Happy Birthday to us, happy birthday to us …
Well our 10th birthday celebration week for the opening of the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome has arrived so it is time to join in with the festivities and fun – believe it or not we’ve actually just discovered that Cycling Southland the organisation is 20-years-old this year too, so double the reason to celebrate!
But first and foremost we must congratulate our extremely worthy award recipients at the Cycling New Zealand AGM and Awards night in Auckland during the weekend.
Eddie Dawkins, was named Face of Cycling for 2015, recognising his efforts both on and off the track. He will be vying for Olympic glory this year in Rio.
Club president Lindsay Jordan received the Official of the Year, which recognised the heavy involvement he's had with the club during the past 12 years, including six in the top role.
Coaches Sid Cumming and Dave Beadle were recognised for the outstanding job they do with junior riders, particularly the under 17 and under 19 squads.
The years of volunteer work that Robin Criglington has contributed to the club were also acknowledged. He received the Life Time Service Award, which was collected on his behalf by daughter and world champion masters rider Erin Criglington.
Congratulations to you all for such worthy recognition. Read the full report here
From the GM’s Desk
Couple of quick things – it was a proud moment as GM to attend the Cycling NZ annual awards on Saturday night in Auckland and see five of our members pick up national accolades (details are below.
Details about the Thursday night birthday celebration are below but I want to encourage you to please support this event. It’s important that the club gets together to mark this occasion so your attendance would be appreciated.
Encourage friends and family to come down and watch the racing on Friday and Saturday – the races are designed to be short, sharp and entertaining and we’ve got the $1000 Wheel Race too. I’m looking forward to the carnival too – although slightly nervous about my race against the Mule, Matt Archibald. Thanks to those who have offered support to me … and those who are betting on Matt. I’m sure it will be closer than people realise. After all, I have had three weeks to train!
Finally, we’ve got limited places left in the coaching training course, to be run by Cycling NZ, planned for June 24-26. This is an invaluable course for those looking at getting involved in coaching. The club will pay half of the cost once you pass the course. Please contact me if you’re interested.
Look forward to seeing you on Thursday, Friday and Saturday!
Mark Hotton
General Manager
Birthday Carnival
Our Carnival this weekend marks 10 years since the velodrome opened. Make sure you enter if you haven’t already or volunteer to lend a hand to ensure it runs smoothly [email protected] or just head along and enjoy the entertainment on the boards (and cheer me on!) on the Friday and Saturday nights (May 27-28), from 7pm.
We’re hosting the national junior track squad along with a Wheel Race that has the highest prize money believed to have been offered in NZ for a bike race - $1000!
Please support this event either by entering early for the races or coming along and watching the likes of Emma Cumming, Bradly Knipe, Tom Sexton, Ellesse Andrews and Nicole Shields before they head to the junior world champs.
Pot Luck Dinner
We also urge you to support the informal birthday celebrations on Thursday May 27. Details are on the Facebook page but please get involved in this. We’ve also got some junior racing that night to show off the next generation of track riders. We have several dignitaries attending as well, so it would be great to see as many club members as possible from 6pm in the Sarah Ulmer Lounge. The junior racing and demonstration aspect is to display the continued strong growth of our young rider development coming through and will take the form of Wheelers and Flyers displays with some cone and skill displays, as well is a couple of Flyers/U13/U15 races dependent on who’s raring to go. Don’t hesitate to be a part of this milestone and head on down for tea, some chatter and a great evening that is for everyone who makes Cycling Southland what we are.
View the flyer
Quiz Night
Support your Junior World Championship Track Cycling Team Quiz night
Join us for a fun night (cater for all ages) to raise money to help Brad and Emma get to Switzerland.
Sunday 29 May Corinthian Convention Centre, at the Invercargill Workingmen's Club, 4pm
Awesome auctions and raffles galore...
$20 per team (up to 4)
Please pre-book and enter your teams with Julie Knipe 022 100 1211 or Sid Cumming 027 241 7443
or $25 per team door sales on the night. Too good to miss so get your team in now!
Lock Up Key Missing
The lock up key has been pocketed by mistake late last week and this urgently needs to be returned please, We think this went missing during the Carnival Squad session last Thursday night. Please check your gear and let us know when it will be returned.
Final Road Race of the Season
This Saturday is the final road race of the season and the 5th and final race in the Summer Points series. Enter online here now for the Donovan 10km circuit. Assembly in Retreat Road at 1pm for 1.30pm race start and prizegiving at Paddington Arms.
Corporate Pursuit
Many teams are well into the swing of training nice and early in the season as the track fever spreads among many new members of the club and many more new bike owners.
Once again, remember if you can help out on the event day on Sunday July 10, please let us know to help with planning and preparation once the Carnival is done and dusted. Always appreciated and always a fun event to be part of.
ILT Sports Award Finalists
Cycling is again strongly featured among the finalists for this year’s awards, with the winners being announced on Friday 17 June at a special function. We have eight worthy cycling representatives as finalists so good luck to Eddie Dawkins, Laura Thompson, Emma Cumming, Brad Knipe, Dave Beadle and Sid Cumming, Karl Watson and Erin Criglington. It is indeed a great result to get to the finals stage and you are all totally worthy winners.
Well that is it for another action-packed week and we look forward to the busy and fun weekend ahead – so we’ll see you there for those who can make it along.