ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 30th July, 2018

Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

• Racing this Week
• Race Report

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

Ian Morton

RACING THIS WEEK:

Saturday, 4th August: Lookout Hill Time Trial – M & H Age Standard

Where: Observation lookout on Tidbinbilla Road about 2.5 km towards Tharwa from Point Hut / Tidbinbilla Rd intersection (or about 4.5 km from Tharwa village).
When: 1:30 pm.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
20km Time Trial course – Tharwa – Pt Hut – finish.

Race Director: Rohan Verco Contact: Email: Rohan.Verco@gmail.com    Ph  0419730555

Marshals: Edward Joliffe, Robert Miller, Patrick McNamara

Upcoming Marshal Roster

Thank you to those who volunteered to help (noted below in black) at the races to September. The remaining nominees (in blue) have been selected based on results from the previous summer race season and the period since they last helped at a race. Please advise your availability or unavailability to the race committee (race.committee@actvets.cc) as soon as possible.

I am also looking for more nominations to help in the ‘vacant’ positions at the Summer series races to the end of the year. Crit races at Stromlo Forest Park on Tuesdays will require a Race Director and one Marshal. Summer road races are on Sunday mornings.

* denotes ETC required for ACT races.

Ian McVay
Race Committee

RACE REPORTS:

Sutton Road Driver Training Centre – 28th July

The club turned out in strength for our first race at this venue in several years, 58 riders across all grades, on a warm winter afternoon with a moderate breeze. The circuit is 2.5km long, has 45m of uphill, and is in good nick with some rougher bitumin but no potholes. When racing the natural inclination is to punch up each of the short sharp hills on the twisty back section, which has a cumulative effect over the race. There are a couple of tight corners to test handling skills, and then a fast sweeping downhill to the long finishing straight. It makes for great racing: a nice change from and more challenging than Stromlo; and much more fun than Dairy Flat, which I have never liked. Everyone finished the race with sore legs but broad smiles, and looking forward to next time. The Race Committee has booked the venue for four more races.

It’s also a great place to direct. You can’t see the whole course but you do have a great view of the straight and the first part of the back section. We ran this race in three cohorts: AB; CD and EFG, with slower grades started after the first grade moved off. That turned out well, with minimal lapping, but there is so much room on the circuit we could easily race more grades together. Brendan suggested putting the whole club out in grade sequence. That would probably work, since on this circuit there would be no difficulty overtaking by faster grades. However, I suggest trying two cohorts next time: ABC, and then DEFG, which should still enable easy tracking of grades and their laps. The racing times could then be lengthened, and/or the event finished earlier.

A grade had eight riders, which neatly split into two groups of four after a few laps: Steve Crispin, Tom Hartley, Brendan Byatt and Robin Mules out front, and four “A2” riders enjoying our own race at the back. Brendan and Robin both fell off the front later. Brendan lost ground each time through the two tight turns to the shorter, nippier, Steve and Tom, until he could not get back on. Not easy to race round tight corners if you are 2m tall. Steve and Tom demonstrated their strength by lapping the back four in the final finishing straight, Steve was first.

The B grade bunch was the biggest, with 17 riders. They mostly stayed together as a bunch, until Heath Wade and Tim Brown surged strongly away with a few laps to go. Heath won from Tim, with Bruce Goodfellow sprinting from the bunch for third.

In C-grade the tandem of Ashley Curruthers and Lindy Hou were clear at the end of the first lap, and their lead steadily improved over the race. It was a pleasure to watch their work. Ashley may be the club’s most skilful rider. He pilots an awesome A-grade tandem with Don Mankewich, and a fast C-grade tandem with Lindy, which may be bumped to B-grade on this dominant performance. Anthony Meredith won a well-timed strong bunch sprint for second, just ahead of Chris Daley for third.

D grade had 11 riders, which reduced into a lead bunch of 6, with the rest making their own individual pace. Michael Hanbury came steaming home ahead of Stephen Simms and Anthony Beasley. My courage award goes to Gillian Lugg, who found the going tough riding alone further back, but quickened in the last two laps and gained some places.

E grade had a solid race with most riders staying in the bunch and riding strongly together. Russel Marston finished not far ahead of Jan Koehler, Linda Stahls, and Rosemary Robinson.

F grade and Polly Templeton, our sole G grade rider, raced together. Ian Morton built up a lead and won well ahead of Robert Miller and Nigel Wines. Polly rode with, and then ahead of, a few F graders and may deserve a promotion.

Many thanks to: the Race Committee whose hard work secured the excellent venue; Simon Whitehead our friendly Sports Med paramedic who cleverly positioned his van with a view of the two tight turns where a stack was most likely, but none eventuated; Kirsty Cummin who marshalled; Jan Koehler who looked after the AB race with Kirsty so I could ride; and Graham Hendrie who brought our van of club gear and rendered his usual invaluable assistance.

Roger Northcote