1.4 January 23 Bleat

Post date: Jan 23, 2017 8:44:32 PM

Hello Vets,

In the Bleat this week;

• Heat Warning

• Traffic Controller Course

• From the desk of the handicapper

• Racing this Week

• Race Reports

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

Ian Morton

Heat Warning

Traffic Controller Course

The Traffic Controller Training courses will be held for free for Canberra cycling clubs and cycling organisations on February 11, 2017 Spaces are limited for the training course, and once full a waitlist will be activated so we can host further courses.

Fully subsidised by Roads ACT this course has been organised to assist in minimising costs on cycling clubs and organisations and help train volunteers, or club appointed marshals to fulfil the marshalling duties at cycling events. We urge you to make use of this generous offer and assist your club and the broader cycling community by having more trained and skilled operators available for club and open events in the ACT. Please note ALL registrants must have a current driver’s license.

Date: Saturday 11 February 2017

Time: Full day of training 8:30 – 5pm

Location: Canberra Ave, Fyshwick

Cost: Free

Please use this link to register:

https://eventdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=21794&OrgID=4426

John Armstrong

Executive Officer

Pedal Power ACT Inc

From the desk of the Handicapper

The following members have come to the attention of the handicapper this week;

- Adam Potts D to B

- Graham Wilson E to D

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 24th 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:

A/C 5:50 A 45m+2, C 40m+2

B/D 6:40 B 45m+2, D 40m+2

E/FG 7:15 30 min + 2 laps

Race Director: Dale Kleeman

Contact: Email: dalek011@gmail.com Ph 0438516382

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

Wednesday, 25th 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 – 6.50pm: 1 Lap Screamer TT;

6.50pm – 7.10pm: 2-lap handicap;

7.10pm – 7.30pm: Italian pursuit.

Road Racing

Will resume in February.

RACE REPORTS:

Stromlo – 17th January

When the wind picked up and the blazing sun came out while riding on the Menzies walk I doubted if I'd even make it to the start to be Race Director. Then on staggering into the air conditioned comfort of the operations room at Stromlo waiting for me were the start lists with the names of dozens of fools keen to fry their brains out. Despite the hot weather, there were some very brave and tough performances. Off the track, Ian Morton's encounter with a very large male eastern grey was just as fascinating. The kangaroo had come down to the BBQ area to munch on the grass.

A very bold Ian with only the yellow flag (and a fence) to protect himself kept it off the track for the entire A/C race. "I've got my money on the roo" was a comment from the Ian Preston bunch in C grade so not only were the spectators, but also the riders, were intrigued by this stand-off. Luckily it all ended well.

The races were shortened by 10 minutes to make them somewhat bearable, but it was still about 37 degrees when B grade kicked off the evening. Much to my surprise there was an immediate attack with Scott Tozer and Simon Junakovic staying away for about 15 minutes. 10 minutes later Heath Chester went charging off followed by Dale Kleeman and Tim Minehan. Soon after Nick Boylan bridged across, but then the breakaway was caught. Soon after Heath got away again and once more Nick bridged across. Towards then end Heath started to struggle and pleaded for the time keeper to call two to go, but no go. Nick then powered on to win while Heath hung on for clear second and Tim was third.

D grade was very straightforward. Dan Grillo and Matt Maddox broke away after 15 mins and stayed away until the end, and it was Matt who was victorious in the sprint. Not to be forgotten was the great opportunist Phil Anderson who led the bunch home in third.

E grade followed it's recent pattern of Des Brown leading and his beefier rivals freewheeling behind. I've seen Michael Rogers ride guys off his wheel at Stromlo but it was a big ask for Des. For most of the race the gap between E and F grades was consistent but towards the end E started to catch F so to avoid the grades passing I rang the bell lap early . Graham Wilson, Dean Hague and Ian Morton made the most of the 20 mins of sitting in to leave Des floundering well behind and finish in the above order.

F grade stayed very calm until I rang the bell early. Paul Robey and Sue Frost had got a small gap at this stage and this is when Sue encouraged Paul to keep going but he was already on his last legs so Sue went for a one lap screamer and held off the disintegrating bunch for a solo victory ahead of David Witteveen and Miche Hodgetts.

Ian Preston shot off from the gun in C grade in what appeared to be a suicide mission. He was then joined by Andrew McCrae, Adam Potts and Jayson Clarke. As the rest of the grade disintegrated the top four was more or less the bunch. In the sprint for home Adam, was too good for Ian and Jayson.

A grade was missing some the usual riders who make up the typical 4-man breakaway so the bunch stayed together for the entire race for one of the few times this season. Ben Carmody and Paul Smith had goes off the front but where quickly chased down. Marc Vroomans was the best of the sprinters followed by Nicholas Stewart and Paul Connor.

Rob Langridge

Narrabundah Track Racing – 18th January

The attendance for Session 13 of the track racing season was again below par, this time in both grades. Again the extremely hot and windy weather may have put a few riders off racing. However, cloud build up in the late afternoon and evening made the session more tolerable than expected. As usual, the wind also moderated.

The 10-lap A grade scratch race started at an easy pace. The small pack held together for most of the race. On lap 8, Kerry Knowler cranked up the pace with a feeler attack. Michael Langdon jumped out with Kerry. However, the pack pursued both riders and hauled them in as the bell lap approached. A full, furious attack from Michael Langdon came on the bell lap. Alec Millett and Steve Jones responded and stuck on Michael’s wheel as he surged around the final bend. In the final sprint, Steve Jones was too strong coming around the Michael’s outside for the win. Alec Millett was nicely tucked in for third.

In B grade, the pack remained consolidated for 8 laps. The pace then ramped up markedly, driven on by Tony Beasley, Phil Anderson and Ross Scutts. Phil Anderson showed great form for the evening by taking the win. Tony Beasley and Ross Scutts rode well to take second and third placing respectively.

The second event of the evening was a 4 lap handicap. The A grade race was quite tidy, with the initially splayed field coalescing into a tight bunch over the first three laps. From this point Alec Millett showed great form by accelerating out over final lap for the win. Michael Langdon pursued Alec relentlessly, but was unable to overtake. John Paul DeSousa had a good ride for third place.

In the B grade handicap, Phil Anderson, Tony Beasley, and Ross Scutts streaked out of the blocks and set a solid pace to haul in the limit rider on lap 3. Ian Drayton took a little longer but also hauled in the limit rider. On the bell lap Phil Anderson was again the form rider, taking a comfortable win from Tony Beasley and Ross Scutts in second and third respectively.

The evening’s third event was a 12 lap win and out. In this event, there are multiple sprints where the sequence of sprint winners corresponds to the race placings. On each sprint, the sprint winner drops out. In A grade, Steve Jones powered to the first sprint win over Alec Millett. The sprint contest left Alec Millett with a big lead over the field. Alec stayed strong over the next few laps to win the second sprint by a comfortable margin. Kerry Knowler put in a great attack to build a margin for the next sprint win. Three riders competed for the final sprint with Andrew Pell taking a good sprint win over Michael Langdon.

In B grade, Phil Anderson had the pack’s measure with a great win in the first sprint. Tony Beasley proved unbeatable for the second sprint. Finally, Ross Scutts put in a solid ride to take the last sprint.

The final event was an all-in Italian Pursuit. There were six pursuit riders on each team. Team 1 made a great start to lead over the first lap. From this point, both teams were well matched. However, try as they might, Team 2 could not close down the initial lead. By the final lap, Alec Millett just had to ride to form for a win by Team 1. That he did in style. With Phil Anderson riding for the winning Team 1, his tally for the evening was four wins for a maximal 25 point addition to his season points score. This was enough to ease Phil into second place in the season competition.

Major place getters were as follows:

10-Lap Scratch: (A Grade): Steve Jones, Michael Langdon, Alec Millett (B Grade) Phil Anderson, Tony Beasley, Ross Scutts.

4-Lap Handicap: (A Grade): Alec Millett, Michael Langdon, John Paul De Sousa (B Grade) Phil Anderson, Tony Beasley, Ross Scutts.

Win & Out: (A Grade): Steve Jones, Alec Millett, Kerry Knowler (B Grade) Phil Anderson, Ross Scutts, Tony Beasley.

Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 1 (Alec Millett, Andrew Peel, John-Paul De Sousa, Kerry Knowler, Tony Beasley, Phil Anderson).

Current Points Score Leaders: Michael Langdon (209), Phil Anderson (199), Alec Millett (197), Ross Scutts (188), Steve Jones (185), Tony Beasley (149), Steve Hirsler (130), Kerry Knowler (123).

Graeme O'Neill