Hi folks and if you didn’t get a chance to swing by the Southland Track Champs over the weekend, you sure missed a treat.
It was hot, it was fast and it was fantastic. To the massive field of entrants, all the volunteers, coaches, supporters and crew – you should be incredibly proud. The racing was intense and exciting and the team spirit in the pits was fabulous. Well done to everyone for the exceptional racing, much needed support and good old Southland “this is how we do it” validation. Super proud of you all! Read the results here – we’re working on Day 2, which were unable to be supplied due to timing glitches all through the Individual Pursuits.
Track timing system
As many of you will have seen, we had some obvious technical issues with the track timing system at the weekend. This is clearly unacceptable and we will be going back to the designers and getting it resolved. It appears to work per event, but has a glitch when changing to other events. IPs work fine, but there are issues with 200s and TTs. The tapes work and the ‘pulses’ are received, but not converted into useable data.
The timing team at the weekend have made notes on what was going wrong and we will get that resolved. Apologies if the timing experience wasn’t as good for the riders as it should have been – a new update had been loaded that had fixed previous issues and it appeared to have been running fine. However, until it’s put through its paces, it’s difficult to see how the whole system is working.
Road timing system
I’m delighted to announced that an application for the part-funding of a new road timing system has been approved by the ILT Foundation. Extensive work has gone into this project by Nathan Shearing and Brendon McLeod and a positive outcome is on the horizon. The Webscorer system, currently used by the juniors without tags, is to be used across the grades with a portable receiving system to be purchased that uses tags. We look forward to seeing this rolled out in early 2019. This is something that will be used by MTB and the Tri-Club as well and we will develop a priority system for various events. Thank you to those clubs for their support in our application too.
U19 Squad Announced
Following the Southland Track Champs at the weekend, the selectors have named the U19 team to compete at the National Track Champs in February in Cambridge. The U19 team is made up of Emily Paterson, Helena Rikiti, Natalie Green, Tyla Green, Jenny Brown, Conor Shearing, Lach’lan Robertson, Navarh Brotherston, Jake Willis, and Josh Miller. Nathan Shearing has been appointed to manage the team, with Sid Cumming to be coach and supported by Gerald Paterson, Lance Spencer and Mike Green. A big thanks to them for putting their hands up to help.
The Elite team will be named in due course once we confirm the availability of our Cambridge-based riders.
New Year Carnival
Final details on the New Year Carnival will finalised soon but put these dates in your calendar: January 18 and 19. We know it clashes with the World Cup meet in Cambridge and some people will be away but the Denton Park Carnival is the previous weekend. Racing will be held on the Friday and Saturday afternoons.
In a slight break from tradition, the plan is to run fun but competitive team events (Italian and team pursuits) on the Friday and finish by 5.30pm so riders can go home and watch the World Cup, which is live on Sky. On Saturday afternoon, we’ll run an omnium-style carnival, finishing about 5.30pm, with the World Cup then to be shown on the big screen (some technical details to be confirmed on this). Everybody will be welcome to watch the racing on the big screen – bean bags etc will be welcome – and we will look at a food option for the evening. There will also be a rare chance to take on the GM in a unique race. More details to come!
Road Racing
This Saturday is the Quest Apartment Hotels Letterbox Circuit Handicap from McQuarrie Street at 1.30pm. Can all volunteers please report to Manager Waine Harding and Lindsay Jones for marshalling duties thank you. Check out the details
Don’t forget Zookeepers Café Wednesday Worlds again tomorrow – sign in 6pm at Tisbury School for 6.30pm racing. All grades welcome. Please pay cash on the registration $10 entry or $5 if licenced.
Track Sessions
No squads – just Rockets going ahead today - but all resume next week.
A reminder Under 15 Squad is 4-6pm on Thursday this week.
Stadium Christmas-New Year Hours
23 December 5pm: Stadium Closes for Christmas
January 7 8am: Stadium Opens
January 7 – January 13: Restricted Hours: 8am – 5pm
January 14: Normal hours resume
Learn to Ride
We are again taking registrations for Learn to Ride beginners for Term 1 next year. Spread the word to any budding young cyclists to get online and register
Denton Park Summer Carnival
Canterbury Track Cycling will again hold their Summer Carnival of Racing at Denton Park on 11 and 12 January. Visit www.caterburytrack.co.nz to check out the details.
So that’s it from me for this week – enjoy this balmy weather we’re having and get ready for Christmas because it is coming – fast!