Masters, In this week’s Bleat
- Next Crit Race – Summer Series Evening Criterium Tuesday 27 February 5.50 PM
- Narrabundah Track Racing – Thursday 29 February, 5.30 PM
- Next Road Race – Mount Tennent Terror – handicap Sunday 3 March from 09.00 AM
- Crit racing report 20 February – Brian Peak
- Track Racing Report 22 February – Graeme O’Neill
- Handicapper’s message – Rob Langridge
- Membership message
- Pedal Power petition – John Barlow
- Race calendar can be found here for other race dates needing officials
UPCOMING RACING
Summer Series Evening Criterium Tuesday 27 February
Race director Robert Solomon, marshal Ross Heazlewood
| Grade | Time | Race Duration [ sunset @ 7:45 ] |
| B/D | 5:50 | B 35mins + 2 laps; D 32mins + 2 laps |
| E/F/G | 6:35 | 25 mins + 2 laps |
| A/C | 7:05 | A 35mins + 2 laps; C 32mins + 2 laps |
Race registration cut-off 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@crmcc.org.au 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.
NARRABUNDAH TRACK RACING – THURSDAY 29 FEBRUARY, 5.30 PM
Enjoy racing on the leap day.
The Program for Thursday is as follows:
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice.
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 8-lap graded scratch race.
6.20pm – 6.50pm: 2-lap paired match races (Omnium event 3).
6.50PM – 7.10pm: 2-lap handicap
7.10pm – 7.30pm: Italian pursuit.
Please register and pay $10 for this session by looking up the calendar entry in the RMS
https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar
As we have moved to online registration and payment, we no longer accept cash on the day.
NEXT ROAD RACE AT SMITHS ROAD – NAAS ROAD, MOUNT TENNENT TERROR HANDICAP – SUNDAY, 3 MARCH 09.00 AM
Course is two laps from Smiths Road over Mt Tennent spur to Apollo Road and return for approximately 36km.
We require one ETC, two marshals and a van driver for the event to be run.
Contact race.committee@crmcc.org.au if you can help the club.
First group to roll-off at 0900 with each subsequent grade starting at the timing of the handicapper.
Estimated finish time for the race is around 1015-1020 AEDT.
Directions: South of Tharwa.
Members to park on the side of Smiths Road and start just around the corner on Naas Road.
Current forecast for Sunday is 11-24 degrees and cloudy.
RACING REPORTS
STROMLO CRIT RACING REPORT- TUESDAY 20 FEBRUARY
E/F/G – 25 minutes + 2 laps
E, F and G grades set off together into a light coolish easterly with a foreboding of rain, and so they stayed together for the first couple of laps. It wasn’t long after what appeared to be a loosening up of the knees, hips and associated muscles that the E Graders started to pull away from the others, with Bob Miller requesting mid lap to be upgraded from F to E (Mr Handicapper!). This left Lindsay Graham off the back but chasing hard on his own, with Paul Robey, Gai Monahan, Robyn Smallwood and Denis Puniard giving it their all to stay in the hunt. Coming into the back straight and into a headwind on the bell lap the pace was on and Bruce Griffin thought it was about time to give it a crack and attempted to do a flyer on the other E Graders, who had been together for the entire race. They were soon out of the saddle and chasing to close down Bruce’s attack.
In the end Bruce was swamped rounding the top corner, with Charles Black (M6) taking the win from Rico Fitch (M9) second and Chris Copeland (M8) third.
Lindsay Graham (M11) was first place in F Grade managing to stay well clear of Denis Puniard (M10) second and Paul Robey (M10) third.
In G Grade it was Robyn Smallwood (F9) first with Gai Monahan (F9) second.
A Grade – 35 minutes + 2
With 45 riders on the course this was the largest grouping of the evening. With the A Graders away it wasn’t long before a breakaway of Morrison, Rizzuto, Griffiths and Crispin set a cracking pace to ride off the front of the pack. Six minutes in and Crispin was back in the pack and the leading trio were working well together, maintaining a healthy lead. Ten minutes in and it was all over for most of the pack, with many being shelled then lapped, and spread around the entire track. In the final sprint to the line it was Ben Morrison (M3) with a nice margin to Stuart Griffiths (M1) second and Matthew Rizzuto (M5) third.
C Grade 32 Minutes + 2
C Grade were a touch more conservative for the first few laps before Damian Copelend decided it was time to head off and test the waters and see who would follow. This raised the tempo and slowly stretched the chasing pack, which eventually split into two groups with Damian back in the lead group at about the halfway mark. By this time the A Graders had rounded up C Grade several times and it was getting hard to keep track of who was leading, and again who had been lapped. Michael Hanbury was doing a great job working hard on the front of the lead group, but in the sprint to the line it was John Botherton (M6) first, Anthony Dick (M6) second and rounding out the podium was Steve Simms (M8) third.
B Grade 35 minutes + 2
By the time B Grade hit the track the high cross winds were having a marked effect on any riders being caught out on the wrong side of a break. Lewis Cressey was the first to make an early break, but it wasn’t long before he was reeled back into the fold to be followed by a Kim Pederson break. With 13 minutes to go visiting rider Luka Manson decided he would raise the intensity even higher and increased the pressure on the rest of the pack, with riders who would normally be sitting in comfortably being shelled and splitting what remained of the pack. This was followed by a bit of a lull for a couple of laps before Manson hit the front and upped the intensity again. The attacks came in earnest in the final two laps from several riders who had been able to hang in there, with a powerful finish by Bruce Goodfellow (M5) for first, edging out Bobby Mathieson (M2) second and Lewis Cressy (M3) third.
D Grade 32 minutes + 2
The D Graders, like B Grade, had the pleasure of a strengthening easterly, but cool conditions heading out into the setting sun. The pack stayed together for quite some time before the pace up front saw a split in the group and riders slowly being dropped. To everyone’s credit there were no DNFs, even though some were doing it quite tough solo into the wind and contending with B Grade passing by several times. Coming into the final straight a group 8 riders were spread across the track with Shirley-Anne Taylor (F6) home first by a bike length from Alison Hale (F5) second and in hot pursuit Kevin Newhouse (M7) third.
Many thanks to Chris Short for opening up and getting the track setup underway, to Andrew Remely for assisting with the setup and marshalling, Simon for being there for first aid, and thankfully not required, and the two kangaroos that decided mid race was a good time to cross the track, but not take anyone out.
Brian Peak
TRACK RACING REPORT- THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY
Thursday 22 February was the seventh track session for 2024. It was a warm evening with little wind – perfect for track racing. Attendance was 10 riders – 6 in A grade and 4 in B grade.
The 8-lap A grade scratch race started with Ben Robey leading out for a lap at average pace. The next four laps were orderly with leads by Warwick Wilson, John Paul De Sousa, Conan Liu and Hamish Anderson. From here to the bell lap, the pace started to hot up and riders were setting up for a final sprint. John Paul De Sousa accelerated into the final lap with Conan Liu and Hamish Anderson in his wheel. Conan accelerated around John Paul in the back straight. Hamish Anderson stuck to Conan’s wheel and they finished first and second in that order. John Paul hung on for third place. It was a good effort by Hamish, who had just promoted himself to A grade.
The 8-lap B grade race had only four starters. However, each rider made an effort to keep the pace up. The first four laps were led by Alison Hale, Phil Coulton, Ben Davis and Graeme O’Neill, in turn. Then the cycle repeated until Ben Davis took the lead on lap 7. Ben rolled off the front in the final turn of lap 7 and Graeme O’Neill climbed the banking to set up for an attack. Alison Hale showed good race craft by immediately attacking with Phil Coulton in tow. The move worked a treat, as Alison streaked around the final lap for the win. Phil Coulton cruised into second place and Graeme O’Neill pursued doggedly for third spot.
The next scheduled event was a 1-lap, start sprint, time trial. This event was the second event of the four event Omnium Championship. As usual, Hamish Anderson took the sprint honours in 27.65 seconds (average 43.6 km/hr). Hamish was hurting but a few extra grunts helped get him home. The next best A grade times were John Paul De Sousa 29.46s (avg 40.8 km/hr), Conan Liu 29.61s (avg 40.7 km/hr) and Warwick Wilson 30.33s (avg 39.8 km/hr).
Ben Davis set the benchmark in B grade with a creditable 30.00s (avg 40.2 km/hr), followed by Phil Coulton 32.31s (avg 37.3 km/hr) and Alison Hale 33.53s (avg 36.0 km/hr).
The third programmed event was a 4-lap handicap. With the limited numbers, this race combined A and B grade riders. Graeme O’Neill led out from limit but was passed on lap 2 by Phil Coulton. Soon the A grade, back markers surged past Phil and Graeme to contest the final laps. An element of chaos was introduced by a lap miscount that added an extra lap. The result was Conan Liu 1st, Hamish Anderson 2nd, and Warwick Wilson 3rd.
The session’s final event was the usual Italian pursuit. The teams had 4 riders. As usual, Team 2’s Phil Coulton established a small, early lead that the team held for rest of the race. Team 2’s anchor, Hamish Anderson made sure that Team 1’s Conan Liu could not make up the slight deficit in the final lap. It was close, with Hamish only about 3 metres ahead at the finish.
Major place getters were as follows:
8-Lap Scratch: (A grade) Conan Liu, Hamish Anderson, John Paul De Sousa (B grade) Alison Hale, Phil Coulton, Graeme O’Neill.
1-Lap SS TT (Omnium Event 1): (A grade) Hamish Anderson 27.65 s (avg 43.6 km/hr), John Paul De Sousa 29.46s (avg 40.8 km/hr), Conan Liu 29.61s (avg 40.7 km/hr) (B Grade) Ben Davis 30.00s (avg 40.2 km/hr), Phil Coulton 32.31s (avg 37.3 km/hr), Alison Hale 33.53s (avg 36.0 km/hr).
4-lap Handicap: Conan Liu, Hamish Anderson, Warwick Wilson, John Paul De Sousa, Graeme O’Neill.
Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 2 (Hamish Anderson, John Paul De Sousa, Ben Davis, Phil Coulton).
Omnium Points Score Update
Hamish Anderson (10), Conan Liu (9), Kerry Knowler (7), John Paul De Sousa, (7), Graeme O’Neill (6), Ben Davis (6), Steve Jones (5), Alison Hale (5), Gavin Stephens (4), Sarah Stephens (4).
Season Point Score Update:
Conan Liu (272), John Paul De Sousa (265), Hamish Anderson (191), Alison Hale (186), Graeme O’Neill (183), Craig Kentwell (152), Sarah Stephens (150), Steve Jones (113), Kerry Knowler (112), Phil Coulton (111), Warwick Wilson (103), Martin Graham (86), Wayne Benham (73), Ed Garnett (70).
Graeme O’Neill
HANDICAPPER’S MESSAGE
Handicap changes for this week:
Bruce Goodfellow B to A
Lewis Cressy B to A
John Brotherton C to B
Shirley-Anne Taylor D to C
Rob Langridge
Handicapper
MEMBERSHIP MESSAGE
To renew your financial membership for 2024
Please carefully follow the instructions below to renew your racing membership for 2024 with the Capital Region Masters Cycling Club of the Australian Veteran Cycling Council Inc.
As previously stated, the annual racing licence for 2024 is $140, comprising $120 for the national component, and $20 club component for running races.
• To start the $140 race licence process click here https://amc.helloclub.com/register?membership=657ed9ff637993bde7bcf446. This is for both new and renewing members
• The membership system has moved to Hello Club from SportsTG, and your previous account credentials will NOT work with this system. You will need to create a new membership account, irrespective of how many years you have been a member of the club.
• Do NOT sign in using a previous AVCC account, click CONTINUE.
• Read and agree to the terms and conditions.
• Sign up with email, Google or Facebook. Follow the prompts to enter your contact details and emergency contact details.
• Pay $140 via credit card.
• If successful, you will receive an email from ‘Australian Veteran Cycling Council reply+australian-veteran-cycling-council@helloclub.com’ to inform you that your registration has been completed.
• Contact membership@crmcc.org.au if you have questions or if you encounter any issues.
Conan
CRMCC Club Membership Officer
Pedal Power Petition
Club member John Barlow has been in the news and has launched a petition with Pedal Power to increase active travel safety and accessibility in the Cook and Macquarie area.
To find out more, see https://www.change.org/p/safe-streets-for-all-make-cook-and-macquarie-accessible
The Bleat
If you would like to contribute to the Club and put the Bleat together each week, please contact us!
