1.3 January 16 Bleat

Post date: Jan 16, 2017 8:10:59 PM

Hello Vets,

In the Bleat this week;

• Extreme Heat Warning

• Update on Mark Gillett

• From the desk of the handicapper

• Registration Renewal for 2017

• Racing this Week

• Race Reports

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

Ian Morton

Extreme Heat Warning

Update on Mark Gillett

I visited Mark on Saturday 14 Jan and found him to be in good spirits with his memory returning to the point where he appears to be the same old Mark. I had a great conversation with him. Mark’s keen to return home, however, he is required to undertake further tests at Liverpool Hospital starting from Monday and could be there up to two weeks, so no point trying to visit Mark over the next weeks as he will be at Liverpool.

Mark sends his thanks to the Vets for placing the update posts; he was really surprised that they had done this as he didn't consider himself important enough to warrant that sort of attention.

Final point, Mark is still keen to get back on the bike in hopefully the not too distant future.

Peter Klein

From the desk of the handicapper

The following member has come to the attention of the handicapper this week;

- Dale Dummett E to D

Registration Renewal for 2017

Last reminder that 2017 membership renewals are now due. To renew, go to https://memberdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&OrgID=10244 or follow the prompts via the 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. SportsTG will then forward you the information.

You need to renew your membership prior to your first race in 2017.

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 2017 is $110

  • A full competitive membership for a sight impaired tandem cyclist for 2017 is $95

  • Non competitive membership for 2016 is $5

Please note that membership fees for 2017 have increased in line with a $10 increase in the Australian Veteran Cycling Council’s component of membership fees.

Upon renewal, your 2017 licence will be emailed to you direct from SportsTG. 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 SportsTG website.

Kirsti McVay

Membership Secretary

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 17th January: Stromlo Criterium

Please ensure you are registered before commencing racing. If you have renewed your membership in the last 24 hours, please ensure that you have a copy of your registration receipt when signing on.

Where: Stromlo Forest Park

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

Race Description:

Note the revised race times.

B/D 6:15 B 35m+2, D 30m+2

E/FG 6:55 25 min + 2 laps

A/C 7:25 A 35m+2, C 30m+2

Race Director: Robert Langridge

Contact: Email: langridge@netspeed.com.au Ph 0450400658

2 x marshals required for this event, please let Robert know if you can assist.

Wednesday, 18th January: Track Racing

Please ensure you are registered before commencing racing.

The Program for Wednesday is as follows:

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

6.00pm – 6.20pm: 10-lap graded scratch race;

6.20pm – 6.40pm: 4-lap handicap;

6.40pm – 7.00pm: 12-lap Win & out;

7.10pm – 7.20pm: Italian pursuit

Road Racing

Will resume in February.

RACE REPORTS:

Stromlo – 10th January

B Grade

On a very hot day B grade started the racing, Ian Mongan must have been keen to race hard as he took off on the first lap, soon the bunch caught him, few laps later Heath Chester had a go followed by few more riders, they managed a gap but the bunch closed on them very quickly, with 15minutes remaining Michael Fauke, Mark Taylor, Craig Tozer, Peter Merrick and for a short time Robert Langridge did got away, it was the successful break, the bunch was not well organized or maybe some riders in the “echappee” had few mates in the bunch doing some soft pedalling? disrupting the chase . The sprint was very close with Craig Tozer taking the win from Mark Taylor and Peter Merrick followed by Michael Fauke.

D grade

The race went at a fast pace with not too many surge ,at some stage Liz Lowe had a dig so did Stephen Terracini, but not much did happen out of it, must have been the heat. The bunch stayed together to the bell lap, when the pace did picked up , the finish was a very close bunch sprint won by Gillian Clark , Ally Roche and Sean Fleming.

A grade

As usual the race started fast with Stephen Isbel going on the second lap, he did made a gap but after 10 minutes the bunch got organized to chase him down( the bunch must have remembered when few weeks ago Stephen took off and held the chase away!), it took a while but Stephen did get caught. At some stage Paul Scherl and Stephen Blackburn had a go , the bunch was very active and closed the gap very quickly. With 15 minutes remaining a group of 6 riders created a gap within few laps two riders got dropped the remaining four kept working very well together, Nicholas Stewart won the sprint by few bike length followed by Mathew Corby , Stephen Isbel and Bruce Norton.

C Grade

C grade was a small bunch , The pace was kept high with not too much action, few riders had a go but every time the bunch closed the gap very quickly. We saw Sue Powell doing a lot of work at the front making sure no one got away. At the bell lap the bunch was still together getting ready for the sprint won by Warwick Wilson, closely followed by Duane Toohey and John Thorn.

E grade

A repeat of last week with Des Brown been very active at the front , at some stage Rosemary had a go but the bunch closed the gap within a lap. The last 15 minutes no much was happening , the bunch stayed organized to the bell lap ready for a fast sprint won by Dale Drummett, closely followed by Theresa McLachlan ( who was dropped at some stage but did manage to go back on) and a fast finishing Ian Morton.

F grade

The bunch did stay together to the end with few surges during the race but not much did happen, must have been the heat, it was pretty hot.

G grade

G Grade we saw a two up between Bruce Jones and Bernie Crow, Bruce getting the "win".

Many thanks to Kim Malcolm to help set up the registration and to marshal, also Ian Morton the “kangaroo whisperer” to keep a mob of these animals out of the track, and to help at the chute as well.

Cheers

Alain

Narrabundah Track Racing – 11th January

The attendance for Session 12 of the track racing season was below par, particularly in A grade. The extremely hot and windy weather may have put a few riders off racing. However, the evening cooled off over the session and was more tolerable than expected. As usual, the wind also moderated.

The 10-lap A grade scratch race started at a solid pace. The small pack held together for most of the race. On lap 8, Michael Langdon cranked up the pace with a feeler attack. Ben Davis and Alec Millet quickly closed the small gap. A full, furious attack from Michael Langdon came on the bell lap. Alec Millett and Rowan McMurray responded and stuck on Michael’s wheel as he surged around the final bend. Alec Millett showed great form out sprint Michael as the finish line approached. Rowan McMurray held on for a close third.

In B grade, the pack remained consolidated for 8 laps. Matt Morgan attacked early and cranked up the pace with 2 laps remaining. Matt pushed on with a gutsy challenge and somehow managed to hold out the pursuing pack for the whole 2 laps. Tony Beasley and Phil Anderson rode well to take second and third placing.

The second event of the evening was the 200 Fly, a 200 metre time trial from a flying start. This is a fun event, though quite technical. It requires just the right preparation, line and acceleration into the timed section. All A grade times were within a one second spread with Michael Langdon going just under 13 second for the best time. Alec Millett and Ben Davis set the second and third best times. In B grade, Matt Morgan stood out with a time within the A grade limits. Congratulations to John Lowe, who has just started track racing, for setting the second fastest time in B grade. Ross Scutts set the third best B grade time.

The evening’s third event was a mystery race. In this event the bell lap is called at random after a nominal number of laps (four in this case). In A grade, the bell went on lap 6 with the whole pack consolidated. Alec Millet and Michael Langdon surged out of the pack with Alec showing great form for his second win of the night. Michael took second with Ben Davis sprinting well for the third spot. In B grade, the bell came on Lap 5 as the pack accelerated in response an attack by Tony Beasley. Tony rode well to take the win, followed by Phil Anderson and Matt Morgan, in that order.

The final event was an all-in Italian Pursuit. There were six pursuit riders on each team. Both teams started well. The initial laps were close. However, by mid race Team 1 had a small advantage that was built on lap by lap. Michael Langdon put in a great final lap for Team 2. However, with Alec Millett in such good form, there was no way to peg back the gain already made by Team 1. Alec rode on for a comfortable win by Team 1.

Major place getters were as follows:

10-Lap Scratch: (A Grade): Alec Millett, Michael Langdon, Rowan McMurray (B Grade) Matt Morgan, Tony Beasley, Phil Anderson

200 metre Fly: (A Grade): Michael Langdon (12.94s), Alec Millett (13.14s), Ben Davis (13.87s) B Grade Matt Morgan (13.93s), John Lowe (14.26s). Ross Scutts (14.28s)

Mystery Race: (A Grade): Alec Millett, Michael Langdon, Ben Davis (B Grade) Tony Beasley, Phil Anderson, Matt Morgan

Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 1 (Ben Davis, Alec Millett, Martin Graham, Tony Beasley, Steve Hirsler, John Lowe)

Current Points Score Leaders: Michael Langdon (192), Alec Millett (175), Phil Anderson (174), Ross Scutts (170), Steve Jones (166), Steve Hirsler (130) Tony Beasley (128), Graeme O’Neill (112)

Graeme O'Neill