Post date: Aug 21, 2017 9:48:57 PM
Hello Vets,
In the Bleat this week;
• Pedal Power - Traffic Controller Course
• From the desk of the Handicapper
• Racing this Week
• Race Report
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton
Pedal Power ACT, in association with Roads ACT have scheduled a FREE Traffic Controller Course for the Cycling clubs and Community of the ACT for the past three years. Roads ACT have once again enabled FREE access to this training for two more dates in 2017.
The Traffic Controller training that is provided meets the NSW and the ACT requirements and provides the appropriate qualification to allow a registered person to control traffic at cycling (and other) events.
The Traffic Controller Training courses will be held for free for Canberra cycling clubs and cycling organisations in July and again in November. Spaces are limited for each training course.
Fully subsidised by Roads ACT these courses have been organised to assist in minimising costs on cycling clubs and organisations and help train volunteers, or club appointed marshals to fulfil the traffic controller duties at cycling events. We urge you to make use of this generous offer and assist your club and the broader cycling community by having more trained and skilled operators available for club and open events in the ACT. Please note ALL registrants must have a current driver’s license.
Course 2
Dates: Saturday 11 November
Time: Full day of training 8:30-5:30 pm
Location: Canberra Ave, Fyshwick
Cost: Free
To register please go to:
https://eventdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=24993&OrgID=4426
Any problems or concerns please let me know.
Kindest Regard,
Stephanie Sleen | Program and Events Manager
I work Mondays (9-5) Tuesdays (9-2:30) and Fridays (9-5)
Ph: 02 6248 7995
Pedal Power ACT
Level 2 Griffin Centre, 20 Genge Street, Canberra City ACT | GPO Box 581, Canbera ACT, 2601
ps. Marshals are critical to the survival of our racing schedule as we simply cannot conduct races safely without them. Please note the policy on members marshalling a race a year to support club races at https://actvets.cc/racing-with-us/marshal-schedule/. Note that members should not leave it to the last minute to try and find a replacement if they can't make their allotted marshaling duty.
Dougal Torrance
President, ACT Veterans Cycling
Gradings this week;
Nick Boylan C to B
David Rowe D to C
Club members Paul Welsh, Mark Taylor, Dave Mullens, Dom Rideaux and Rob Langridge competed in Cootamundra Classic and Recovery handicaps on the weekend. The new course was not far from town had very little traffic, a few undulations with a hill at the end and a reasonable road surface. About 130 riders were entered in the 115km Classic. The strong winds and the fact that we descended off the hill immediately gave the impression that the entire race was uphill but this was not the case. Mark and I were off limit with a 36-minute head start from scratch. Early on, our group had too many riders of varying abilities to work well but after 30 mins we'd settled in to a good group of eight plugging away turn after turn. A common characteristic of these bunches is the "advice" you get from others only to see the advisor do what he told you not to do. However I must apologise to poor Mark who was at times left out in the gale after I'd "surged" through. Dom and Dave started only four minutes behind us but their grade had more destroyers than workers so they incredibly never caught us. The same was for Paul whose group started eight minutes after us but also disintegrated early. This meant that we hung on for 85km at 33.5 km/h before the young whippets in scratch caught us. Fortunately it was at the top of a hill so I caught a ride for a small distance until it was curtains. The final 25km back was very hard going. So that was day one over and no cash in the kitty, unlike club member Marc Vroomans who was 4th in a similar Coota handicap in May.
Somehow Mark, Dave, Dom and I made it back for the luxury of only 57km for the "Recovery" race the next morning. Except for the lack of wind the race followed a similar pattern to the day before. We shelled six or so from our group then worked smoothly together, while Dom and Dave's group fell to pieces again. The second bunch stormed past us with only a few kilometre to go and some of us were able to hold on until the final climb started and then it was all over again.
So there was no glory but a satisfaction of racing many kilometres on safe courses as part of a well organised race. Country handicaps are great way to spend a weekend if you've got some good training in your legs.
Rob Langridge
Note: Race to Be Confirmed, waiting for road approvals which we expect in the next few days.
Where:Dairy Rd, Fyshwick.
When: 1:30 pm.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Graded Scratch
13:30 EFG 30 mins plus one
14:10 CD 40 mins plus one
15:00 AB 50 plus one
Race Director: tba Contact: Email: tba Ph tba
Marshals: Wayne Shippley
The nominated marshals for upcoming events are;
- 9/9- Uriarra: Simon Junakovic, Troy Cassell + 3 x ATC's required!
- 16/9 Uriarra: Craig Tozer, Heath Chester + 4 x ATC's required!
- 3/10- Stromlo Crit: Sue Duckett
- 10/10- Stromlo Crit: Simon Johnston
- 17/10- Strolo Crit: Liz Lowe
After a few days of strong winds and wet weather, Saturday presented itself with fine blue skies with a slight westerly breeze for Vets racing at Old Federal Highway. 44 Riders in total fronted up to the start line all eager and ready to tackle either 3 laps for the lower grades or 4 laps for the higher grades out to Lake George and back. Rumours of possible magpie swooping have begun with the potential that one was at the turn point ready to give a friendly hello to everyone who came his way. Unsure if he made an appearance or not.
5 riders at the start. By the end of the 1st lap, Steve Crispin and Tom Hartley had a good lead over the rest of 1. The first lap was covered in around 19 mins which coincidentally was also about the pace for the 2nd lap as Steve and Tom had a 2 min lead over the chase of Marc Vroomans and Peter Marshall. Tom was riding a great race as by lap 3 he was still hanging in with Steve which we all know is no mean feat. Coming into the final straight both riders were neck and neck and Steve just edged out Tom with Peter Marshall rounding out 3rd place.
11 riders begun the race with 2 DNF's. By the end of the 1st lap they were all together riding pace turns. But by the end of the 2nd lap the field had narrowed down to 5 as attacks were on order. With 1 lap to go, the same 5 riders were still all together and it was a guessing game on the finish line who would bring home the prize. A group sprint ensured with Paul Frankcom coming home 1st ahead of David Dickson in 2nd and Simon Costello in 3rd.
8 riders and by the end of lap 1, Nick Boylan held a small 15 gap over the main field. You could see that glint in Nick's eye because by the halfway mark he was still holding a lead that this time had increased to 35 secs. Were the main bunch leaving him out to dry? Not to be because by the end of lap 3 his lead was now just under a minute. Nick held fine form over the final lap showing that his effort over the first 3 laps was to be rewarded. He took a great win ahead of Adam Potts in 2nd and Ross MacPherson in 3rd.
6 riders started with only John Thorne deciding to call it an early day after a lap. After lap 1, all riders were together and again at the end of lap 2 they were not letting each other out of their sights. Coming into the final straight there were two riders battling it out. In the end David Rowe just pipped out the ever consistent James Curran with Brian Chugg rounding out 3rd place
5 riders lined up for E Grade. By the end of lap 1 they were all together. With 1 lap to go, the field was whittled down to just 4 riders. There must be something about travelling to Europe that re-energizes the cycling power as over the final lap Kirsti McVay split the field apart with only Al Bontjer able to keep her honest right to the finish line. Kirsti McVay 1st, Al Bontjer 2nd with Don DeSmet just 12 seconds behind.
A big F grade field of 8 riders with newcomer Penelope Anderson deciding to give vets racing a go. After only 1 lap it was just 4 riders with Penelope showing that she was not to be intimidated by the formidable group of 3 others leading the charge. There was no change by the end of lap 2 with the same 4 all in the mix. Races at old Federal Highway are often won and lost once riders cross over the Yass Creek and Ian 'wily' Morton knows this course like the back of his hand and timed his sprint beautifully to take out 1st place just ahead of Alison Hale in 2nd and Angie Wren in 3rd. A very good first showing from Penelope saw he come home in 4th place just 5 seconds behind Ian. With a bit more sprint experience, I think she'll be collecting some 1st places in the very near future.
A very Big Thank You to my eager marshals. Seymour Savell-Boss with his junior apprentice in tow who looked after the turn point at the Lake George end. Matt Dyne who manned the turn point at the finish line, Kevin Wells who provided lead car services, Ian Mongan who provided trail car services and the G grade duo of Bernie Crowe and Bruce Jones who helped spot the riders at the finish line and get their finishing order right in the chute. Graham Hendrie as always put on the van duties including the awesome cuppa and bikkies at the end and Simon Milnes our sports med who made sure help was on hand if required but thankfully was not needed on the day as everyone rode safely and got home with a smile.
Ben Davis
Race Referee