2.2 Feb 8 Bleat

Post date: Feb 08, 2016 12:32:16 AM

Hello Vets,

In this week's Bleat;

• Notice of Annual General Meeting 2016

• From the Desk of the President

• From the Desk of the Handicapper

• Wanted: Steel track bike

• Racing this Week

• Race Reports

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

Ian Morton

From the Desk of the President

NOTICE of CHANGE to START TIMES for CRITERIUM GRADES

We have experimented with start times for different grades at Tuesday's criterium races. Lately we have been running the faster grades at the end of the program - the logic being that with more retired riders in the lower grades, it was easier for them to attend earlier in the afternoon, and the (largely) younger and faster grades at the end of the program.

However, this has not suited all. Some claim they cannot attend at all with a fixed time (whether earlier or later), but with rotating times, they can at least attend the odd one.

So we have reverted to rotating start times as fairer to all. This will start from TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY. Note: E,F&G will still be combined, with A/C and B/D starting together - which lessens passing issues.

CRITERIUM MANNERS

Whether you come first or last in your criterium race, or indeed if you pull out, it is important for the officials to record you as having safely finished. All place getters from first to last should pass slowly through the barrier/chute in the middle of the circuit at the end of the race in the order you think you crossed the finish line. Please call out your race number so it can be written down. If you DNF early, please report to the start line so we can get your number. We had to send out a search party last week for a rider who rode off home part way through a race to ensue he was OK. Another rider thought his podium place was so notable he did not have to pass through the chute like other riders. Poor form from both riders!

We also had a fall last week. While I would hesitate to speculate on the cause (especially as I did not see it happen) its a good 'ride manners' reminder to all to maintain your line and to avoid passing manoeuvres when it could be risky to do so - like up the extreme edge of the track in a tight pack.

Alex O'Shea

From the Desk of the Handicapper

Man down

Unfortunately, there was a crash in C grade and a rider sustained a number of injuries but is making a good recovery. Help was soon on its was as he crashed within 10 meters of our first aider!

Race times

A number have people have commented on the fixed nature of the times lately. This has suited some and disadvantaged others. Times have been flipped for this week.

Overtaking bunches

Roger Northcote was in control of the races last Tuesday. All the grade passings were done with much calmness and precision. Well done all riders for keeping a cool head when passing.

This week's changes;

Promotions

Matt Shadbolt F to D

Shane Warburton C to B

Please note the provisional race program and appointed volunteer race referees and marshals for the early races (http://www.actvets.cc/referees/VETS 2016 Marshall Roster.xls). Please check to see if you name has been included. Currently, I'm choosing people to marshal who have raced over the summer, are not in their first season and previously marshalled in first half of 2015 or not at all. If you didn't help out in 2015, please come forward. Being a race referee or traffic controller can be demanding but calling out and writing down numbers in the chute is a task most of us would find quite straightforward. The club is able to sustain its low costs (E.g. Licence and 20 races=$200 for the Vets but $450 for CCC) thanks to the efforts of those who offer their services for free. The more the burden is spread among all members, the fairer the system is. Thanks to those who've offered their services already.

Looking forward to your help in the coming months.

Rob Langridge

Wanted: Steel track bike

I'm looking for a traditional lugged steel track bike for a 52+ ACTVet to take back to the velodrome. Either forks & frame or complete bike would be considered. European, Japanese, or Australian. Can be a running bike, requiring minor work and/or in need of complete restoration. Looking for a 54cm or 55cm square frame (around 21-22" in the old money). If you have a dedicated steel track bike collecting dust in a garage and would like to see it returned to the velodrome under careful ownership, please call me on 0428467623 or email at afmillett@ozemail.com.au.

Alec Millett

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 9th February: Stromlo Criterium

Where: Stromlo Forest Park

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

Race Description:

Note the early start time for A/C.

A/C 5:50 A 40m+2, C 35m+2

B/D 6:40 B 40m+2, D 35m+2

E/F/G 7:25 25 min + 2 laps

Race Director: Paul Robey

Contact: Email: paul.robey3@gmail.com Ph 0413480241

The nominated marshals for this event are;

• Paul Connor

• Dougal Torrance

Wednesday, 10th February: Track Racing

The Program for Wednesday is as follows:

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

6.00pm – 6.20pm: 16-Lap graded scratch race;

6.20pm – 6.40pm: 4-Lap handicap

6.40pm – 7.00pm: 12-Lap Win & Out

7.00pm – 7.20pm: Italian Pursuit.

Sunday, 14th February: Old Federal Highway Graded Scratch

NOTE: This race subject to traffic control arrangements being available. Keep an eye on The Bleat and Twitter (https://twitter.com/actvets) for updates.

Where: Gravel Pit, intersection Federal Highway and Shingle Hill Way

When: 9:00 am

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

Race Description: Highway Gravel Pit to Lake George and back

Race Director: Robert Diamond

Contact: Email 7rob07@gmail.com Ph: 0417873032

The nominated marshals for this event are;

• Alex O'Shea, Paul Robey, Bruce Goodspeed, David Wilson, Chris Kon, Tim Minehan

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.

The nominated marshals for upcoming events are;

- Feb 16 @ Stromlo: Craig Kentwell, Brian Holloway

- Feb 21 @ Uriarra: ATC , Kevin Hennessy, Simon Milnes, James Mills, Peter Alexander

- Feb 23 @ Stromlo: Ian Preston, John Stokman

- Feb 28 @ OFH, Tulip Farm: Dale Kleeman, Marc Vroomans, Ben Davis, Ben Vagnarelli, Warwick Wilson, David Witham

RACE REPORTS:

Stromlo Criterium – 2nd February

G Grade

Tony Weir turned up at the start of G grade saying he hadn’t had a chance to warm up. Dare we say he was foxing with the 2 other riders minds at the start by saying this? But ½ lap into the race the lack of a warm up meant his legs felt like bricks and he was quickly dropped. Paul Robey and Heather Sommariva quickly scooted away from a puffing Tony and setup what looked like a large gap. But the little engine inside Tony finally got warmed up and he started to gain on the lead two. With 9 to go he not only caught the two riders but also went straight to lead and looked like he would move away but Paul and Heather were taking none of that and stayed with Tony until the sprint where Heather took a fine win ahead of Paul Robey with Tony Weir now in a warm down phase.

F Grade

11 eager racers lined up for one of the first events of the evening. With 10 mins to go rider 234 (Matt Shadbolt) attacked. We figure he grew tired of the yapping by the main peloton and decided to quickly put some distance between himself and the peloton for some peace and quiet. This proved to be a decisive move as the peloton continued to talk without too much chasing. In the end Matt cruised home with Pat Rooke showing her queen sprinting prowess beating out Alison Hale for 2nd.

E Grade

17 riders rolled to the start with Steve Dean confident of a good showing on a new bike. E grade stayed together for most of the race. At one point the down the back straight the peloton resembled a cruisy Saturday morning café ride with a lot of freewheeling going on. But hey who said we don’t enjoy our racing? At the serious end with a lap to go, Robert Mackey decided to see what the others had left in them. Unfortunately for Robert, the others had quite a bit and bunched up in the straight for a bunch sprint. In the end Seymour Savell-Boss came across the line first, followed by out-of-towner Bruce Syme with Alex Sommariva in 3rd place.

D Grade

A tremendous 21 keen riders turned up to race D grade. On a night where breakaways might succeed off the front for long periods of time, D grade were having none of that nonsense and decided to ride together. A few small attacks were quickly peeled back with some stern words being said to those who dared to break the rhythm of the bunch. Towards the end the peloton started to form into an arrow with some good speeds. At the line James Curran took out line hours with Dan Ashcroft in 2nd and John Hermes pipping in for 3rd.

C Grade

Cameron Pitt decided the long breakaway was there for the taking by attacking with 25 mins to go on the clock. Once again the main peloton of 22 riders was having none of that and quickly organized themselves to chase him down within ½ a lap. The chase not only saw the average speed go through the roof, but at one stage there was a real possibility of C grade catching and overtaking A grade! With those sorts of speeds something had to give and the high pace must have scared anyone else from trying an attack as the majority stayed together for the final lap showdown. In the end Shane Warburton showed a clean pair of heels to lead home another out-of-towner (Tresten Bamber) in 2nd with Chris Dean closing out 3rd spot.

B Grade

A massive 30 riders crowded out the start line in B Grade. Welcome Christophe to B grade and Mark Taylor after some time off. From the start it was a case of all heart rates hitting their max with an average speed of 41kmh. At those speeds, not much gets away and that proved correct with a bunch sprint ensuing at the end. Greg Collis zoomed away to take 1st from Chris Kon and Damian Copeland in 3rd.

A Grade

With the promotion of Dougal Torrance into A grade after inflicting pain on B grade for several weeks it would prove an interesting test. True to form, Dougal showed his panache to attack a star studded A field 300 metres into the race and was joined by Rowan McMurray and 1 other rider to form a very strong lead group. They worked really well together, that’s until the V8 engine of Mark Harris decided to wind up and chase them down with the rest of A grade hanging onto Mark’s wheel. This was the point in the race where our handicapper bowed out of proceedings for the night. A eventually caught the 3 antagonists but it’s usually at this point in time when the peloton comes back together that accidents happen and unfortunately a few came down in the home straight but on last reports have no serious injuries. After all the action Peter Kitchen took the full 10 points on offer with Nicholas Steward and a gallant Tom Hartley rounding out 3rd place.

Ben Davis on behalf of Roger Northcote

Narrabundah Track Racing – 3rd February

Initially, the prospects for track racing on 3 February looked good. The day was overcast and windy. However, there was little sign of rain, until a light sprinkling commenced just as track practice was beginning. Practice was delayed while the track dried. However, racing commenced on time, at 6.00pm.

The initial 16 Lap A grade scratch race was fast paced. The usual attacks and feints at mid race were missing, possibly because the strong headwind into the front straight made a break difficult. The bell lap commenced with Michael Langdon accelerating and the full pack in tow. Michael and Steve Jones gapped the field in the final lap. The result was inevitable. Michael put up a very good show in the sprint, but Steve came past for a narrow win. Paul Connor, on his first outing with our track group, took third. Ben Davis and Peta Brill took fourth and fifth respectively.

Just as the B grade scratch race was about to commence, light rain returned. At first, it seemed the weather might clear. However, after a 20 minute wait, it was obvious that the track would not dry that evening and racing was, regretfully, abandoned.

Place getters:

16-Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Steve Jones, Michael Langdon, Paul Connor.

Season Point Score Update: Michael Langdon (160), Steve Jones (146),), Alec Millett (140), John-Paul DeSousa (126), Ross Scutts (122), Steve Hirsler (114), Phil Anderson (105), Ben Davis (100).

Note that, in the interests of fair play, the point scoring was artificially adjusted to compensate for B grade missing out on their scratch race. Note, also, that riders who paid for the abandoned track session do not need to pay for their next session.

Graeme O'Neill

Dairy Rd Criterium – 7th February

The sun was shining and the course set up with the help of Ben Davies doing some needed tree pruning.

In G grade Paul Robey got the better of Bernie Crowe winning by one point.

F grade was a battle between Pat Rooke (second on a countback with 11 points) to Alison Hale (with one of the sprints too close to call). Barbara Bayliss claiming third with 3 points.

Seymour Savell-Boss easily won on 16 points in E grade, with Robert Mackey second on 13 and Linda Stahls third on 4 points.

D grade saw Michael Hanbury win by one point from Brian Chugg with Martin Boyd placing third on 10 points.

C grade was very competitive with some fast sprints, with Andrew Simpson taking honours totalling 16 points. Cam Pitt was second on 14 points and Martin Horwood a respectable third with 9 points.

In A grade it was a fierce battle between Mark Vroomans and Sean Ifland pulling off some awesome sprints until Andrew Chamberlain went up the road taking out four consecutive sprints only to puncture on the last lap which put him down from a certain second place to third on 12 points.

Mark scored 21 points with Sean third on 15 points.

Damian Copeland and Richard Hedley went head to head in B grade with Damian taking the honours on 18 points and Richard one point less. Chris Kon took the bronze with 13 points.

Thanks to Jan Koehler, Dale Kleeman for marshalling duties and Tom Roberts (First Aid).

Nick Boylan