Hello to everyone out there in cycling land,
From the GM’s desk
First of all, a big thanks to those who have offered support and words of “advice” about my upcoming race against Olympian Matt Archibald as part of the May Magnifique! For those who have missed it I’ve challenged Matt to flying lap v standing start … with me doing the flying lap obviously! To put in context, until this month I hadn’t been on the track in three years and hadn’t been on a bike in over 18 months (two lunch rolls last year don’t count). And he’s an Olympian and Commonwealth Games medallist who lives and breathes this stuff. My first flying lap was 21 seconds … and Matt’s pulling a 17.8-18.4 standing. So it will be close. Trust me.
Birthday carnival
We’re using this race as a light-hearted way to promote the carnival, which 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
Since I started, I’ve regularly heard comments about the social aspect of the club. There have been limited numbers attend the club meetings, so I want to 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. 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.
Other dates
Some dates for your diary please – Club Prize Giving is booked in for July 7 at the Ascot Park Hotel. Tickets for this will be limited this year so make sure you keep that date free. Please start thinking about nominations too. More details to come.
The club’s AGM has been set down for July 27 in the Sarah Ulmer Lounge, from 7pm. This is just early notification of it for your diary, agenda etc to follow.
Speculation
I’ve had some feedback lately about incorrect information floating about, being shared between club members that has caused distress to other members.
If you have any questions about something or want to know why things are being done the way they are, please talk to the coaches or myself.
We’ve all got the same goals and it’s important that we’re working together. If you do have any concerns, please do get in touch.
Cheers!
Mark
Road Racing
There are only two more weekends of road racing left before the winter break so make sure you head along and support them. This weekend is the Grove Bush Springhills circuit. Register online here now and please remember to check for management and marshalling duties and ensure you fulfil these please or arrange for a substitute. Thanks to the loyal faithfuls who endured the sneaky gale force winds that struck mid-way through last week’s race at Gorge Road. Check out the race report
Coaching Course
We will be hosting another Cycling New Zealand Coaching Foundation course from 24 to 26 June – this was rescheduled from last weekend. If anyone is interested please let Mark know [email protected]
Junior Road Camp
There will be a junior division camp for all track and road riders at Tautuku in the next school holidays from Wednesday 13 to Friday July, so mark it down on the calendar now. More details to follow.
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!
Glengarry Tandem
Our heritage trail historian Julian Ineson is after some precious information please. Can anyone assist with some information about the recent Glengarry Tandem placed on our heritage trail? Where it was built? Year purchased and from who? Any information about it would be appreciated View the tandem in question
Dates to Diary
17 June – ILT Sports Awards
1 July – Corporate Pursuit Time Trial
10 July – Corporate Pursuit Race Day
7 July – Cycling Southland Prizegiving
27 July – Cycling Southland AGM
Finally, a reminder to any families who may be new to cycling in the last year that track squads will stop again once the anniversary carnival is over at the end of the month and not recommence until after the Corporate Pursuit as this is the down time for track squads for the year and they are really only running again at present in readiness for the anniversary carnival.
Keep warm and dry out there and see you at our 10 year anniversary and carnival!