Greetings everyone,
The drought has finally broken and the empty tanks are being replenished in the south which is hugely positive.
It’s been a long time in the planning and preparation but it is fantastic to see the SIT Southern Performance Hub officially launched today and the confirmation of the appointment of Sid Cumming as Hub Lead Coach.
It’s also great to have the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) come on board as naming sponsor. We’ll also be looking to strengthen our relationship with SIT in the coming year because both organisation’s believe there are significant benefits to be gained by working collaboratively.
The hub will provide an invaluable stepping stone for riders looking at national representation and will connect closely with the national programme in terms of training and development support around coaching, sports science, strength and conditioning, and other services.
The SIT Southern Performance Hub will provide development opportunities for talented young riders from the Southland and Otago regions and work in with our existing programmes and infrastructure while adding value and connecting riders with a pathway to high performance.
One of the biggest assets to the programme will be Sid, whose knowledge of Cycling Southland will help align the Cycling NZ programme more closely with what our organisation is doing. Over time, this should bring even greater benefits.
I’ll be working closely with Sid and Cycling NZ over the coming months to help integrate the hub into the velodrome and make sure it’s producing what’s required as quickly as possible.
It’s an exciting opportunity and, combined with the planned training centre, will make our organisation an even more attractive cycling option for riders throughout the lower South Island.
Mark Hotton
Junior Division Meeting
This will be held tonight (Tuesday) upstairs at 7pm. Agenda includes a small Yunca debrief, Oceanias, fundraising policies and Baxter & Neilson. All welcome.
Equipment Return
Anyone who has a vest, a flag, a radio or light from Cycling Southland, can you please return these as they are required for the upcoming Tour of Southland thank you.
Also, there is an amnesty for whoever, borrowed the orange SIT bag of tools from Bruce’s office to return it urgently or let us know where it may be please!
Road Programme
Anyone interested in helping to plan the road racing programme for next year is welcome to join a planning meeting upstairs at the Velodrome tomorrow night (Wednesday 19th) at 8pm. See you there.
Southland Team Shirt Orders
Southland team shirts for the upcoming Track Champs and other events, including next year's Track Nationals are now available to order from the office. Shirts $35 each so please email: [email protected] with your order and include what size you want.
Payments to be made to the office by the order date please.
60th Anniversary SBS Bank Tour of Southland – lots to get involved with!
BDO Bluff Hill Charity Ride
Cyclists wanting to emulate their heroes will have the chance to race on a section of the Tour of Southland this year. Members of the public are being challenged to take part in the BDO Bluff Hill charity ride, a 7km journey starting at the Stirling Point signpost in Bluff, through the seaside town and finishing on the summit of Bluff Hill. The bonus is all proceeds raised will be donated to Ronald McDonald House. View the details and register online now
Gala on Gala Corporate Team Time Trial
As part of this special event we invite you to come and join the action at 'Gala on Gala' as part of the build up to this year’s event in our inaugural Ricoh Corporate Road Team Time Trial. Teams are made up of four to six riders with a minimum of one female, and you can enter at either a social or competitive level.
The team time will be taken from the fourth rider over the finish of the 4.2km circuit of Queens Park - so get your crew assembled and put your team name and entry in now by registering online here
Lone Star Supporters Bus
Finally, don’t forget about the Lone Star Tour Supporters Bus that will allow seat holders to follow the arduous Eastern Southland stage on Friday 4 November. This is a special invitation to Southland businesses to consider this unique opportunity to reward your clients or staff – or it’s just a special opportunity for you and a group of friends.
We’d love you to be a part of the 60th Anniversary SBS Bank Tour of Southland special celebrations, so enter a time trial team, or register for the Bluff Hill charity ride and book a seat on the supporters bus – we’ll ensure you have a great ride!
Southland Track Champs
These are now being held from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 November. Entries are now open online
Road Race Report and Entry
A great field turned out for the Dipton-Mossburn handicap on Saturday. Read the full report here
Next Saturday is the Donovan Points Race Register online now
Track Camp Fundraiser
Madeleine Gough and Tayla Lumsden will be holding a track camp to fundraise to attend the Oceania Track Champs in Australia.
This will be held on Sunday 6 November, from 9am-4pm at the Velodrome. $40 per person
Includes lunch, two-hour track session, activities, spot prizes, nutrition
Email: [email protected] for a registration form.
Skinsuit Orders for Oceanias and Team Shirts
Skinsuit orders are now live online for ordering for Oceanias and other upcoming events check out all the details here
Meanwhile, juniors and anyone else wishing to just hire for the upcoming track champs, can do so through the office. We still have a number of older fade and new block style designs available for hire and purchasing.
A new order for the red Southland team shirts will also be put out soon and anyone wanting a new team shirt can order through the office once all details are confirmed and circulated.
Friday Night Racing
This will be held again from 6-8pm this week with programme 1. All ages welcome
Sunday Club Fun Fest
The final Club Fun Fest, which was to be held next Sunday morning 30 October, is now cancelled and all riders are encouraged to enter a team in the Ricoh Corporate Road Time Trial being held before the SBS Bank Tour of Southland prologue around Queen’s Park the same day. Just get a team together now and enter you captain’s name online here now
Road Race and Zookeepers Café Wednesday Worlds Results
Results of last week’s Wednesday Worlds was A Grade: Corbin Strong 1, 42.40; Sam Miller 2, Hamish Keast 3. B Grade: Ray Robinson 1, 46.07; Aaron Sinclair 2; Wayne Miller 3. C Grade: Josh Miller 1, 50.06; Darryl Haggerty 2; Flynn Sinclair 3.
Results from Saturday's Dacre-Hedgehope graded road race
A Grade: Brendan Akeroyd 1, Josh Haggerty 2, Corbin Strong 3
B Grade: Simon Callaghan 1, Aaron Sinclair 2, Kate Smith 3
C Grade: Max Anderson 1, Tim Maynard 2. Finn Rodgers 3.
Baxter & Neilson Junior Race Series
The full results of this series have now been updated and are available to view online
Cycling Otago track Carnival Series
Cycling Otago welcomes local and out of town riders to its inaugural track carnival series. Entries are now open for carnivals on:
• Saturday 22 October - the carnival format has been cancelled due to weather predictions but there will still be racing - Juniors free, seniors $2
• Saturday 12 November
• Saturday 10 December
It would be great to support some of these events for our Otago mates so register online here
Northern Southland Cycle and Celebrate
A cycle and celebrate day will be held in Northern Southland on Saturday 12 November Click here to view more
Bike in Tunnel
Just confirming that the red Fuji that was chained to the tunnel rail has now been cut off and put in storage. Please contact Mark in the office for any details.
Finally, happy 85th birthday for Thursday to our world record breaking master of the track Peter Grandiek, who is not planning on a restful day for his birthday. He and a small team of supporters have instead planned an 85km ride leaving from the Ascot Park Hotel at 9am and returning in a little over three hours for some celebrations at the Ascot – and we think the celebrations are planning to last longer than the 85km circuit around the outskirts of Invercargill. Happy birthday Pete and we hope you have a fantastic day!
Well that’s more than enough today so let’s get out puddle-jumping!