Masters, In this week’s Bleat
- Next Crit Race – Summer Series Evening Criterium Tuesday 02 January 5.50 PM
- Crit Race Report – Tuesday 19 December
- Boxing Day Club Run
- President’s Christmas Message
- President’s Award 2023
- Race calendar can be found here for other race dates needing Officials
RACING – Summer Series Evening Criterium Tuesday 02 January
| Grade | Time | Race Duration [ sunset @ 8:17 ] |
| A/C | 5:50 | A 45mins + 2 laps; C 40mins + 2 laps |
| B/D | 6:20 | B 45mins + 2 laps; D 40mins + 2 laps |
| E/F/G | 6:50 | 30mins + 2 laps |
Race registration is 3:50pm. You need to register by looking up the calendar entry in the RMS https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar
You must wear your CRMCC assigned race number to race. Late registrations will be assessed by race.committee@actvets.cc and if allowed, a late fee of $10 will be applied.
If you are unregistered and show up to the crit track, you must convince a committee member (not the Race Director) of your club member financial status for insurance purposes, before allowed to participate.
Committee member on duty:
**Lights needed if riding home from crits**
CRITS RACE REPORT TUESDAY 19 DECEMBER
2023 Christmas Wheelrace
The Tuesday edition of the 2023 Christmas Wheelrace was a washout but thanks to forward thinking
by club member and CCC President Steve Crispin, we secured the Wednesday night booking for the
show to go on. Many thanks to the shivering Dan Lekhac for keeping time and recording the results,
Paul Robey for blessing the riders and ensuring nobody crashed and for Chris Short and dog for
timing during the wheelrace.
With the diminishing numbers of E, F and G numbers, it was always going to be a battle for those
riders, although there have been times when an F grader puts in a blinder to take line honours.
Robyn Smallwood was our limit rider and she completed her first lap by the time C grade had
started. Lindsay Graham from F grade was one lap ahead when A grade set off. This year’s A grade
combination comprised riders who love a breakaway and suffering, so it was going to be a big task to
hold them off, especially with the strong wind up the home straight. Robyn rode strongly for the first
two and half laps but was swamped by D and C grades coming out of collarbone corner. The big
move was on the bell when A caught C and B on the home straight. (See Lucy Stewart’s video of the
chaos of the bell lap on FB). Trent Smyth was the first to attack from A grade, gaining a 30m gap by
the back straight, but it was the efforts of Stu Griffiths and Steve Crispin that brought it back
together for a three-up sprint in the home straight. In the dash for the line, Steve took the honours
over Trent and Stu. Luca Manson was the one rider to break A’s stranglehold on the race to claim
fourth, ahead of Jason Irwin.
Steve bagged a $100 Majura Trek Store voucher for first, while second and third were rewarded with
a bags of nuts from Chimida café in Lyneham.
Wheelrace qualifying rounds
The wheelrace qualifying rounds had reduced numbers but plenty of action.
A grade roared into action with Steve Crispin and Trent Smyth breaking away very early on. A very
strong group of Stu Griffiths, Michael Tolhurst, Jason Irwin and Denis Mungoven tried chasing but it
was to no avail. Trent took out the sprint from Steve with Stu taking third ahead of the over
pursuers.
B grade followed a similar pattern. Krusty Bryant got away early with Ed Pellegrino, quickly
establishing a huge gap over the bunch, despite the efforts of Darren Blackhurst. Ed took the win
from Krusty, with Matthew Pooley the bunch sprint winner in third.
C grade rolled around conservatively, perhaps saving their legs should they qualify for the
wheelrace. Bruce McMillan won the sprint from Terry Danaher and Mark Vardy.
Similarly, D grade were content to cruise along while counting down the minutes. Owing to the
proximity of the grades, I decided to finish C before D, which might have caused some confusion,
especially when I held up the wrong sign but was quickly correctly by the ever-observant Ian Morton.
With the bell ringing Tony Sheehan shot to the lead, quickly putting in a gap over his rivals. Despite
being a miscalculation on Tony’s part, he held off the chasing mob to score his greatest D grade
victory. Knocking-on-the-C-grade-door Liz Lowe won the bunch sprint from Ian Morton.
Point Score Winners
Road winter 2023
Women
Lowe Elizabeth 67
Powell Sue 55
Taylor Shirley-Anne 44
Men
Crispin Steve 107
Taylor Mark K 82
Irwin Jason 72
2022-2023 Road Summer
Women
Stals Linda 79
Lowe Elizabeth 73
Riley Cat 55
Men
Crispin Steve 130
Hanbury Michael 108
Tiffen Gerard 107
Rob Langridge
Boxing Day Club Run
Masters,
Should it not be bucketing down on Boxing Day, the recovery ride will start at 8.00 am sharp
outside the Jolimont Centre on Northbourne Ave. This year’s ride will follow the usual format:
two nominated sensible riders will lead along Federal and Old Federal highways with slower riders
positioned immediately behind the leaders (so they don’t get dropped if the bunch is broken
up by traffic light changes) and faster riders go to the back. All riders are responsible for
preventing the bunch from splitting up. If half the bunch suddenly disappears from behind
you, it’s your responsibility to pass this message to the front of the group so that they know to
stop and wait. This will be a relaxed ride and not a race.
We all stay together until the top of Washingmachine Hill. There, riders have a choice of
going on to Lake George, the gravel pit or wherever. Those who’ve had too much Christmas
cheer can wait in the shade at the top of the hill. They can then join one of the bunches on the
return leg. All those keen to make the most of this once-a-year club ride can gather at a
nominated coffee shop at the end of the ride.
David Parker and Rob Langridge
President’s Christmas Message
The club has now been in existence for 30 years, quite an achievement in times of change with many
administrative and compliance issues added in the last few years. Our cycle racing is always about
friendly safe competition and will be the objective of the club for the future. Thank you to those who
celebrated the achievement at our social event at the Statesmans Hotel in Curtin recently. While a
small crowd it was a happy and convivial group.
A thank you to all committee members who have kept us on track through 2023. The race committee
lead by David Parker our Vice President, well assisted by Chris Short, Ed Logue, Rob Langridge and
Conan Liu for their persistence and ensuring all requirements are met. Much has been achieved and
while some challenges, the year has been a success with the variety and number of events completed.
Sadly a few cancellations due to weather or lack of sufficient participants/volunteers to run the event.
We completed a modified Gunning/Breadalbane Tour – reduced to one day and only the 2 races.
While the lowest number I have experienced in this event it was a great day, including good weather
for racing/cycling.
Another challenging year with our race program and thank you to everyone who has contributed
including all our race day volunteers and those from the Race Committee, Membership, Secretary and
Bleat editor. Apart from our open race program all racing has been attended well throughout the year
when weather was fine. A special thank you to those behind the scenes support with van maintenance
from Chris Nolan, photographs at many events from Ian Hutchings, web support from Andrew
Remely and Allan Bontjer.
By now you should have already received your renewal for 2024. There has been a modest increase
which is attributed to the club component being increased from $0 to $20 to allow us to cover planned
increase in administrative overheads with road racing in 2024 in the hope to attract more participation.
This year the national body has decided to save money by moving to a new platform for registration
which means we all will have to create a new login for the new application called Hello Club member
registration system.
Our race program is now set for 2024 and we will need your continued support to ensure its success.
If you have any suggestions for improvement please direct your thoughts to a committee member or
write an email to committee@actvets.cc
Early in February is our AGM and a few committee members are retiring or stepping back. All
positions are available including a role for The Bleat compiler. The club likes to have about 10
members on the committee to cover all the roles. If you wish to find out more about roles and have a
copy of the nomination form please contact our secretary Craig on secretary@actvets.cc
The AGM is scheduled for Monday 5 February, details to follow.
A big thank you goes to Ian Morton who was our Bleat editor and on the committee for many years,
our Secretary Craig who was a committee member for about 4 years and Kevin our treasurer who will
join me in stepping down at the AGM. It is time for a renewal on the committee and to take a
reinvigorated and renewed direction for the club. If you feel like you can contribute and are up for a
challenge please nominate for the committee. I am happy to discuss with anyone wishing to find out
more and you can contact me via email on president@actvets.cc
I also thank all of our committee and their contribution this year.
Thank you all for choosing to be part of the Capital Region Masters Cycling Club and I hope you will
continue to do so as long as you can while you enjoy cycling and racing and the camaraderie of the
membership.
Some of the other challenges we have experienced apart from the continuing reduction in
participation of the open road racing has been the introduction of parking fees for events at Stromlo
Forrest Park, the late notification of the building of the new school which will take away the
Swallowtail Road from any extension to the criterium track and the continued reduction in ETCs
without training to replace new and interested volunteers. I will be attending a meeting in early
February about the changed conditions to temporary traffic control nationally.
We have implemented an approach of managing events and registration with more flexibility to
volunteer as race marshals etc or change registration. Due to the large number of late registrations we
implemented a late fee. People are always able to shift race entities if circumstances change. This
has been done with great help from members of our race committee and made it easier for you all.
Where possible we have tried Sunday and Saturday events and luckily been able to shift our Xmas
Wheel race to a day later after poor weather.
Our race program resumes on 2 January with a criterium. Please see the event calendar to sign up to
participate.
I wish you all a happy and safe break and Merry Xmas and a prosperous New Year to all. May you
stay upright and have a great experience with your cycling.
Kim Malcolm
President’s Award 2023
This is an award made to someone who contributes to the club, is determined by the president and it
enables the recipient to have their fees reimbursed for next year.
Rob has made a consistent contribution to the club all the time I have been a member, either as a
mentor to other cyclists or to running of the club at committee level.
We all know him as our club handicapper and this he has done for sometime and does it with good
grace and command of his experience as a competitive cyclist.
We appreciate the efforts he has put into the club as a cycle racer and committee member to keep our
race program running.
Robert’s knowledge of the sport and the history of the club has helped us to deliver the events we
have during the years. He is also the one to go to if we need advice on situations or events and he
usually has a balanced view and effective solution.
This year has had many challenges as our open road race program has fallen to very poor attendances.
Rob suggested changes and some have helped keep racing going with Sutton Series this year
encouraging more participation.
He also fills gaps when we have roles to fill whether it be a Race Director/Referee or ETC or
Marshall. This included him stepping up for our Xmas Wheel Race tonight.
His skill at keeping groups separated on the criterium track at the finish is legend. He makes some of
us feel it is a skill we don’t have a chance of acquiring.
This year Robert has also contributed to arranging race prizes, running the Downtube Shifter Derby
and organising our one social event for our 30th year at The Statesmans Hotel in Curtin.
Robert is also our Welfare Officer who keeps track of former and old members and following up on
those injured in a race.
He does this with no fuss and is always calm and usually collected when going about our cycling
business.
Congratulations Robert and well deserved.
Kim Malcolm
The 30th Anniversary Bleat has been posted on the Club Website.
Please see the following link:
The Bleat
If you would like to contribute to the Club and put the Bleat together each week, please reach our to us!
