ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 3rd June, 2019

Hello Vets,

In the Bleat this week;

• From the Desk of the President
• From the Desk of the Handicapper
• Racing this Week
• From the Race Committee
• Race Report

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

Ian Morton

From the Desk of the President

Gunning

A huge shout out to all those, including the riders, that made Gunning so successful. Thanks to those who provided feedback on the race. We’re taking all your feedback into account. Look out for a bigger and better event next year.

First aiders

Calling all first aiders or medically trained professionals. The club would like to have a database of all those with first aid qualifications and their expiry dates. We’re keen to have as many people trained in first aid as possible so you, as a rider, can have confidence that someone in the bunch can assist should you need it. We woukd also like to know if you’re first aid trained so that when it’s your turn to marshal we have a potential first aider should our first aid provider not be able to attend a race. To support club members gain these qualifications, the club has put in a submission to the ACT Government for funding for members to partake in courses. Please reply to the bleat (i.e just hit reply) with details of your first aid qualifications.

Here come the young ‘uns.

Recent changes to the Australian Veterans Cycling Council (AVCC) National Constitution include a change to the minimum age of male riders. In line with the minimum age for women, the minimum age for men for all AVCC clubs including the ACT Veterans Cycling Club will be dropped to 30 years of age effective immediately. There are 15 races between now and October so tell those young blokes you know that it’s worth joining up.

Dougal Torrance
President
ACT Veterans Cycling Club

From the Desk of the Handicapper

Changes this week;

Gerrard Tiffen B to A

Rob Langridge
Handicapper

1. Special thanks to Tony Beasley who stopped to help when I was fixing my 2nd puncture of the day on the Federal Highway on Saturday. Tony leapt out of his car like a pro mechanic with pump in hand and also provided an inner tube with the correct valve length.

RACING THIS WEEK:

Saturday, 8th June: No scheduled race – Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend

From the Race Committee

Event Traffic Controller course for 22 June 2019

The next ETC Training course is on Saturday 22nd June. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY – ACT Government is funding the training.

We currently only have about 40 ETCs from a club of 300 members. Members need to share the burden of helping to run races. Having enough traffic controllers available in the club is critical to our ability to run races in the ACT and it is likely we will need to have ETCs for NSW races in the future. ETCs are eligible for reimbursement of $100 for marshalling at ACT road races.

Course details are available on Blended Learning’s web site – http://www.blendedlearning.edu.au/home/courses/programs-courses/event-traffic-controller/.

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 REPORT:

Graded scratch – Old Federal Highway – 1st June:

Despite the harsh weather earlier in the week, there were great conditions for Saturday’s graded scratch out on the Old Federal Highway. Sunshine and light winds greeted 46 members, including a great representation from E grade of 12 riders.

In A grade, 7 starters kept together for most of the race with Bradley Peppinck getting the better of Neil Skipper and Marc Vroomans in a closely fought final sprint.

B grade, the 10 riders also stayed together until the finish line where Gerard Tiffin pulled out a comfortable 5 second gap over Paul Welsh and Aaron Sedgmen.

C grade, with only 7 of the 10 starters finishing, produced another close finish with Ed Logue first and Kevin Woods and Stephen Schwenke neck and neck for second and third.

On the start line, D grade tried unsuccessfully to recruit a number of E graders to race “up”. Having failed, the three took off for a lonely 4 laps. At the finish line, Des Brown narrowly pipped Tony Beasley in an epic sprint with Felipe Lopes Reis following a little later.

There were 12 starters for E grade, which quickly split out into several groups who chased each other for the rest of the race. In the end, Alex Sommariva prevailed over Donald de Smet and Ross Robinson in another close sprint.

F graders, Rosemary Robinson, Robert Soloman and Polly Templeton came over the finish line with some gaps between them, but with only 3 starters, all managed a podium finish.

And as solo entrant, Bernie Crowe took out all the honours in G grade.

A special thanks to turn marshals Peter Young and Tony O’Connor and to Tess McLachlan and Brian Chugg in the lead and rear vehicles.

Also, thanks to Ian Morton – signage, Simon Whitehead – first aid and Graham Hendrie – timekeeping.

David Stewart-Thomson