G'day Everyone!
Road Race this Saturday
Don't forget to get your entry into Di via SMS on 0438 513 355 by 8pm Friday.
In case you didn't get The Courier after the last race, here's what happened …
Race two of the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club Winter Road Series saw 10 riders line up at the start line on a sunny afternoon on Saturday the 2nd of July. With a stiff northerly breeze, Scratch was favoured to win the handicap race, held on the Whitfield Road, from the Botanic Park out to Sawpit Gully Road and back.
First away was Tony Morris as the Limit group off 12 minutes. He was followed by Madam Handicapper Di Condie and Tony Williams off 9 minutes; Deb Hunter, Darren Bakker and last minute entry Steve Flew off 6 minutes; Rob Greenway on his own off 3 minutes and Scratch saw Mauro Brega and Bruce Halket joined by Josh Hopwood for his first race since summer.
The big movers early were Hunter, Bakker and Flew. They worked well into the wind and caught the outmarkers early. However, Flew’s recent holiday to Europe and lack of training eventually told and he was dropped near Bridge Creek.
Further back, Scratch knew they were in trouble even before the turnaround. Hunter and Bakker had turned and were well on their way back to town when the groups passed each other. By the time Scratch did get to halfway, they’d only eaten up two minutes of the six minute handicap.
Hunter and Bakker continued to team brilliantly - Hunter doing the hard yards up the hills, Bakker taking the soft option, powering down them.
Power won out over finesse in the end ... Bakker taking the sprint for his first Mansfield win ever!
The race for the last step on the podium rewarded Rob Greenway for a great ride, mostly on his own. He was caught by Scratch at about 3/4 distance, then didn’t miss a turn and won the sprint!
Halket rode fastest time of 42.51. Bakker’s time of 52.17 (corrected to 46.17) showed Bakks and Deb had maintained almost half their initial advantage. A truly great ride!
Many thanks to our volunteers and officials including Jenni, John and George.
The next race of the Winter Series will start at the Botanic Park on Saturday 16 July at 2pm. Entries to Di via SMS on 0438 513 355 by 8pm Friday 15 July.
Annual General Meeting
The club's AGM will be held at The Produce Store on Thursday 11 August. 6pm for nibbles and the M2M presentation, followed by dinner and the AGM.
Between now and then, please have a think about what you'd like to see the club doing and perhaps even what YOU can do to help.
Wangaratta Spring Series
Really fun series of road races in Wangaratta, starting on Saturday 13 August. As we're an invited club, you can enter with an MMBCC road membership, even if it's not an Open licence. For more details visit - http://www.wangarattacyclingclub.com.au/home/?page_id=12
Relay For Life
Leonie is helping organise the Mansfield Relay for Life. Here are a few details:
October 8th & 9th this year
Sat 12noon to Sunday 12noon at the Mansfield Showgrounds
the event is to raise awareness & support for cancer sufferers & carers, and anyone else effected, plus raise $ for Cancer Research
teams walk/ride horses around a circuit (2 different ones naturally) at the showgrounds for 24 hours
the walkers walk around the inside perimeter of the main showgrounds arena
there will be activities set up around the area as well
for more info on the RLF itself go to www.relayforlife.org.au
She's also come up with some ideas for the bike club:
register a team, and/or:
run a stationary relay in the centre of the main arena, in the middle of the walkers
set up a stationary relay in the area near the entertainment marquee & other activities
set up some cycling-based activities for kids and participants whilst they are not actually walking/riding
any or all of these options in any permutation is possible
it is not absolutely necessary for the teams to do their activity for the entire 24 hours
perhaps some cyclists may want to walk during the night rather than ride, like the horseriders do??
organising a circuit for mountain bikers to ride around might be a challenge due to the horses, however if this is the preferred option for at least some of the time, I am happy to take this to the committee as I think if we separate the 2 groups well enough it could be possible.
If you're interested, email Leonie McLaughlin or call 0417 598 220.
Tour de France
As I type this, the first day in the Pyrenees has begun. Go Cadel! Go Simon! And … Go Johnny Hoogerland!
Is anyone interested in an evening of TdF viewing on Friday night the 22nd, the night of the final night in the Alps and the climb up Alpe d'Huez? Maybe the club should organise something. Let me know if you're keen.
That's all for now … see you out there.
Cheers,
Bruce Halket.