- Calling for Volunteers
- Next Race – Mountain Creek Road 15 August 2026
- Race Report – Sutton Driver Training Centre
- The Big Bike Film Night
- Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here
Calling for Volunteers
Firstly, thank you for supporting our 2026 winter road racing season. Our club relies on riders helping riders, and we need a few volunteers to help keep the races running safely and smoothly throughout the rest of the season.
For the remainder of the winter season, we are looking for:
- Race Directors
- Finish Line Marshals
- Traffic Controllers (ETC-certified)
- Van Drivers
Without volunteers filling these roles, we risk not being able to run races, so we’re asking everyone to consider giving back to the club for a day. The more people who share the load, the easier it is for everyone to enjoy a full race season.
If you can help this next race or volunteer for any race during the season, please reply to the committee mailbox (copied) or go to the volunteer calendar at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pkECTVAgOENts06YdwLNOaAI44JwQend/edit?pli=1&gid=1832900212#gid=1832900212
Thanks for helping keep our winter racing community strong and hope to see you out there soon.
Next Race – Mountain Creek Road 15 August 2026
We still require a Race Director, an ETC, a lead driver, and a follow driver for this event to go ahead. If you can help out, please email the Committee. Note, we also require a Commissaire for races in NSW.
This will be our first NSW race this year. Come and join in to support racing again in NSW. It requires more volunteers and more effort to race in NSW, so we need to ensure it is well supported for it to continue in the future.
Start is from near the Mountain Creek Rd and Fairlight Rd intersection. Ride 12.5km out along Mountain Creek road and return for one lap. Each race will be two laps in total. D, E and F Grades will have the option of one lap only. This will be agreed amongst the riders on the day.
Race Report – Sutton Driver Training Centre
Matt Keenan had much to say about the Pog in yellow being a true racer as he battled MVDP on the
Mont Marte, and the same can be said for Andree Swenson in pink leopard print who rolled to the start
line as the lone E grader ready to take on the unrelenting wind. The race against oneself is always the
hardest and despite the head starting to dip Andree kept the pedals cranking and pushed through
beyond the bell to get the job done and points in the bank. Chapeau Andree.
It was always going to be tough going with only a small group of four A graders who rolled away first
into a stiff cross headwind. It wasn’t clear if it was tactical, fear of the wind or Lewy’s Mountain biker
instincts at play but the group seemed happy to let him do the bulk of the work over the first few laps
with Matt Corby patiently waiting in second for the inevitable move to come. Unfortunately, his efforts
in the wind and the dragging false flat into the northern climb were to bite with Lewy unable to follow
Stuart Griffiths’ move across the top and he was left to settle into a rhythm to scoop up his day’s points.
The group that had become three quickly became two with Bred Peppinck also being gapped as Stuart
and Matt settled into a consistent solid pace, albeit with Matt doing the lion’s share down the long
windy straight. Brad held a respectable 30 second gap until everything broke apart at 15 minutes to go
when Stuart went to the charge gapping Matt. That was to be the race done with everyone sitting
‘comfortably’ in their place across the course until the finish straight where both Stuart and Matt
seemed determined to get their weighed average watts up with last minute solo finish line sprints.
A true peloton in B grade with 12 starters including multiple Mads Pedersen style point chasers signing
on to capitalise on the 6 race bonus points. First lap around Nathan Spillane looked prepped to make a
move but thought better of it on the windy front straight. Not to be deterred Andrew Murrell made a
move across the top with young blood Julian Dohna in chase. Spectators wondered if the break would
stick but next lap as a rider reappeared at the top of circuit it wasn’t the Andrew/Julian break but Todd
Sowter going solo, the man who’s warm appears to be helmet on and.….attack! After two laps alone the
crowd speculated if we were witnessing a ride away but alas, the group would reappear at the top of
circuit with Todd reconsumed into the pack. With 25 minutes to go it was Marc Vroomans who built up
a steady and sensible 25 second gap which was to last five minutes before Quon powerhouse Josh
Quliiam dragged the bunch back on the long straight. Julian put on a last-ditch display of youthful energy
much to the pleasure of his fan club who were so excited they wanted to ring the bell. It was shaping up
as the race of the day with the most combative impossible to pick as now Geoff Hinchcliffe and Ben
Shillong attempted to gap the bunch. Unlucky for them it was Nathan’s time to go again across the top
who held it until the line with a fragmented group of Todd, Marc and Andrew in chase.
With the wind having second thoughts about its own legs the conditions were improving for the last
race of the day. C grade rolled away with 8 riders who for the first few laps sat comfortably on the
wheels of Ian Preston and Darren Blackhurst who took turns on the front. At some point the pace
appeared to shift as both Darren and Katie Gregory got gapped from the bunch with Darren managing to
make contact again. Despite not bridging back, Katie showed her Rouleur prowess as each time past the
line her position and pace stayed metronome consistent. Ian perhaps motivated by the previous race
action decided to make a move and built a tidy gap that unfortunately wasn’t to stick. It was around this
point that suggestions on ringing the bell were heard coming from the bunch but as Andree discovered
earlier, the clock is slave to no-one! As the bunch passed again it was Victor on the sidelines who made
his prediction and right he was, Marek would emerge last minute to burgle the win from Ian’s now tiring
legs followed by Ed Logue.
D grade rolled off just behind C and were set to enjoy easing conditions also. The conditions were to be
the only thing easing as Owain Tilley and Kevin Newhouse set about forming a break. Perhaps sensing
the club handicapper was part of the competition they again joined the pack but this wasn’t to last or be
to Al Bontjer’s benefit who was representing the Ti crowd. Late in the race Owain and Kevin moved
again establishing the break that held off even the charging C grade pack. Kevin held off Owain for the
win with Jonathon Chows taking third from a strung-out following pack.
Thanks to all who made it out and gave us an entertaining and incident free day of racing. Thanks also to
Andrew for marshalling, Gavin for van duties, Ryan our first aider, and as always Ian on the camera.
Craig Tozer – Race Director
Photos thanks to Ian Hutchings
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19HpZZALE1
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FytUW8xrQ
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FzPZgPnay
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18kyATy88i
The Big Bike Film Night
| Date | Time | Canberra | Ticket Booking Link |
| Monday 10th August | 6:30pm | Kambri at ANU | https://www.trybooking.com/DLEON |
Check out the trailer below, to see some of the enticing films in this year’s line-up.
| The Big Bike Film Night 2026 Promo Trailer | https://bit.ly/Big_Bike_Film_Night_2026_Promo_Trailer_Australia |
The Big Bike Film Night is on a mission – bringing the best short cycling films from around the world together for you.
Showcasing 2.5 hours of mesmerizing bike films that have everything a cycle-centric audience could want – action, drama,
humour, and plenty of inspiration. The evening is unashamedly and utterly, utterly, utterly designed and devised to delight
the two-wheel devotee!
The 2026 treasure chest of films includes:
- a dazzling mountain bike ride exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Norway, embracing the magic of the
midnight sun - two cyclists trace a line through Te Waipounamu / New Zealand’s South Island, on the first known ride of the
Southern Way 1,000, a newly mapped 1,000km gravel loop from Queenstown in the Southern Alps to the coast
and back again - an inspiring film that captures the wettest, most heinous riding conditions imaginable
- a film that playfully delves into the world of those taking cycling to new heights – celebrating fun, silliness, and
creativity that comes with pushing boundaries on two wheels - we see what happens when a folding bike and a brave salesman undertake a 1,000 km gravel race across Rwanda.
Three colleagues, one wild idea, and a small machine with a giant heart - a compelling story about perseverance, showcasing the challenges and triumphs of navigating daily life following a
life-altering injury, and how adaptive design has transformed and enriched the journey forward - a moving movie that follows a father and son’s journey as they take on one of life’s most meaningful milestones-
riding a bike together as a family - a bold and uplifting story of an adventure activist, attempting to break the 24-hour Guinness World Record in
downhill mountain biking- all to raise funds for reforesting the foothills around Queenstown. Her relentless pursuit
not only pushes the limits of endurance but also becomes a powerful symbol of resilience and environmental
commitment - and crowning the night off… we all love an underdog tale. This charming, funny, heartfelt film inspires us to believe
that we all have the capacity to be unlikely heroes in our own stories. The audience is transported back to the
nostalgic 1990s, to the slopes of the punishing Mont Ventoux, in Southern France, to witness the drama of a battle
between two giantsALL in the mix!
These short films are a great reminder of why we love to ride our bike; with stories that captivate us, stories that move us,
and most importantly of all – inspiring us to get out and ride. All celebrate the fun, adventure, and joy that cycling enables.
So…listen to the voice inside you; it’s telling you to go. Grab your mates, GO ON… grab your bike and come along for the
ride!!
Upcoming races needing volunteers
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. https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar
CRMCC Committee
President – David Parker
Vice President – Dave Buckley
Secretary – Michael Fawke
Treasurer – Mark Vardy
Handicapper – Rob Langridge
E-mail committee@crmcc.org.au
