Post date: Apr 08, 2014 1:45:59 AM

Hello Vets,

In the Bleat this week;

• From the desk of the President - Call for Volunteer Marshals 2014 Winter Season

• Twitter for late changes

• Marshal Roster

• Final Track Session - Rescheduled

• ACT Track Championships

• Getting Ready for Gunning

• Race Craft Masterclass

• Racing this Week

• Race Report

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

Ian Morton.

ps A reminder that if your EMail address is not correct please go to the IMG system, login and update your contact details. Use this link. Login details should have been sent when you renewed your membership

Call for Volunteer Marshals 2014 Winter Season

Dear members,

Your Club Race Committee has finalised the Winter Racing schedule (see table below setting out races and marshal numbers). It looks like another great and varied program of safe racing on just about every Saturday afternoon for the season. This result is due to a lot of hard work, especially by our Club Secretary Phil Coulton with ACT Gov's TAMS, various shire councils and police.

These road approvals depend on the Club having in place a full complement of marshals and a race director – now called the race referee – for each event. We achieve this through marshals volunteering. Not only does this meet our needs, but it means that unlike other clubs we do not have to pay a contractor do this, which would see race entry fees jump to $15-$20/per race.

I know that most active members are very happy to nominate to marshal for two or more events in a season, with less active members nominating for at least one event.

I would now like to invite members to show their support by nominating to marshal for at least one and for more active racers, for at least two events for the season. You may wish to nominate to go into a pool of marshals - to be allocated - or it may be for specific races/dates. It is a guaranteed 10 points on the Grade Points Score for every time you marshal.

Please send your marshal nominations to the Race Committee providing your contact details, the number of races you will marshal at and any race/date preferences;

- Name.

- e-mail.

- Mob. No.

- Marshal experience yes/no?

- No. of races I will marshal for 2014 winter season

Please indicate preferred events, else leave blank and race committee will allocate you to a race or keep you in a pool for any back-filling.

WINTER 2014 RACE PROGRAM

I look forward to your nominations!

Happy and safe racing,

Alex O’Shea

Club President

Twitter for late changes

A reminder that the twitter tag ‘@ACTVets’ is used to advise of any late changes to the race program.

If you don’t have a twitter account, you can go to https://twitter.com/actvets to check for status updates.

Final Track Session - Rescheduled

Unfortunately the rescheduled Track BBQ and Trophy Presentation was called off to to bad weather.

The Track Medal Presentation will be arranged for one of the upcoming Road Race events.

ACT Track Championships

Cycling ACT is pleased to announce that the ACT Track Championships will be held on the newly renovated Narrabundah Velodrome 12-13 April 2014.

The championships will consist of a 6 event omnium format which will include the following events:

• 500 metre Time Trial

• Flying 200 metres

• Keirin

• Scratch race

• Points race

• Elimination race

Paracycling events will include:

• 500m Time Trial

• 1000m Pursuit/Time Trial

For more information CLICK HERE

Getting Ready for Gunning

A reminder that the Gunning 2 Day is coming up on the weekend of the 17/18 May. That’s less than two months away so better get those kms into the legs to get ready.

More detail to follow as we get closer to the date.

Race Craft Masterclass

Session information

The Race Craft Masterclass session is designed as a combined skills and race simulation session and is suitable for anyone who wants to improve their race results through a better 'rider management' throughout the race.

The session will cover a broad range of skills, tactics and race scenarios, including:

• • How to correctly prepare for a race - mentally and physically, including warm ups and course reconnaissance.

  • Advanced bunch skills, including: close contact, positioning, picking the right wheels, bunch cornering and maintaining position.

  • Learning how to read a race

  • Understanding and making the most of team tactics as a team rider and an individual racer.

  • Practical race nutrition, including feed zone skills.

The session will include a number of mini races to provide the opportunity to demonstrate, learn and practise these skills. This is a great way to learn but it's also great fun, especially when done with your friends and team mates so get them along as well so you can practise together.

When: Sunday 20th April 2014.

Time: 9:00am and finishing at 11:00am.

Location: Stromlo Forest Park Criterium Circuit

The session is open to all CA affiliated club members and Australian Vets Cycling club members. Junior riders U15 and above are welcome but they should have good bunch riding skills as the session will include a number of 'close' riding situations.

To register for this session or to view more information please visits the Race Craft Masterclass page of the website

RACING THIS WEEK:

Saturday, 12th April – Lookout Hill Time Trial

Where: Lookout Hill, Tidbinbilla Rd

When: 1:30pm

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

Race Description:

Lookout TT - Start, A, B, Finish (Lookout, Tharwa, Pt Hut, Lookout)

Race Director: Rohan Verco

Contact: Email rohan.verco@gmail.com Ph 0419730555

Assigned Marshals

The nominated marshals for this event are;

• Matthew KINCH

• Ben McDUFF

• Les RIDSALE

• Heather SOMMERIVA

• Anthony O'CONNOR

• Jim VEAL

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 REPORT:

Lookout Hill Graded Scratch – 5th April

It had been a dark and stormy night . . . as Vets riders tossed uneasily in their sleep worried about the prospect of a long race in wet and slippery conditions. The morning promised to be a little improved, but just when riders we heading down the Parkway to Lookout Hill the skies opened up with heavy rain.

But true ACT Vets are masters of any weather and it did not put off 32 riders from all Grades including two tandems and quite a few women racers as they assembled in cool, wet and breezy conditions atop Lookout Hill. In fact, the officials seemed less keen than the riders and there were a few long faces when the majority agreed to have a truncated race - one lap of the course only - out to Apollo Rd via Mt Tennant spur and back via Pt Hut.

There were only two DNFs. Peter Wallbrink took a good win in A Grade over Charles Nicoll and Brendan Byatt. Damien Pollard cleaned up by a big margin over Peter Marshall and Shaun Ifland in B Grade. C Grade saw Adrian Rollins return to form and take the win over Phillip Hopkins and Paul Morgan. David Rowe brought himself to the handicapper's attention by winning D Grade - but perhaps not, as he was the only D Grader (where were those water-babies from the big D Grade Crit bunches?). Terry Merrigan had a win over Kirsty McVay in E Grade and F/G grade came home headed by Ian Morton, followed by James Meredith (first in G Grade) with 2nd in F Grade going to Pauline Thorn.

Thanks to the marshals - David Rae, Gordon McMenemy, John Thorn, Robert Langridge and Paul Robey, many also stepping in, and of course the usual stalwarts Henry Beaverstock and Graham Hendrie.

Thanks Alex O'Shea agreeing to step in and race-refereeing at late notice.

ps At the Look out hill race someone took a clear plastic Specialized bottle from the table, so if you are the one with an extra bidon after the race could you please contact Alain on 0400493148 or you could bring it to the next race (Old federal hwy /Gravel pit).

Thanks,

Cheers

Alain