Hi everyone and welcome to May and the start of Term 2,
As we head into the leafy downpours and shorter days, it still does not mean things are slowing down in the world of cycling in the south with plenty coming up again to think about.
First up a big congrats to all those who competed at the Club Road Nationals in Cambridge last week – there were some outstanding results, with Under 15 Boys Hamish Buchanan-Keast (gold) and Corbin Strong (silver), U17s Brayden Stephens (bronze), Nicole Shields (CO-Wakatipu) (gold), Mikayla Harvey (CO-Wakatipu) 2nd, Masters 6 John Alabaster (CO-Wakatipu) (gold) and Paracyclists Laura Fairweather (gold with Emma Foy), Kylie Young and Phillipa Gray (silver) and Gabby Vermunt (bronze with Amanda Cameron) all featuring in the medals on the day one Time Trials and Corbin bouncing back for a silver in the road champs on day 2 with Nicole and John doing the double to take gold also on day two and Mikayla taking bronze. Some great riding overall with strong placings in the big fields. Well done everyone a great effort!
Junior Division AGM
Please note that the Junior Division AGM will be held next Thursday 15 April, at 7pm. All welcome to attend.
Tuesday Night Senior Racing & Captain’s Ride
A reminder that senior racing will kick off tonight from 7-9pm, so if you are bursting to unleash on the track head on down. A reminder also that an open Captain’s Ride (restricted gearing 90”) is also now on Thursdays from 6-7pm (although this will be offered from 8-9pm the next week due to a Corporate Pursuit newbies session being scheduled in there from 6-8pm).
Sunday Wet Weather Rides
Wet weather options are again be offered in the Velodrome on Sundays when available so keep an eye on the availability and times at the bottom of the track schedule here This Sunday it is from 12-2pm. When attending these or any other unsupervised sessions, please remember to put your name and money in the folder (placed in the file folder over the rail at the top of the tunnel). If there is money – can the last to leave a session pop the folder under the office door please – hugely appreciated!
Crowe Horwath Corporate Pursuit
A reminder that entries close tomorrow Wednesday 7 and the team debrief will be next Wednesday 13 May in the Sarah Ulmer Lounge, from 7-9pm. An open session for new riders for the track will be held next Thursday 14 May, from 6-8pm. Spread the word and it is fantastic to see a number of new businesses on board again this year already – great stuff!
Corporate Pursuit Bike Checks
As part on ongoing maintenance and Corporate Pursuit preparation we urgently need to work through checking over all the bikes, including gearing, tyre pressure, bar taping etc and get any sorted that are not up to scratch. If anyone is available to lend a hand with this process, can you please contact me as soon as possible so we can get on to it. Thank you in advance.
Westpac Chopper Appeal Ride
It is that time of the year again when a hardy bunch of cyclists, including several of our own Cycling Southland members, will be riding the 240km route from Frankton to Invercargill, this year via Riversdale and Gore) for the annual Westpac rescue helicopter appeal. This year 50 riders hope to reach their fundraising goal of $25,000 so visit: www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/Qt2invWestpacChopperRide/ and make your contribution. Good luck to everyone taking part.
Trail for Tony McAra Fundraiser
Another really touching fundraiser coming up that already involves several club members, including Sid Cumming and Red Burnett is the ‘Trail for Tony’ Read all about it here to make a donation to this worthy cause visit http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/tonymcarafundraising
Good luck to everyone involved!
This week’s print poster boy
Our Cycling Southland members are always deserving of some attention in the media and, never shy for a good story, this week one of our Junior Worlds stars Nick Kergozou was back in the headlines Check it out here
Good luck to all of you – Nick, Laura and Mike – for your fundraising and preparation leading up to Korea in August – very exciting indeed!
Prizegiving reminder
Quick reminder to stick Friday 6 June in the calendar for the Cycling Southland prizegiving to be held again at Ascot Park Hotel this year. More details to follow soon.
10 Hour Teretonga Challenge
On Saturday 17 May we are planning a 10 Hour Challenge for individuals, teams of two or teams of four, to be held at Teretonga from 8am to 6pm.
This event will run subject to numbers – and is not looking likely to happen at this stage – so get your entries in!! It is intended to be a fun day out – bring your gazebo, pump some music, even get the Barbie on board. Entry is $10 for individuals, $20 for teams of two and $30 for teams of four. You can enter online here by midday 15 May.
So that is it for another action-packed week of instalments so take care until my next update,
Have a splendid week!