Word from the Prez
Happy New Year and welcome to the latest edition of the Vikings Cycling Club newsletter – the V-Mail. Resurrected after a long absence, this edition gives an update of the club’s recent activities and what’s to come. We hope you enjoy it.
At the AGM in November, I was honoured to take over from Rob Fisher as club President. Over the past three years, Rob and his team have put the club in an excellent position for the years ahead by improving the club’s training programs, racing, finances and communications.
The new committee will continue to support these priorities – training, racing, finances and communications – in 2015. In addition, we are planning some exciting initiatives in preparation for the club’s 20th anniversary in 2016, starting with a new club kit design.
As a club that supports cyclists at all levels, we will continue to run a range of training programs in 2015. In 2014, we ran a record three novice programs as well as multiple training programs for women and experienced riders. The club’s junior program has steadily built to a regular group of 15 riders who now take part velodrome, crits and road activities.
In terms of racing, the popular Vikings Supercrits will remain a fixture on the ACT calendar. We are in the process of finalising the road race calendar for 2015 and will also keep you posted on upcoming track, cyclocross and junior events.
We will strive to maintain the club’s healthy financial position by running events, engaging our sponsors and investing in our members. Like last year, we plan to use additional income to support junior development and run better and safer races, including by using paid traffic marshals.
Another continuing priority for 2015 will be communication to our members. After establishing a Twitter account and a new website, we are now exploring options to redesign the club forum and improving the way race results are recorded and published. The revival of V-Mail is part of this strategy.
Finally, as mentioned above, we’re excited to announce that the club plans to design a new club kit in preparation for the club’s 20th anniversary in 2016. More news to follow, but in the meantime, take advantage of the heavy discount on existing stock (up to 50%) at our clothing store.
I’m excited about my new role and look forward to working with you all to make 2015 a great year!
Deciana
2014 Road racing
Despite Mother Nature’s best efforts to spoil our race calendar, a successful number of events were delivered during the 2014 season. Most people would have noticed that the calendar was smaller than previous years. This was a conscious decision by the club based on the current cost of running road-racing events in the ACT.
Two events worthy of mention were the first and last races on the calendar:
Uriarra Homestead Scratch Race (23 March 2014) – the first of two interclub races with the Goulburn Cycling Club (GCC). With a turn out of 100+ riders, this was the best-attended VCC race in recent memory. With solid racing across all grades and brilliant weather, this event set the club up for a great season.
Honeysuckle Hammer (30 November 2014) – whilst the turnout was small due to poor weather, this race was still well contested. Determination of the riders saw most finish atop the Honeysuckle Climb. For the second year running, sprint primes were again on offer to those wishing to chance their hand before the climb. They still had to work to earn the prime, though, by finishing to climb.
The VCC Committee and Race Sub Committee would like to thank all riders, marshals and race directors for their efforts during 2014. Without their participation, running a road race calendar would not have been possible.
Race results
Congratulations to the winners of the Honeysuckle Hammer scratch race and the Thursday Supercrits.
Honeysuckle Hammer (30 November)
A grade: Brendan Johnston
B grade: Michael Rosser
C grade: Lucy Bechtel (and fastest female)
D grade: Sam Dyne
E grade: Daniel Lekhoc
Novice grade: Murli Baker-Gabb
Supercrit Thursday – Point Score Update
Top 3 Overall Pointscore (as of race 18 December)
1. Dylan Weir (D grade): 35 points
1. George Thomas (B grade): 35 points
2. Alison Hale (Novice): 31 points
2. Brad Morton (A grade): 31 points
3. Rien Schuurhuis (A grade): 29 points
Top 3 Sprint Points D/E Grade (as of race 9)
1. Michael Ryan: 8 points
2. Braden Dinham: 6 points
2. Graham Chadwich: 6 points
3. Joss Battse: 5 points
3. Dylan Weir: 5 points
3. Mark Toyer: 5 points
Top 3 Sprint Points A/B/C Grade (as of race 9)
1. Brad Morton: 26 points
2. Rien Schuurhuis: 14 points
3. Nicholas Wilson: 6 points
There have been the 229 individual riders over the first 10 weeks of Supercrit competition this season!
Upcoming events
Planning is currently underway for the 2015 road racing calendar. Since it will be a condensed calendar again, we hope we’ll be able to run all scheduled events this year. We are expecting a very similar set of races to 2014 and hope to run a couple of interclub races with GCC again to continue the relationship between the clubs.
VCC is also keen to build on the Honeysuckle Hammer as the marquee event for the club and the committee would like to take this opportunity to encourage all members to consider keeping weekends free to race later in the year.
For a full overview of upcoming events, check out the Vikings Website.
Supercrit Thursday
Every Thursday from 8 January, 5:50pm – sunset
Stromlo Forest Park
Novice, D/E Grade, ABC Grade
$10 entry
More info
Track training
Every Saturday from 17 January, 2pm
Bundahdome, Narrabundah
ACT Track Championships
13-14 February, Bundahdome, Narrabundah
All age divisions, including Para cycling events, Onmium format
More info
Membership renewals for 2015
With the New Year upon us, don’t forget to renew your club and Cycling Australia membership for 2015 so you continue to be insured for accidents and public liability. CA membership is compulsory for participation in Vikings races and training rides.
Follow this link to renew your membership online.
More information about membership options and pricing can be found here.
2014 members who have not yet renewed for 2015 are receiving this email. They will automatically be unsubscribed from the V-Mail list if they haven’t renewed by the end of February.
Club kit discounts
In 2016 the Vikings Cycling Club celebrates its 20th anniversary. To celebrate, a new club kit will be designed and made available later this year. Until then, all existing stock will be discounted: Jerseys and knicks by 25% and all remaining stock by 50%!
Jerseys – was $85 – NOW $63.75
Bib’n’Brace Knicks – was $110 – NOW $82.50
Wind vest – was $65 – NOW $32.50
Fleece jersey – was $95 – NOW $47.50
Thermo winter jacket – was $125 – NOW $62.50
Skinsuit short sleeved – was $14 – NOW $70.00
Skinsuit long sleeved – was $150 – NOW $75.00
So order quickly at our online store before stock runs out! And don’t worry; we plan to register both kits so you can continue use the old kit for racing after the new one has been released.
Annual Vikings breakfast awards
On 12 December the club hosted the annual Vikings breakfast awards to recognise just a small fraction of our members who have been part of our success over the past year. Jim Veal won the Clubman on the year award for his strong contribution to track and ACT cycling more broadly. Lee Sheather won Clubwoman of the year for her volunteer activities with the club’s novice programs.
Other winners were Michael Rosser (most improved male rider), Caitlin Pearse (most improved female rider), Gay Bourke (Hardnut Award), Alison Hale (female novice of the year), Adam Lee (male novice of the year), Andrew McCosker (Bosworth Memorial Soft Tern Award) and Matt Larkin (Zapp Award for Best Wheel). Rob Fisher won the Meritorious Service Award for his contributions as club President.
Thank you to Simon Lai and Welshy for putting some awesome great trophies together, made from bike parts, and to the Little Pickle for hosting us.
Read the full report here.
2014 Vikings club road championships awards (12 December)
The Breakfast Awards was also an opportunity to present the 2014 Vikings Club Road Championship Awards. Prizes, in the form of engraved glasses, were awarded to:
Clare Jones (1st Women’s B, Club Champion)
Lyn Vasudeva (1st Women’s C)
Michael Rosser (1st Men’s B, Club Champion)
Christophe Barberet (2nd Men’s B)
Anthony Bogiatzis (3rd Men’s B)
Mark Langman (1st Men’s C)
Matthew Overton (2nd Men’s C)
Glenn Moorby (3rd Men’s C)
Simon Lai (1st Men’s D)
Jack Wray (2nd Men’s D)
Michael Ryan (3rd Men’s D)
Shadi Samir (1st Men’s E)
Jonathan Lowe (2nd Men’s E)
More details here
Junior track clinic (8 December)
Plenty of Vikings junior trackies enjoyed the junior track clinic last Monday 8 December at the world famous “Bundahdome”. Organised by Cycling ACT and ACTAS Cycling this was a great afternoon for 25 of the ACT’s up and coming track riders aged between U15 and U19.
Congratulations to all riders and a big thank you to Ben Cook (ACTAS Head Coach) for presenting informative off and on bike activities. Thanks also to Bec Doolan, Rohan Weir, Paul Robey and all the parents who assisted on the day.
More details here.
A bike for Eleanor Dyne fundraiser
A few proactive club members have been raising funds over the last two months for a tandem bike for Eleanor Dyne. Eleanor was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at two years of age and uses a walking frame, wheelchair and scooter to aid her mobility. Eleanor would love to cycle a race one day.
So far, two barbecues and a collection at the Norman have raised $2,000! If anyone wants to donate to this cause, please contact Andrew Welsh.
Find more information here.
V-mail contributions
If you wish to contribute to the V-Mail or suggest an item for inclusion please email news@vikingscycling.org.au
Useful links
Vikings Club Clothing
Bunch rides in the ACT
Vikings Website
Vikings Forum