Masters,
Plenty to cover in this week’s Bleat;
• 2023 Annual General Meeting
• From the Desk of the Handicapper
• From the Race Committee
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports
Ian Morton
thebleat@actvets.cc
2023 Annual General Meeting
The AGM for the Capital Region Masters Cycling Club for 2023 will be held on Monday 13th February at 7:00pm at the Raiders Club Weston.
Members are invited to attend in person or can join via a zoom meeting (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88327935272?pwd=VGZaL242bDhvMSt0bUZ3bHBBMkt3Zz09).
For those that use zoom we need you to register your attendance. Use Chat in zoom to fully identify yourself. For example “Joe Blow is attending CRMCC AGM”.
NOTE: Any Apologies should be advised to the secretary.
Craig Tozer
Secretary Capital Region Masters Cycling Club
secretary@actvets.cc
Membership Secretary
The Membership Secretary position will become vacant at this year’s AGM.
The Membership Secretary is responsible for maintaining a current list of financial members of the club. The duties of the Membership Secretary include:
- monitoring the AVCC member registration system (currently SportsTG GameDay Classic) for new and renewing members
- uploading member details from the membership system to RMS
- issuing race numbers to new members and replacement numbers to existing members where required
- allocating temporary race numbers to trial riders, entering trial rider details in RMS and forwarding trial rider details to AVCC
- reporting on membership issues at committee meetings
Ideally, the Membership Secretary will be highly organised and have good attention to detail.
To nominate for the Membership Secretary or any other Committee position, you can download a nomination from: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tt7NK_6jAoJRclpWUiMxWRqO1aaT_5pH
From the Desk of the Handicapper
Promotions
Craig O’Neall C to B
Nathan King D to C
Andrew Peel D to C
Downtube Shifter Derby
Steel bike aficionados mark February 21st on the calendar for the Downtube Shifter Derby!
This race will be a criterium for bikes with downtube shifters. Members are welcome to convert carbon bikes to use such shifters but will be interviewed by healthcare professionals after the race. The derby will be 15 minutes plus one lap starting at 1730. Races may be seeded depending on the number of entrants. Riders must wear an approved helmet, have a roadworthy bike and wear non-arse-crack revealing kit. Old jerseys and knicks are most welcome. Further details to come.
Date: 21 February
Time: 1730
Duration: 15 minutes plus one lap
Rules: Must ride bike with downtube shifters
Rob Langridge (Steel bike nutter)
Handicapper
From the Race Committee
CRMCC Kit
The CRMCC Kit Portal is now open with MVMNT.Club until 13th Feb (one week only). So please head over to the link below and have a look at what is on offer. Jimmy has also included some heavily discounted MVMNT jerseys in there at the bottom of the page. So check them out!
Link here:
https://mvmnt.club/collections/crmcc-custom-portal
Stromlo Parking
The ACT Government has announced a decision to upgrade the existing SFP carpark to help manage increased visitation and to improve user safety. Construction is expected to start in Autumn and completed by the end of the year (weather permitting). As the works will be completed in stages, SFP will continue to offer onsite parking spaces throughout the construction period.
Once the new carpark is complete, the ACT Government has taken the decision to introduce paid parking at Stromlo Forest Park, with 100% of revenue to be reinvested back into the maintenance and improvement of the park, including the mountain bike trails.
This means all funds raised from paid parking will directly contribute to the ongoing development and repairs/maintenance of the park, including new and upgraded trails and facilities.
The parking fees will be modest, and an annual SFP parking pass will be available for frequent users.
Costings for paid parking will be as follows:
| Period | Fee |
| 15 minutes | Free |
| 15 minutes to 3 hours | $1.75 |
| 3 hours to 6 hours | $2.75 |
| 6 hours + | $3.90 |
| Annual pass | $87.00 |
This year, the ACT Government will also begin work on a five-year Stromlo Forest Park Trails Masterplan, that will involve public consultation. This Trails Masterplan will review existing trails and plan for new trails for key site users including runners, mountain bike riders, road cyclists, equestrian riders and the general public.
Trial Rides
At the last committee meeting, the Committee agreed to reduce the number of permitted trial rides from two trial rides to one ride in any calendar year. This will make it easier for the Membership Secretary to monitor the number of trial rides that a rider has taken. The website and online trial membership form have been updated to reflect this change.
Road Races and Directors
We are still lacking a few Race Directors for upcoming races. Anyone able to assist, please advise the Race Committee (race.committe@actvets.cc).
Registration for 2023
All members must be registered prior to racing in 2023.
RACING THIS WEEK:
Tuesday, 7th February: Stromlo Criterium
Note: Registration required by 7 Feb 2023 3:50 pm.
Any requests for Grade changes should be sorted out with the Handicapper prior to registration.
Late entries may be considered in exceptional circumstances. Please email race.committee@actvets.cc
Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Race Description:
E/F/G 5:50 28 min 2 laps
A/C 6:25 A 40m 2, C 35m 2
B/D 7:20 B 40m 2, D 35m 2
Race Director: Steve Crispin Contact: Email: steven.crispin@ed.act.edu.au Ph: 0419 429 453
Marshals: Kerrie Muir
Thursday, 9th February: Track Racing
The Program for Thursday is;
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice.
8-lap graded scratch,
4-lap Handicap,
Win & Out,
Italian Pursuit
Sunday, 12th February – No Scheduled Race
RACE REPORTS:
Track Racing – 2nd February
The evening started out sunny with very gusty winds. Attendance was 14 riders.
A Scratch (10 laps)
The CRMCC A Grade riders were greeted with 43 kmph NW winds – the traditional two laps for Tim Jolly on the front set the scene for the scratch. Warwick Wilson once again when on the front picked the pace up for each of his 2 laps. Then with 4 laps to go Conan Liu lifted the bunch again, the field went high on the track unable to replicate that pace. Martin Graham could – and split up A grade with a devastating attack with 2 laps to go – Martin got at least a half lap break – he was then tracked down by Craig Kentwell, Con Liu and Tim Jolly whom worked well together to catch Martin to set up a close and fast finish – Tim Jolly 1st, Conan Liu 2nd, Craig Kentwell 3rd.
B Scratch (10 laps)
B Grade completed the traditional 333 metre one lap turns at a sedate pace into the head wind on the back straight. With 2 laps to go Peta Brill, (riding all grades on the night as she couldn’t decide which grade to go in); put in a strong attack – and Ed Garnett quickly got on her wheel, so too Ali Hale had to quickly cover off on Peta’s attack. James Newhouse after seasons points was planning his attack. Ali Hale was able to attack with 1.5 laps to go and then James Newhouse counter attacked low on the track setting up a drag race to the finish – a very exiting race had multiple attacks in the back straight with ½ a lap to go with the final result – Ali Hale 1st, James Newhouse 3rd and Sarah Stephens 3rd.
Match Race
Riders were placed in a pool for match sprints – a coin was tossed to see which rider would lead out the other. The match sprint goes for 2 laps with a start from the Bundadome fence. These match sprints were close and tactical races. Results below:
| Result | ||
| T. Jolly | C. Liu | TJ |
| JP. DeSousa | G. Stephens | GS |
| W. Wilson | C. Kentwell | WW |
| M.Graham | H. Anderson | HA |
| P. Brill | A. Hale | PB |
| J. Newhouse | I. Drayton | JN |
| E. Garnett | S. Stephens | SS |
Italian Pursuit
On paper a very even match up with 7 riders on each team. Team 2 started very smoothly – the teams remained even for the first few riders – no gaps. The strong Team 1 midfield got them ahead – with Team 2 fighting back in the midfield as well. However, this race came down the last few riders of each team – with the Team 1 anchor, Conan Liu putting in a scorching final lap to pull Team 1 further ahead for the win.
Michael Langdon’s Italian Pursuit commentary here.
Season Point Score Update:
Tim Jolly 264, Alison Hale 229, James Newhouse 229, Craig Kentwell 196, Conan Liu 182, Steve Jones 148, Ed Garnett 134, John Paul De Sousa 133, Wayne Benham 111, Warwick Wilson 110, Mark Canaider 89, Hamish Anderson 87, Karen Clutson 86, Ian Drayton 86, Graeme O’Neill 78, Ben Davis 66
Michael Langdon
Uriarra Homestead Handicap – 5th February
The Uriarra Homestead Handicap race saw an eventful start to the 2023 road calendar. The weather conditions were perfect with clear skies and a light breeze. 41 riders registered for the fast race with three laps of the short course.
Chris Copeland set off solo at 22mins with a 6 strong E grade close behind. He was soon joined by E grade thanks to Shirley-Anne Taylor driving a high pace. Mark Taylor and Terry Moore were also strong in D grade only 2 minutes behind but C grade had the numbers and were looking ominous on their first lap. B grade were down one rider but Craig Lindenmayer, Marc Vroomans and Mark Harris were determined to catch the larger group ahead. However A1 and A2 never let them out their sites and were soon together thanks to the Gerard Tiffen express that was hitting 65km/h on the run to the bottom turn.
Unfortunately Kate Vandenberg came off at speed on the downward run of the second lap and had a nasty fall. I am grateful for the support she received from the riders from C and D grade who stayed with her until Paul Robey and eventually the ambulance arrived. This ended their race but is an excellent example of club spirit. We all wish Kate a speedy recovery.
A and B grade caught the front runners from the remains of E grade in third lap and really put on the afterburners. Their last lap was run at an average speed well above 40km/h. On the last turn, Steve Crispin put a gap into the bunch and kept them a bay all the way to the line, taking a strong win ahead of Jason Irwin and Stuart Griffiths. It was good to see the B grade bunch all finished in the top 10.
A huge thanks to the Lindsay Graham, Frank O’Sullivan, David Dickson, Paul Robey and Ben Healy for marshalling the race. They worked tirelessly to put out the road signs, sweep the debris from the road and even run to the shop to get milk for the post race cuppa. Thanks also to Club President, David Parker for helping pull everything together over the weekend..
Damian Copeland
Kate Vandenberg would like to thank all those who assisted her after her crash during Sunday’s handicap. She’s making a great recovery and already concerned about the welfare of her bike.
