Post date: Sep 07, 2015 12:27:10 PM
Hello Vets,
In the Bleat this week;
• From the President
• First Aiders Required
• Register for Fitz's Challenge in 2015
• National Capital Tour
• Racing this Week
• Race Report
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton
A hearty congratulations to the almost seventy Vets members including 8 women members who turned out in perfect Spring weather to contest the Club Championships on the weekend. This is a race run on age categories, rather than our usual graded ability, so for some, it will be a tough race, particularly if there are A and B graders in your age category, but you are generally racing in, say, C or D grade.
Congratulations also to the medal winners for their achievement. None were more 'chuffed' than the club handicapper who won his first club gold medal ever! . . . after some 16 years of racing with the club. Congratulations Robert!
Our race numbers have been steadily building, perhaps along with the mercury these last few weeks, much to the joy of our great volunteer club members who turn out each week as officials and road marshals to ensure safe and well organised racing.
For the record, we were getting: an average of some 58 competitors per weekend race in May; 53 in June; 33 in July - our wettest and coldest month; rising to 40 in August. So getting almost 70 for our first race in September was 'a good look'. We look forward to similar numbers, or even better at this week's classic race, the Iron Mike. Look forward to seeing you out there.
Members will see that the Events page has listed the 19 October Graded Scratch race as 'cancelled' due to a clash with the National Capital Tour.
Your Committee has made this decision as we had given a commitment to other ACT cycling clubs that we would not schedule races which conflict with their major events; for example we do not schedule a race when Fitz's Challenge is run. The National Capital Tour race is indeed a big event and our members may wish to watch this event, from the roadside or even participate in it (available to our members who also hold CA membership), or even volunteer to assist.
Unfortunately, it has proved impossible to reschedule the 19 October Yass race for another week - the lead in time for race approvals does not allow this.
Here is a notice of the National Capital Tour and its volunteer opportunities:-
Capital Cycling, the umbrella body for cycling in the ACT, are conducting the 2015 National Capital Tour - one of the highest profile cycling events in the ACT on 18 - 20 September and we need your support. Volunteer opportunities are available in the following capacities:
Road marshalling
Driving
Grade coordinators
Radio control
Plus, many others!
If you are interested in being part of the volunteer team (and receive a great t-shirt!) at any time during the weekend (18-20 September) - volunteer coordinator, Raynie NcNee, would love to hear from you by email:events@capitalcycling.org.au
Regards,
Alex
With the approaching Footy Finals, Sports Med might have problems rostering first-aiders for our races. Could any first-aid qualified club member who is available to be on standby please contact Ian Albrey to help us ensure we can keep the race schedule over this period.
Fitz's Challenge - Canberra’s long distance cycling event – will be held on Sunday 25 October 2015 to provide participants the chance to choose their challenge from one of five course distances while also raising much needed funds for The Kids’ Cancer Project.
The five course distances on offer in Fitz’s Challenge are:
• 50 km Tidbinbilla Challenge
• 105 km Tharwa Challenge
• 165 km Fitz's Classic
• 210 km Fitz's Epic
• 255 km Fitz's Extreme
Registrations for the event are now open.
The National Capital Tour is now in its third year and is unfolding to become Canberra's premier road racing event. This year's event has expanded to include both local and state club racers into the Graded event categories allowing riders to mingle with Australia's' elite NRS riders. The Graded events offer four categories A, B, C, D across 3 stages; Hill top finish at Corin Forest, Sunday morning road race finishing with Sunday afternoon Criterium.
With $3800 in prize money on offer enter for your chance to claim the overall GC Jersey or wear the stage winner jersey. www.nationalcapitaltour.com.
Where: Uriarra Homestead
When: 1:30 pm.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description: Iron Mike Classic Handicap
Two full laps of Top of Crossing to end of bitumen course. 60km approx
Race Director: tba
Contact: Email tba Ph: tba
The nominated marshals for this event are;
• ATCs: Mike McGurgan, Ian Albrey, Denis Jessop
• Marshals: Adam Carmody, Dean Groening, Steven Curran
The nominated marshals for upcoming events are;
- Sep 20 @ Yass: No Race
- Sep 26 @ TBA: TBA
- Oct 06 @ Stromlo: Gary Waldron, Kelvin Alley
- Oct 13 @ Stromlo: Tony Beasley, Mark Taylor
A more splendid day could not have been arranged for the Annual Club Championship at Uriarra. It was warm, sunny, no wind. Thanks to the good condition, 67 riders turned up. The only down side was that the warm weather has brought out the magpies for the start of swooping season.
As noted in the Bleat, setup of the Club Championship course requires 38 signs to be erected for this course. Thanks to John Paul de Sousa, Terry Merrigan, Peter Young, Andrew Remely, Tony Weir and James Meredith who turned up early to help with the setup. Even with this assistance, it took over an hour to have the course ready.
On the first lap, John Vaughan and Robert Britten had already broken away from M6 and were setting a brisk pace.
Many of the smaller grades broke up fairly quickly but the large bunches of M4 and M5 held together for most of the race.
In the Women's grades, Terry Moore had broken away by the first lap to lead W3.
By the end of the race, only a couple of the bunches had survivived. M2 had a sprint finish with 4 riders, Marc Vroomans taking the honors. M4 had 6 riders vying for the finish with Rob Langridge beating out the rest of the field.
Terry Moore lead the women home by a clear margin.
Thanks to the Authorised Traffic Controllers, Dennis Jesop, Tony Weir, John Paul de Sousa and James Meredith for controlling the turns. Thanks to Andrew Remely, Peter Young Terry Merigan and Bernie Crowe at the start/finish.
Special thanks to Keith Joliffe who filled in as qualified first aider due to our regular provider being unable to roster staff.
As usual, thanks to Henry Beaverstock for his race organisation.
Ian Morton