ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 4th March, 2019

Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

• From the Desk of the Handicapper
• Jeff Culnane – Track Bike
• Replacement Marshal
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports

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

Ian Morton

From the Desk of the Handicapper

In a departure from the not-riding-for-sheep-stations format, the club will conduct prize money races on March 12. The format will be combined AB, CD and EFG races with prize money for first to third, a sprint prime and first from the lower grade. The club will match the $10 entry fee for each rider with an additional $10.

Entries will be limited to 40 riders per race so that means the maximum first place prize could be $400! Eligibility rules:

AB riders must be a financial member and have ridden at least one race during the season (starting October).

C to G riders must be a financial member and have ridden at least three races during the season. C to G riders must ride in the highest grade they have ridden during the season. Entries will be via the SportsTG Event website and eligibility will be closely scrutinised to avoid burglars taking the loot. Details to follow in the coming weeks.

Registration now open

Note: Entry is by online registration only. Entries close 10:00pm, 11th March.

Go to https://eventdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=32195&OrgID=10345 and use your SportsTG login. If you have forgotten your password, there is a password reset facility.

Select your event (per the rules above) and confirm your eligibility.

Rob Langridge
Handicapper

Jeff Culnane – Track Bike

Long time club member, Jeff Culnane, a keen trackie for many years has been having health problems recently (he is about to enter treatment for Stage 4 Melanoma) and is keen to offload a fixie;
– Apollo Classic Series;
– Model: Salt
– Crankset: FSA 46 x 16
– Gloss white, deep See rims
– Frame chromo TIG welded 55cm

ASKING PRICE: $175

Please let Jeff know if you are interested at: jeffculnane7@yahoo.com.au.

Thanks,

Graeme O’Neill

Replacement Marshal

A replacment Marshal in required for the 17th March at Old Federal Highway, Please let me know if you are able to fill in.

Thanks,

Ian McKay
imcvay@grapevine.com.au

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 5th March: Stromlo Criterium – Scratch Race

Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
E/F/G @5:50 25 min + 2 laps
A/C @6:20 A 35m+2, C 32m+2
B/D @7:10 B 35m+2, D 32m+2

Race Director:  Nathan Spillane Contact: Email: nwspillane70@gmail.com    Ph  0417661593

Marshals: Stephen Terracini

Wednesday, 6th March: Track Racing

The Program for Wednesday is;
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 8-Lap Graded Scratch;
6.20pm – 6.50pm: 2-Lap SS TT (Omnium);
6.50pm – 7.10pm: 6-Lap Win & Out
7.10pm – 7.30pm: Italian Pursuit.

Sunday, 10th March: No scheduled race due to Canberra Day Long Weekend

Gunning 2 Day marshals

We still don’t have any marshals for Gunning 2 day. So I will shortly need to start nominating people to help. Which may be inconvenient for those hoping to race.

Gunning 2 Day race is on 18-19 May. We will need 6 marshals each day to safely and effectively run the race. If you are planning to race and have a partner, child, friend etc who would be interested in coming to help marshal, please let me know. Early volunteering to do marshalling would be appreciated.

Upcoming Marshal Roster

Thank you to those who have already volunteered to help. Nominees, in blue have been selected based on results from the previous race season and the period since they last helped at a race. Nominees are requested to advise their availability/unavailability to the race committee (race.committee@actvets.cc) as soon as possible.

Summer series crit races are held at Stromlo Forest Park on Tuesday evenings and road races are held on Sunday mornings.

* denotes ETC required for ACT races.

Ian McVay
Race Committee

RACE REPORTS:

Criterium Championships Part 2 – 26th February

Racing for the M3 and M4 was well patronised, with over 20 riders in M3, and another 15 in M4. Over 30 on the track with a very hot pace. M1 and M2 had 10 riders total, but was a remarkable race as well, the pace wasn’t tame either. A special shout out to Leanne who did an excellent job of keeping track of the leaders.

The fields in both M3 and M4 fragmented early, so keeping track of who was where proved challenging. Five riders DNFd in M3 -the pace was that hot- and another two in M4. A couple of riders dropped chains early, which set the tone for the rest of the race. One rider had a puncture.

In M3, Steve Crispin set a hot pace from the outset. The lead group worked together, making the rest of the field fragment. In the end Steve finished strongly (and established a gap) in front of Jeremy Gillman-Wells, and Rob McLauglin.

The M4 race was similar, with Steve Blackburn setting a hot pace and the field fragmented early. A small group breaking away. Only two DNFs, but that’s not the whole story. In the end Steve finished very strongly, in front of Michael Langdon and Neil Skipper.

M1 had two competitors, and were running together with the M2 field. Lewis Cressy from Bradley McCallum.

M2 was most remarkable race because Allan Sieper executed a catch. What an outstanding effort. Matthew Corby and Ben Carmody filled out the rest of the podium. Rainer Wilton was strong early but finished fourth. Two DNFs.

John Marinov

Track Racing – 27th February

Wednesday 27 Feb provided warm, dry conditions for track racing. There was a considerable headwind for riders coming out of Turn 1. The turn-out was again fair, with fifteen riders, 8 in A grade and 7 in B grade.

The initial events were graded scratch races over eight laps. Dougal Torrance led out A Grade at a good clip and the pack settled in for steady riding until lap 6. At this point Martin Graham attacked. However, Martin was not allowed more than around 5 metres lead with Dougal Torrance, Michael Langdon and Tim Minehan pursuing hard. As the bell lap approached, Michael Langdon accelerated around Martin and began to build a big lead. By mid-way through the bell lap, Michael’s lead was 30 metres, allowing him to cruise to victory. There was intense competition for the places, with Dougal Torrance just pipping Alec Millett for second.

The B grade scratch race was tidy initially, with riders rolling over each lap until Ben Davis took the lead around lap 5. The pace was brisk and Ben put in 1.5 laps before noticing that the bunch was setting up to overtake. Ben pulled in to the duckboard and Graeme O’Neill took over just as the pack accelerated round on the outer track. Ross Scutts led out, with a group locked in pursuit and well positioned for the sprint. Phil Anderson and Ian Drayton overtook Ross in the sprint. Phil, who is showing good form of late, took the win. Ian Drayton was returning to track from a layoff, so his second place was impressive. Ross reaped some benefit from his attack, by taking third place.

The second event was a series of paired, 2-lap match races that were part of the omnium championship. Match racing is always interesting to watch, with a variety of tactics being employed to gain a sprint advantage. Most of the races were reasonably close, with a few surprise results. Riders who emerged as winners in their event were Michael Langdon, Martin Graham, Craig Kentwell, Ed Garnett, Phil Anderson, Bruce Griffin and Ken Birch.

The third event was a 2-Lap handicap. This race was all-in with both A and B grades combining to provide a contest for 15 riders. The recent 2-lap handicaps have been very closely contested with the field consolidating rapidly in the last half lap. The pace of this event was hot. The limit rider was easily overhauled by most of the field. Phil Anderson, Ken Birch, Ed Garnett and Ian Drayton barrelled into the finish in that order. Phil was having a good night. Ed Garnett had also raced exceptionally well from a difficult handicap.

The track session closed with an all-in, Italian pursuit. This event had five riders per team and was closely contested for a surprise result. Phil Anderson and Ross Scutts made great starts and set the teams in lockstep. The margin was never more than 1-2 metres as the laps ticked off. On the penultimate lap Alec Millet gained Team 2 about 2 metres lead. With Michael Langdon taking over for Team 1, this did not look sufficient. However, Michael was tiring from heavy competitions over recent days. In addition, his opposition was Dougal Torrance who can always be counted on for a 100% effort. Michael just could not close the gap, giving Team 2 a surprise, but deserved, win.

Place getters for this session were as follows:
8-Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Michael Langdon, Dougal Torrance, Alec Millett. (B Grade) Phil Anderson, Ian Drayton, Ross Scutts.
2-Lap Match Race winners: Michael Langdon, Martin Graham, Craig Kentwell, Ed Garnett, Phil Anderson, Bruce Griffin, Ken Birch.
2-Lap Handicap: (A&B Grade): Phil Anderson, Ken Birch, Ed Garnett.
Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 2 (Dougal Torrance, Tony Beasley, Alec Millett, Tim Minehan, Ross Scutts).

Season Point Score Update:
Michael Langdon (243), Ross Scutts (239), Dougal Torrance (225), Steve Hirsler (196), Phil Anderson (193), Craig Kentwell (162), Bruce Griffin (160), Tony Beasley (150), Hamish Anderson (118).

Current Omnium Points:
Phil Anderson (9), Craig Kentwell (9), Ken Birch (8), Steve Hirsler (8), Ben Davis (8), Michael Langdon (7), Tony Beasley (7), Hamish Anderson (6), Bruce Griffin (6).

Graeme O’Neill