Getting Ready for Gunning

A reminder that the Gunning 2 Day is coming up on the weekend of the 17/18 May. That’s less than a month away so better get those kms into the legs to get ready.

More details to follow as we get closer to the date.

RACING THIS WEEK:

Saturday, 3rd May – Tidbinbilla Graded Scratch

Where: Paddy's River Rd, Tidbinbilla Ring Rd

When: 1:30pm

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

Race Description:

Tidbinbilla - Flints Crossing - Geals Ck - Flints crossing - ABC into Tracking Stn - EFG do not turn to Tracking Stn - Finish

Race Director: Pat Rooke

Contact: Email pat_rooke@yahoo.com.au Ph 0466 770 199

Assigned Marshals

The nominated marshals for this event are;

• Angie Wren

• Baden White

• Eddie O’Farrell

• Belinda Wren

• Frank O'Sullivan

• Jeff Gough

• Nathan Spillane

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.

RACE REPORT:

Old Federal Highway – 26th April

There was an excellent turnout for the Federal Highway race on Saturday afternoon, 92 riders plus the full complement of marshalls, which made race directing nice and easy. The weather was fine but with a 30-40km NW wind, which was a tailwind coming up the hill on Shingle Way, but an unhelpful cross-wind for both legs to Lake George and back. This made it very hard work to get back on to any group after being dropped, and led to the bunches breaking up much more than usual. There was no groups larger than 4 at the finish. Canny riders found allies to work with in smaller groups, but there were quite a lot of solo riders working hard against the wind. Excellent training for Gunning, which is often windier, and with less shelter!

In A-grade a lead group of four riders: Steve Crispin, Peter Wallbrink, Charles Nicoll & Brendan Byatt had formed by the top of Shingle Hill, and they worked together for the rest of the race, increasing their lead. Steve took out the sprint from Peter. Rohan Verco and Damien Pollard formed a lead pair in B-grade, staying ahead of Peter Marshall and Michael Carr working hard together in a second pair. Damian took the honours. Adrian Rollins put in a strong solo ride in C grade, with a better time than all bar the first four in B-grade. Adrian is likely to be riding with them soon. Claire Aubrey was the fastest woman whilst taking second in C-grade a few seconds ahead of Clinton Porteous. D-grade had the largest bunch of 20 at the start, and the best sprint finish with Jeff Gough narrowly edging Terry Moore and and David Stewart-Thomson. Des Brown took out E grade 30 seconds ahead of Terrence Merrigan and David Gunther. John Ignatius comfortably won F grade. James Meredith and Lindsay Graham seemed to invite each other across the line in G grade, with James winning perhaps by accident.

Paul Scherl and Ian Albrey were our lead and chase drivers. We don’t use drivers for ordinary events in the ACT, it is a NSW requirement, and in my view adds considerably to safety. Our Marshals were Rosemary Robinson, Polly Templeton, Jessica Baird, Russel Marston and Luke McGowan. Henry Beaverstock was again the master of the computerised results, using and demonstrating Graham Hendrie’s neat program works. Ian Morton put out signs early before his race. Many thanks to all.

Thanks to Roger Northcote for race refereeing.