Hello Vets,

Plenty to report this week;

•  Congratulation to Sue Powell

•  National Capital Tour - We Need You!

•  She Rides 8 Week Cycling Program

•  RFM team fundraising for the Hartley Cycle Challenge

•  Racing this Week

•  Race Report

Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc

Ian Morton

Congratulation to Sue Powell

ACTVets member, Sue Powell has claimed a silver medal at the Rio Paralympics in the C4 3000 meter individual pursuit.

Congratulations and all the best for the remaining events of the games.

National Capital Tour - We Need You!

Are you, your family, neighbours or strangers off the street able to spend time helping at this year’s National Capital Tour? Be part of the 2016 National Capital Tour on the 16 – 18 September and Volunteer!

This year we have secured an inner city location (Embassy circuit) on the Saturday but it is resource heavy for volunteers, so any assistance would be appreciated. If you could volunteer a half day on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning it would be seen as invaluable! Of course there will be food, drink and a free T-shirt for all volunteers.

The National Capital Tour attracts the best domestic riders in Australia and New Zealand, and with the inclusion of graded races, we are looking to put Canberra back on the map for high quality cycling events in Australia. That is why your help is so important. If you could volunteer for any part of the weekend of Friday 16 September – Sunday 18 September then simply send an email, make a phone call or text a message! For further information please contact John Armstrong (text or call) on 0412 257 990 or contact the event coordinator (Joanne) at events@capitalcycling.org.au . The ACT Vets Club has been tremendous in their support in previous years and we look to your continued support this year.

She Rides 8 Week Cycling Program

If you or someone you know would like to increase their confidence when riding their bike, Cycling Australia’s She Rides program is the place to start. She Rides is a women’s only riding program conducted over 8 weeks aimed at building skills and confidence in a supportive environment.

The She Rides spring program kicks off in mid October and is led by VETs member and Level 2 accredited cycling coach, Angie Wren. With just a few spots remaining you are encouraged to get your registration in quickly. Program and registration details arehere.

Angie Wren

RFM team fundraising for the Hartley Cycle Challenge

A great movie event for everyone interested in cycling.....
As part of our fundraising for the Hartley Cycle Challenge the Rural Funds Management team will be putting on drinks and finger food plus a screening of "Pantani:The accidental death of a cyclist" on September 17th.

Except from the movie blurb.....
"Pantani was a hero to millions and was seen as the saviour of cycling during a time when doping scandals threatened to destroy the sport. But six years after his extraordinary feats and aged only 34, tragically Pantani was dead. Discovered in a cheap Italian hotel, he died alone apparently from acute cocaine poisoning.

Shot over two years in the French Alps, Italian Alps and Dolomites and the places of Pantani's greatest victories. This is the story of the greatest climber of his generation, man versus mountain, athlete versus the system, Marco Pantani versus himself"

Venue: Telstra Tower bottom floor
Time: 7pm Saturday 17th of September
Price: $25 per head which includes Italian-inspired finger food.
The bar will open to purchase Italian beer and wine.

Booking information:
Credit card bookings - please call 62824411
OR
Direct transfer St George Bank
BSB 112-908 Acc. 483684207

RACING THIS WEEK

No race due to the National Capital Tour

RACE REPORT:

Dairy Rd – 20th August

Rain, wind, sunshine, grey skies…There was something for everyone at the Age Championships held at Uriarra crossing on Saturday. With the weather the way it was, all 26 riders could have thought they were racing one of the early spring classics in Belgium but for the fact that non-one was speaking Flemish! Also apologies for the initial bleat saying we were racing to Coppins Crossing. You didn’t think the Race Committee was this murderous in their course design did you?

All age groups were represented with Rosemary Robinson the lone female racer….ladies a little bit of rain won’t hurt you, come and race! First off was a combined M6, M7, M8, M9 & W3 race with the riders quickly sorting themselves out early and getting into a rhythm as they headed towards the short turn of Uriarra. Then the young guns being M1, M2, M3, M4 & M5 started in 2 min intervals on the slightly longer course heading towards the Mt McDonald turnpoint.

M2 quickly split up with Steve Crispin deciding the best method was to attack early and gain a 1min lead on the chase group of Paul Smith and Marc Vroomans after the first Mt Mac leg. M3, M4 & M5 stayed together as common sense of riding as a bunch in the at times strong winds was a better tactical thing to do. After 1 lap of the course, Paul Robey and Bernie Crowe were battling it out after the trio of Anthony Beasley, Mark Taylor and Des Brown notched it up and took off on lap 1. Meanwhile we had riders either coming off Mt McDonald, screaming downhill from the Uriarra short turn or battling up from Uriarra Crossing giving Denis Jessop at the T intersection a tough time directing cars and riders in all directions.

The M6, M7 & M8 trio of Anthony Beasley, Mark Taylor & Des Brown were first across the line and decided a sprint was a good thing to do even though they were in different age groups. Loving the competitive nature of racing! Then the rain stopped, the sun came out and it was glorious weather as Steve Crispin put in the fastest time of the day to take out the M2 age group. M3, M4 & M5 had some great sprint finishes with very little separating the top placings in all of these age groups. It’s always tough to gauge when to start sprinting on the deceptive uphill finish.

M1- Adam Potts 1st
M2- Steve Crispin 1st, Marc Vroomans 2nd, Paul Smith 3rd
M3- Andrew Remely 1st, Seymour Savell-Boss 2nd, Damian Copeland 3rd
M4- Dave Mullins 1st, Anthony Meredith 2nd, Bruce Goodspeed 3rd
M5- Michael McGurgan 1st, Mark Stevenson 2nd, Nick Boylan 3rd
M6- Anthony Beasley 1st
M7- Mark Taylor 1st
M8- Des Brown 1st, Paul Robey 2nd
W3- Rosemary Robinson 1st

I would also like to thank the tremendous work of the helpers on the day. Simon Milnes for finish line duties, Roger Northcote as the ATC at the Uriarra Crossing turn point, Bruce Jones at the finish line, Graham Hendrie for all the van duties, placings and timings, Kevin Hennessy for sorting out the medals, Denis Jessop as the ever vigilant ATC at the T Intersection, Tony Weir for ATC duties at the Uriarra short turn and Kim Malcolm as ATC for the Mt McDonald Turn point. The weather wasn’t great at times so each of you deserve high recognition.

The winter racing season is nearly over with the Iron Mike just 2 weeks away. The winter season always sees the racing drop in numbers due to the harsh weather and other factors, but for those that have raced this season you’ll find the upcoming crit/summer season so much easier with all those base km’s under your belt.

There is no racing next week due to the National Capital Tour being in town.

Ben Davis