G’day Masters,
In this week’s Bleat

  • Race report from Sutton Super Series rd 6 – Linda Stals
  • Sutton Series prize winners
  • Next Race – first criterium of 2024/25 summer season
  • Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here

Race report of final Sutton Super Series round on 21st Sep

I will forever recall last Saturday as being that windy day at Sutton. I was informed that it was not so bad on the course, with parts sheltered. I hope so because it was awful on the start/finish line.

The afternoon started with the C/D race after we admired the size of the toilets because that is where all the riders appeared to be. (You had to be there.) After the first lap, it looked like C-grade would rip apart early on,  but by the second lap, they had regrouped and mostly stayed together for the rest of the race. Ben Healy, Ben Shillong and John Brotherton took the first three places.

C-grade may have the distinction of the highest number of riders, but D-grade had the privilege of having the only female rider. Well done Shirley-Anne for flying the flag. D grade stayed together until Lap 6 when a few riders were dropped, with Matthew Hardy leading the pack most times they went past the start/finish line. Brian Peak, Robert Langridge and Damian Copeland were first across the line on the final lap.

With only three riders on the track for E grade, it was easier for me to keep track of the progress (as opposed to A/B grade.) David Gunther and Jonathan Chowns set the pace early, with the final ordering decided by the closest sprint of the day. Jonathan managed to cross the line first by the skin of his teeth. Anthony Fenech completed the top three placings.

The A/B grade race quickly split apart, resulting in riders all over the course. Stuart Griffiths led Jason Irwin across the start/finish line every lap until the 7th lap when he decided to chase down B-grade. A goal he managed to achieve on the second last lap, and then caught Jason on the last lap. B-grade had already halved its size to a bunch of 4 by the third lap. That bunch stayed together until the sprint on the last lap. Craig Lindenmayer finished first, followed by Mike Rose.

I want to thank Adam Knight for his great support during the race,  Brian Peak for his gentle guidance and Ryan Fawke for stepping up to the plate when needed. That was an incredible sprint down the straight. We tried to arrange for a boring race for Ryan and nearly succeeded until literally the last minute.
Linda Stals

Photos from the final round of the Sutton Super Series courtesy of Ian Hutchings are here – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/SNLnYurxtAxuDmCB/ , https://www.facebook.com/share/p/cAvTNQMCvABuw82g/ and https://www.facebook.com/share/p/BGcg1yGvsVDah7Yr/

Prize winners of the 2024 Sutton Super Series

Thank you to GMD, Reset Strength & Sports Recovery Centre and Choku Bai Jo for the prizes.

A grade – Jason Irwin (2nd), Stuart Griffiths (1st), absent – Rainer Wilton (3rd)
B grade – Craig Lindenmayer (3rd), David Parker (2nd), Mick Rose (1st)
C grade – David Buckley (3rd), Ian Preston (1st), Lance Purdon (2nd)
Lucky barrel prize winner – Darren Blackhurst (box of vegetables)
D grade – Brian Peak (2nd), Damien Copeland (1st), Kevin Newhouse (3rd)
E grade – Jonathan Chowns (3rd), David Gunther (1st), Anthony Fenech (lucky prize winner)
Absent – Russell Marston (2nd)

UPCOMING RACING

Summer evening criterium series week 1 – Tuesday 8 October

Summer crits are back on 8th October. The club is offering a season pass for $160, which will cover 24 SFP crit races concluding on Tuesday 1 April 2025, contingent upon your renewal as a fully paid financial member from 1 Jan 2025 (once we know the amount set by the national committee).
You will need to participate in 16 crits to break even. There are 11 SFP crits in the 2024 calendar year. The season crit pass covers the Christmas wheel race, and also the Club Criterium championships on Tuesday 18 February 2025.
NOTE – the registration cut-off this season will be at 12.50pm on the day of the crit.

Race director Jason Irwin, marshal Gareth Downey

GradesTimeRace Duration [sunset 1908]
E/F/G17:5020mins + 2 laps
A/C18:1520mins + 2 laps
B/D18:4020mins + 2 laps

Bell for the final lap.

Race registration cut-off is Tuesday 8th October at 12.50pm. Cost is $10.
You need to register by looking up the calendar entry in the RMS
https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar?5021174

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 event, you must convince a committee member (not the Race Director) of your club member financial status for insurance purposes, before being allowed to participate.

You must wear your CRMCC assigned number to race. No number on the day, no race.

Upcoming races needing volunteers

29 October 2024 – Stromlo Forest Park criterium
Race director.

3 November 2024 – Tharwa – Mt Tennant Terror graded scratch:
Race director, an ETC, and a marshal.

5 November 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director

12 November 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director

19 November 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director

8 December 2024 – Sutton Road Training Centre – graded scratch.
Race director, marshal and van driver.

Please contact race.committee@crmcc.org.au if you can fill any of these roles for the club.

Thank you to those members who have offered their services to fill roles so our races are run.