Post date: Feb 19, 2015 6:2:7 AM
Hello Vets,
In this week's Bleat;
• Reminder: SGM and AGM
• Reminder of Courtesy
• Handicapping
• Interstate Events
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton
Members are reminded that a Special General Meeting at 7:00pm following by the Annual General Meeting at 7:30pm will be held on Wednesday 18th February 2015 at The Weston Club, 1 Liardet Street, Weston ACT.
Members are asked to come along to contribute to the running of the club.
Vets members are reminded of the importance of riding on our roads, especially in bunches, where we strictly observe road rules and show motorists and pedestrians normal courtesies.
There is simply no excuse for riding through red lights - no matter whether the roads is clear or not. We loose all respect from motorists if we do this, as well as being a serious traffic infringement.
While it is 'legal' to ride two abreast, it is poor form where there are double lines. Single-out in the bunch when you see double centre lines with the lead outside rider calling the move.
Signal or communicate your intentions - especially at roundabouts.
Don't be provoked by aggressive drivers. Simply give a friendly wave. . . . and note their rego number.
Members are asked to come along to contribute to the running of the club.
Alex O'Shea
We still need to increase our cohort of accredited Road Marshals to officiate at the club's ACT road cycling events to better ensure rider safety. If you are able to commit to providing this valuable service to the Club, at least a few times per year, please nominate for the next round of (free) training. Details below:-
The ACT Government has agreed to run another completely subsidised Road Marshalling training course on 21 March 2015.
When: Saturday 21 March 2015
Address: Level 2 Macarthur House, 12 Wattle street Lyneham ACT
Time: 9am to 4pm
What to bring: Morning & afternoon tea will be provided, however you will be required to bring your own lunch or purchase it (off site) during the break.
At the completion of this training, candidates will have the appropriate qualification, recognised by the ACT Government, to undertake Road Marshal Traffic Control Operations at cycling events.
Vets club members wishing to register can do here:- https://eventdesq.imgstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=11984&OrgID=4426.
Regards
Alex O'Shea
President
From the Handicapper this week;
• James Curran D to C
• Sean Flemming D to C
• Simon Junakovic B to A
• Marcus O'Toole B to A
• Peter Alexander C grade
• John Ignatius E to D
• Bill Frost D to E
• Tony Sheehan F to E
• Mike Spoljaric G to F
And a reminder that riders are not to downgrade themselves without approval from the Handicapper.
• 2015 Riverina Rush Cycling Classic - Narrandera
- 28 Feb - Twilight Criterium
- 1 Mar - Road Cycle Classic
for more information contact Gerry Daly
• 2015 South Pacific Veterans Cycling Championships
- 3,4,5&6 April
Road Championship & State Title, Straight Line Sprint Championships, Individual Time Trial, Criterium and Road Handicap.
Enquiries to Tom Finning tfinning@ncable.net.au
Online registration www.veterancycling.com.au
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 - 22min + 2 laps; A/B Grade@ 6:37 - 33min + 2 laps; C/D Grade@ 7:11 - 26min + 2 laps
Race Director: Peter Klein
Contact: Email: pklein12@tpg.com.au Ph 0406 378 801 or 6292 6592
The nominated marshals for this event are;
• Sue Frost
• Luke McGowan
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.
The Program for Wednesday is as follows:
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 16-lap Graded scratch race;
6.20pm – 7.10pm: 6-Lap Win & Out;
7.10pm – 7.20pm: 6-Lap Italian Pursuit;
7.20pm – 7.40pm: 6-Lap scratch (All in with B Grade early start).
Where: Uriarra Homestead, Uriarra Rd
When: Starting at 9:00 am
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description: TBA once we have road approvals.
Race Director: Graham Hendrie
Contact: Email hendrie@netspeed.com.au Ph 0415 552 343 or 6288 1544
The nominated marshals for this event are;
• Simon Milnes
• Belinda Wren
• John Paul DeSouza
• Bruce Jones
• Phil Walker
• Terrence Merrigan
The nominated marshals for the next two weeks are;
- Feb 24 @ Stromlo: Christophe Barbaret, Ed Pellegrino
- Mar 01 - No Race
- Mar 03 @ Stromlo: Don De Smet, Mike Hayes
- Mar 08 - No Race
“Marshal duties are allocated on the frequency of your racing during the summer season. However we have scheduled the full year in advance in such a way that you only need to marshal once in the year”
With benign conditions at 5:45, a good gathering of G graders lined up for the first race. Paul Robey showed some strength early but faded as the raced developed. Mike Spoljaric showed a clean pair of heels to the field with a determined Heather Sommariva finishing in front of Lindsay Graham.
From the start A Grade gathered pace as a good sized bunch and it was obvious to the marshals that they would catch B Grade, the question was "when". The Paul Scherl burst away and was chased down by Mark Harris and Mark Vroomans and together they set a cracking pace. Stephen Blackburn, Nathan Spillane and Rowan McMurray tried to bridge the gap but Mark, Mark and Paul were keeping the pace on. Fortunately the two breakaway A Grade groups got ahead of B Grade several laps before the finish. Mark Harris finished strongly to win over a fading Paul Scherl with a valiant Mark Vroomans in third. Peter Young showed that he is returning to form by leading the large bunch of B Graders at a blistering pace for quite a lot of the race. There was some confusion on the finish line for B Grade, sorted out by Christophe, with Simon Junakovic taking the win from Clinton Porteous with Peter Young in third.
A smallish field of C Graders took to the track in variable windy conditions that caused a little consternation around "collarbone" and into the straight. John Armstrong, Dale Teddy and Chris Kon took the places. It is good to see the Pres making a comeback with number 1 being quite obvious towards the front of the large pack of D Graders.
James Curran, Sean Fleming and Phil Walker took the major places with the Pres finishing a creditable 8th. A good bunch of E Graders took to the track for the last race of the evening in the fading light. No kangaroos were seen and the race was completed in the allotted time.
Bryan Holloway, returning from knee surgery, took first place from a strong John Ignatius with Don De Smet holding on to finish third. The small bunch of F Graders rode a very friendly race with the only apparent effort applied at the finish where Tony Sheehan took first from Sue Frost with Sue Duckett in third.
Mick Donaldson
There were 18 starters for the Wednesday 11 February track session, with numbers equally split between A and B grades. The weather was overcast but dry. Rain fortunately held off until after the session completion.
The warm up races for A and B Grade were again extended, this time to 14 laps. Although the longer event provides more opportunities for tactical riding, the A Grade bunch chose to stick together until a final bunch sprint that was won by Steve Jones. In second place, a fast closing Jim Davey pipped Michael Langdon by only a few centimetres. Steve Dean joined the B Grade group for a change and managed second place to Aaron Rockey. Tactics played a minor part in the B Grade race but the pace was steady with a significant acceleration in the final two laps. Steve Hirsler took a creditable third place from Ian Drayton and Phil Anderson.
The handicapper took quiet satisfaction from the 4-lap Handicap as the A grade field closed to a small bunch on the final laps. The race showed just how difficult is to handicap the top sprinters like Steve Jones. If his handicap allows him to catch the field, he has a great chance of victory, as proved the case. The victory was well deserved as Steve invariably puts 100% into his racing. Michael Langdon and Aaron Sedgemen took second and third places. Their efforts were equally deserving of the reward. In B grade, Phil Anderson took a strong win from Steve Hirsler and Ian Drayton.
A six lap team pursuit saw a very close finish in A Grade, with Team 2 finishing only a metre ahead of Team 1. In B Grade. Team 1 won comfortably.
The track session concluded with a 6 lap race in which B grade were given a slightly more generous start than normal. A grade were at a considerable disadvantage, as Cameron Ermet and John Barlow on the track tandem had joined the B grade group. A grade put in a fine performance collectively, allowing Steve Jones to slot into fourth place with a tough final acceleration. However, B grade were delighted to take the top three places. Ian Drayton finished first, followed by Cameron Ermet and John Barlow on the tandem. Phil Anderson took third place.
Major place getters were as follows: 10 Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Steve Jones, Jim Davey, Michael Langdon (B Grade) Aaron Rockey, Steve Dean, Steve Hirsler.
4 Lap Handicap: (A Grade) Steve Jones, Michael Langdon, Aaron Sedgemen (B Grade) Phil Anderson, Steve Hrisler, Ian Drayton
6 Lap Team Pursuit (A Grade): Team 2 (Steve Jones, Ben Robey, Jim Davey, Cameron Ermet & John Barlow) (B Grade) Team 1 (Steve Hirsler, Ian Drayton, Aaron Rockey Graeme O’Neill).
6 Lap Scratch (with B Grade early start): Ian Drayton, Caneron Ermet & John Barlow (T), Phil Anderson.
Graeme O'Neill
Unfortunately, due to some problems with the Race Approval documentation, we were unable to get the required Approvals finalised in time to be able to run Sunday's race.
Ian Morton