Big day for the East Coast Island centre team at the National track champs

Big day for the East Coast Island centre team at the National track champs with everyone coming away with success against the big centres.

Fraser Gough was first up with the flying lap part of the Ominum, the ominum is a group of events and points are awarded for each event, 1 for first, 2 for second etc and at the end of the champs the rider with the lowest points wins the event. Fraser came seventh in the flying lap in the morning session but rode a stunning elimination race to win. The elimination event is a mass start race where the last rider every two laps is eliminated, Fraser basically rode the race from the front the whole way and still had the spice to win the final sprint.

Corbin Mason Smith riding his first Nationals worked his way through the heats of the 750m derby to end up in the final. He rode well against three far more experienced finalists to take the bronze medal. Father Aaron is here working as a commissar and scrubs up surprisingly well in his Bike NZ blazer and tie.

Regan Gough raced for a composite team of one East Coast North Island and three Waikato's in the teams pursuit. They qualified for the bronze medal ride off. Regan was obviously the strongest and the team got a bit haggard at times as they only had ridden together to qualify, and were narrowly beaten for the bronze. Regan saved the best for last in his scratch race leading out a long sprint, coming third after being rolled by two locals who hadn't seen the front the whole race.

Kerry Harford raced the 500m time trial. Not his best event, this is the preserve of the fat trackies who can blast out of the starting gate and monster out a big gear. After coming through the starting lap in seventh he managed to generate enough speed to salvage second place with the fastest lap of the event. Clearly more Warrens Bakery custard squares required when you see the profiles of the two Southlanders who took first and third on the podium.

http://cyclingsouth.org.nz/

Saturday Racing

Race Circuit: Crownthorpe circuit anticlockwise
Venue: Pukehamoamoa School
Registration: from 1pm (pay your $3 and be registered before your race start – VISITORS $10)
Race start time: 2pm
Race Starter: Tony Hartley
Race Day Emergency Phone: 0274266895

Christchurch Earthquake

Our thoughts and sympathies go out to you who have family, friends, collegues and cycling buddies affected by the Christchurch quake. Chair, Gavin Bush announced at the briefing on Sunday morning before Stage 2 of the Club Tour that Ramblers would be donating the proceeds of the weekend to the Red Cross appeal. Gisborne and CHB Cycling were there, and volunteered to make similar contributions.

Race Fees for Visitors

Saturday race fees for members will remain at $3.00 but race fees for visitors have now increased to $10 per race. If a person who has ridden as a visitor becomes a member they will not be charged a fee for their transponder.

East Coast Graded Tour

Last weekend Ramblers invited CHB Cycling and Gisborne Cycling to join us for a 3 stage tour over the weekend. We had significant contingents from Gisborne and CHB Cycling clubs.
Congratulations to all of those who participated in the tour – for some of our members this may be the only opportunity to experience the unique and challenging demands of riding a tour. Well done all of you. Ride of the weekend contender would have to Su Daniel who by all accounts rode an outstanding TT, a personal best which won her Stage 3 in C grade and secured second place to a promising new junior Rambler, Damien Lysaght.
Thank you to Ken MacKenzie and his team of marshals who gave up their weekend to ensure some great cycling for our members.
Thank you also to Revolution Bikes who sponsored the East Coast Graded Tour this year, supplied prizes for first in each grade as well as spot prizes and special offers to those who rode. You can find Revolution Bikes in Donnelly Street, Havelock North or on the web here: http://www.revolutionbikes.co.nz/

Hawke’s Bay Sports & Recreation Expo

The Hawke’s Bay Sports & Recreation Expo will be held again at the Pettigrew Green Arena in Taradale this Sunday March 6th from 10am to 4pm. There will be a huge of stands and stalls there, including various cycling disciplines represented. It will be well worth a visit.

Introducing our Club Administrator - Deb Kelly

As anyone who has ever worked “behind the scenes” in any organisation will know, it takes a lot of work to make sure that things happen like they are supposed to. From things as essential as ensuring the courses we ride are as safe as possible, through to making sure we have enough chocolate biscuits each Saturday, we rely on our hardworking volunteers.
To try to reduce the burden on our volunteers we have created the position of Club Administrator. The Club Administrator will be responsible for coordinating some of the paperwork and other tasks that are necessary in the successful running of our club. We are pleased to announce that we have appointed Deb Kelly as Club Administrator for an initial period of 12 months. From now on, Deb will be the person to whom you should direct all your club enquiries and you can contact her by email at info@ramblers.co.nz. If Deb does not know the answer to your query she will pass it along to someone in the club who can help. We are fortunate that as well as sound administration experience, Deb also has a good understanding of cycling disciplines. Nevertheless, Deb asks that you please be patient over the first few months as she finds her way around the club structure.
The Club Administrator will report to the Club Treasurer (Mark Coombe) so if you have been working for the club, but you think that you would like to pass over some of your tasks to the Club Administrator, please contact Mark Coombe in the first instance.

Tandem Tearaway Weekend: 18-20 March

This is a social weekend for tandems designed to showcase the wonderful terrain Hawkes Bay cyclists enjoy riding, training and racing on. The weekend begins on Friday evening at the Cosmopolitan Club on the Marine Parade where you can enjoy drinks and chat about the next two days – and stay for a meal if you wish to. Saturday morning will take in the Tukituki circuit (approximately 60km) leaving from Kennedy Park at 8:30am stopping at Clifton Café for coffee. After lunch, tandems will set off at about 2pm to complete the Puketapu/Poraiti Circuit (approximately 26km) stopping at Moana Park on the way and passing the Puketapu Pub where you will have dinner that evening. Sunday morning will take in the Ohiti Circuit vie Oaks/Brookfields (approximately 70km) returning to the River flats to the filter Room for coffee or cold drink.
Organised by Neil and Sue Christophersen, Mark Todd and Pauline Summers, please contact neil2sue@gmail.com if you wish to find out more.

Ride4Life Non-Stop Time Trial: Raising Awareness for Neonatal Infants

The Ride4Life Non-Stop Time Trial begins in Auckland and ends in Wellington on the 15th April 2011. This ride will follow the same route on which New Zealand endurance cycling legend, Brian Lambert, set the Auckland to Wellington record in 1984 at an amazing 19hrs 59m 27s, a record that still stands today. The Chair of the Neonatal Trust, Eugene Collins, will be completing the Time Trial and Brian Lambert will be at the finish line to greet Eugene upon his arrival in Wellington.
The purpose of this endurance ride is to raise awareness and funds for The Neonatal Trust www.neonataltrust.co.nz Full details about the ride is at www.ride4life.co.nz.
The ride will depart from outside the Britomart Centre in downtown Auckland (the site of the original Post office) at 9.00am on 15 April 2011 and everyone is invited to come down for the send off and ride along as far as you have time for. Riders near or along the route are also encouraged to come out and join the Ride4Life for as long as you can hang on.
The ride will finish outside the Wellington Post office on Lambton Quay sometime late Saturday morning (weather and energy permitting) and as many cyclists as possible are welcome to join in as we head in to the finish. Come on down to the ceremonial finish outside Mojo headquarters on the waterfront and meet Brian Lambert.

Bev May Tour 12th February

Although this annual tour was held a month ago, it would be remiss not to mention the tremendous results of Ramblers who represented us there and got in the top ten.
Hannah van Kampen – 2nd in B grade
Sue Tunnecliff – 3rd in C grade
Holly Atkins – 8th U17 women
Both Hannah and Holly are recipients of the coaching scholarship from Peter and Elaine Gavin and were accompanied by coach, Ivar Hopman.
Special mention also to Ashliegh Neave competing in A grade, and to CHB’s Phoebe Tresseder who finished 4th in U17 women.

MEDIA RELEASE 25th February 2011: Hawke’s Bay Best Velodrome Location – Shanks, Gough

Hawke’s Bay is the best location for a Velodrome says Commonwealth Games gold medalist Ali Shanks. “If it’s going to be the centre of excellence for cycling in New Zealand, it means the New Zealand team will be training here for several months of the year so it’s important they like the place. Hawke’s Bay stands out because it’s got a great climate and fantastic outdoor training options. Basically cyclists like coming here,” she says.
Ali Shanks was a gold medalist at the recent Commonwealth Games in Delhi and although she lives in Dunedin, regularly travels to Hawke’s Bay for training.
Fellow New Zealand representative, Olympic bronze medalist and Hawke’s Bay local Westley Gough echoed Shanks’ comments. “My support for a Velodrome here is based on the fact that I firmly believe Hawke’s Bay is the best place for it. I credit much of my success to the environment Hawke’s Bay offers, from great weather, excellent cycling terrain and strong cycling clubs. I know my views are supported by many of my peers, as they also travel here to train,” he says.
The indoor Velodrome, with naming rights sponsorship from Unison, will be located at the Regional Sports Park and will cost $21m. Half of the funds are being provided by non-ratepayer sources including a $7m grant from government.
The bid has been spearheaded by Sports Park Trust Chair and Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule. “The ratepayer investment would be significant and we acknowledge that. But this is a one-off opportunity for Hawke’s Bay to host the centre of excellence in a major sport. There is nothing on the sporting horizon that approaches the scale of this opportunity and we have a strong case, so we need to go for it,” he says.
For more information contact: Lawrence Yule Ph: 0272 496206

Ultimo 2 day Junior Tour (National Point Series)

CHB Cycling host the Ultimo 2 day Junior Tour on March 26th and 27th. The first day’s racing begins from Pukeora Hill (prologue and road race). On Sunday, racing begins from CHB College on Sunday (road race). This is for U19/U17/ U15 and U13 Boys and Girls.
RCC enjoys a close relationship with this club and often their members have supported us with marshals and drivers in events we have hosted. It would be fabulous if we could reciprocate. If you are available and wish to support CHB Cycling with marshals and general help, please contact the club.

Old RCC Uniform

There are a few jerseys which have been held in stock in shops. With the new uniform now available, our old colours become a curio and a sentimental investment. These will be sold from the trailer in coming weeks at $30 each.

Upcoming Events Around the Country

5th March: Poverty Cycle (various parts of Aotearoa New Zealand)
5th – 31st March: Ride Out Of The Blue, Bluff to Cape Reinga
12th March: Flaxmere Family Festival & Annual Bike Ride, Flaxmere College 10am
13th March: Tremains Coorporate Triathalon, Napier
18th-20th March: Tandem Tearaway Weekend, Napier
26th–27th March: Ultimo 2 day Junior Tour, CHB
9th April: WCNI Cycling Centre Open Individual Time Trial
10th April: WCNI Cycling Centre Road Race
14th -15th April: Ride4Life Non-Stop Time Trial, Auckland to Wellington
16th April: CRI Junior Tour, Rotorua
22nd April: TeA Junior Tour, Te Awamutu
17th-30th April: Life Cycle Ride – Whangarei to Wellington
5th May: Rabodirect Club Road National Championships, Wanganui
14th – 15th May: The Catlins Great Escape April
2nd July: North Island Secondary School Road Cycling Championships, Ngaruawahia

Ramblers Prominent at Day 1 Track Nationals

First day of track nationals and two Ramblers riders in action today. Regan Gough having a big first day with qualifiying for the Under 17 points race in the morning session, 500m time trial in the evening and last event of the evening the points race final. Kerry Harford racing in the Masters Two scratch race.

Regan sailed through qualifiying having found his track legs with the West coast centre champs and a few days spent down in Invercargill training on the velodrome to sharpen up the speed. 500m time trial was a little disappointing, starting is so important in this event and the riders have an advantage who can train with start gates. The track is very fast with the "warm weather" in Invercargill and a New Zealand record took the title. Points race started well, Regan was a contender the whole race taking a fourth and a second in the first two sprints, but the fast racing and constant crashes in tight racing took its toll and Regan missed out in the end finishing fifth.

In the Masters two scratch race Kerry Harford went in as winner of this national title the last two years, and expecting no favours. The race was a battle between Southland and Auckland teams sending breakaway riders off the front, but the high average speed meant that with three laps to go the front of the race was still togeather. Harford found himself on the front with no option but to lead out the sprint. Having lead the field round for one lap he jumped hard from the front and was able to get a gap, sprinting for the final two laps and taking the hat trick with a tactic no textbook recommends.

Big fields at Nationals this year and committed racing. Ramblers and CHB riders racing for the centre in centre colours are right up there in events we get little racing in, against larger centres all with at least one velodrome to race and train on. Hopefully by April that will be all changing.