Greetings everyone and what a year that has been!
From a New Year Carnival and two epic Track Nationals events to Allan Dunn’s swan-song from the annual Vital Signs Tour de Lakes, to the Architecture Unlimited Corporate Pursuit – that brought in a nice bunch of new adult riders who are still regularly on the bike – to another epic Yunca Junior Tour of Southland, the South Island Schools Champs, the SBS Bank Tour of Southland and finally a massive and hot three days of racing for our Southland Champs. One can say it is certainly time to stop for a while and have a breather before it all begins in earnest again in 2019.
Accordingly, we will be closing the office next Monday and the office will be open again from Monday 7 January with Bruce back and Mark, Nic and I will be back to full force from Monday 14 January.
ILT New Year Track Carnival & Ascot Criterium
The New Year Carnival will be held in a different format this year Racing on Friday will start at 6pm. The World Cup is on at Cambridge at the same time, so we will endeavour to put the Team Sprint finals, hopefully featuring Southland riders, on the big screen on the Friday night during the racing.
Racing on Saturday will start at 1.30pm, feature an omnium-style event, and finish about 5.30pm. We will then have a club function, put the live coverage from the World Cup in Cambridge on the big screen, and spark up a barbecue. All are welcome to bring bean bags or chairs to watch the racing from the inside the track.
The Ascot Park Hotel Criterium will be held on Sunday 20th with racing from 10.30am.
The entry forms for both the Carnival and the Criterium are now online https://www.cyclingsouth.org.nz/ so make sure you enter before going on holiday and forgetting as there are late penalties for both events.
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
Road Racing
This Saturday’s Bluff Fun Day has been cancelled due to lack of numbers and no experienced manager being available. South Port is a significant sponsor and we need the day to have the rider support it deserves. Zookeepers Café Wednesday Worlds will wind up for the year next Wednesday 19th and recommence on 23rd January.
Don’t forget the Grass Racing and heaps of cash prizes at the Tuatapere Sports Day on January 1st with sign on at midday for 12.30pm racing at the Tuatapere Domain. Get your entries to Tony Ineson beforehand email mtineson@xtra.co.nz or phone 217 4920. It’s a great way to start the New Year.
2019 Summer Road Racing Calendar
The Summer Road Racing Calender is now available to view.
Squads
Tonight there is no Endurance Squad – it will be an open Club Roll 7-9pm
Under 19 Squad will restart on Tuesday 15 January for only Under 19/Elite riders attending the Track Nationals please.
Evening Squads, such as Sprint and Endurance will start up again when the Stadium resumes normal hours from January 14.
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
So that is it from us for 2018. We are super proud of everyone and their efforts on the track and this road this year. We wish you all a very happy, healthy and safe Christmas and New Year and can’t wait to see you all refreshed and reinvigorated for 2019.
A very Merry Christmas to you all!
Milly