Post date: Dec 01, 2014 11:44:14 AM

Hello Vets,

In this week's Bleat;

• Registration for 2015 is now open

• From the Handicapper's desk in Phnom Penh

• Interstate Events

• Racing this Week

• Race Reports

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

Ian Morton

Archived copies of the Bleat

You can find archived copies of the Bleat: here.

Registration for 2015 is now open

The Registration system on IMG is open for next year's subscriptions. Simply go to the IMG site. Logon with the username and password that you used to register last year. The annual subscription for 2015 remains unchanged.

Note that if you are not currently a member, you can register now and get the remainder of this year and all of 2015 for the one fee.

From the Handicapper's desk in Phnom Penh

The tyranny of distance has not stopped the Handicapper from his duty, so from across the oceans, following are this week's gradings;

• Brendan Savage B -> A

• Craig Kentwell C -> B

• Mike Hogan F -> E

• Natalie Attenborough G -> F

Prior to the next handicap, riders are encouraged to check their sub-grade in case the grades are split on the day. If you think your sub-grade needs adjusting, please consult with thehandicapper@actvets.cc and the race.committee@actvets.cc. The point of handicaps is for the groups to be similar enough in ability for the everyone in the group to contribute to maintaining their maximum possible speed. Attacking the first hill is not a way to win a handicap, and certainly won't result in a higher average speed.

Robert Langridge

Interstate Events

• Classic Adelaide Masters Cycling Series during the Tour Down Under week 17-25th Jan 2015.

Registrations are now open at http://www.samc.org.au/

• 2015 Riverina Rush Cycling Classic - Narrandera

- 28 Feb - Twilight Criterium

- 1 Mar - Road Cycle Classic

for more information contact Gerry Daly

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 2nd December: 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; C/D Grade@ 6:07 - 30min + 2 laps; E/F Grade@ 6:45 - 25min + 2 laps; A/B Grade@ 7:18 - 40min + 2 laps

Race Director: Kim Malcolm

Contact: Email: d.kimmalcolm@icloud.com Ph 0418643623

The nominated marshals for this event are;

• Tom Tokich

• Jason Quayle

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.

Wednesday, 3rd December: Track Racing

The Program for Wed 3rd December is as follows:

5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;

6.00pm – 6.20pm: 8-lap Graded scratch race;

6.20pm – 7.10pm: 6 Lap Team Pursuit;

6.10pm – 7.20pm: 4 Lap Handicap;

7.20pm – 7.40pm: 6-Lap scratch (All in with B Grade early start).

See you there!!!

Sunday, 7th December – Cotter Time Trial

Where: Assemble at Cotter Picnic Reserve on Brindabella Rd.

When: 9:00 am

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

Race Description: Time Trial - Mt McDonald

Race Director: Ian Morton

Contact: Email mortoni@optusnet.com.au Ph 0411 112 007 or 6258 7493

The nominated marshals for this event are;

• Doug Widdup

• Brad Sellwood

• Toby Driscoll

• David Rae

• Jessica Baird

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.

End of Year Events

This year, the End of Year presentation BBQ will be held on Tuesday 9th December and the traditional Christmas Wheel Race will be the 16th December.

RACE REPORTS:

STROMLO CRITERIUM – 25th November

Fine weather again drew big fields for Tuesday’s criterium races with more than 100 riders saddling-up. A grade featured several breakaways, with Stephen Blackburn and Mark Harris making theirs stick to take the top honours, with Sean Iffland filling out the podium.

Brendan Savage rode strongly to win B grade from Damien Obst and Travis Hicks. C grade was won by Craig Kentwell with Brad Sellwood and Tim Minehan taking out the minor placings. The D grade field split neatly into two bunches early on, with a couple of riders caught in no-man’s land. The pace was on with four DNFs. Conin Kelly took out the win in his first race with the vets, followed by John Stokman and Sean Fleming. A couple of attacks were hauled back by the big E grade bunch, with another newcomer Paul Jeffrey first to greet the judges. Alex Sommariva and Ian Shaw rode well for the placings. F grade was won by Mike Hogan with Andrew Balzanelli second and Sue Frost a well deserved third. Natalie Attenborough rode a strong race for victory in G grade followed in by Pauline Thorn and Tony Sheehan.

Once again thanks to Henry Beaverstock who makes these events run like a well-oiled machine, and many thanks to marshalls Mary Lovett and Alex O’Shea.

Thanks to Race Director Mick Donaldson.

Narrabundah Track Racing – 26th November

The track session on Wednesday 26 November brought warm sunny weather with a gusty breeze that impacted on the time trial event. The roll up was 19 riders, split almost evenly between A and B Grades.

A and B Grade scratch races were each eight laps. The A Grade race started at a moderate pace and the bunch held together until Steve Jones attacked at 1.5 laps from the finish. Steve took the win with Jim Davis and Eddie O’Farrell hot on his heals. The B Grade scratch held a good pace with four riders dropped by lap six. Sally Thomsom took the win on her first track outing with the club.

The 2-Lap time trial produced times that were marginally slower that the last similar event on 15-October. The gusty weather probably played a part in this. Steve Jones and Jim Davey still managed to get around the course in less than 50 seconds, with Steve recording a best time of 49.12 seconds. In B Grade, Steve Hirstler managed a creditable best time of 57.16 to take a win from Bruce Griffin on 59.14. Alley Roach had a good night generally and her time of 54.87 showed that she is a solid A Grade competitor.

The next track event was the unique Snowball where each lap has a winner given escalating points as the race progresses. This race has some unique tactical attributes as riders can snaffle a place by garnering early points. In A Grade, Steve Jones dominated. However, Jim Davey, Cameron Ermet and John Barlow were tied for second points and Ben Robey took third all using early enterprise. B Grade was quite competitive. Sally Thomson took the final two laps for a win from Steve Hirsler who took laps three and four.

The track session concluded with an all in scratch race of six laps. B Grade were given a three-quarters lap start. The A Grade bunch initially took off in solid pursuit. However, by lap four, it was clear that the pace needed to be accelerated to catch B Grade. Steve Jones and Jim Davey had enough left for this challenge and worked well to close down B Grade and take first and second respectively. The next four finishers were B Grade with Phil Anderson doing a great job to take third.

Major place getters were as follows:

8 Lap Scratch:(A Grade) Steve Jones, Jim Davey, Eddie O'Farrell; (B Grade) Sally Thomson Phil Anderson, Steve Hirsler.

2 Lap Time Trial: ((A Grade) Steve Jones (49.12s), Jim Davey (49.75s), Steve Dean (53.88s); (B Grade) Steve Hirsler (57.16s), Bruce Griffin (59.14s), Sally Thomson (60.07s).

Snowball: : (A Grade – 10 Laps) Steve Jones (45pts), Jim Davey (4 pts), Cameron Ermet & John Barlow (T) (4pts), Ben Robey (2 pts); (B Grade – 6 Laps) Sally Thomson (11pts), Steve Hirsler (7pts), Phil Anderson (2pts).

6 Lap Scratch: (All grades) Steve Jones, Jim Davey, Phil Anderson.

F & A Tonelli Trophy Winners

From last weeks F & A Tonelli Trophy Handicap winners;

Jing Huang (2nd), Stjepan Hirsler (1st), Sue Duckett (3rd)