Hello Vets,

In the Bleat this week;

•  Heat Warning

•  Seeking female ACT Vets members for online focus groups

•  From the Desk of the Handicapper

•  2021 AGM – Held in a COVID Safe Environment

•  COVID-19 Restrictions

•  Racing this Week

•  Race Reports

Ian Morton
thebleat@actvets.cc

Heat Warning

ACT Veterans Cycling ClubVets,The temperature for tomorrow’s Crit Race (12th Jan) and Wednesday’s track (13th Jan) is forecast to reach the mid-30’s.Members are urged to take care in the hot conditions. Ensure you drink plenty of water before, during and after the race.Riders who feel unwell during the race should stop and seek assistance from the First Aid attendant.

Seeking female ACT Vets members for online focus groups

The ACT Vets Cycling Club has engaged an external evaluator, Erin, to how we can engage with our membership and broader target group, to identify what works well and what can be improved. Many of you participated in an online survey late in 2020.

Erin is conducting two online focus groups with female members (former members are also welcome). These focus groups will provide an opportunity for female members to provide their direct feedback about the club, discuss specific issues emerging from the survey findings, and consider how the club may better respond to their interests.

Focus groups will be held via the online platform Zoom, at the following times:

  • 4:00pm, Sunday 24 January 2021
  • 7:30pm, Wednesday 27 January 2021

If you would like to participate or want further information, please contact erinbarry@hotmail.com.

If you would like to contribute but are unable to attend these session times, please contact Erin to arrange a separate time for a phone call.

For more information about the evaluation activities, visit the ACTVCC website: https://actvets.cc/about/have-your-say-actvcc-survey.

From the Desk of the Handicapper

Promotions

Simon Costello B to A road
Heath Wade B to A
Christophe Barbaret B to A
Gareth Downey C to B
Craig Coleman D to C

Rob Langridge
Handicapper

2021 AGM – Held in a COVID Safe Environment

The AGM for 2021 will be held on Monday 15th February 2021 at 7:00pm in the Loft Meeting Room at the Raiders Club Weston.

COVID-19 Restrictions

There are conditions for travelers from other states.

Members should stay home if you have been feeling unwell or showing symptoms of COVID-19 or been in contact with someone who has felt unwell in the past 2 weeks.

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 12th January: Stromlo Criterium

Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
A/C 5:50 A 45m+2, C 40m+2
B/D 6:40 B 45m+2, D 40m+2
E/F/G 7:30 30 min + 2 laps

Race Director:  Bradley Peppinck Contact: Email: bradpeppinck@hotmail.com    Ph  0478 028 598

Marshals: Wayne Benham

Wednesday, 13th January: Track Racing

The Program for Wednesday is;
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 8-lap graded scratch race;
6.20pm – 6.50pm: 200m fly.
6.50pm – 7.10pm: Graded mystery race.
7.10pm – 7.30pm: Italian pursuit

Sunday, 17th January – No scheduled race

Road Racing will resume on Sunday 24th January.

RACE REPORTS:

SFP Criterium – 5th January

Despite the weather initially threatening to spoil the evening, Tuesday night races went ahead with remarkably good conditions – a little windy at the start and a strong sea breeze blowing in the last few minutes of the final race. Overall the quality of the racing this evening was very good, entertaining and all riders arrived at the finish safely and without incident.

B and D Grades lead off the evening in warm and sunny conditions. Whilst D Grade stayed together for the majority of the race B Grade was another matter altogether. Darren Blackhurst and Heath Wade broke away from the bunch about a third of the way through the race with Darren ultimately going back to the bunch whilst Heath strongly stayed away for the rest of the race, maintaining a lead up about the length of the straight. In the last few laps Christophe Barbaret made a brave attack off the front to try to bridge over to Heath but without success. Heath “comfortably” took out the race from Christophe with Conan Liu winning the bunch sprint for third. After a steady start David Hennessy and Bruce Griffin had a crack off the front of the D Grade with about 10 minutes to go but without success. The bunch finish in D Grade saw Craig Coleman take the win from Anthony Dick and Brian Chugg.

Grades F and G started together and E Grade raced on their own. These bunches pretty much stayed apart for the full length of the race. Jeff Ellacott in his first race in F grade did very well and attacked the bunch about halfway through the race but did not stay away. E Grade stayed together for the majority of the race until Penelope Anderson put the pressure on with a few laps to go, causing the bunch to disintegrate quite quickly. Penelope took out E Grade from Rosemary Robinson and Chris Copeland. F Grade was ultimately won by Dennis Puniard from Jeff Ellacott and Edward Joliffe. Gai Monahan had a quiet race in G Grade and finished strongly.

The final race of the evening was A Grade and C Grade and conditions were close to perfect. Right from the start Stephen Terracini and Frank Zeller took off in a strong break in C Grade and stayed away for quite a few laps. Once caught, Stephen Jones attacked to get away for several laps as well, but without success ultimately. Gareth Downey was prominent towards the end of the race in covering all breaks and ultimately succeeded in winning the sprint followed by Stephen Jones and Lance Purdon coming in third. The small A Grade field was remarkably intact for most of the race with riders seemingly intent on maintaining a high steady pace rather than riding too aggressively. Paul Scherl suffered an untimely puncture with a handful of laps to go and was able to rejoin but did not contest the sprint. In a tight sprint hampered by a strong easterly that has just blown in Mark Vroomans took the win from Matthew Corby and Steve Crispin.

Phil Walker

Track Racing – 6th January

The track session scheduled for 6 January was cancelled due to unsuitable weather conditions for racing.

Season Point Score Update:
Phil Anderson (124), Ian Drayton (114), Steve Jones (113), John Paul De Sousa (111), Phil Coulton (105), Ken Birch (103), James Newhouse (99), Bruce Griffin (85), Alison Hale (83), Ben Robey (82).

Graeme O’Neill