Greetings and an official welcome from us all to 2017 and plenty of action on both the track and roads again this year.
New Year Series – get entries in now
First things first is our exciting New Year Series with the oldest road classic in the country, which has even bigger prize money on offer with our wonderful new sponsor Stonewood Homes – the Stonewood Homes Gore to Invercargill Classic will be held on Thursday 19 January and $1000 is up for grabs. This is for under 19s and older but there is a 32km junior race option too.
This will be followed by the popular ILT new Year Track Carnival on the evenings of Friday 20 and Saturday 21 January at 6.30pm both nights, before we finish with another great event, the Ascot Park Hotel Criteriums on Sunday 23 January.
All events offer great competition and great prize money, so get back into the action for the year by registering online http://www.cyclingsouth.org.nz/
We’d love to see you all here.
Vantage Windows and Doors Elite and U19 Track National Championships
We have the pleasure of again hosting the crème of New Zealand track cycling here from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 February for the Vantage Windows and Doors Elite and U19 Track National Championships. Southland have a team of 25 kicking off the battle for the national points shield and it could be tough for the 10th record consecutive year as there will be some very strong competition from our northern competitors.
Make sure you get along to the sessions, which will be 10am and 6.30pm daily. Entry will be available via door sales or online at www.elitetracknationals.nz
All details are currently available online here
Advertising of Elite Track Champs
We’re looking for some innovative ways to promote the Elite and U19 Track Champs. We’ve got some posters (if you want one to stick up at your workplace let us know) and we’ll be doing some Facebook promotion. One of the key messages is that, thanks to an arrangement with the Stadium, children U16 are free to all sessions. We see this as a great way to showcase our sport to the next generation of riders so it would be great to share that news. Let Mark know in the office if you have any other ideas to encourage people to come along.
Track Schedule
Due to the Stadium closing its doors earlier this month some track schedule amendments are being made this week and next week. Tonight there is Junior Enduro 6-7pm but Senior Enduro will not restart until next week. Sprint Squad will again be 6-8pm tomorrow night and Track Start will restart next week. But keep an eye on the weekly track schedule for further updates this Friday leading into the Carnival next weekend.
Browns Road Race and Sports Day
This Saturday is the Browns handicap road race. Assembly is Coopers Corner, Lorneville, for an 11.30am race start. Entry is $15
Ensure you get your entries to Tony Ineson [email protected] or phone 217 4920 by Friday at the latest. The road race is for second year U17s and older. Remember there is the Browns Sports Day following this race with grass racing for all ages as well, so head along for some fun.
Strategic Plan
It would be great to get some feedback on the Cycling Southland strategic plan which has been drafted by the executive to give direction to the organisation for the next five years. You can have a look at it here and email [email protected] or give him a call if you have any thoughts.
Work will soon begin on an annual plan to link in with the identified roles, as well as the development of the financial plan. Work has also begun on restructuring the financial system currently being used to bring more clarity and simplicity to things.
Training centre
The new training centre on Court 8 is now being used, with one more piece of equipment to be installed. The area is out of bounds unless you have been authorised to use it so please do not enter the area. The final fit out of the upstairs office area is a work in process too. We will still have the ability to use the meeting room and the lounge spaces depending on availability. If you have any questions please contact Mark in the office or Jason at Southland Academy.
Racking of bikes in tunnel
We’ve worked with the Stadium to develop a plan to rack some of the larger club bikes in the tunnel and we’ll look at getting that work done after the elites. That will give us some more space in the ‘D’, with some thought being given to creating a rider space
Age Group Track Nationals Team Officials
To start planning a co-ordinated team approach to the Cambridge excursion for phase two of Track Nationals from March 15 to 19, any expressions of interest for team officials, including, manager, assistant manager and handlers. Gerald Paterson has already booked some accommodation at 9 Karapiro Road so liaise with him to secure your bed/s. Because some juniors will be travelling without their parents we just want to ensure there is a team plan formulated for everyone who wishes to be a part of it. Email me [email protected]
Zookeepers Café Wednesday Worlds
A reminder that the popular weekly series restarts on January 25. 6pm reporting for 6.30pm racing. All grades and juniors welcome, entry jut $5
That’s it for now so get online and ensure you are registered for our New Year Series, can’t wait to see you all.