Busy start to the year

Juniors and Seniors had their second hit out for the year at the criterium track, with some ominous results for other club members.

Freya Weston won a six lap handicap criterium from Jake and Haydon after the juniors put in their usual impressive time trial performances.

The seniors split into two (and a bit) groups, with A grade given half a lap over a biggish B grade group, C lining up behind for their own race.  John Scott-Hamilton signalled his intent for the year by taking the main event from Brent Weston.  The C grade race proved to be a punishing race of attrition as riders new and old were felled by the pace.  Chicka took the race with a lazy sprint from Dave Rubie, but not before Bob Murison subjected the group to 45km/h+ speeds down the main straight.

In other news, Sam Jenner competed in the U15 Scratch race chamionships at the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Sydney, competing against a strong field of 16 other riders from around the state.  In the 20 lap final (5km) Sam managed to nab the Bronze medal.  Well done Sam, glad I don’t have to race against you any more.

Biggest news of all:  Armidale Cycling Club will be hosting the Junior State road championships for the next two years, with plans to utilise the criterium track, Dangarsleigh Road and a new course around the ring road at the University.  More details to come, but a big thanks to Andrew Swan who co-ordinated the application successfully.

For a bit of a surprise, have a look at the last page of January’s “Ride Cycling Review”.  Everybody should have a copy!