Post date: Nov 05, 2012 9:50:12 AM
Hello Vets,
In this issue of The Bleat;
· Racing this Week
· Race Reports
· Call for Volunteers – Tour de Femme
· From the Desk of the Handicapper
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton.
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; E/F Grade@ 6:07 - 19min + 2 laps; A/B Grade@ 6:34 - 30min + 2 laps; C/D Grade@ 7:10 - 23min + 2 laps
Race Format: Sprints laps will be called every 5-10 mins, worth 3, 2 and 1 points. Final sprint will be points from 5-1 for the first five finishers. Rider with the highest score wins.
Race Director: Robert Langridge
Contact: Email: langridge@netspeed.com.au Ph 6281 0997
Crit Marshals and Helpers needed
Helpers will be needed on the night. If you are racing you can still get there early or stay after your race to help out.
Important Information: Late Arrivals
It is a condition of our Insurance that all riders receive a referee’s briefing before the commencement of racing to ensure that they are aware of racing conditions.
All riders need to ensure that they arrive in sufficient time to sign-on and be briefed before the commencement of racing.
Where: Queanbeyan Track
When: 6:00 pm
Details: Warm up from 5:30 first race at 6pm. Scratch races, two lap handicap, derny races and Italian pursuits. Road and track bikes welcome
Where: Stromlo Forest Park
When: 8:00 am
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description: Stromlo Forest Park - left on Uriarra Rd, turn around at the last sister, return and once around the Critirium track
Race Director: Graham Hendrie
Contact: Email: hendrie@netspeed.com.au 6288 1544
Help Needed on Saturday: Graham will need Marshals and helpers at the finish line to run the race. Please contact him before the weekend if you can assist.
Leaving my office at 4.50pm it appeared that my referring duties for the night would entail turning up at the track and cancel racing due to the inclement weather. Not to be, as rain in the northern suburbs and Queanbeyan totally missed Stromlo Park. No rain, no wind and a good riding temperature.
Numbers were slightly down on last week with 107 participants and with the riders evenly spread across all grades it meant that management of the bell lap and sprints to the finish were easier.
In general the sprints in each grade were well contested except for one or two runaways. With a number of new members it is hard to assess an initial grade but it is hoped that the ever present handicapper will do his trusty duty by week two of any new member racing.
E Grade saw the closest finish of the night with Charles Black just out sprinting Belinda Chamberlain on the line, lucky to be half a rim in it at the end. It must have been that sort of night for the Chamberlain’s as Andrew finished up second in B Grade as well.
I must thank all riders for their performance on the track and staying upright. It certainly appeared from my position that track etiquette was maintained and I only had one issue raised through the evenings racing.
Thanks to our First Aid attendant, although I missed his name. Also thanks to the ever present Henry Beaverstock for keeping me on track and a big thanks to Dale Teddy for assistance at the line and in the chute.
Thanks to Phil Coulton for race refereeing.
Track Report – 1st November
Another great evening at track. 18 riders in 3 different grades lined up for the 12 Lap scratch which proved to be a great warm-up for the following 4 Lap Handicap for the season point.
The 4 lap handicap required riders employ some tactics to try and catch a wheel and try and hang on, this proved to be the downfall of the sprinters. In the Roadies handicap, Ben Davis is proving to be the man to beat despite starting on scratch. The A-graders saw Steve Jones again swipe through the bunch for a convincing win. Brad Sellwood was given a very generous handicap to win easily.
Next was an Italian pursuit - this team event combines riders of all standards to form two teams at opposite sides of the track. Team captains organise their team so as the slowest riders are at the front of the train. After the end of each lap, the leading rider pulls off completely, leaving the next to fight the wind. Therefore, the first rider has to do one lap, the second, two laps, and the last rider completes as many laps as in his/her team. Hence, the last rider typically has the best endurance. The pace of this race is continuously building and lead often changes hands between the opposing teams, until the final two riders are left to decide the race. Only 4 roadies were able to make the start line so they ended up only doing 2 laps. The Team of Ben Robey and Phil Coulton won. All the trackies were combined for their race. The winning team was Steve Jones, Jim Davey, Anton Wurzer, Ottmar Weiss and Brad Sellwood.
Next Thursday will see something for the sprinters.
65 Riders were greeted with perfect weather for racing on Sunday morning. The handicap events are much anticipated and a great deal of discussion and debate by riders revolves around the time between grades allotted by the Handicapper. With the registrations on Sunday, B1, C1 and D1 grades were looking like producing the winner as they had the most number of riders. There were a couple of smaller groups given the large number of grades so some riders were likely to do it tougher than others. There was some negotiation on the start line in A grade with only two starters in the A1 category. A decision was made to run A1 and A2 as one grade but utilising the handicap (less 30 seconds) provided to the A1 grade. Being 4 minutes behind B Grade provided a big challenge for the A Grade chasers.
So once all riders were away, eyes focus on the intersection between Shingle Hill Way and the Old Federal Hwy to see which grades had ridden well together. Bruce was true to his word breaking apart G grade and forging a 200m gap by the intersection. Other than G Grade it appeared as though most grades had stuck together on the first leg and were working well to chase down riders in front, although there was some loud discussion as the C grade group went past with riders trying to establish the rolling line. By the time riders came back for the second leg on the Old Federal Hwy, Bruce was still leading although his lead was disappearing with the groups bunching up behind him and chasing hard. Malcolm Tew and Barbara Bayliss were working well in tandem at this stage and seeming to be holding their own. A number of grades had joined with other riders being dropped so it was difficult to assess progress in the chasing groups. B Grade seemed to be still working together and held a good gap over A Grade and it was likely they were going to chase down the leaders.
Once all the riders had gone through the last turn it was a matter of waiting to see who would crest the rise first and roll down to the finish line. As it turned out, Ben Davis had put the hurt on the field on the last lap and came across the line first with a buffer that allowed him to look back, check there was no one behind and role across the line comfortably. Following was a close tussle between Barbara Bayliss and Malcolm Tew with Barbara taking the chocolates on the line. The next couple of places filled without the pack in sight and it was only in the battle for 6th spot did the first of the peloton arrive with Tom Hartley leading the pack.
Thanks to the marshals who volunteered to assist with running the event. Paul Scherl and Dale Teddy volunteered ahead of the event (this makes things so much easier for the Race Director) and James Meredith, James Jordan, Michael Fawke and the ever reliable Henry Beaverstock all stepped up on the day.
Thanks for Rohan Verco for race refereeing.
The Tour de Femme is a women's only 20km ride that is both a race and participation event. Each year the ride attracts around 500 competitors. This year's event is being held on Sunday November 11th 2012. The race route starts and finishes in Yarralumla Bay and loops around though Yarralumla, Commonwealth Ave, Parkes Way, Lady Denman Dr and Adelaide Ave.
To ensure the event is run smoothly and safely, we need the help of approximately 30 people to direct riders and control traffic. If your wife, girlfriend, daughter, grand mother is racing why not come and support them by making their race safe! You can also cheer them on as they ride past your Marshalling point.
You will be needed from approx 7:30am and should be finished by 11am. There's no better way to spend a Sunday morning!
No experience necessary, you will be given clear instructions and supplied with all equipment on the day.
Please get in contact with me - stuartjones1@gmail.com
From the Desk of the Handicapper
James the Handicapper (everyone’s best friend) has been hard at work and has rewarded these competitors for their efforts with the following promotions;
Criterium
· Tom Hartley A
· Andrew Chamberlain A
· Mayumi Takeuchi F
Road
· Elizabeth Lowe E1