Post date: Mar 02, 2015 10:49:9 AM
Hello Vets,
In this week's Bleat;
• Update on Alex O'Shea
• Handicapping
• Interstate Events
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton
Alex crashed on Mt Creek Rd on a ride to Yass on February 19th, and was admitted to Canberra Hospital. He has suffered injuries to his head, shoulder blade, collar bone and pelvis as well as road rash on his face, shoulder, arm, knuckles, knee and hip. He's had an operation to fix his pelvis (acetabulum), but is still in the queue for surgery on his shoulder. He's in quite a lot of pain and requires help to eat, drink etc. At this stage it's thought he may be in hospital for a number of months, but this may change.
He is currently receiving visitors. Richard Gorrell will undertake the role of visit coordinator/care officer. Please contact Richard prior to visiting to ensure a crowd doesn't turn up at the same time.
Richard's contact details are:
email: richard.gorrell@gmail.com
Home phone: 62514910
You can also try emailing Alex at alexoshea@hotmail.com, although he didn't have his phone or iPad with him on Sunday.
Alex will require help now and into the future. Colleagues from his previous job are also helping out at meal times.
Please drop by the hospital sometime to say hello, or if you'd like to help out in another way, email me on handicapper@actvets.cc.
Regards and ride safely,
Robert Langridge
Due to last week's rain, no-one came to the Handicapper's attention so you are all safe for another week.
• 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
• Battle on the Border
- Thursday 28 May to Sunday 31 May
In its short seven year history, the Battle on the Border has become one of the highly sought after cycling festivals in Australia and the largest tour on the Eastern Seaboard.
Online registration here
Enquiries to office@battleontheborder.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; C/D Grade@ 6:07 - 24min + 2 laps; E/F Grade@ 6:39 - 20min + 2 laps; A/B Grade@ 7:07 - 31min + 2 laps
Race Director: Rob Diamond
Contact: Email: 7rob07@gmail.com or rob@diamondcycletours.com Ph 0416 274 161 or 6295 1295
The nominated marshals for this event are;
• Don De Smet,
• Mike Hayes
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: 20-Lap Graded Scratch Race;
6.20pm – 7.10pm: 2-Lap Paired Sprint;
7.10pm – 7.20pm: Italian Pursuit;
7.20pm – 7.40pm: 6-Lap Scratch (All in with B Grade early start).
The weekend is the Canberra Day Long Weekend.
The nominated marshals for the next two weeks are;
- Mar 10 @ Stromlo: Tim Minehan, Michael McGurgan
- Mar 15 @ Stromlo: John Stokman, Jeff Gough, Peter Marshall
- Mar 17 @ Stromlo: Mark Langman, Ian McVay
- Mar 22 @ Tidbinbilla: Ian Albrey, Tony Weir, John Paul DeSouza, Tom Tokich, Liz Lowe
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.
An early start was required by the officials for the time trial at Uriarra Homestead on Sun due to the need to organise and set up the new road traffic signs now required for all road races in the ACT. As members are no doubt aware we must now use accredited traffic marshals at all locations where an interaction occurs between cyclists competing in a race and other road users. We now have a viable number of qualified marshals but it is important that they arrive early at race venues so they can be fully briefed and issued with the usual equipment plus the numerous signs as defined in the traffic management plans from the ACT Government. Typically there are at least six signs for each turn point or intersection plus others at intermediate positions along the course, so it can take as long as 45 minutes to set them up prior to race start.
Fortunately this somewhat onerous task was completed ahead of the scheduled start time and riders headed off in near perfect conditions, mild temperature and virtually no wind. Despite the pleasant weather only 34 members turned up on the day to compete in the 31 km event. A bit disappointing but it was similar to attendance at previous time trials. There would have been 35 if James Jordan had ridden but on the way out to Uriarra with his bike attached to the roof of his car he had to swerve to miss another driver. It was enough to loosen his bike from its roof top mounting and resulted damage to both bike and car. James was not a happy chappie.
There was not much competition in A Grade, only 2 starters which saw Tom Hartley win in a time of 46.50. This was also the fastest time of the day. Marc Vroomans won B Grade in 49.07 just one second in front of Ross MacPherson. Third was Michael Carr in 50.11 and the next two within 10 seconds of that so it was close race. Dale Kleeman took out C Grade in 52.14 and Sue Powell D Grade in 54.26. The lower grades also did commendable times with David Turner at 57.20 in E Grade and Ric Fitch at 1.00.01 in F.
Many thanks to all the marshals on the day, Philip Walker, Bruce Jones Simon Milnes, John Paul De Sousa and Belinda Wren. Also thanks to Henry and James Meredith for their assistance.
Graham Hendrie
It was a dark and stormy night...........but that didn't stop 28 hardy souls turning up to race last Tuesday night. The weather gods rewarded their courage by holding off enough to allow racing to happen. Unfortunately only one G grader turned up (apologies I didn't get her name) so no G grade race was held.
3 riders for each of C and D grade turned up so the race was combined. Terence Merrigan found the conditions not to his liking and sensibly DNF'd, ensuring a top 2 finish for the other D grade competitors - Bruce Griffin just hung on to capture 2nd behind David Gunther in D Grade. Steven Stolk won C grade.
E and F grade had a total of 5 riders - so again the 2 grades were combined. With Dennis Puniard (F Grade) retiring, James Meredith took the winners cheque home with no effort required. Luke McGowan won E Grade.
Both A and B Grades had 8 riders each so separate races were held - and both grades were strongly contested. Marc Vroomens took out A Grade with a strong sprint and Peter Young won B Grade.
The highlights of the evening were that racing did take place and riders rode to the conditions - we had no crashes. Each race was preceded by a neutral lap so that riders could gauge the condition of the track in relation to water, and if they were not confident withdraw from their respective race.
Thanks to Christophe Barbaret, Ed Pelegrino and Henry Beaverstock for their help and assistance.
Owain Tilley
There were 14 starters for the Wednesday 25 February track session. Again, there was a good roll up for B Grade. Unfortunately, there were only three, regular A grade riders, as many regular riders were still resting for the NSW Track Championship. The weather was overcast and initially windy and threatening. However, the wind eased by the end of practice and rain stayed at bay for the duration of racing.
The warm up races for A and B Grade were again extended, this time to 18 laps. Steve Dean gallantly stepped up to A grade to temporarily boost numbers. However, he could not hold the group over such a long distance. The A Grade race finished with a short, strategic sprint with Michael Langdon gaining the jump on Steve Jones and Ed Garnett. The B Grade race started comfortably. The pace accelerated three laps from the finish. This dropped a few riders and opened several gaps. However, with a final slowing before the sprint, the pack largely reformed. Aaron Rockey burst from the pack to take a win, followed by Cameron Ermet and John Barlow on the tandem and Ian Drayton just behind.
Riders were given a wind-up lap for the one lap screamer and timed over the second lap, from a flying start. It is amazing how exhausted you can be after one lap flat-chat. Michael Langdon impressed in this event with the best time of 21.89 seconds. Next best times were set by Steve Dean and Aaron Rockey. Go B Grade!
The four lap handicap was all in for A and B grades. The handicapper was quite pleased with this event as the pack converged nicely on lap 4. Steve Jones and Michael Langdon put in a great effort for Michael to take third place from the scratch mark. However, they could not run down Cameron Ermet and John Barlow who had the race fully sorted on the tandem, or Steve Dean who followed the tandem for second place.
The track session concluded with the usual six-lap race in which B grade were given a start on A grade. Yours truly tried to give B grade a start by sacrificing himself for two laps. However, I succeeded in slowing the B grade bunch for two laps. A grade were really motoring and Steve Jones took the win. Ian Drayton and Phil Anderson managed to salvage second and third places for B grade, despite my “assistance”.
Major place getters were as follows:
18 Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Michael Langdon, Steve Jones, Ed Garnett (B Grade) Aaron Rockey, Cameron Ermet & John Barlow (T), Ian Drayton.
1 Lap Screamer: (A Grade) Michael Langdon (21.89s), Ed Garnett (24.22s) (B Grade) Aaron Rockey (23.60s), Steve Dean (23.79s), Steve Hirsler (24.99s)
4 Lap Handicap (A & B Grades): Cameron Ermet & John Barlow (T), Steve Dean, Michael Langdon.
6 Lap Scratch (with B Grade early start): Steve Jones, Ian Drayton,