Happy Easter everyone – we’re nearly there for a well-deserved long weekend. But that also means that many are heading off for a big ride around the south under the eagle eye of Vital Signs Tour de Lakes manager Allan Dunn and his team of willing volunteers for four days of great racing and picturesque scenery. Entry numbers are great again this year with a strong women’s field also lining up so it should make for some great racing – and it’s guaranteed to be great fun as well for all involved. Good luck to Dunny and everyone involved for another hugely successful Easter weekend.
Firstly some official and relatively urgent business…
FUNDING ASSISTANCE – CLUB ROAD NATIONALS
With entries for the Club Road Nationals in Queenstown closing on April 6, members are invited to apply for funding to assist with entry fee costs. Funding levels will be determined, subject to entry numbers. Please visit www.cyclingsouth.org.nz/funding for an application form and for details of funding criteria. Applications need to be submitted by 4 April to be considered.
EXECUTIVE UPDATE
The Executive Committee met last Monday night and welcomed Toni Green to the team. You may recognise Toni from flashing around the Velodrome as part of the AWS Legal Corporate Pursuit team. Toni brings a wealth of experience on both commercial and community based organisations plus some gender balance. Two important topics discussed included:
· Cycling Southland’s Strategic Plan - with the impending opening of Cambridge Velodrome, locally what do we want the sport to be and do and what is the road map for future activities to deliver to our riders, staff, volunteers, sponsors and supporters? We have had some great and diverse feedback from the recent survey and seeking more from club divisions over coming weeks, so we welcome your input.
· Bike NZ and Bike Road and Track have their AGMs in May and President Lindsay, Vice-President Sier and CEO Nick will be flying the flag on your behalf. We need to plan Cycling Southland’s integration with the national sport to mutual benefit - for example, our hosting of national and international events into the future and the upcoming Club Road Nationals in Queenstown next month. The AGM is the forum for us to ask the national body to address your concerns, challenges and opportunities - things like standardising practical STMS standards nationally and co-ordinating an appropriate National Road Calendar are top of our list. Please talk to one of the Exec or Nick Jeffrey, or email Melissa with your thoughts (identifying problems with recommended solutions would be a good format).
We look forward to hearing from you
Tony Hammington on behalf of the Executive
BIKE ROAD & TRACK REMITS
As noted by Tony above, Cycling Southland’s Executive will be formally submitting remits to be considered at the Bike Road and Track AGM. If you have items you believe should be considered, please forward these in writing to [email protected] or drop them in to the Cycling Southland office. These must be received by 4 April, so they can be considered and submitted by Cycling Southland prior to the AGM.
Now for all the other updates…
No Pedalling Pathway this Thursday
We will have a break from the Pedalling Pathway Road Skills programme this week due to Easter (many people are leaving for the break on Thursday), and also due to the unavailability of Teretonga. See you all again next Thursday 4 April!
Track Start – Drafters Track Sessions
A reminder that Drafters intermediate adults group is now being held on Tuesdays from 6-7pm with Track Start beginners sessions still being held on Wednesdays from 6-7pm.
Southland Road and Time Trial Champs
Get your entries in for the Road and Time Trial Champs on the 6 & 7 of April – the Time Trials start from 11am (10.30am report) from McQuarrie Street and head out on the Gorge Road Highway. The Road Race is around the New Vale Coal Circuit at Te Tipua, with racing starting at 10am. Details and entry are available_here
We are looking for helpers for the weekend. If you are available to help please let Dale (that’s Mrs MacDonald to you all now!) know at [email protected]. It would be hugely appreciated!
SouthPort Criterium
Apologies for the confusion over the Criterium last weekend. The final Criterium in the series will be held following Club Road Nationals, with the day/date to be advised.
Wednesday Worlds – Two More Weeks – Racing starts at 6pm!
Wednesday Worlds will run this week on 27 March AND next week on 3 March (which will be the last week). We are looking to overcome the “sunlight impeding vision problem” by starting racing at 6pm, so please arrive and register prior to 6pm.
Club Road Nationals
The Club Road Nationals in Queenstown from 18-21 April are shaping up to be an awesome event – so here’s some updates around this.
The road tops have been ordered for those who requested them and we’ll notify when these are available to collect. Cycling Southland is discounting the cost to purchase these at just $60.
Event manager Bill Godsall is seeking volunteers to lend a hand during the event.
If you’re able to help out with any of the following roles during the nationals please contact Bill: [email protected]
· Drivers, anyone who can supply a van or mechanic for all days
· 5 people who will look after the start / finish area, including parking - this will be cruisy for all days
· 14 road marshalls for Time Trials on day one, which is Thursday 18 April and held over 3 courses
· 13 road marshalls for the next three days of road racing on Friday 19, Saturday 20, Sunday 21 April
Your help is hugely appreciated.
Membership Cards
All members who renewed or purchased memberships from the period November 2012 – January 2013, should now have their membership cards. BikeNZ is aware of some cases where cards have been unable to be delivered due to incorrect or incomplete postal addresses. They have contacted these members directly to update their details. If you have not received a card, please log into your portal and check that your correspondence address is correct, and that your personal details are up to date.
Members who have renewed or purchased membership from February onwards will not have received cards yet. BikeNZ will secure a new card provider this weeks and expects production of cards to begin again within days of the agreement being finalised.
Members can rest assured that their memberships are active and current. A reminder to members that you check the status of their membership online by logging in to BikeNZ.org.nz. Membership number, and a receipt or screen shot can continue to be used as proof of membership in lieu of cards.
Billeters Required Please
BikeNZ is after a couple of people to billet a couple of Junior World team riders who are coming from out of town for a training camp from 21-26 of April. This is directly after Road Nationals in Queenstown. If you’re able to offer a bed to one or two champion blokes please let me know at [email protected]
Tandem Rider
A local sight-impaired lady, Virginia, is seeking someone to ride tandem with her during daylight hours during the week. Sports Southland has a mountain bike-type tandem and Helen McKenzie and Marie Muhl have already been on rides with her. As they both work fulltime and have other significant commitments they are unable to meet her needs. Virginia has a goal of wanting to do the Rail Trail. If anyone is interested and has an hour or 2 to spare each week please can you contact Virginia on 973 0026 or 021 264 6767.
Member Comms now online
Just to let you know that these weekly member communications will now be posted under news updates online at www.cyclingsouth.org.nz so if you ever delete or forget anything in these news worthy little weekly epistles you can just recheck it online.
Finally, a reminder that the Stadium Southland Velodrome is closed from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April for the Easter bunny to let us all over-indulge in all things sweet and chocolatey – yummo!
Have a great break and a great Vital Signs Tour de Lakes for all involved
Catch you next week.