Hi Everyone
We’re off and running with a good turnout at the Dirt Crits on Monday night. The calendar is up on the website ready to view or print. Road racing starts this Thursday and the first Kids MTB race is next Monday. Good luck everyone.
This from Fiona:
MMBCC Dirt Bike Crits
Mansfield’s Rifle Butts MTB Park came alive on Monday 8th October with Mansfield Mount Buller Cycling Club holding its first race for the 2012/2013 season. The MTB Park looked fantastic after Shannon Rademaker, Yully Arnold and Laurie Harding rallied a willing band of helpers on the previous Sunday to do track maintenance, weed reduction work and a general overall clean up of the area. A huge thank you to all who attended and put in the effort to get the course ready for the first race!
A field of 17 riders turned out with 11 adults and 6 juniors contesting the “Irish Handicap”. The race is held with all riders on the course at the same time, racing a set amount of laps depending on their ability and going off handicapped times. This gives all riders an equal chance to finish on the podium. Nick Howland like many riders admitted it was the first time they had been on the bike for a few months so the race was always going to be tough going for some.
First rider off Mitch Greenway had to cover 6 laps of the course. Three minutes later in time waves over the next eleven minutes the rest of the field were sent out with less laps to do and hopefully to finish before anyone else. Junior girls Ava Kappes and Bella MacMunn certainly showed they weren’t going to let racing against adults stop them from riding hard and completing their laps in consistent times and with huge smiles on their faces.
With all riders on the course at the same time it was hard to tell who was leading the race. Katie Moore and Paula MacMunn rode well and Chris Morecroft kept a constant tempo over his laps. John Eisner powered away from Dave Bock and Yully was left behind by Cam & Foley Lachal. Coming into the final lap, 15 of the 17 riders were down to their last lap. Tom MacMunn increased his speed but would it be enough? The race had been handicapped perfectly.
In his first race for the club Adrian Lawrence was pleased to come away the winner. Showcasing his Downhill skills Lawrence Prendergast looked to have second position in the bag 100 meters from the line. Taking the inside line of the final corner Mitch Greenway came through for second with Lawrence claiming third place. Foley Lachal rode hard to secure fourth place coming in ahead of Dad Cam in 9th. Frank David rode well to come 5th with Tom MacMunn, Rob Greenway, John Eisner and Nick Howland filling the top 10 positions.
The club holds races on Monday nights at the Rifle Butts MTB Park with Kids races starting at 5.30pm and Adults races starting at 6pm. The club welcomes new members and encourages everyone to come along and watch a race!
The first road race will be on Thursday albeit with a fairly cold looking forecast.
You can now also renew your MTN and Road licences online. It’s fairly straightforward and by doing it online you can choose the value add option of joining the “other discipline” ie if you usually hold a road licence you can choose to add a mountain bike licence at a discount and vice versa. If you are a roadie, you’ll have to renew your CA licence first ( for 2013) before doing the MTBA value add as you will need the receipt as proof for MTBA.
Most road members signed up last year for the club only deal which will be available again this year. It’s significantly cheaper than signing online but you can only race in Mansfield or Wangaratta, you can’t sign up online (we will have forms and prices before the end of the year) and you can’t value add.
Thanks again to our sponsors: Alpine Butchery and the Delatite Hotel for supporting last night’s event.
Cheers , John.
www.mmbcc.org.au