ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 12th March, 2018

Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

• Notice of Annual General Meeting 2018
• From the Desk of the Handicapper
• Interstate Events
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports

Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc

Ian Morton

Annual General Meeting

Members wishing to nominate for a Committee position can download a nomination form here (this is the working link).

From the Desk of the Handicapper

The march of D graders to C continues this week with another three promoted. Will Gill Lugg be the next one?

Handicaps for this week;
– Wayne Benham D to C
– Paul Hollings D to C
– Felipe Lopes Reis D to C

And a reminder to those who choose to ride down a grade: you are there as guests and should respect the flow of the race; not put everyone in the gutter or chase down attacks.

Regards,
Rob Langridge
Handicapper

Interstate and Local Events

• AVCC Championships – Maryborough, Vic
  Easter Weekend 31st Mar – 2 April
  Saturday: 25km Time Trial, Sunday: Criterium and Monday: Road Races.
  Championship Jerseys, Medals and Prize Money. Entry Fee: $25 per event, $5 transponder hire for the weekend.
  Entries open soon:www.veterancycling.com.au. For further information: Tom Finning Mob: 0418 521 420 EMail: veterancycling@yahoo.com.au.

• Giro d’Canberra
  20 May 2018
  • Want to take on the challenge? The ride features 2500 metre climbs and 130km of stunning Canberra Brindabella countryside
  • Cycling is powering ahead in Canberra
  • Giro d’ Canberra is in its third year and growing
  • Lots of interest from Sydney based riders
  • Get in on the early stages of a growing annual event
  • A chance to promote your community cycling activities
  • Fully supported ride with vehicles and food stations
  • Organised by the Rotary Club of Woden Daybreak

  Entries:www.GirodCanberra.gofundraise.com.au. For further information: Barry Welsby Mob: 0413729951 EMail: welsbw@internode.on.net.

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 13th March: Stromlo Criterium

Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
E/F/G 5:50 20m+2
A/C 6:15 A 28m+2, C 28m+2
B/D 6:50 B 28m+2, D 25m+2

Race Director:  Ben Davis Contact: Email: bdavis@internode.on.net    Ph  0416014629

Wednesday, 14th March: Track Racing

The Program for Wednesday is as follows:
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 10-lap Graded Scratch;
6.20pm – 6.50pm: 2-lap SS TT (Omnium event)
6.50pm – 7.10pm: 6 lap win & out;
7.10pm – 7.30pm: Italian Pursuit.

Sunday, 18th March: Old Federal Highway Handicap

Note: This race is still subject to NSW Police approvals.

We require a Race Director and an additional Marshal. If you can assist, please let Ben Davis (bdavis@internode.on.net) know.

Where: Gravel Pit, Old Federal Highway and Shingle Hill Way.
When: 9:00 am.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Gravel pit – Tulip Farm, all Grades 3 laps.

Race Director: tba Contact: Email: tba    Ph  tba

Marshals: Matt Hinchcliffe, Rosemary Robinson, Phil Anderson

Upcoming Races

Race directors are required for upcoming races. We cannot race without directors. It is not a difficult job. A set of written instructions is available, and there are always experienced members at the race to help guide new directors. The burden of race directing is currently falling on a select few members and is unsustainable.

25 March – Uriarra – Graded Roubaix 
We require a race director and two more ATC/ETC qualified marshals. Current marshals are: Peter Marshall, Polly Templeton (ATC)
The course start/finish is at the corner of Mountain Creek Rd and Uriarra Rd.
Riders will head down towards Uriarra Crossing, doing a U turn before the descent. Return and turn right on to Mountain Creek Rd. Riders will do a U turn after 3.6kms, just before the NSW border, and return to the start/finish area. This leg on Mountain Creek Rd is on dirt road. Each lap is approx. 15km
A,B,C and D grades will do 3 laps. E,F, & G grades will do 2 laps.

Upcoming Marshal Roster

Basically anyone who raced in 2017 will be required to marshal at least 1 race throughout the 2018 season. Marshals are critical to the running of events through the helping of finish line duties, driving trail/lead cars, turn points and setting up/packing up. The marshal assignment schedule for the first 6 months of the year is below. It is also on the race calendar and you receive an email advising you of it several weeks in advance, so there should be no excuses to missing your allocated race. If you are unavailable for your allocated race you need to organize a swap with another rider and advise the race committee (race.committee@actvets.cc).

RACE REPORTS:

Stromlo – 6th March

Windy conditions greeted riders for Tuesday’s Criteriums at Stromlo Park, with bunches struggling to stay together as the stronger riders made good use of the conditions.

In A grade there were plenty of breakaways, with Michael Brice, Christophe Barberet and Paul Scherl prevailing at the end after a hard fought race. In C grade the fast pace took its toll with the bunch fragmenting, leaving riders strung out around the circuit. John Marinov rode strongly for the win, followed by Ian Preston and Wayne Benham.

E and F grade bunches in contrast stuck together for the duration, with David O’Keefe, Ian Morton and Tony Sheehan taking the honours in E, while the F troopers were led home by Lindsay Graham, David Witteveen and Nigel Wines. Bernie Crowe rode strongly to take the points in G grade.

The B/D grade event was dramatic in more ways than one. The big field ( more than 40 riders over the two grades), fast pace and the wind meant riders were spread around the track like browns cows from early in the race, with breakaways, regroupings, bunches splintering, riders lapped, grades intermingling, and even kangaroos trying to add to the confusion.. I lost track of some of the riders’ positions in the final laps, leading to some getting the two lap sign but no bell, some getting the bell but no sign, and still others getting neither. It led to riders looking quite bewildered at the finish, but nowhere near as bewildered as the race referee. I apologise for the confusion because I know just how much effort the riders put in, against tough race conditions.

For the record, Richard Hedley, Dougal Torrance and Simon Porombka filled the podium in B grade while Paul Hollings, Felipe Lopes Reis and Gillian Lugg took the top placings in D grade.

Mick Donaldson

Narrabundah Track Racing – 7th March

A total of 14 riders turned out for Session 19 of the track racing season, with B grade having a slight majority. The day was hot and, like last week, the wind was quite strong initially. However, the wind soon moderated enough to provide quite acceptable conditions for racing.

The race events commenced with a 12-lap graded scratch race. In A grade, the group circulated steadily for several laps, until Michael Langdon hit the front and upped the pace. The group held together at this pace until lap 7 when Michael again accelerated, this time moving off the front. The bunch pursued but looked ragged. As soon as they were back together, Dougal Torrance put in an attack, quickly gaining 10 metres on a pursuing group comprising Steve Jones, Michael Langdon and Hamish Anderson. Dougal was caught within 2 laps. However, the acceleration had caught out a couple of riders, who trailed off the back. Craig Kentwell was one of these. To his credit, Craig pursued relentlessly and was back with the group by the penultimate lap. As the bell lap approached all the front runners attacked. Michael Langdon showed he is the form rider this season by soon gapping the field and seemingly cruising to a victory. Steve Jones and Hamish Anderson fought it out for second, with Steve just pipping Hamish over the line.

The B grade race circulated at a solid pace until lap 7 when a rider was dropped. A few laps later, the pace eased slightly and riders spread over the banking to jockey for a good attacking position. Ross Scutts attacked from high on the banking as the bunch rounded into the bell lap. Soon Phil Anderson, Ross Scutts and Steve Hirsler were locked in battle for the line. The final sprint was close with Steve Hirsler taking the win from Phil Anderson and Ross Scutts in that order.

The next event was a series of paired match races. These races demand good tactics with positioning and attentiveness being crucial. In A grade the dominant tactic was to go well out, establish a gap and hold it. This worked for Michael Langdon, Hamish Anderson and Dougal Torrance who each won their match up. In B grade the tactics were a bit more varied and the racing closer. Ken Birch, Phil Anderson and Steve Hirsler walked away with wins from their match ups.

Because of the modest numbers it was practical to run the next event, a 2-lap handicap, all in. Graeme O’Neill, the limit rider is used to being swamped by the whole field in the final bend. Not this time – as the final bend approached with the field on his heels, Graeme struggled desperately to generate a little more pace. In the end only Hamish Anderson and Ken Birch rode past. Hamish started from a challenging handicap to take the win with great form and determination. Ken’s ride into second place also showed his capacity and improving form. Graeme was happy with third.

The evening finished with the usual all-in Italian Pursuit. There were six riders per team with the teams fairly well matched. Both teams executed their pursuit flawlessly. Team 2 gained a decent lead by mid race, but had only a few metres still in hand as the final lap approached. In the final change over, both Steve Jones (Team 2) and Michael Langdon (Team 1) were well positioned and accelerating. However, as the change completed, Michael stayed out of the saddle and just kept accelerating fiercely until the small Team 2 lead vanished in a few seconds. Michael soon had a comfortable gap for Team 1 and easily held it to the line. It was a great ride by both teams and an exceptional finish by Michael Langdon for the Team 1 win.

Major place getters were as follows:
12-Lap Scratch: (A Grade): Michael Langdon, Steve Jones, Hamish Anderson (B Grade) Steve Hirsler, Phil Anderson, Ross Scutts.
2-Lap Match Race Winners: (A Grade) Michael Langdon, Hamish Anderson, Dougal Torrance. (B Grade) Steve Hirsler, Ken Birch, Phil Anderson.
2-Lap Handicap: (A&B Grade) Hamish Anderson, Ken Birch, Graeme O’Neill.
Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 1 (Michael Langdon, David McCook, Craig Kentwell, Phil Anderson, Phil Coulton, Steve Hirsler.

Season Point Score Update:
Michael Langdon (351), Hamish Anderson (272), Ross Scutts (269), Steve Hirsler (230), Tony Beasley (225), John Paul DeSousa (223), Phil Anderson (181), Phil Coulton (163), Ben Robey (142).

Omnium Progress Points:
Hamish Anderson (11), Rowan McMurray, Michael Langdon, Ken Birch, Steve Hirsler, Phil Anderson (10), Tony Beasley, (9), Kerry Knowler, Dougal Torrance (7), Phil Coulton, Ross Scutts (5) Tim Minehan (4).

Graeme O’Neill