Armidale Cycling Club

The tragedy of a life lost on the road has touched us all with the death of Sarah Heagney in a car accident near Dorrigo last Thursday evening.

Although Sarah was not a member of the club she might as well have been, regularly joining us on Sunday morning rides whenever her schedule allowed.

Wearing her Armidale CC jersey she was always welcome, loving to have a chat with whomever she happened to be riding with.

All of us who had that chance know that Sarah was a delightful girl with a gentle soul, and a desire to make a contribution in everything she did.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family in their time of need.

There will be a criterium in Inverell this Saturday 6 February. There will be four grades, A to D, with sign on from 12.30 outside the Court House in Otho Street. Download this flyer for more information.

This will be a good chance to show your early season form.

On the back of Mitch Bullen being named Rider of the Series in the highly competitive Tasmanian Christmas carnival track meets, Geoff Straub has also achieved some excellent results at the Australian Road Championships held in Ballarat Vic over the last week.

In the U23 Criterium he made the winning break to finish in 7th place, while in the U23 road race he finished in 9th place. In such large fields and against some of the leading young riders in the country these were very impressive rides from Geoff.

In the Elite Men’s Road Race, defending champion Peter McDonald couldn’t repeat last year’s win. The race was won from a early break with Travis Meyer of WA surprisingly hanging on to take the title. Pete came in in 22nd place, 6:35 behind the Meyer.

On the local scene, one of our up and coming women riders, Gillian Backhouse won the Armidale triathlon on Sunday recording the fastest time of all comers, male and female.

In Saturday racing, Cameron Scott came to the handicappers attention by winning a combined A/B grade criterium after starting with the B grade bunch and out sprinting Mitch Bullen and Andrew Kirk at the finish.

The B/C grade event turned into a three horse race with Dave Jenner taking the win from the improving Dave Boundy and hard as nails Bob Murison.

Racing will begin again on 9 January. So far four criteriums have been added to the program.

Please bring your 2010 license (or email confirmation) along for your first race.

Round 4 of the McDonalds Criterium Series will be held on Sunday 3 January in Ballina. A flyer can be downloaded here.