z11.4 Nov 23 Bleat
Post date: Nov 23, 2015 8:17:7 AM
Hello Vets,
In this week's Bleat;
• Get well soon Henry
• Registration Renewal for 2016
• Committee for 2016
• RMS Offline
• From the desk of the handicapper
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton
Get well soon Henry
Club stalwart, Henry Beaverstock, suffered a serious heart attack last week. Fortunately, he was able to get to hospital and underwent surgery to have a stent inserted. He is back home now resting and will have to take it easy for the next few months.
From all the Club Members, we hope you get well soon Henry.
Registration Renewal for 2016
2016 membership renewals are due by 31 December 2015. To renew, go to https://memberdesq.imgstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&OrgID=10244 or follow the prompts via our website www.actvets.cc. Click on the Login link and enter the username and password from last year. If you have forgotten your login and password , after clicking on ‘login’ - go to the tab at the top right hand side of the screen and click on ‘Username & Password’ - then forward your email address as requested in the box that will appear. IMG will then forward you the information.
You need to renew your membership prior to 31 December or prior to your first race in 2016.
It is preferable to renew prior to the end of December if you intend to race in 2016. Before each race, a check has to be done of all those registered to race to ensure they are financial members and covered by insurance. As a courtesy to those committee members who work hard to ensure the club complies with the terms of our insurance cover and also produce the race results, please renew your membership at least 2 days prior to racing. Membership costs are:
A full competitive membership for 2016 is $100
A full competitive membership for a sight impaired tandem cyclist for 2016 is $85
Non competitive membership for 2016 is $5
Upon renewal, your 2016 licence will be emailed to you direct from IMG. Please print out a copy and it is suggested that you laminate it or place it in plastic for future reference during the year ahead. You will need to show this licence if you enter events run by other Veteran Cycling Clubs or the AVCC.
Please ensure that your personal particulars are always kept up to date, in particular your emergency contact details. For those members with First Aid qualifications please also update the site. It is a member’s responsibility to keep these updated via the IMG website.
Barbara Bayliss
Membership Secretary
Committee for 2016
The Clubs Annual General Meeting will be held in February. We would like to see more members getting involved in the Committee so we'd ask all members to think about getting involved in the running of the club and nominate for Committee positions.
RMS Offline
The RMS is currently offline due to maintenance on the Website.
From the desk of the handicapper
A&B grade format
Last week's combined A&B format did receive some positive responses. Next week we will be trialling a new format where A&C will race together and B&D will race together. We will see if this helps to minimise congestion on the track.
In the meantime, the Race Referee will be watching the grades and if it looks like the grades are likeley to come together at the finish, the Referee will neutralise one Grade with the Yellow flag to ensure separation.
Rob Langridge
RACING THIS WEEK:
Tuesday, 24th November: Stromlo Criterium
Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
G 5:40 20 min + 1 lap
C/D 6:05 32 min + 2 laps
E/F 6:45 30 min + 2 laps
A/B 7:20 35 min + 2 laps
Race Director: Ian Morton
Contact: Email: mortoni@optusnet.com.au Ph 0411112007
The nominated marshals for this event are;
• Peter Fisher Wiggins,
• Additional Marshal required
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, 25th November: Track Racing
The Program for Wednesday is as follows:
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 8-lap graded scratch race;
6.20pm – 6.50pm: 2-Lap SS Time Trial;
6.50pm – 7.10pm: 10-Lap Snowball.
7.10pm – 7.30pm: 6-Lap (B Grade Start) race.
Sunday, 29th November: Dairy Rd Point Race
Where: Dairy Rd, Fyshwick
When: Start times to be advised
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Dairy Rd Graded Points Race
Race Director: Ian Shaw
Contact: Email ihshaw@gotalk.net.au Ph: 0401794987
The nominated marshals for this event are;
• Steve Crispin
• Wayne Kenner
The nominated marshals for upcoming events are;
- Dec 1 @ Stromlo: Charles Nicoll, Jason Quayle
- Dec 6 @ Mt McDonald: Ashley Sked, Peter Young
- Dec 8 @ Stromlo: Felicity Toohey, Andrew Boyd
- Dec 13 @ Uriarra: Brad Sellwood,Belinda Wren, Kevin Hennesy Ben Carmody, Doug Mclean, Scott Tozer
The Marshal Roster for the remainder of the year has been uploaded on to the club website at;
RACE REPORTS:
Stromlo Criterium – 17th November
Tuesday night’s racing saw one of the biggest bunches ever as 49 riders fronted up for the combined A and B grade race. The combined bunch was a trial to try to avoid separate grades arriving at the finish together, which has caused all sorts of headaches. The B-graders hung on admirably for the first part of the race but as the middle laps rolled by the elastic bands started breaking as the A-graders including Stephen Blackburn and Mark Harris applied the pressure, leaving riders strung out all over the circuit. Eventually a break of seven riders got away and stayed clear to the finish. In a close sprint Sean Ifland took the honours, with Harris and Blackburn filling out the podium. After a strong ride Rob Diamond won B grade with Tim Minehan and Craig Weller taking out the minor placings.
In C grade Ian Preston won the aggressive rider’s award with a gallant breakaway, holding the bunch at bay for several laps. He was gathered in, which set the scene for several other unsuccessful breakaway attempts until the bunch arrived at the finish for a big sprint finish. Damian Ruse saluted the judge with Shane Warburton second and Steven Stolk third. The D-graders put on a very polite performance, swapping turns sedately until someone realised there were only five laps to go and all hell broke loose, with sustained pressure wiping the smiles off quite a few faces. The D-graders put on a thrilling sprint finish, with James Mills edging out John Thorn and Gary Waldron.
E grade set a cracking pace from the start with Des Brown doing a lot of the early work. They rounded up F troop after about 10 minutes. The pace started to tell with the bunch fracturing about the mid point of the race. James Curran made a decisive late break to take the honours with Rico Fitch and Linda Stahls rounding out the placings. F grade worked hard from the start, deterring any would-be breakaways. Andrew Balzanelli took out the race and Peter Lafferty warmed the hearts of old steelie-lovers everywhere, putting in a polished, down-tube gear-swapping performance for second, while Sue Duckett rode well for third.
The fearsome reputations of flat track hardmen Paul Robey and Bernie Crowe deterred anyone else from entering G grade and the pair slogged it out in the early laps. Robey, clearly wary of Crowe’s big sprint, made a strategic break and cruised home for victory.
Many thanks to marshalls Mary Lovett and Paul Frankcom who kept the show on the road and of course Henry Beaverstock for keeping the race director from self destructing.
Mick Donaldson
Narrabundah Track Racing – 18th November
The 18-Nov Track session provided perfect weather for racing. It was warm with a fresh breeze that gradually diminished as racing progressed.
The 10-lap A grade scratch race saw the bunch circulating for eight laps at a solid pace. At this point Ben Robey broke from the pack with Michael Langdon and Steve Jones in pursuit. Ben faded in the furious pursuit and Steve Jones took a comfortable win from an early lead out by Michael Langdon. Kerry Knowler and Lindy Hou started a good night, for their tandem, by taking third place. In the B grade scratch, a large bunch circulated up to the last lap when several riders attacked. Aaron Rockey took a closely contested sprint from Steve Hirsler and Alec Millett.
The evening’s second event was a 4-Lap handicap. In A grade, John-Paul DeSousa looked a good initial prospect by holding early pace to gap the field. However, Kerry Knowler, Lindy Hou, Michael Langdon and Ben Robey maintained a solid pursuit and were rewarded by a close finish in that order. In B grade, Paul Robey put up a valiant effort to hold off the pursuing bunch. However, he could not hold it for the final lap. Alec Millett, Aaron Rockey and Phil Anderson took the finish in that order.
An 8 lap Win & Out followed the handicap. With sprints every two laps, this race is very demanding on tactics. It is critical to know when to apply your best effort. In A grade Steve Jones took the first sprint for a win. Michael Langdon held a gap from the first sprint to take the second. Kerry Knowler and Lindy Hou took the third sprint with great tactics. Nathan Spillane, who was having his first track outing, showed his potential by taking the final sprint from Ben Davis. In B grade, Alec Millett took the first sprint from Steve Hirsler. Steve held the gap to take the second sprint. Ross Scutts took the third sprint and Linda Stals held off Phil Anderson to take the final sprint.
The track session closed with a combined 6 lap race in which B grade were given a half lap start on A grade. The A grade start was much better organised in comparison with the last time this event was held. However, B grade made the event interesting when Russ Scutts, Phil Anderson and Steve Hirsler worked very constructively. For the first few laps, the A grade bunch appeared to be making little inroad into the B grade lead. B grade were ultimately rewarded for their enterprise when Russ Scutts, Phil Anderson and Steve Hirsler took second to fourth place, respectively. Only Steve Jones was able to overtake this trio for the win. Steve made a huge effort with assistance by Michael Langdon and caught B grade as the bell lap commenced. Kerry Knowler and Lindy Hou continued striving and finished directly behind the B grade trio.
Major place getters were as follows: 10-Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Steve Jones, Michael Langdon, Kerry Knowler & Lindy Hou tandem; (B Grade) Aaron Rockey, Steve Hirsler, Alec Millett.
4-Lap Handicap: (A Grade) Kerry Knowler & Lindy Hou tandem, Michel Langdon, Ben Robey; (B Grade) Alec Millett, Aaron Rockey, Phil Anderson.
8-Lap Win & Out: (A Grade) Steve Jones, Michael Langdon, Kerry Knowler & Lindy Hou tandem; (B Grade) Alec Millett, Steve Hirsler, Russ Scutts.
6-Lap combined with B grade early start) Steve Jones, Russ Scutts, Phil Anderson.
Graeme O'Neill
Old Federal Highway Handicap – 22nd November
A solid turnout of 45 rides turned up to race in the Old Fed Hwy handicap on Sunday morning. Whilst 45 is a reasonable turnout, it would be interesting to know why we get over double that number for crit racing on a Tuesday night. If you have any thoughts, drop a line to the race committee.
The course started from the north side of the Shingle Hill Way/Old Fed Hwy intersection and headed north, turning just before the exit to the Lake George Lookout. The total length of the race was approximately 48kms, which included four laps of the course. Without any G grade riders turning up, the F grade riders led off with a 28min handicap over the 5 A grade scratch riders. There was a reasonable representation across the grades and most riders used their common sense and worked with their bunch to try and stay away from the chasing riders. After the first lap, it looked as though F and E grade had joined together as had some riders from D grade and C grade. B grade were the biggest bunch of the day and looked to be working very well together chasing down the C grade bunch. By the third turn A grade were really putting the pressure on riders up the road. Having dropped two riders, Steve Crispin, Peter Marshall and Marc Vroomans were sharing the load and closing in to the point where they were about 90 seconds down at the turn. Whilst the E grade and B grade bunches were still mostly intact, it didn’t look like they would be able to stay away from A grade. 20 minutes later this was proven true as Steve Crispin crossed the line first, 35 seconds up on Peter Marshall who was about 30 seconds in front of Marc. Word from the road was that Steve made his attack on the final climb out to Lake George and no one could hold his wheel. There was a D grade and C grade rider rounding out the top 5 with the remaining places in the top 10 taken out by the remnants of the B grade bunch.
Overall, I think the handicapper did a reasonable job of setting the handicaps for each grade. Its always a hard task to accurately handicap without knowing who will turn up on the day and how big some of the bunches will be. From the sidelines, it looked like most riders had a good hit out, with only two DNFs. Kudos goes out to those riders who did get dropped from their bunches but still pursued on their own. This is especially true for Paul Frankom who was dropped from A grade on the first lap of the course and only saw riders on the other side of the road. A big effort to ride 40 odd kms by himself.
There was some very unpleasant news when riders returned to the cars at the gravel pit. It appears as though a brazen individual had gone through any loose laying gear (read – packs under the refreshment tables) and taken any attractive and even non-attractive items (ie, my sweaty bike helmet). Numerous people lost backpacks, phones and wallets. I have been advised that the individual had been tracked to Moruya via the GPS on one of the phones that had been stolen. The police were notified and a person of interest has been found in possession of some of the stolen goods. However, I doubt that much of the stolen goods will be found. I think this serves as a strong reminder that everyone should secure their valuables in their cars, and if you are riding out to an event, make sure your valuables are safely stored in the club van. Also, in addition to looking after each other’s safety on the road, we should keep an eye out around the race meeting points when others are out on the road racing.
Thank you to the members who assisted with marshalling on the day. Patrick McNamara, Marcus O’Toole, Jessica Baird, Paul Welsh, Andrew Chamberlain, Anthony O’Connor and Brendan Lakey. Special thanks to Mike Hayes for stepping up at the last minute to drive the trailing vehicle (it was very surprising to see Andrew C coming back with the vehicle signs saying that the magnets would not stick to his vehicle ? ).
Rohan Verco