Post date: Jul 29, 2013 10:39:56 PM
Hello Vets,
Is it my imagination or is Spring trying to put in an early appearance? Certainly Saturday’s glorious racing conditions gives us hope that warmer weather is upon us. In these week’s Bleat;
Fitz’s Challenge
Shoalhaven Gran Fondo
Racing this Week
Race Reports
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton.
Important Reminder about Registration time
Could riders please ensure that they arrive at the event in time to register by the 1:15 cutoff. This will help to minimise the stress on the race officials in compiling the race list prior to the race time.
Canberra's biggest and best-known long-distance one-day cyclo-sportive participation event on sealed rural roads in hilly terrain in the southwest of ACT. Challenge yourself over 255 km, 205 km, 165 km, 105 km or 50 km - these are serious physical challenges to test your capabilities.
Conducted by Pedal Power ACT. Full details and registration at www.fitzs.com.au .
We are holding a new Gran Fondo event here in the Shoalhaven on 28/29 September, and we’d like to invite ACTVets members to come along. This is the website with all of the info www.granfondoshoalhaven.com.au
On the Saturday, we have a Hill Climb plus Criterium at nearby Berry, and on the Sunday, there are 6 cycling events on offer and which cater for everyone, from the casual/new cyclist, to the serious athlete.
The 140km ride on Sunday is also a fundraiser called “Ride 4 Robbie”. Robbie Williams was a talented local cyclist, who passed away suddenly last year and at only 27 years of age www.granfondoshoalhaven.com.au/bio.html
Where: Lookout Hill.
When: 1:30pm
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
ABCD: Start - Pt Hut - Apollo Rd - Pt Hut – Finish
EFG: Start - Pt Hut, short Tharwa turn, Pt Hut, short Tharwa turn, Pt Hut, Finish.
Race Director: Steve Schwenke
Contact: Email schwenkes@homemail.com.au Ph 0412485729 or 62829775
Help Needed on Sunday: Steve requires 5 turn marshals and a couple of finish line helpers. Anyone who can assist please let Steve know before the weekend.
What a glorious day for a race! If only there hadn't have been a massive hill towards the end. Despite the good weather there were a surprising number of DNFs. There was also one notable DNS, as racing without shoes is a tricky thing. The Condor Creek hill sorted out most of the grades except for friendly F grade who stuck (mostly) together until the end. It was all about making the 'selection' over the hills and then hanging on until the end. The lack of bunches at the end meant judging the finishes was simple. Here are the winners and placegetters.
A: Brendan Byatt, Steve Crispin, Aaron Sedgmen
B: Marc Vroomans, Paul Welsh, Sean Ifland
C: Jason Parkes, Dale, Kleeman, Paul Brodie,
D: Mark Langman, Jeff Irving, Chris Dean
E: Mark Ridley, Terry Danaher, Kathryn Passalis
F: Clare D'Arcy, Mark Skimmings, Mick Donaldson
G: Errol Neish, Angelika Mauch, Bruce Jones
And a note about last week: After the race was cancelled Claire, Paul, Dale and I rode off into the gale to get in a ride before the rain. At the Corin turn-off we headed back, admired a rainbow at Lookout Hill then turned again at Mt Tennent for an invigorating a 38km loop. As we jumped into our cars, Dale set off for the ride back. By the time I got to Pt Hut crossing it was bucketing horizontal rain. A few minutes later I made a U turn to try and find Dale who may have been seeking shelter. To my surprise he emerged from the gloom quite cheerful and declared he'd have no trouble riding back to Cook! I put the car heater up another notch and headed home in disbelief.
Thanks to Jing, Belinda, Jim Cruden, Tom Hartley, Bob Kent, Steven Simms, Henry and James Meredith for their indispensable support.
Thanks to Robert Langridge for refereeing.
Thanks to the following volunteers who had made themselves available for the washed out event;
Andy Boyd
Elton Ivers
Polly Templeton
Ian Shaw
Henry Beaverstock
Jim Cruden
Steve Sims