PO Box 870 Civic Square ACT 2608

Notice of Annual General Meeting 2014

Members are advised that the Annual General Meeting

of the ACT Veterans Cycling Club will be held on :

Monday 3 March 2014

The Weston Club

1 Liardet St Weston

Commencing at 7:30 pm

Items of Business should be advised to the Secretary 14 Days prior to the meeting to be considered at the meeting;

Apologies also to the Secretary

To be delivered to the Secretary or the Club Mail Box 7 days prior to the AGM, or e-mailed tophillcou@bigpond.net.au

Please confirm in the RMS.

National petition for improved cycling safety

Launched at the 2014 Cycling Australia Road National Championships by Richie Porte and sponsored by Cycling Tasmania, the petition is calling upon the Australian Government to amend the Australian Road Rules to require that:

· drivers allow a minimum of one metre when overtaking bicycle riders in speed zones up to 60km/hr

· drivers allow a minimum of 1.5 metres when overtaking bicycle riders in speed zones over 60km/hr

Every signature counts. Make yours count for improved safety for bike riders.

Richie Porte: “The current laws in Australia offer inadequate protection to bicycle riders on the road, this has to change. We all know that space matters - a metre matters – when passing bike riders. This campaign is understood nationally, it’s time to make it law.”

Richie’s pledge: “I’m prepared to put my name to this, on behalf of the millions of Aussies who deserve to ride their bikes in a safer environment, whether for work, sport or play. This is an action that everyone can take. Signing the petition is your way of leading the charge for a safer cycling environment.”

How you can make your signature count

To fulfil the House of Representatives ‘petition requirements’, please follow these simple guidelines.

1. Download the petition from here

2. Print petition

3. On one line, write your name clearly and sign your name in the boxes (your address is optional)

4. Post by: 30 April 2014

5. Post to: Andrew Nikolic MP, Federal Member for Bass, 100 St John Street, Launceston, Tas 7250

Notes:

· You must be an Australian Citizen

· You can be any age

· The petition form doesn’t have to be filled before posting, e.g. one name and signature can be on a single petition form

· Do not sign a blank piece of paper, or sign on the back of the petition form

· Online, emailed or scanned petitions will not be accepted

More signatures count

Thanks for taking action today! Encourage all your friends, family and colleagues to take action too, it’s easy:

Want to know more?

If you would like to know more about the Amy Gillett Foundation's ‘a metre matters’ campaign and advocacy for minimum overtaking distance legislation, check out our website www.amygillett.org.au.

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 11^th February: Stromlo Criterium

Where: Stromlo Forrest Park

Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.

Race Description:

G Grade@ 5:45 - 13min + 2 laps; A/B Grade@ 6:07 - 36min + 2 laps; C/D Grade@ 6:49 - 29min + 2 laps; E/F Grade@ 7:26 - 24min + 2 laps

Race Director: Christophe Barberet

Contact: Email: barberetchristophe@gmail.com Ph 0402 688 452

Assigned Marshals

The nominated marshals for this event are;

· Janet FACEY

· Kevin WELLS

Please confirm with the Race Director that you are available. If you unable to make the date that you have been rostered please find a replacement.

Important Information: Late Arrivals

It is a condition of our Insurance that all riders receive a referee’s briefing before the commencement of racing to ensure that they are aware of racing conditions.

All riders need to ensure that they arrive in sufficient time to sign-on and be briefed before the commencement of racing.

Thursday, 13^th February: Track Racing

Where: Queanbeyan Track

When: 6:00 pm

Details: 3 – 4 short events per session with a mixture of scratch, handicap, sprinting and team events;

Saturday, 15^th February – Lookout Hill Graded Scratch

Where: Lookout Hill, Tidbinbilla Road.

When: 4:00pm

Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.

Race Description:

Lookout/Apollo 6 Lookout/Apollo map Course 6 Start, C, A, C, A, Finish (Lookout, Tharwa, Pt Hut , Tharwa, Pt Hut, Lookout).

Race Director: Bob Miller

Contact: Email photo@bobmiller.com.au Ph 0411 271 656

Assigned Marshals

The nominated marshals for this event are;

· Lindsay GRAHAM

· Trevor RIX

· Jeff IRVING

· David JEPPESEN

· Ian PRESTON

Please confirm with the Race Director that you are available. If you unable to make the date that you have been rostered please find a replacement.

RACE REPORTS:

STROMLO CRITERIUM – 4th February

On Tuesday 111 riders turned out to race in very difficult conditions – there was a 30 km/h wind and it was overcast and quite cool. In addition riders had to contend with wayward ducks seemingly desperate to get to the Grandstand grass and numerous kangaroos bounding across the track at both ends. Only F and G grades had less than 10 competitors with the other grades fielding around 20 riders. A new rider, Luke McGowan, was welcomed to the club.

As a result of a fierce headwind, riders were dropped early in every grade and 9 riders did not finish their race. One rider in the A/B race was heard to suggest after 17 minutes of their 40 minute race that it was hard to believe that they had been riding for only 17 minutes – it felt like a lot more obviously. Fortunately, despite all the challenges, the services of our first aid officer, were not required.

As usual G grade kicked off the evening’s events and after only 3 laps Stjepan Hisrler and Paul Robey broke out of the bunch of 5. One lap later and it was Paul Robey alone facing the elements. The effort took its toll with the bunch catching and dropping him in the next lap. Susan Belton employed some clever tactics and conserved her energy for the sprint from ‘collarbone’ and was strong enough to hold out Bruce Jones and Leon Horsnell.

C and D grades were next away for 30 minutes +2. In C grade Tim Minihan and Duane Toohey rode strongly. They broke away from the bunch after only 4 laps and stayed away for another 3. With a third of regular time to go Tim surged away again and held on for another 4 laps. In the sprint to the line Paul Morgan won by 65 metres with Duane Toohey and Tim Minihan coming in second and third. D grade rode mostly as a bunch nearly all of the race although 4 riders were dropped after 7 laps. In the end Peter Fisher Wiggins got the cigar from Scott Tozer and Stephen Cusack.

E and F grades were next. With only 6 riders, F Grade wisely rode as a bunch for 10 minutes of their allotted 25 minutes of regular time. With 10 minutes to go Barbara Bayliss, James Meredith and Mike Hayes broke away and held out until just before regular time. At the finish Mike Hayes crossed first, with Barbara Bayliss and Mike Hogan taking second and third.

Last away were A and B grades who raced for 40 minutes (+2) in fading light and many bounding ‘boomers’. In this race the conditions really took a toll with small and larger groups of riders from both grades as well as single riders everywhere you looked around the circuit. At the halfway point, a group of 3 riders in each grade had broken from their bunch. The 3 riders that dominated A grade, Steve Crispin, Matthew Kinch and Paul Scherl, established a break of 100 metres or more only 7 minutes into the race and were strong enough to stay away to the finish. One by one the other riders dropped away except for Bradley Peppinck and Graeme Allbon who battled on to the end. In the final sprint, Matthew Kinch was first home closely followed Steve Crispin and Paul Scherl.

In B grade Peter Prammer, Nick Boylan and Jason Parkes set the early pace but were soon afterwards caught by the pursuing bunch. Peter Prammer broke again with 10 minutes of regular time remaining and stayed away for a couple of laps but in the end Michael Langdon crossed the line first followed by Ben Toyne and Peter Young in third.

Thanks to Jessica Baird and Doug McLean for marshalling and the ever reliable Henry Beaverstock.

Thanks to Ian Shaw who was the Race Director.

Track Point Score

You can find season point scores at http://www.actvets.cc/track/tracknews

Dairy Rd Points Race – 9^th February

E grade saw Andrew Welsh taking out the prize with Phil Anderson 2nd and Brendan Cheswick 3rd. E grade was difficult to score in the latter combo sprint with F grade. Also we had one rider veer over the white line with a fast F grade going in the opposite direction. This caused the heart rate of Brad the first aider to reach 220 BPM.

F grade saw the trio of Garry Moffat, Barbara Bayliss and James Meridith battle it out for 123.

C grade was a close call until Ross McPherson broke away to claim the last 4 sprints. Tim Minehan 2nd and Ian Potts 3rd.

D grade showed Rob Quilty as “Mr Consistent” to take the race out, with Ashley Sked and David Gunther battling for 2nd and 3rd.

G grade was the closest race with Leon Horsnell beating Paul Robey by 1 point in the final sprint. Bruce (“I am a bit late”) Jones joined in to make up 3rd place. No tandems turned up for this event

A grade started fast with Paul Scherl making an early break claiming 6 sprints in a row for victory. Mark Vroomans performed some excellent sprinting against Steve Jones to claim 2nd and 3rd respectively.

B grade was dominated by Damien Pollard who has gone from D grade to B grade in two races(and 2 wins) and now looks like he is in A grade soon. Peter Young 2nd and David Dickson 3rd.

Thanks to marshal Travis Hicks, Brad the FA man and others who assisted.

Thanks to Nick Boylan for Race Refereeing