Report – Stromlo Crits
- Race Report – Track Racing
- Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here
From the Desk of the President
How you can help to ensure crits run smoothly
- Register on time, and not after the cut-off. You create more work for us to manually add you after the rego cut-off. The office is not staffed 24/7. In fact, you can register weeks in advance. If you cannot make your race, and you are a no show, we will automatically credit you. The worst case scenario is that you won’t race and that you will NOT lose your $10.
- When you arrive at SFP for your race, sign-on.
- While waiting to enter the track for your race, arrange yourselves in numerical order by grade, as this is the order in which the signup sheet will be called out, so that you can enter through the gate.
- For the waiting grades, please stick to the area by the stairs and playground, and let the exiting riders turn left off the track up the path.
- Volunteer by either putting your name down against those roles marked ‘Vacant’ in this this Google spreadsheet.
Kangaroo fence at SFP from 22 October 2025
We have been advised by SFP management that a kangaroo fence will be erected and be operational for our purposes from 28 October 2025.
We have received advice, that if there is a roo-entanglement, to NOT attempt to disentangle it, but we should call 13 22 81 and request a ranger.
If outside of the hours of 8am to 6pm the caller will be directed to the on call ranger.
We have asked that SPF Management place some signs on the fence with this information so that the general public know what to do in case of entanglement.
Conan
CRMCC President
Next Race – Crits at Stromlo Forest Park – Tuesday 27 October 2025
Please note, 5:40PM also holds the Women’s specific criterium grade (20mins) to foster participation and confidence in riding on the Stromlo Forest Park criterium track. Perfect for women and non-binary riders who are looking for an introductory ride or those that prefer cycling in a smaller group.
Race registration cut-off is 12:40pm. Cost is $10.
You need to register by looking up the calendar entry in the RMS https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar
You must wear your CRMCC assigned race number to race.
Late registrations will be assessed by committee@crmcc.org.au and if allowed, a late fee of $10 will be applied.
If you are unregistered and show up to the crit track, you must convince a committee member (not the Race Director) of your club member financial status for insurance purposes, before being allowed to participate.
All riders are required to sign on before their race start.
We will be running an entry chute, where riders are called 1 by 1 onto the circuit in numerical order of sign-on.
Reduced Price Membership
Now available, reduced priced racing membership of $99 (same price as last year) for those new or renewing members wishing to join us financially for racing up to and including the Christmas criterium wheel race qualifier on 16 December 2025, or the equivalent track wheel race on 18 December 2025.
Handicaps
Ben McDuff B to A
Marek Bilski C to B
Wes Pendlebury C to B
Rob Langridge
CRMCC Handicapper
NARRABUNDAH TRACK RACING – THURSDAY 23 OCTOBER, 5.30 PM
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 – 6.50pm: 2-lap handicap.
6.50pm – 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?5021932
Each race will cost $10, or purchase the season track pass at $80. The season track pass is good value
as there are normally around 17 race sessions per season.
Race Report – Stromlo Crits – 21 October 2025
Report by Steve Simms (Race Director)
The Stromlo Crit Track turned on Goldilocks conditions for our Tuesday evening throw-down
— warm, a little cloudy, and just enough breeze to make you feel fast but not enough to
mess up the hair. 110 riders showed up, Lycra gleaming and legs twitching for action.
D, E, F & G Grades (20 riders)– The Early Shift
We kicked off with the D, E, F & G crew, there was just one brave G grader, who gamely
jumped in with the E-graders to get a proper baptism by pedals.
D Grade set off first and spent most of the race pretending it was a social club ride with a bit
of friendly racing sprinkled in. The bunch stayed together, chatting and swapping turns, until
someone remembered it was actually a race. With two laps to go, the mood flipped from
“Sunday spin” to “Tour de France finale.” Alex Sommariva launched a cracking sprint to grab
the win, followed by Eddie Humpeniuk, Tim Moore, and Kevin Newhouse rounding out the
podium.
Meanwhile, E, F & G Grades lined up next, a tidy bunch of five. This one was definitely not a
coffee ride — Cat Riley bolted off the front early and spent most of the race out on her own,
probably wondering what everyone else was up to back there. The rest swapped leads and
looks but couldn’t catch her. Cat cruised home a solid half-lap ahead, with Rico Fitch
nabbing second in a sprint finish ahead of Colin Calderwood and Mick Donaldson in fourth.
A & C Grades (51 riders)– Big Guns and Big Drama
Next up, the A and C grades rolled out with around 30 riders apiece, promising plenty of
fireworks (and maybe a few tactical bluffs).
A Grade got spicy early — Dan Lekhac and Kris McCreath decided to “test the waters” with a
cheeky early break. The pack wasn’t having any of that and reeled them in before long.
Things settled briefly into what looked suspiciously like a social bunch ride until Jason Irwin
got bored and took off with a 70-metre gap. The bunch, led by Stephen Blackburn, slowly
hauled him back, with Stephen himself then giving it a crack — before Matt Rizzuto said,
“No you don’t,” and shut it down.
After plenty of surges, sprints, and side-eyes, it all came down to the final kick — Kris
McCreath showed everyone how it’s done, taking the win ahead of Leonard Pooley (2nd),
Ben Morrison (3rd), and John Forrest (4th).
Over in C Grade, things started predictably with Mick Hanbury and Ben Healy making an
early escape. Not to be left out, Ian Preston marshalled the troops and reeled them back.
From there, it was a game of “who wants to be on the front?” — the answer, apparently,
was everyone.
Everything ran smoothly until C grades final two laps when, my calculations were slightly out
and A grade seemed to be catching C grade a lot quicker and it became obvious with about
half a lap to go that A would catch C on the final corners just before the C grade sprint. A
grade was probably unaware this was C grades final corner before the sprint and seemed to
slow with some jockeying up front for positions. This caused some confusion and frustration
with C grades final sprint. well, let’s just say A Grade’s timing and C Grade’s sprint didn’t
quite sync up. With both groups converging, and a bit of confusion ensued. Once the dust
(and heart rates) settled, Marek Bilski took the win, just ahead of Wesley Pendlebury (2nd),
Ben Healy (3rd), and Norris Robertson (4th).
Special mention to John Stokman, who decided to explore the great outdoors mid-race —
once along the main straight and again in “Collarbone Corner” thanks to an over-
enthusiastic pedal strike. Mountain biking skills clearly paid off — nice saves, JS!
B Grade (21 riders)– The Sunset Showdown
As the light faded, B Grade lined up for the grand finale — 29 riders ready to squeeze every
last watt out of their legs.
Krusty led the charge (as always), but the bunch knew his tricks this time and shut him
down early. Dougal Robertson and Craig Lindenmayer took turns at the front, with the rest
swapping leads like a game of musical chairs.
Then came the plot twist: a rogue tennis ball bounced onto the track right in front of the
bunch, ricocheted off Krusty’s chainring, and somehow no one crashed — a miracle worthy
of highlight reels. Apparently, some kids upstairs lost control of their ball game. (Note to
self: next time, add “ball wrangling” to the race director’s duties.) Krusty mentioned I should
do a better job of keeping the track clean. Noted !!!!!
When the chaos cleared, Ben McDuff took a storming victory, followed by Mark Terracini
(2nd), Bruce Goodfellow (3rd), and Gareth Downey (4th).
Thanks & Wrap-Up
A big shout-out to Mark Toyer for the help all evening, Matt Sainsbery for First Aid duties
(pinch-hitting for Ryan Fawke), and Ian Hutchings, who had the setup mostly done before
the rest of us even arrived — legend! Can’t wait to see his photos. Thanks also to Dave
Buckley for race sheets, know-how, and keeping us all on track (literally).
That’s a wrap for another Stromlo crit — perfect weather, great racing, and just the right
amount of chaos. See you all next week for more fun, faster legs, and (hopefully) fewer
flying tennis balls!
Steve Simms, Race Director.
Photos thanks to Ian Hutchings
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Race Report – Track Racing – 23 October
Thursday 23 October saw the second track racing session for the 2025-26 season. The weather was fine
for track racing, sunny, warm temperature and a moderate head wind in the back straight. Attendance (5
riders) was too low to run and Italian Pursuit. Hopefully, this improves over the next few sessions.
The session races and place getters were as follows:
8-Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Alison Hale, Chris Chant, Ben Davis. (B Grade) Phil Coulton, Graeme O’Neill.
200-Fly: (A Grade) Chris Chant (14.76s), Alison Hale (15.65s), Ben Davis (16.44s). (B Grade) Graeme
O’Neill (16.81s), Phil Coulton (16.88s).
2-Lap Handicap: Phil Coulton, Ben Davis, Alison Hale, Graeme O’Neill, Chris Chant.
Run the attached audio file to hear Michael Langdon’s commentary on the 2-lap Handicap.
Season Point Score:
Chris Chant (34), Alison Hale (34), Phil Coulton (34), Graeme O’Neill (30), Dave Buckley (20), Paul
Angelatos (18), Ian Drayton (17), Ben Davis (15).
Upcoming races needing volunteers
We have multiple vacancies for race directors for SFP crits.
Please self-register as a volunteer, where you can put your name down against those roles marked ‘Vacant’ in this Google spreadsheet. We will follow-up and confirm your volunteering with an email from committee@crmcc.org.au
Thank you to those members who have offered their services to fill roles so our races can run.
