Greetings everyone and I trust you are coping as we ease into the shorter days and the loss of daylight saving.
Southland Road Champs
This weekend is our Club Road Champs in preparation for the Club Road Nationals in Alexandra 21-24. We kick off with the Time Trial on the Branxholme circuit with a 1pm sign on for a 1.30pm start this Saturday 9 April. Meet at the old Makarewa Freezing Works. The road race for the champs will be on Sunday 1pm sign on for 1.30pm racing on the Woodstock Circuit. Meet at the Mabel Bush Hall. Volunteers for marshalling would be hugely appreciated just let us know at [email protected] if you can lend a hand please. Register online here now
Speaking of road racing, did anyone lose something at the Dacre Hall last weekend. Something of value was handed in from the registration area so contact me if you lost this.
South Port Crit
Meanwhile, the South Port Criteriums finished up the weekend before. Congrats to all who competed and well done to our winners. View the results here
Also a keyring was found at the Balmoral Crit with a cycling keyring and house key etc on it. Let us know if you lost them.
Corporate Pursuit Entries Now Open
This year’s Corporate Pursuit Challenge is being held on Friday 1 July, with Time Trials in the evening, and race day will be on Sunday 10 July. Entries are now open online so get in and sign up now. Same price and format as previous years. Register online here now
This is always a popular business competition now in its 11th year and early bird entries close April 12, which allow all teams entered by then to go in the draw to win their entry fee back – one team will be drawn for this. The event will again incorporate the ever-popular Lone Star-Speights Roller Racing competition as well.
2016 KEY DATES
12 April: Early Bird Entries Close
6 May: Entries Close – midday
11 May: Team Briefing - 7-9pm
1 July: Corporate Pursuit Time Trials - 6pm start
10 July: Corporate Pursuit Event Day - 10am start
From the Chief Executive
Queen’s Birthday Weekend Carnival
Due to popular demand, we are in the process of organising a 10th anniversary carnival marking 10 years of the velodrome, so pencil in Queen’s Birthday Weekend for a bumper weekend of track racing. We’re looking at racing on Saturday and Sunday, with a celebratory meal on the Saturday night.
Survey
Thank you to those who completed the survey recently. The raw results have come back and need some more analysis but it’s clear that you’re all passionate about what you do, so that’s great to see. More to come on that and how we’ll implement some of your suggestions.
Club Policies
I’m in the process of updating many of the club policies – and in some cases developing new ones. If anyone has any thoughts on existing policies that don’t quite match with our current operations, I’d be interested in hearing from you. I’ve developed a new social media policy, have been working with Sport Southland on updating our Health & Safety policies (to bring us in line with the new legislation), and other policies such as the Motorcycle and Derny Use Policy.
More details about these changes will be explained at the AGM in July, date to be confirmed soon.
Mark Hotton
Track Sessions Update
All track sessions are updated online each week, so you can choose when to head along and what suits during the darker evenings.
There will be no Monday Sprint Squad until 2 May when it will resume from 7-8pm only until the Corporate Pursuit is over.
View the schedule here Remember the folder to sign in etc is in the folder holder at the top of the tunnel. Please ensure you do this at unsupervised evening sessions thank you.
Secondary School Road Champs
Tomorrow we are hosting the Secondary School Road Champs at Teretonga so head on out if you are free and cheer the kids on or lend a hand if you wish. Racing will kick off from 10am and be all over before the school day is done.
National Awards
Applications for the national road and track awards close this week and we want to check to see if there were any suggestions from club members.
We’re looking for suggestions for:
- Shona Smith Trophy - Someone who has raised the profile of female involvement in cycling.
- Faces of Cycling - This category recognized those who are not only exceptional in their chosen activities, but are also admired by their peers, act as role models, and who others aspire to be like and enjoy spending time with.
- Volunteer/official of the year - This award is for the person that has shown a good contribution to cycling in New Zealand over the last 12 months. Generally for someone contributing at a national level but not restricted to this. It could be someone at a regional level that contributes to the national scene e.g. coaching, officiating etc.
- Coach of the Year (team and individual) - The awards will be considered for athletes performances during the time period as mentioned above. International and national achievements will be considered.
- The Malayan Cup - BikeNZ Road & Tracks "Supreme Award,” in recognition of outstanding service to the sport. Nominations are in recognition of the previous twelve months but can take into consideration accumulated service.
Freebie Giveaway - Mamil
A hugely funny and entertaining show is coming to Invercargill as part of the upcoming Southland Festival of the Arts in April-May.
You’ve seen him. Maybe you are him – a middle-aged man in lycra, who’s swapped his sports car for a super bike. This particular MAMIL is Bryan Cook, played by NZ great Mark Hadlow, whose mid-life crisis threatens to consume his career, his health, his family and his love life. His doctor’s warning warnings prompt Bryan to take up cycling and before he knows it he’s a fully-fledged lycra convert. The hilarious script demands Hadlow play nine characters, a tour de force that proves again that he is one of New Zealand’s funniest and most accomplished actors.
If you want to win a double pass to the opening night show on Friday 13 May at 7.30pm send me your name at [email protected]. You can visit here to find out more
Another Outstanding Result Leading Up To Rio
Cycling’s ruling body, the UCI has confirmed that, for the first time, New Zealand has qualified for every discipline in track cycling for the Rio Olympics. New Zealand is one of only three nations to have achieved full qualification along with Australia and Germany. Read all about it here The excitement is certainly building now for Team NZ!
Well that’s about it from us for another week, so take care for the week ahead and don’t forget to head on down to the track and enjoy our fantastic indoor facilities over the cooler months ahead!