Cycling Southland | Training Wheels

Record-breaking week at ILT Velodrome

2011-11-28T13:26:00.000+13:00

Somehow, in a few paragraphs in this column, I need to justice to one of the most spectacular sporting spectacles I have had the priviledge of witnessing.

Building up to last week’s WHK Oceania Track Cycling Championships, there was a feeling we could see some great action but we could never have predicted the world class performances that were laid down on the boards of the ILT Velodrome over four incredible days and nights. We watched New Zealand’s elite dish it out to their Australian counterparts all week and lower record after record with apparant ease.

The questions on who will go to London have not fully been answered. BikeNZ now has the unenviable task of sorting through the swag of personal best and NZ record times to work out which combination of riders gives it the best chance of reaching its publicly-stated target of four Olympic medals.

To have seen the Men and Women Team Pursuit combinations go as quick as they did, this early in the season is a wonderful sign. Alison Shanks, Lauren Ellis and Jaime Nielsen went within 0.2 seconds of the world record while Jesse Sergent, Marc Ryan, Sam Bewley and Aaron Gate blew their previous best to pieces and were only 2 seconds shy of the fastest time ever recorded in the world.

The international cycling community has quickly sat up and taken notice. These were the fastest times recorded in these events this year. It’s fair to say, if it wasn’t already, Invercargill has arrived on the world track cycling stage.

Times of this standard are without doubt the best form of advertising we could hope for and it adds yet another selling point to bring riders down under for next year’s Junior World Track Championships. We know Southland will put on a great competition, we know that riders, their families and supporters will be welcomed and looked after like nowhere else in the world. And now we know that world class times will also be registered during competition. We could promote the virtues of bringing the family halfway around the world for the ultimate southern New Zealand experience until the cows came home, but if the perception was we would have a dog of a track which riders would crawl around in sub-zero temperatures then we’d be pushing it up hill. This week we’ll be directly contacting every national federation around the world – and the times from last week’s champs, will be front and centre.

In all the record-breaking feats of last week, one of my finest memories was the performance of Cycling Southland’s Tom Scully. He came within half a lap of the Scratch race title and then powered his way to wins in the Madison and Points races. The finish to the Points race was particularly special – Scully and Aaron Gate going at it pedal stroke for pedal stroke all the way to the line. Tom is one of the good guys and he is back to his very best.

PowerNet Tour a Southland Showcase

2011-11-14T08:55:00.004+13:00

Southland was once again thrust into the national spotlight thanks to the tireless efforts of a sporting club delivering New Zealand’s premier cycle race. Last week Cycling Southland hosted the 56th PowerNet Tour of Southland and captured significant exposure for the region in the process.

The event space is challenging right now and it’s hard work in the current economic environment. Considering the amount of prime time television coverage, newspaper inches, internet and radio, the Tour of Southland is a phenomenal promotional opportunity for Southland and one which we try and maximise for the benefit of the region. Sure, it’s about putting a bike race on, but it’s also about doing something for the province.

Again though, it’s the huge logistical challenge the PowerNet Tour presents which strikes me the most. Remember, it is actually an amateur not-for-profit sporting club that delivers this event. Fortunately, we’ve got a great servant in the form of Bruce Ross and his family, together with the huge amount of support we get from volunteers which just can’t be overstated. But it is a massive undertaking. I would understand if volunteers were there for the glory, high profile jobs but the reality is quite different. Scores of people take a week off work or away from families and personal commitments to do the hard yards, away from the spotlight. Their work is invaluable and they are the fabric which holds Cycling Southland and events like the PowerNet Tour all together

The level of support from officials and volunteers continues to grow and hopefully that’s an endorsement on the type of event we run. But it’s nothing you can take for granted and we need to take every opportunity to say an overwhelming thank you.

No rest though, as our attention has switched straight away to the ILT Velodrome for next week’s WHK-sponsored Oceania Track Cycling Championships.

This is going to be some week of racing. As continental championships riders and nations earn vital qualification points for the London Olympics so for New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia, there could not be more motivation. How many and who it is that goes to London could well be decided by what unfolds before us in Invercargill next week.

BikeNZ’s full elite squad will be in action and combined with a strong contingent of Australians these championships represent the best international field the ILT Velodrome has hosted in its five year history. Commonwealth Games champions, Olympic medallists, world champion and world record-holders will all be on the start line. Any wonder we are fizzing at the prospect?

The event also features the first ever Para-Cycling P1 Regional Cup event to be held in this country with riders from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Poland and South Africa all competing with four current world champions among them.

Sessions start next Monday and are held daily through until Thursday from 10:00am and 6:30pm.

So if there was any thought of taking it easy after the biggest week of the year on Tour, think again.

A Tour for all Southlanders

2011-10-24T08:52:00.000+13:00

And so the final countdown to launch of the 2011 PowerNet Tour of Southland arrives. This iconic sporting event, which brings unparalleled media coverage for Southland is less than one week away.

Last week I wrote about the storylines that were likely to unfold on the ILT Velodrome at the ILT Track Carnival and National Omnium Championships (many did, by the way). This week I could easily fill my word count with a once-over-lightly about what the PowerNet Tour could throw up when it starts on Sunday.

Hayden Roulston goes in search of a fifth Tour title; Pure Black Racing, now a year old, is ready to make its mark at home after a successful debut season off-shore; Share The Road look to get Jeremy Yates into yellow for the end of the race as they did so expertly at the start of the week, 12 months ago; in the battle for the U23 classification – which could likely be even more competitive than the overall title - a youthful PowerNet team including Southlanders Tom Scully and Cameron Karwowski will look to get one of their number into the Pink Young Rider jersey, but the return of Mike Vink (Mico – Protrain Cycling Team) and Paddy Bevin (Ascot Park Hotel) along with the returning George Bennett (Kia Motors) will all have something to say about that. Like I said, no shortage of stories.

But my focus today is on how you, the Southland sporting public can get involved. Our PowerNet Tour Launch Party starts on Sunday (30th) from 2.30pm at Feldwick Gate, Queens Park with our traditional Ride With The Stars. Young and old can bring their bikes and helmets and ride through Queens Park with the stars of the PowerNet Tour. Then the Tour teams will be officially presented at 3.00pm before our Family fun day will take us up to the start of 2011 PowerNet Tour with the Team’s Time Trial. We have made the move to feature the opening prologue on Sunday evening to make the Tour start more spectator-friendly. Join us to launch the event in style at Gala Street.

Then, as the PowerNet Tour winds its way around every point of the southern compass, get out and support the riders. Visit www.tourofsouthland.com and click “Spectator Information” for our 2011 Viewing Guide, offering the best vantage points to see the tour peloton. Friday November 5th will also features two new additions. Our Supporters Tour will provide a behind the scenes look at the Tour. This fully escorted day of hospitality on our Supporters Bus is the ultimate Tour experience. And that night our first Legends Dinner will be held at the ILT Velodrome featuring eight-time winner Brian Fowler, cycling identity Stephen Cox, BikeNZ Track coach Tim Carswell and the stars of the 2011 PowerNet Tour. More information on both events can be found at www.tourofsouthland.com or by contacting Cycling Southland.

It is an iconic Southland event and the more ways we can get Southlanders like you involved, the better.

Storylines Unfold at Cycling Southland

2011-10-17T08:42:00.003+13:00

The first event in Cycling Southland’s hectic October and November ended in beautiful sunshine yesterday at Mable Bush as 181 riders from all parts of New Zealand and Australia battled each other all the way to the final stage finish line in search of 2011 Yunca Junior Tour honours.

An event like the Yunca Tour can’t really be done justice in a column of this side. There are so many storylines on and off the bike during an event like this. It could be a resounding solo victory like Tom Vessey’s U19 stage win yesterday afternoon or a sprint finish with five riders spread across the line, all within split seconds of each other – like the Under 17 Girls finish yesterday.

It could be the fun and games the Tour officials get up to and the banter and camaraderie that is so apparent among the event volunteers. And it could be the unbelievable commitment by those same volunteers who are there hours after and hours before anything resembling a rider appears on the scene. Regardless of what catches your attention the most, you can’t help but be very proud of an event like the Yunca Tour.

A personal thanks to all of those who worked to make the 2011 version one of the very best. Sier Vermunt, Phil Culling, Shane Brazier and all the Tour committee and helpers – huge congratulations on what you delivered over the weekend.

Those story lines will continue this week as our attention quickly shifts to the ILT Velodrome for our ILT Track Carnival over three nights – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. These three nights will be action packed with over 200 riders registered to take part across the three nights.

Tuesday and Wednesday evenings will feature the National Elite Omnium Championships. This event alone contains enough stories to fill a week’s edition of the Southland Times. Who will take the first step by putting their name in lights and saying to the national selectors, “I am and person you want riding this event at the London Olympics next year.” All the country’s best endurance riders will be lining up against each other and even though many are great mates and have ridden alongside each other for years, when it comes to Olympic selections, mate-ship has to be put on hold for a couple of nights.

Hayden Roulston makes his return to the track for the first time since winning a silver medal in Beijing. How will he fare against World Championship medalist Shane Archbold, wily veterans Marc Ryan, Sam Bewley, Jesse Sergent or Wes Gough? How about the Southland contingent, led by Tom Scully and Cameron Karwowski? Like I said, so many story-lines. And when you thrown in our Trans Tasman Junior Challenge racing and then the Sprint supercars who turn up to ride Sunday, this column really can’t do it all justice.

Racing starts at 6pm each night. We’ll see you at the ILT Velodrome this week, where you can see the stories for themselves.

Juniors to take over Road and Track

2011-10-10T08:41:00.002+13:00

This weekend features Cycling Southland’s 2011 edition of the Yunca Junior Tour of Southland. Over recent years this event has developed into one of the premier junior tours in Australasia and this year more than 40 riders cross the Tasman to take on the best New Zealand has to offer.

The Yunca Tour also marks the final round in the National Points Series for the Under-19 and Under-17 grades and will define who claims the honour of Series Champion. Otago’s Patrick Jones, Wakatipu’s Tom Vessey and Te Awamutu’s Scott Creighton all have a chance to leap to the top of the standings in the Under 19 Men with a Tour victory.

The Under 17 categories promise to deliver the most action, largely due to the size of the fields – 49 boys and 34 girls. Wakatipu’s Liam Aitcheson takes a slim ten point lead into the race and after Tour wins in the last two rounds in Timaru and Dunedin has excellent form behind him. With 100 points up for grabs for the Tour winner another six starters all have mathematical chance of earning the title, including Cycling Southland’s Josh Haggerty. Meanwhile Devon Hiley from Counties-Manukau has the Under 17 girls title banked with the late withdrawal due to injury of her closest rival.

In many respects the Under 15 and Under 13 categories are some of the most important. For many of the riders in this category it is one of their first experiences of multi-stage cycling events and a major milestone in their development as bike riders.

The Yunca Tour begins on Friday at Teretonga Raceway with Individual Time Trials from 11am and afternoon stage races starting from 1.30. I’d really encourage you to get out and take a look on Friday. It’s a wonderful venue for watching racing and you’ll see the entrants riding individually and in bunches over the course of the day. Saturday’s attention switches to Te Tipua for morning and afternoon stages, before Sunday sees the race culminate with a morning inner-city criterium (more great viewing) starting in Tay Street from 8.30am with the final stage at Mabel Bush to decide the yellow jerseys on Sunday afternoon.

We give ourselves next Monday off before getting straight in to our annual October Track Carnival next week (Tuesday 18th to Thursday 20th). This year features the ILT Trans Tasman Junior Challenge over the first two nights of racing along with the National Elite Omnium Championships. The best Junior talent compete for Trans Tasman bragging rights while the top elite endurance track riders in the land take a vital step towards Olympic selection right in our own back yard. Then we’ll wrap it up next Thursday with Carnival racing, from Under 13s to Open riders, including the Elite Sprint stars, fresh from this weekend’s racing in Sydney. Event passes are just $20 or $10 a night for adults and $5 for students. A great couple of weeks on road and track - we’ll see you out there.

Getting Set For The Silly Season

2011-09-25T19:54:00.002+13:00

Cycling Southland’s silly season is about to hit. Our club will deliver four major national and international events in the space of just six short weeks, starting with the Yunca Junior Tour of Southland.

The entry closing date has been brought forward with over 170 riders from both sides of the Tasman set to contest the eight age categories across three days of racing. It starts at Teretonga Raceway on Friday October 14 with a morning time trial and afternoon Kermise stage. It’s a wonderful spot for racing and although the smell of petroleum may be missing the action is sure to be as thrilling as when the V8s are roaring around the same venue.

You’ll find plenty more in this column over coming weeks about the other events on our calendar – ILT Track Carnival (including the Trans-Tasman Junior Challenge and NZ Elite Omnium Champs) from October 18 to 20, PowerNet Tour of Southland from October 30 to November 5 and WHK Oceania Track Championships from November 21 to 24.

But if you can’t wait for that, pick up our special edition magazine which we’ve titled “Come Along For the Ride.” Copies are available from the Cycling Southland office at the ILT Velodrome for just $5 with funds going to Cycling Southland’s Junior and Development programmes. It does show you just how busy our little club is going to be over the next couple of months.

In all of the excitement of this week’s spectacular All Blacks and Warriors victories it would be easy to miss the fact that one southern cycling family achieved a rare feat on Friday night. Martyn and Liz Williamson from Alexandra stood on the side of a surburban road in Copenhagen and watch not one, but two of their children line up at the World Road Cycling Championships.

First up was Sophie, fresh from her medal-winning deeds in Moscow and the Junior Track World Championships, in the Under 19 Women’s road race. She was prominent throughout the 70 kilometre race and was positioned close to the front of the bunch as the peloton descended on the finish line for an uphill sprint finish. Her effort in finishing 18th in her first tilt at an international road race was commendable. It was made even more meritorious by the fact that she was forced to ride without her team-mate after New Zealand’s only other representative withdrew following a nasty crash on the first lap.

Then just hours later, older brother James rolled off the start line in the Under 23 Men’s race. He too did everything right, positioning himself expertly over 165 kilometres before getting caught behind a crash on the second to last corner. He watched the bunch disappear as a Russian tried to remove his handlebars from James’ back wheel. To quote the man himself, “that’s good old bike racing.”

I’m sure, like many, both Williamsons will have more bike racing tales to tell from our events over the next couple of months.

Behind The Scenes at Winter Games

2011-08-29T09:11:00.000+12:00

On Friday I was very fortunate to be invited to take part in an Observer Tour to take a behind-the-scenes look at an outstanding international event being staged in our own back yard, the 2011 Winter Games.

The tour was coordinated by SPARC and was attended by representatives of organizations hosting major events in New Zealand, the likes of the World Triathlon Championships, Volvo Ocean Race, Coast to Coast and of course Cycling Southland’s Junior World Track Cycling Championships next year.

It was a rare opportunity to “go behind the curtain” and witness an international event in action. The fact that Event Director Arthur Klap gave so freely of his own and his team’s time, speaks volumes for the efficient way the Games run. The calm atmosphere which prevailed over our day up the mountain was one of the day’s most striking features.

As always, there was real value in sharing ideas and challenges with some of the top people in the sports event space in the country. We all share the same challenges and these are all made slightly easier by days like Friday when relationships are built and concepts are shared. The insights into the Winter Games’ international promotion, mainstream and social media liaison, volunteer management, financial management, planning and review processes was hugely beneficial and you can’t help but be impressed by Arthur Klap’s willingness to share his learnings, warts and all.

We utilized Arthur’s services last year to assist with setting up the framework and initial event planning for the Junior Worlds and we’ve been benefiting from his input every day since. To hear him speak so passionately about the event and the sacrifices (personal and financial) he has made to see the Winter Games develop was inspiring.

He was very up-front about one of the major challenges snow sports faces, the ability to generate mainstream interest both in terms of national media and genuine awareness from the general public. Never before have so many Olympic and World Champions been in New Zealand for a sporting event. Did you know? Until Friday, I have to admit to having absolutely no idea.

I draw parallels with what we will be hosting at the ILT Velodrome over October. The best of the best in the sport of track cycling will be in town, training for most of the month in what will be a crucial determinant of who goes to London to ride for gold next year. Those decisions will be played out in front of us in Invercargill. Imagine if the All Blacks were basing their pre-World Cup training at Rugby Park. Think we’d all know about it?

Nationally, non-mainstream sports can often struggle to be heard over the white noise created by rugby, netball, cricket and league. The stories I heard at Winter Games and those that I am sure will play out at the ILT Velodrome in October need to be told as widely as possible. That’s our job, so expect to hear from us.

One Year To Go for Junior Worlds

2011-08-22T09:11:00.000+12:00

The curtain has dropped on the 2011 UCI Juniors World Track Championships in Moscow and the New Zealand squad ended the five days of competition on Sunday night with 10 medals and 3 fourth-places from 16 events entered, arguably the best result by any group of cyclists at a World Championship.

Add that level of achievement to the fact that yesterday (Monday) marked the one year anniversary until the start of the 2012 Junior Worlds in Invercargill and the excitement levels at the ILT Velodrome are rising rapidly.

True to form, Cycling Southland’s two representatives, Steph McKenzie and Sophie Williamson delivered on the world stage in Russia and return with a little excess baggage. McKenzie was a stand-out winning two silvers and a bronze along with a fourth placing in her sprint events while Williamson, Alexandra’s favourite sporting daughter, claimed bronze in last Friday morning’s Points race in her first trip to the World Juniors.

Sophie rode herself to near breaking point and only found out she had held on to claim a medal when she was warming down after the event. However, in the process, she emptied the tanks and paid something of a price over the next two days in the Women’s Omnium (six separate events over two of the longest days in track cycling). Reading her updates from the event, in true Sophie-style, she has already learned lessons which I have little doubt she will put to good use in 12 months time.

She won’t have much of a chance to reflect on her first campaign though, lining up again in the Black skin-suit for the Junior Women Road World Championships in Copenhagen from September 19-23.
Steph would no doubt have loved to change the colour of one or two of her medals into gold but she can be justifiably proud of her efforts. She went within 0.011 seconds of the world record in the Women’s Sprint qualifying before losing out to one of the power-houses in the home-town Russian squad. In the process, she became the first New Zealander to make a Sprint Gold Medal ride-off. She added a Team Sprint bronze with Auckland first-year Paige Paterson and followed it up with a powerful performance to take silver in the Keirin.

Six of this year’s squad are eligible for next year’s World Championships in Invercargill with Williamson and Canterbury’s Dylan Kennett, another bronze medal winner this year, likely to be central to the kiwis drive for medals on home soil.

Preparations will now heat up – from both an event organiser’s and rider’s perspective. BikeNZ has named strong squads ahead of the ILT Trans-Tasman Junior Track event in October and Oceania Championships in November. With Olympic spots up for grabs for the Elite riders and selection for a home Junior World Championship campaign for the Under-19 and second year Under-17 riders, the racing at these two events is sure to be some of the most-hotly contested in recent memory. The ILT Velodrome will be the place to be.

Steph and Soph Show The Way

2011-08-17T06:40:00.001+12:00

Two of Cycling Southland’s young stars are in Russia for the 2011 UCI World Junior Track Championships which started overnight in Moscow.

Alexandra’s Sophie Williamson and Stephanie McKenzie of Invercargill are part of an 11-strong squad who will compete for world titles and the coveted rainbow jersey over the next five days. There is a further Southland connection in the coaching team with former Cycling Southland Regional Coach Ross Machejefski overseeing the campaign and mechanic Chris O’Connor completing the quartet.

For Williamson it is her first taste of World Championship racing while McKenzie, who has followed the cycling phenomenon known as the “drift south” - relocating at the start of this year to Invercargill from Auckland, is back for her second tilt.

She represents New Zealand’s best medal prospect having won silver in the Team Sprint twelve months ago in Italy along with top ten finishes in the Women’s Sprint (4th), 500m Time Trial (7th) and Keirin (9th). Last year’s experience will serve her well and she enters the competition safe in the knowledge her times are faster – she was in blistering form earlier this year at the Track Nationals at the ILT Velodrome in March.

Williamson is unquestionably one of the sport’s brightest prospects. She swept the floor at the Track Nationals in the Under 19 Omnium event earlier this year, winning five of the six events, and there is little doubt she will be in the thick of every race she starts.

She will be available for selection next year also and the prospect of seeing Soph riding for her country at World Championships in Invercargill in 2012 is one all southern sporting fans shouldn’t miss.

Racing begins early Thursday morning with McKenzie opening her campaign alongside Aucklander Paige Paterson in the Women’s Team Sprint along with the Men’s Team Pursuit, Team Sprint and Scratch Race.

It also reminds us that the 2012 Championships are now 53 weeks away. Our own Graham Sycamore doesn’t miss many bun-fights and true to form he is sweltering in the heat in Moscow pressing the flesh with the 35 countries involved, extolling the virtues of Southland and the ILT Velodrome. He informs us the Russians, Swiss and Spanish are already making plans for their trips to Invercargill.

Not only will the 2012 World Junior Championships be a wonderful showcase for the sport and facility, but it is also an incredible marketing opportunity for the region. Forecasts are for around 250 competitors from up to 40 countries with something like 13,000 bed nights and $3.2 million dollar cash injection around the event alone. This doesn’t account for the extension of stays in and around the south, which obviously is a focus of our international marketing.

And while we are on the subject of juniors, entries opened publicly this week for the 2011 Yunca Junior Tour of Southland. Demand is high and we can’t wait to host the best young talent in the country for the annual event from October 14th to 16th.

Nick Jeffrey is Chief Executive of Cycling Southland.

Corporate Pursuit Another Huge Success

2011-08-08T11:41:00.001+12:00

Nearly 200 Southlanders took on the ILT Velodrome last Sunday in Cycling Southland’s 2011 Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit and lived to tell the tale. Again, it proved to be one of the most-enjoyable events on the jam-packed Cycling Southland calendar. It really is one big party on wheels.

As with any Cycling Southland event, there is a long list of thank yous to hand out. There are two main reasons why this event is the runaway success. One is Sier Vermunt. The other is Julian Ineson. These two do an incredible job and I struggle to recognize their incredible contribution with words on a page. Their passion and organization is the primary reason the event has grown to what it is today. I cannot thank them enough. We are incredibly fortunate to also have a sponsor who literally gets its hands dirty with the event. To Brendon, Nicki and the Harrex Group team go our thanks for all that they contribute.

Already plans are underway for 2012. We asked the teams and riders for feedback on the event. The response has been immediate and overwhelming. 100% of respondents to our feedback survey have rated the event 4 or 5 out of 5 in terms of overall experience, (a 4.67 out of 5 average). 100% have said they want to be a part of it again next year and an incredible 95% are keen to continue riding on the track and road. It’s an incredible endorsement.

Next year represents a massive opportunity for Cycling Southland and the region with our hosting of the 2012 UCI World Junior Track Championships at the ILT Velodrome in August. This year’s Corporate Pursuit intake has found out first hand just how addictive the sport is and it proves once again what an outstanding community facility the ILT Velodrome is. We’re going to make sure as many Southlanders get in here to start the cycling addiction between now and next August.

It’s become my signature saying since coming in to the role at Cycling Southland but it’s never been more true … we are just getting started! It’s incredibly exciting.

Cycling Southland coaches Matt Archibald and Dale Tye have launched follow-up coaching programmes for the entrants and a revised weekly track schedule will commence this month to handle the increased in-take of new riders at both junior and adult levels.

When you combine the incredible feedback from the Corporate Pursuit with the massive increase in numbers we are seeing at beginner level into Matt and Dale’s junior Wheelers track programmes, we are pretty happy that the craze is taking hold.

We are about to launch a new marketing campaign entitled “Come Along for the Ride” so you can expect to hear plenty more about how easy we are going to make it to get started and hooked on the sport on the road and on the ILT Velodrome. Cycling Southland is gearing up for some ride over the next few months.

Nick Jeffrey is Cycling Southland's Chief Execuitve

AGM Provides Excuse to Reflect

2011-07-25T03:05:00.000+12:00

Cycling Southland held its Annual General Meeting this week. It provided a rare opportunity to pause and reflect on the last 15 months’ work. Each and every week I am continually blown away by the support this organization receives from such a passionate group of people and each week I am captivated by the opportunity which exists for the sport and for Cycling Southland. For the purposes of an annual report we calculate the number of volunteer hours which go into the sport – we just stopped counting when the number got above 50,000. The past year has been a transitional one with my arrival and the on-going implementation of this new structure. To trade our way to a small cash operating surplus was satisfying in a year of such great change and it points to the great things we have ahead of us.

The sheer volume of work delivered by this organization is staggering. In the last 15 month period we have hosted New Zealand’s premier elite and junior road tours, two National Track Championships, three track carnivals, an incredible corporate event and a full programme of junior and senior road and track racing. And it’s not going to stop anytime soon. Over the next 13 months we will host National, Oceania and World Track Championships along with the Yunca and PowerNet Tours as well as assisting the Wakatipu Club with the Oceania Road Championships in March. I can’t think of another club, anywhere in the world, that would have all of that on its plate. Can you?

Significant progress has been made at a development level which is something I’m most proud of. We now have a Learn to Ride fundamentals programme which has been successfully piloted in seven Southland schools with outstanding results. We have cycling accredited with NZQA for NCEA performance standards and we have increased the number the children entering our Wheelers introductory programmes four-fold. The exciting part is that we are just getting started.

The AGM also saw the end of Steve Canny’s seven and a half year stint as President. His contribution cannot be over-stated. It was Steve’s voice on my answer-phone a couple of Christmas Eves ago which changed my life and got me into this game. I have had the treat of working alongside him closely over the last few weeks as we presented to the Ministry of Economic Development in Wellington and worked with SPARC on our hosting of the 2012 Junior Worlds. Watching him at work is a sight to behold and I have now seen first-hand the skills he and his mates employed to get the ILT Velodrome built. I’ll be making sure his many skills are not lost to our organization. I am also absolutely delighted Tony Ineson will fill the shoes of another legend, Sonny Broad, as our new Patron. But ultimately it is the Cycling Southland member, to whom I offer most thanks.

And together we’ve all got some ride ahead of us.

Corporate Pursuit Life-Changing Experience

2011-07-18T20:04:00.000+12:00

Cycling Southland’s Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit is to be held over the next two weekends with the Grading Time Trial on Sunday and the Finals Day on Sunday 31st July. Over 200 riders in 34 corporate teams will line up to take on the clock and the competition. Last year’s winning team was YMCA Education. They were anchored to their victory by Karl Watson who today tells us why competing in the event last year was truly life-changing.

I fell in love with track cycling after participating in the Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit for the past two years and riding for the YMCA.

Initially, our team entered in the competition as something fun for our staff to do as we had heard how much fun other businesses had been having. Also, I thought the concept of going as fast as you can over a short distance on an oval track was really exciting.

As Invercargill is a relatively close-knit city I knew people from the other businesses which really brought out the competitive edge and a lot of friendly banter amongst the competitors.

As the weeks progressed, we all improved and we got faster and smoother and the times kept coming down. Then on the race day, it was amazing how the crowd and the excitement of the day took more seconds off our time.

The amazing thing about the Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit is that it is not just a corporate event, as it is an event that brings what would normally only be experienced by our elite athletes to normal people, with potentially a far more raucous and involved crowd.

I have since ridden at the track nationals and a number of cycling carnivals, and I believe that the corporate pursuit provided a great platform for me to do well at these events. The experience of participating in the Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit has been life changing for me. I have no doubt that if I had not taken part in the Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit I would not have represented Southland at our national track champs.

Come see why there is such a buzz about the town and experience this unique opportunity on the 31st July from 9:30am.
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Our 34 teams line up on Sunday from 12.30pm at the ILT Velodrome. Each will ride solo against the clock to confirm seedings for the Corporate Pursuit finals which will be held one week later on Sunday 31st. It is not only a great event to compete in, the crowd has created an atmosphere all of its own with fancy dress costumes, banners and a heck of a lot of noise. Entry fee is only $2 for adults and children are free and we’ve got a heap of activity off the track planned, including the chance to win a Specialized Mountain Bike from Wensley’s Cycles. Good luck to each of our teams as they put the finishing touches on their build-ups. To find out more visit www.cyclingsouth.org.nz/corporatepursuit.

Corporate Pursuit Rookie Report

2011-07-11T20:02:00.001+12:00

Cycling Southland’s Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit is approaching fast. 2010 rookie Diane Lindsay offers a newcomer’s perspective on the event.

Well that time has come around again the Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit, I undertook this daunting sport a year ago (one tick on my personal bucket list).

Our very first training session was very daunting and blooming scary as we thought about the height of the cycling track, but nothing prepared us for arriving at the ILT Velodrome and seeing the track. Oh it was so damned high. But wait, at the end of the session all of us were riding to the top of the track.

Off we went into our weekly routine of training sessions and our own personal training as well, (my legs have never looked so good). We learnt so much and really understood the word ‘pursuit’ - we really did get close to each others wheels and we looked great. That is what the coach wanted - nice and neat and he got it.

Time trial night came and as you would imagine our nerves were rather fraught, as we were all under the spot light with our co-workers and family members all present in support of us all. We had followed the instructions to the book, even eating the correct pasta!

We lined up and had our last minute advice from the coach, wow when we had finished we were all so elated, our family and co-workers were all so impressed, and so they should have been. What a great feeling – Friday night drinks comes second to that feel good feeling.

Then a week later came race day and what a festival - competitive atmosphere, and run so professionally with warm-up bikes, designated team areas and, if required, a physiotherapist.

Our team was first up and had a great race. I completed my second leg of the pursuit feeling very good with myself, went up high and promptly feel down from the top taking out another rider with me. After being picked up and looked after by officials and team members, off I went and introduced myself to the physio.

Our team had another race, which I did not race due to feeling quite sore in the shoulder. Having the opportunity to stand down and yell at the team from the side line made me very proud.

Our final race of the day, and what the hell, I had nothing to lose so I asked if I could ride again. That race we all flew and we did a new personal best time.

Coming to work the following day I asked a doctor’s opinion on my sore shoulder and the diagnosis? One broken shoulder. We do breed them tough down south. Go Waihopia Health Services!
__________

The Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit Grading Time Trial is on July 24th with the Finals on July 31st. Entry is only $2 for adults and children free. Get along to the ILT Velodrome to see business at speed.

Sports Funding - The Future

2011-07-04T20:02:00.000+12:00

On Friday I was fortunate to act as MC for the ILT Southland Sports Awards,as we recognised the outstanding efforts of our sporting achievers.

When you bundle together the premier individual and team performances from throughout the year, it shows what this province of ours achieves year after year, often against better resourced and more highly fancied opponents.

We relived some of last year's most special moments, watching footage of Nathan Cohen powering home to win World Championship gold, Aaron Barclay holding the finishing tape aloft at the Youth Olympics, the Stags defending the Ranfurly Shield so proudly and born and bred southerners having Commonwealth medals draped around their necks.

The burning question is can we keep that up?

Around the world right now, the on-going funding of sport is in the headlines. In the United States the NFL and NBA are in simultaneous player lock-outs as team owners and player representatives negotiate terms in an attempt to fix a flawed system.

The NBA has just completed one of its most successful seasons ever. Attendance numbers, television audiences, merchandise sales and general interest are all up, yet 22 of the 30 teams will lose money - a combined total of $300 million dollars. The good news is that's an improvement on the last two seasons' deficit.

Now like most things in the US, the scale of the issue is on another planet to ours, but the principle appears the same. Those sports are trying to sustain a broken model. That's hard enough in good times let alone in the challenging revenue environment we now operate in. The major difference is that in the US billionaire owners fund these deficits. In New Zealand the red ink falls to the sport and ultimately back to those who fund the sport - in most Southland cases, our community funders.

There are two issues. One is franchise sport, vital as our shop window to the sporting nation. The other is regional sport which, as Friday showed, also does an outstanding job of generating huge success. While they are two very different scenarios with two very different challenges, they are inextricably linked.

In round numbers $10 million dollars is invested in sport in Southland each year and the pot is getting no deeper. Yet for some reason sports' only strategy (and we're all guilty of this) is to go knocking on the same doors for more money. We have been incredibly fortunate to have funders who have in the past generally answered the call positively. But that simply can't continue.

Is sport using the current investment as efficiently as it can? If we started with a blank sheet would it look like how we operate today?

The sport sector must take ownership of this issue, otherwise, quite rightly, an end result will be imposed on us and we'll be told to make it work somehow. That will bring winners and losers and we will only have ourselves to blame.

Now is a time for real leadership, otherwise it's my belief the performances we celebrated on Friday night may become fewer and farther between. I think we all agree that would be a massive tragedy.

Miles Covered During Winter Break

2011-06-20T20:01:00.000+12:00

As Cycling Southland sits in the middle of our Winter break between racing seasons it was good to deliver the Southland Secondary Schools Road Championships yesterday at Teretonga. After the record numbers which turned up at our Mountain-bike cousin’s Mid-Winter Enduro on Saturday, Sandy Point was the place to be this weekend.

Even though the weather gods weren’t kind it was good to see the best talent from Dunedin south on the bike and giving it heaps. There were a few tired legs backing up from Enduro, but after it all Southland Girls High School prized the Schools Trophy away from James Hargest College who have had a mortgage on it in recent years. It was a great team effort by Dave Beadle’s charges, especially given they can only enter half the races.

Even though the locals dominated, Otago’s Lachie McGregor and Dunstan’s Tom Vessey both starred and showed they will be strong contenders when the South Island championships are held at Ruapuna in a couple of weeks time.

It wasn’t only the bike riders who covered some miles this week. Cycling Southland President Steve Canny and I travelled to Wellington mid-week to visit the team from SPARC ahead of our hosting of the 2012 World Junior Track Cycling Championships. It brought home the magnitude of what hosting a World Championship means. It is an incredible opportunity for the sport, the ILT Velodrome and our region and we are committed to ensuring we make the most of this opportunity. Next month we will again be promoting Southland on the world stage at the 2011 Champs in Moscow, ensuring that the best in the world will descend on our fine province next year.

Track cycling is one of our highest profile Olympic medal chances next year. The ILT Velodrome will play a key part in New Zealand’s build-up with the Oceania and New Zealand Championships to be held in Invercargill over the next nine months. From there a full squad wearing the black skin-suit will battle for gold around London’s new £93M velodrome and then, just a few short weeks after what we hope will be a significant medal haul, little old Invercargill hosts the Junior Worlds. It makes our rare opportunity even more mouth-watering.

New Zealand is fast-becoming a world championship venue of note. Following this year’s Rugby World Cup, comes our Junior Worlds, the World Triathlon Champs later next year and the World BMX Championships indoors in Vector Arena in 2013. SPARC’s expertise in event planning combined with the experience Cycling Southland has built up over recent years in event delivery give us a huge amount of confidence that the 2012 Junior Worlds will be one of the best ever.

Our trip to Wellington also provided a great chance to do some unplanned inter-sport networking. After the ash-cloud turned our plane around to Christchurch, Steve and I shared a rental car home with Southland Cricket’s Kevin Cooper and his wife, proving every cloud has a silver lining - even ash clouds.

Lifetime of Service Recognised

2011-06-13T19:59:00.000+12:00

This weekend saw a southern contingent attend the national BikeNZ Road and Track Annual General Meeting in Auckland.

Although an AGM has many people running (or should I say biking) in the other direction, this weekend represented an opportunity to discuss the key issues facing the sport on a national and local level with representatives from BikeNZ and delegates from cycling centres around the country. As with all get-togethers of this nature, it also provided a forum to share ideas, explore solutions to challenges and continue friendships formed over many years or create new ones.

It also provides the chance to recognise the contribution made to the sport of cycling this year.

On Saturday night our own Graham Sycamore was bestowed the honour of winning the Malayan Cup for 2011. The man we all know as Syccie has contributed a life-time to the sport and Cycling Southland is delighted to see over 50 years of service recognised with the sport’s most prestigious award.

What made the night even more special was that Warwick Dalton was on-hand to make the presentation. Dalton, who often went head-to-head with Graham at Kew Bowl back in the 60s won the Malayan Cup along with his New Zealand team mates in 1957, ironically the very year Syccie took up bike riding.

Very few can tell a story as good as Dalton does and he still looks like he’d be able to handle himself in a sprint finish. He fondly recalled his most recent world championship victory, won in Sydney a few short years ago, which went to a judges’ decision following a protest by one of his beaten competitors. The Chief Judge promptly reported “there was nothing to see,” and Dalton duly won his Masters World title. The judge’s name? G Sycamore, New Zealand.

In true Syccie style the win left him speechless ... yes, of course I’m joking. Once the initial surprise at his name being read out had worn off, he recalled a few of the many highlights of a glittering career. And he was as humble as ever, paying special tribute to those who serve the sport throughout the country and singling out his wife Bernie who Graham confirmed does three-quarters of his work for him.

Every cycling club needs a Graham Sycamore. But only one has one. I’m very thankful it is us.

We also were delighted a host of other Cycling Southland members were recognised at the Volunteer Awards. Local legend Tony Ineson was a finalist in the Lifetime Official category (for ten or more years service) while our Senior Road Convenor Waine Harding featured in the list of finalists for the Newcomer category. The Faces of Cycling awards recognised those who are role models for the sport, both on the bike and as ambassadors. Sequoia Cooper, Gabby Vermunt and our Development Officer Matt Archibald were all nominated.

Nights like this provide another reminder of how fortunate Cycling Southland is to have people of this calibre in our organisation. I thank them all.

Kids These Days Don't Know How Lucky They Are

2011-06-06T19:58:00.005+12:00

I thought it would at least another 15 years before I started to say things like, “I remember back when I was at school.”

My glorious days at Wendon Primary School in the 80s were filled with Bull-rush (I still have nightmares about trying to stop Sean Hurley in full flight), rugby (no rippa or touch – only full contact tackle), force-back and, in summer, tip-and-run cricket. To keep on-side with Stu Riordan, I should also point out it provided an excellent educational grounding as well.

Kids these days (another phrase I thought was a decade or two away) have so many options – sporting, culturally and academically. I’m not about to descend into a misty-eyed reminisce about how much better it was in the good ol’ days, tempting as that may be. Instead, I’ll focus on what Cycling Southland is doing to add to these options. We have been part of two initiatives which we’ve kicked off over the last couple of months which I’m really excited about.

The first is a “learn-to-bike” programme which is being delivered with assistance from our mates at Sport Southland via KiwiSport. Along with the Southland Mountain-bike and BMX clubs and Police, we are piloting an eight week programme across seven schools and the results and feedback has been outstanding. Children who have never pedalled a bike in their lives are riding unassisted within the very first session. The beaming faces are truly something very special. Our ultimate aim, once we successfully pilot the programme and tweak it as we go, is to see this rolled out across all of Southland. It’s a great first taste of our sport for local school children and just like swimming, running, jumping and throwing, it is a fundamental skill that we believe all Southland children should master. Plus we might uncover a few new Tom Scullys or Eddie Dawkins in the process.

Secondly, we have successfully added cycling to the NCEA curriculum. Every Year 12 Physical Education class is able to do a “performance” standard and earn credits towards NCEA Level Two. A performance standard is slightly different to other assessments in that students are graded against a national standard of excellence. With a world-class facility at our disposal, a standard based on times recorded at the last five National Age Group Track Championships has been developed, and now cycling is accredited with NZQA as a performance standard.

That means students can attend six weeks of coached sessions during school time at the ILT Velodrome, culminating in a trials day from which students can choose either sprint (500 metre time trials), Endurance (2km Pursuit) or, if they are really keen, both to test their skills, speed and fitness.

Already five schools are visiting us each week and we’d welcome more.

And finally, we start a new series of Ladies Nights for women beginner cyclists next week. We’re hosting three fun and information-filled sessions starting on June 12th. To find out more phone Cycling Southland or visit cyclingsouth.org.nz.

2011-05-30T19:56:00.001+12:00

Even though this column hasn’t appeared online for a number of weeks you can rest assured that there has been plenty happening in Cycling Southland’s world since we last spoke.

Whilst this is a quiet time of year in terms of major events, it does present the opportunity to get prepared for what will be a hectic period to end the year.

On Friday we released the revamped route for the 2011 version of the PowerNet Tour of Southland. The feedback has been very positive with club members, supporters, teams and even our Pro-Tour riders immediately sending their support. Greg Henderson told his followers on Twitter that it is the fourth Grand Tour (together with France, Italy & Spain). There are changes to every stage including a Sunday start with the Teams Time Trial around Queens Park, the addition of an epic Te Anau to Crown Terrace stage and the return of the Individual Time Trial on the final morning in Winton.

This will add a new dimension to the race and to schedule it as the penultimate stage (a la Tour de France) means that the general classification may well be decided by “the race of truth” on Saturday November 5th. We also have a number of new plans around the PowerNet Tour including a Legends Dinner, Supporters Tours and the chance for the general public to ride. Another quality field is assured with BikeNZ confirming its Elite squad members will be lining up as a key part of their pre-World Champs/Olympics preparation.

But the PowerNet Tour is just one piece of the puzzle. Another capacity field is set to take its first steps on the ILT Velodrome this week in preparation for the Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit. This is truly one of our favourite events of the year, with the inter-team banter building right up to the July 31st finals day. We’ll be keeping you up to date with their progress heading towards race day.

October’s Yunca Junior Tour of Southland is again shaping up as the country’s biggest junior road tour. Another new route and large interest from across the Tasman means that our age-group limits may well be threatened this year.

Immediately following the Yunca, comes the ILT Junior Track Carnival (October 18-19) which this year also includes the National Elite Omnium Champs. All BikeNZ’s Elite and Development riders will join the best young talent in the country in the first event of the 2011-12 track season.

And then there is the small matter of the Oceania Track Championships in November. With Olympic qualification points up for grabs it is likely that close to full strength Australian and New Zealand squads will line up over what should be four spectacular days and nights of racing. In years gone by we have hosted riders who have gone on to be absolute superstars. Given its timing in the Olympic cycle, November’s Oceanias should be no different.

Check out www.cyclingsouth.org.nz for all the information.

See, told you we’ve been busy.

Corporates Getting Ready to Roll

2011-04-18T19:55:00.001+12:00

Last year was filled with many highlights but one of the most memorable was a day in the middle of the year when the ILT Velodrome was packed to the rafters as 34 corporate teams and their respective armies of supporters turned on one of the biggest cycling parties this city has seen.

Cycling Southland’s Harrex Group-sponsored Corporate Pursuit opens its public entries this morning and we’ve got a hard act to follow.

Already the demand has been high – last year’s entrants have been busy putting together their squads in the hope of shaving a second or two of their personal bests – and a lengthy list of newbies who have registered their interest throughout the year will be doing the same from this morning. Now the net is being cast even wider with general entries opening today.

The concept is pretty straight-forward – all you need is a team of six from your business (there does have to be some connection, however tenuous between the team members.) You’ll be coached all the way by some of Cycling Southland’s finest, so no previous experience is necessary. In fact it’s the perfect way to be introduced to the world-class ILT Velodrome if you haven’t been out there and the chance to get a look at what all the fuss about cycling is about.

Is it competitive? For some, of course it is. But for most teams the real focus is having a crack and having a laugh at the same time and, as you could guess, it doesn’t take long for the inter-team banter to reach fever pitch. Plus, if you need to sell it to the boss, you can pitch it as one of those “team-building” exercises – one of the best going around actually.

We introduced over 200 riders to the sport last year. Many have continued in the sport – some going on to represent Southland at the recent Track Nationals. So, it doubles as a decent recruitment and talent identification programme for Cycling Southland.

We will again be building on the party atmosphere on the day. I’ve haven’t yet made it to Wellington for the Rugby Sevens but if you threw a roof on the Cake-Tin I reckon we wouldn’t have been a mile away from it last year. Team supporters really got into it, dressing up (and down), bringing banners and yelling themselves hoarse – and that was only the Waihopai Health Centre supporters! This year the recipe will be the same, just up a few notches.

We have pushed the event back slightly to accommodate netball and basketball commitments so this year’s Grading Time Trial is to be held on Sunday July 24th with the Corporate Pursuit finals a week later on Sunday the 31st.

For all of the event details and to enter visit www.cyclingsouth.org.nz/corporatepursuit or you can text the word bike to 244 (texts cost 20c). Entries close on May 13th so get online or if you have queries contact the Cycling Southland office on 2173215.

Sunday Summarises Our Club

2011-03-28T04:16:00.002+13:00

Sunday more or less summarised in a nutshell what Cycling Southland is all about.

It started with a 4am alarm (something for which I am paying for as I write this) to watch Eddie Dawkins line up in the final of the Keirin and Shane Archbold finish strongly to claim silver in the Omnium at the World Track Championships. Big Ed made it through to the last six from a field of 33 – a wonderful achievement and great experience, lining up alongside the likes of Sir Chris Hoy and eventual winner Shane Perkins on the biggest stage of this year.

A lot has been made of the youthful New Zealand sprint programme’s rapid development. When you consider Hoy turned 36 this week, at just 21 years of age, Eddie has a lot of time ahead of him and who knows how many more finals appearances and chances for World Championship and Olympic glory. The same can be said for Tom Scully who rode with Auckland’s Aaron Gate in the Madison overnight. Two young men who have again proved this week that the world is at their feet.

A few hours (and as many coffees) later, I departed for Wyndham, scene of the Southland Road Championships. Provincial titles shouldn’t be easy things to win and let me tell you, those who took medals at this year’s championships deserved them. There was some rain about but it wasn’t until we sent our morning fields on their way that the southerly picked up and the rain got heavier. It turned the day into a war of attrition and in the end the Senior and Under 19 Men’s fields, who had to brave the elements for three hours over their 110 kilometre journey, saw just seven of the 20 starters make it to the finishing tape.

Days like that always confirm to me how committed Cycling Southland’s club riders are. And it meant Wyndham Takeaways did rip-roaring trade in coffee and hot chips (and that was just from me).

That 12 hour period showed all that was wonderful about the sport of cycling in Southland. Elite athletes who have honed their trade at the ILT Velodrome, footing it with the world’s best in the Netherlands, our local club riders punishing themselves on the challenging course with the elements against them supported by a loyal crew of volunteers and officials making it all possible by assisting with the delivery of another safe, well-run cycling event. That’s the nutshell I referred to earlier and it’s great to be a part of it.

This Wednesday the Southland Secondary School Track Championships are being held at the ILT Velodrome with riders from Southland, Central Otago and some northern visitors lining up to ride for their school. James Hargest was able to hold off Southland Boys and Girls Highs last year. Fellow team mates from Southland’s recent dominant performance at the National Age Group Track Nationals become rivals. Should be good sport.

I better go – another early alarm awaits.

Local Focus Switches to Road

2011-03-21T06:00:00.000+13:00

On the local front the track cycling season has come to a close and Cycling Southland members’ attention has quickly switched to the road. After months of build-up to the Track Nationals held in Invercargill earlier this month, some will crave time off the bike at this time of year. However the national calendar offers little respite with the RaboDirect Club Road nationals scheduled for Wanganui in early May.

It means that the McLeay Jewellers Southland Road Championships will be held this weekend. Saturday sees a time trial across various distances for 13 separate junior, senior and masters categories at Waianawa while the action moves to Wyndham and Seaward Downs on Sunday for the road races.

It is certainly not an easy turn-around but one talented young lady didn’t let that stop her over the weekend. Alexandra’s Sophie Williamson claimed bronze at the UCI Oceania Road Championships held in Australia on Saturday. She was outstanding at the Track Nationals, claiming three gold medals including the Omnium title where she won five of the six events. To turn around and earn a podium finish against Australasia’s best over the 70 kilometre distance on the road, shows just how bright her future is.

After all this success, it is difficult to remember that 2011 marks Williamson’s first year in the Under 19 grade. She faces a busy year with potential to represent New Zealand at both the Junior Track and Road World championships this year. Although a lot can happen in 18 months, it seems hard not to see her as the cornerstone of the New Zealand squad when the Junior World Track Champs come to Invercargill in August of next year.

This week also saw the New Zealand elite team depart Invercargill’s ILT Velodrome bound for the World Track Champs which start later this week at Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. Some tough selection calls had to be made (Wes Gough, Ruhlee Buchanan and Gemma Dudley all missing final team selection) which shows the growing depth Tim Carswell and his team are developing. Cycling Southland will again be well represented with Eddie Dawkins and Tom Scully both lining up in the black skinsuit. The action starts in the early hours of Thursday morning NZ time, with the Mens’ Team Sprint and Team Pursuit medals decided on the opening night. The sprint lads have been setting some lightening quick times in training, while the Team Pursuit combination has welcomed back Jesse Sergent and Sam Bewley from their RadioShack Pro Tour commitments, so hopes are high of a strong showing to kick off the BikeNZ campaign on Thursday.

And to finish, a quick word on our next marquee event of 2011, the Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit. Entries will open soon for one of our most popular and enjoyable events of the year. This year the event is slightly later to accommodate the Steel and Sharks games at the ILT Velodrome and will be held on July 24^th and 31^st. Watch this space.

Southland Domination Complete

2011-03-07T05:23:00.000+13:00

Southland’s domination of the RaboDirect National Track Championships was completed on Saturday night. At the end of eight days of Elite and Age Group racing Southland finished atop the National Points Shield leader board. Congratulations to Daylight who was second. For the record Southland finished on 173 points with Auckland the next best on 82. Baseball has the mercy rule, which sees a match called off early when one side gets so far ahead of the other. Should Track Cycling investigate something similar?

I jest of course (sort of). The reality is Southland, on pure numbers alone, should win the Shield. With a world class facility at our back door, there would be problems if we didn’t. The impressive thing for me was the manner in which the win was achieved.

The danger with listing individuals is that worthy names are missed out. Justifiably names like Natasha Hansen, Tom Scully, Matt Archibald, Steph McKenzie, Michael Culling, Sophie Williamson, Jacqui Dearlove, Erin Criglington and Bruce Jones have all grabbed headlines in this fine publication over the last week. Williamson does deserve particular mention. She showed just what a class act she is, winning five of the six Omnium events as a first year Under 19. There’s some future ahead of that young lady.

But, as is so often the case, some great tales lurk under the headlines. The spirit in the camp was epitomised by the story of young Laura Heywood. After featuring in the Southland Times last week, she suffered a nasty crash on the opening night of the Age Group Champs (don’t feel bad about putting the hex on her Nathan). Many of us were surprised (and more than delighted) to see her line up the very next day in the Under 17 Team Pursuit. I watched her come out of the starting gate with what I thought was a determined grimace on her face. Turns out she was being pushed to the brink by the pain coursing through her body from her collar-bone which turned out to be broken. There was no way she wasn’t going to help her team mates and she, along with mates Jen Muhl and Brooke Brazier pushed Auckland all the way and got within half a second of the gold medal - an incredible performance of courage and determination. I don’t know too many 15 year olds who would have done the same.

Nathan Burdon was right on the money in his column on Saturday regarding the volunteers and officials’ contribution to the event. Volunteer hours will push towards 5000 for these Champs. We just couldn’t do it without them and are in their debt, as always.

Like the Southland squad on the track, it’s a good feeling to be a small part of a great team effort to deliver one of the best National Championships. There are no medals or trophies for our volunteers and, aside from Saturday’s column, too little recognition.

We’re going to do our best to change that.

Points Shield Defense Underway

2011-02-28T09:20:00.001+13:00

I write this from inside the ILT Velodrome watching some of Cycling Southland’s junior riders put the finishing touches on preparations for this week’s Age Group Track Championships. After three days of Elite Champs, there has been enough action to fill this column many times over.

Natasha Hansen’s absolute domination of the Women’s sprint events has been something to behold. Much has been made of the men’s sprint programme’s development over the last 18 months but Tash has shown that the fairer sex will be joining them sooner rather than later, competing on the world stage.

The BikeNZ sprinters came out to play last night with powerful Southland and Auckland Team Sprint three-somes going at it. Simon van Velthooven and Southland’s Matt Archibald have been trading blows all weekend and have proved a class above the rest, squaring off last night in the Men’s Sprint Final.

The Elite Men’s field may be missing some big names – but one big man loomed large over the event this past weekend. Jason Allen hasn’t had an easy time recently. Even though he rides for Tasman, he is a Christchurch resident. Somehow he was able to put his recent personal turmoil to one side to take out the Individual Pursuit, ahead of Cam Karwowski and then back up on Saturday night to also claim the Scratch race title from another Southland rider, Lee Evans.

The Women’s events have been notable for the total domination of the Points Race on Saturday night by NZ representative Rushlee Buchanan who took three laps on the field to take gold in style. Her battle with Gemma Dudley and Southland’s Sequoia Cooper in the Omnium has been a feature of the championships.

Special mention also to Phillipa Gray and Laura Thompson who lowered the National record in the Para-Cycling Tandem 1000m. Under the tutelage of master coach Nick Harris, their recent development has been rapid and their confidence will have been boosted significantly heading to the World Champs in Italy in a few weeks time.

In many respects the past three days of competition has been something of a dry run for this week’s Age Group Champs when over 220 riders will compete across age categories ranging from Under-15 to Masters 55+.

Southland has taken an early lead in the battle for the National Points Shield. But with another five full days of racing, we are only just getting started.

The Age Group Championships start Tuesday and run through until Saturday. Sessions are to be held daily from 10am and 6.30pm. Tickets are available from Stadium Southland with discounted Seasons and Family Passes available.

You can also follow all of the action with live track-side text commentary, updated as it happens, along with full results, race reports and photos at the Cycling Southland website – cyclingsouth.org.nz.

We are very proud of what our Elite riders have achieved. Now it’s over to our young and not so young riders to keep that shield under lock and key at the ILT Velodrome.

Dawkins Story Latest to Captivate

2011-02-21T20:38:00.001+13:00

Rarely a week goes by in the sport of cycling where there isn’t something that captivates you.

This weekend it was an incredible finish to the UCI World Cup Men’s Keirin final featuring our own Eddie Dawkins. Big Eddie was powering to the finish and looking good for the silver medal, behind the legendary Sir Chris Hoy when some carnage behind him brought down all but two of the final field. Despite fighting hard, Dawkins couldn’t stay upright after having his rear wheel clipped and he hit the track hard at 70kph. But you can’t keep a southern man down and he somehow picked himself up and ran (or perhaps more accurately limped), dragging his bike, down the straight to the finish line. Ultimately he was given fifth place, but there is no doubt that in terms of guts and determination, it was a gold-medal winning performance. If you visit www.cyclingsouth.org.nz you can see video footage of the dramatic final stages of the race.

Eddie now has a lot less skin on his right shoulder than when he started the final so it may not be a comfortable flight home, but he has proved why you should be buying your tickets to the National Track Champs which start this Friday in Invercargill. You just never know what will happen.

The performance of the NZ team in Manchester over the past three days has again shown the depth growing at an Elite level and has provided the perfect lead-in to the RaboDirect-sponsored Nationals this week at the ILT Velodrome.

Over 280 riders and over 80 team officials from the 11 cycling centres around New Zealand will descend on Invercargill at week’s end. When you add in family members and supporters you get a sense of the input this event has to the local economy. Here are some more numbers for you; eight days of racing, each with day and evening sessions; 92 national titles to be decided across 14 age groups; over 50 event volunteers per session and close to 4000 volunteer hours to deliver these championships. Makes me tired simply thinking about it.

The Southland team got together on Friday night, to lay out preparations for its defence of the National Points Shield. It is certainly the largest squad we have put together and each of our 75 riders has earned their spot on merit. The more heartening news is that it is also the best-prepared team we have ever put out. There’s a great feeling in the squad and even though there are some high profile names among them, the focus is on team performance. You can look through every age group from juniors to masters to elites and know our province will be well-served.

There’s no doubt home track advantage plays its part and the bigger the crowd and better the atmosphere, the faster they ride.
So that’s where we all come in. Grab your tickets. If you don’t, as Eddie again proved yesterday morning, you will more than likely miss something special.

Points Shield Defense Looms

2011-02-14T02:00:00.003+13:00

The largest ever Southland track cycling team was last announced to defend the National Points Shield at the RaboDirect National Track Championships at Invercargill’s ILT Velodrome later this month.

A total of 76 riders will wear the Southland skinsuit over the Elite and Age Group Championships, each looking to help the host centre retain the symbol of regional track cycling supremacy. The country’s 11 Cycling Centres suit up with points awarded to each Centre for the top three riders in each event over the eight days of competition.

Last year Southland wiped the board registering a total of 110 points from Auckland (61) and Canterbury (42). This prompted some new upstart CEO to claim it one of the most dominant Southland sporting performances of all time (incidentally I still stand by that).

Although final entries close today, word from further north is that those big centres have had enough of the southerners’ domination and are bring large contingents south. So this is something of a call-to-arms to get along to the ILT Velodrome and give the hometown heroes your support.

The Elite Champs run from Friday February 25th to 27th with sessions starting at 11am and 6.30pm while the Age Group Champs run from March 1st to 5th with daily action starting from 10am and 6.30pm.
Tickets are on sale now at Stadium Southland – adult prices are $10 for evenings and $5 for day sessions while kids are free. Plus there are discounted family and season passes available. Short story is ... it’s as cheap as chips.

To deliver an event like this takes the definition of a team effort. Our riders, coaches, team officials and event staff and volunteers have prepared well. Now all that’s left is a little fine-tuning over the next fortnight before the campaign for the Points Shield defence begins.

I hope you can give us a hand too.

The Southland squad is:

U 15 : Madeleine Gough, Makayla Smith, Bronwyn Graham, Josh Carpenter, Liam Haggerty, Hamish Beadle, Hayden Strong , Tom Sexton.

U 17 : Laura Heywood, Jennifer Muhl, Brooke Brazier, Libby Bayne, Michael Culling, Josh Haggerty, Jeremy Presbury, Liam Aitcheson, Nick Kergozou.

U 19 : Sophie Williamson, Kelsey Timpany, Sarah Tomlinson, Kate Dunlevey, Paigan Marshall, Georgia Timpany, Stephanie Mckenzie, Pieter Bulling, Tom Beadle, Jamie Culling , Marcel Baird , Paddy Daly, Ethan Thwaites, Tom Dawkins, Matt Zenovich, Chris Sexton.

Masters Men 3: Peter Grandiek, Ray Robinson, Bruce Jones, Colin Horton.

Masters Men 2: Richard Eade, Neil Jamieson, Wally Kopae, Neil Familton, Sier Vermunt, Ant Leathart, Roger Nicholas, Grant Toomey, Simon Lusk.

Masters Men 1: Michael White, Jerard Stock, Garry Smith, Derek Tan, Andrew Lienert.

Masters Women 1: Erin Criglington, Kylea Gough.

Masters Women 2: Marie Muhl, Sandra Kopae, Jac Dearlove.

Para-Cyclists: Phillipa Gray/Laura Thompson.

Elite Women: Sequoia Cooper, Dale Tye, Natasha Hansen, Kylie Young, Emma Gibb, Gabby Vermunt, Rebecca O’Donnell.

Elite Men: Tom Scully, Eddie Dawkins, Cameron Karwowski, Matt Archibald, Hamish Tomlinson, Lee Evans, Brehan Cairns, Dillon Bennett, Sean Fox, Matt Dodds, Karl Watson.

ILT Velodrome Future Assured

2011-02-13T19:20:00.003+13:00

BikeNZ has this week reaffirmed its future support of the ILT Velodrome.

Cycling Southland Chief Executive Nick Jeffrey confirmed that he has received positive feedback from both SPARC and BikeNZ following formal notification that Southland would not submit a bid to host a National Cycling Centre of Excellence in Invercargill.

"We wanted to make clear that whilst we have no intention of committing significant local funds to further developing an already world class facility like the ILT Velodrome to fit the classification required by SPARC, we do wish to continue to play a significant role from both an events and training perspective in the future," Jeffrey said.

He and Stadium Southland General Manager Nigel Skelt co-signed a letter to the national organisations overseeing the Cycling Centre of Excellence tendering process on behalf of the Bike Southland consortium, which also included the Southland Mountain-bike and BMX Clubs and Sport Southland.

"We believed it was important to formally register our future aspirations. There can be no debate about what the ILT Velodrome has done for the sport of track cycling in New Zealand. We are now a world power. We are pretty proud of the contribution we have made to the High Performance end of the sport. I'm delighted BikeNZ have recognised that in their reply and re-emphasised the key role the ILT Velodrome will play in the future," Jeffrey said.

"We also left the door open for discussions, should a successful tenderer not be forthcoming or if a less financially-straining solution was sought," he said with a smile. "Anything we can do to help."

Jeffrey believes a number of positives have come out of the process.

"Obviously the recognition on the support we have given in the past is pleasing, but it's also got a great group of people together. Dave Brookland (MTB) and Ginge Burnett (BMX) have added a huge amount over the last few months and there are some exciting things ahead for all of the bike codes in terms of facility development, programmes and events through closer collaboration."

"Plus it has been a timely reminder that Cycling Southland and the ILT Velodrome's top priority must be serving and developing our grass-roots membership. Our facility and activities have been developed for Southlanders first and foremost. A wonderful by-product of what we have in the south, in terms of facility and people, is that we have been able to play a role on a national or, in the case of the 2012 Junior World Track Championships, international scale. But one should follow the other. If we go out chasing the national and international glory stuff then we have our priorities a little out of whack."

BikeNZ's High Performance squad has been again put through its paces this week at the ILT Velodrome. The team departs for the final UCI World Cup in Manchester this weekend before returning south in time for the RaboDirect National Elite and Age Group Championships from February 25th.

A copy of the Bike Southland letter can be found by clicking here.

Next Stop National Champs

2011-01-31T05:00:00.005+13:00

Another full week for the southern cycling fraternity as Cycling Southland hosted the annual McLeay Jewellers Southland Track Champs. Close on one hundred riders from Southland and Central Otago, along with some travellers from points further north, made the ILT Velodrome their home over three days this week, looking to impress selectors and build up to the National Track Championships at the end of next month.

Naturally there were some stand-out performers from familiar names who are making their presence felt on the national stage; Piet Bulling, Matt Archibald, Steph McKenzie, Sophie Williamson, Michael Culling, Tom Beadle, Sequoia Cooper, Kylie Young, Lee Evans - all talented athletes with wonderful careers ahead of them.

There were also other names added to that list. Laura Heywood would have to go close to being the star turn of the week. Having only taken up the sport little more than 18 months ago, she is showing massive potential and is unquestionably one to watch.

Some of the best results (as usual) came from our Masters categories. I have written before about the growth of our sport amongst the age-group loosely described as middle-aged. If you wanted proof, the Southland Champs provided it. Michael White, Erin Criglinton, Jacq Dearlove, Neil Familton, Richard Eade, Simon Lusk and the ever-green Ray Robinson all had gold (or in many cases golds) draped around their necks. Our Masters cyclists are one of the major reasons the National Points Shield has been under lock and key at the ILT Velodrome for the last three years. Watching the action on the weekend, our “more mature” riders will again be Southland’s trump card in 2011.

And of course there were other great stories; Peter Grandiek, competing at 79 years of age and off to do the same at the Masters Games in Wanganui over coming weeks. And little Madeleine Gough was doing the same at the age of just 10. Any sport that features a 69 year span between its youngest and oldest competitor must be in great heart.

We were also blessed to host some of the country’s top Para-Cyclists, building up for their tilt at medals at the World Champs in Italy in March. Their efforts are truly inspiring but it is obvious they are not just content with their significant victory in simply making it to the start-line. They are focused on performance and on winning.

With such a wealth of talent, it is likely the selectors will this week name the largest ever squad to compete at the upcoming Nationals. The RaboDirect-sponsored Elite Champs, which will also include Southland’s national representatives Eddie Dawkins, Tom Scully, Natasha Hansen and Cameron Karwowski, run from February 25th to 27th. We then have a solitary day off before we get straight into the Age Group Champs from March 1st to 5th.

And to finish the week, a quick congratulations to Cam Karwowski and Hamish Tomlinson for their top 20 finishes at the Tour of Wellington - brilliant efforts in a tough event.

Nick Jeffrey is Chief Executive of Cycling Southland

Frenetic Start to New Cycling Year

2011-01-24T00:01:00.001+13:00

The cycling year has begun and what a frenetic start it has been. Cycling Southland’s ILT New Year Cycling Series featured the country’s elite cyclists lining up alongside local Club and representative riders in road, track and criterium racing and BikeNZ’s High Performance programme hosted its largest ever track training camp – 31 riders in total were smashed by their coaches on a daily basis at the ILT Velodrome. Throw in Saturday’s headlines regarding SPARC’s proposal to site a National Cycling Centre somewhere in the country, this week’s upcoming Southland Track Champs, our hosting of the National Champs from late next month and the small matter of planning for the year ahead and Junior Worlds next year ... let’s just say we have found enough to keep us busy over the last couple of weeks.

Brilliant news came out of the Beijing World Cup over the weekend. Tom Scully’s international comeback is complete with his fourth place finish in the Omnium. There are no easy events at that level but the Omnium is one of the most demanding - six events contested over two days for which riders earn points which are totalled at the end to decide the winner. Our boy “Scud” was ultra-consistent with five top-10 finishes, including a win in the Elimination Race.

His faultless and focused return from what could (and possibly should) have been a crippling injury was unquestionably one of the sporting comebacks of 2010. From the moment Tom wrapped his leg around an Irish power pole in the middle of last year, he set his sights on getting back to competing on the international scene. To see all his hard work, determination and will pay off over the weekend was outstanding. It would also be remiss not to mention a top Northern Southland lad by the name of Mark Hollands, who is the unsung hero of the Scully comeback. His watchful eye and guidance during Tom’s rehabilitation played a massive part in its success. Their combined efforts mean one of the south’s true sporting champions is ready to rip in to his biggest year ever.

Off the bike, yesterday a Sunday newspaper reported that eight centres have expressed an interest in hosting a National Cycling Centre of Excellence. While the process, the politics and the possible outcomes could fill any number of columns, one thing has been made abundantly clear to me. The foresight of those involved in designing and building the ILT Velodrome last decade cannot be overstated. Southland would not be able to afford to build the quality facility we can now all enjoy, were the concept being floated for the first time today. No matter what decision SPARC makes, or how many velodromes are built around the countryside, thanks to that visionary group, Southlanders will always have something world class at our back door. Then it’s over to us to make sure that even if we don’t have the country’s only indoor velodrome, we continue to have the best one.

2010 Filled With Highlights

2010-12-20T00:27:00.007+13:00

The time for misty-eyed reflection on another year has arrived. 2010 was my first in the cycling world and was filled with memorable moments. Here is an incomplete list of personal highlights:

February – Two weeks before I started my new role at Cycling Southland, watching my first live track cycling event I watched Eddie Dawkins and friends lower the national Team Sprint record at the Elite Track Nationals. I still get that tingly feeling remembering it today - an incredible experience to watch in the flesh. Big Ed, Sam Webster and Ethan Mitchell have since lowered that mark a number of times, the latest on Thursday night in winning bronze at the World Cup in Colombia to cap an incredible year. Expect more in 2011.

March – Erin Criglington, flanked by Sophie McMurdo and Michael Culling, lifts the National Points Shield following the Age Group/Masters Track Nationals as Southland blows away the competition to again confirm its place as the premier track cycling province.

June – Tom Scully crashes out of the Tour of Ireland, ending his Commonwealth Games hopes. The injury makes no highlight reel, but the way this level-headed young man has bounced back does. It’s a credit to his support team, his family and the man himself how he immediately focused on getting back to his best. No woe-is-me, just total focus and dedication.

June - The Harrex Group Corporate Pursuit saw 200+ riders take on the ILT Velodrome and living to tell the tale. The final was spectacular, YMCA Education pipping the Police Five-0s to close a hugely enjoyable event.

August – Pieter Bulling represents his country and Cycling Southland with distinction at the World Junior Track Champs. His stellar year only got better, culminating in his selection for the BikeNZ Elite squad for this month’s Melbourne World Cup - an incredible year for a fantastic talent.

November – The PowerNet Tour of Southland went right to the wire, being decided in the final sprint to the Stage Nine finish line on Gala Street. Hayden Roulston claimed another PowerNet Tour by the narrowest margin in history, but it was an incredible stage finish earlier in the week which sticks in my memory. Watching 100-plus riders, ten-wide with a tail-wind, descending on the finish line in Tuatapere at 70 km/h will stick with me for a long, long time.

December – Eddie Dawkins called it the greatest race on the ILT Velodrome. In the end technology could not separate the big guy and his good mate Simon van Velthooven on the line in the Elite Men’s Sprint at the ILT Festival of Speed this month. The dead heat will be one of those moments that goes down in Cycling Southland folklore. We saw two supreme athletes putting on something special for a jam-packed crowd. No script-writer could have done a better job.

In closing a special thank you to all of those involved in our sport throughout the year. Your unwavering work and support is hugely appreciated. Merry Christmas.

Festival of Speed Satisfies

2010-12-13T17:18:00.005+13:00

What a week. Cycling Southland's ILT Festival of Speed ended on Thursday night, capping three incredible night's racing. Our aim was to showcase elite track cycling as a sporting and entertainment spectacular in our world class facility. The hundreds of Southlanders who took their seats at the ILT Velodrome last week are in a far better position to comment than I, but we're pretty satisfied with the end result.

A huge amount of work went into the event and to get the support we received from the Southland public was fantastic. As always, we are indebted to both the Invercargill Licensing Trust and the ILT Foundation for their on-going and unwavering support and for the assistance of BikeNZ and its High Performance Programme.

The feedback from the riders was outstanding. They loved every minute of it and loved the atmosphere, which they see regularly in the US and Europe and can now enjoy here at home. The more they enjoy the event, the better the racing is and the better the spectacle is for the crowd. At this time of year most riders are focused on registering times, or on making teams, so to give them three nights where they can have some fun, put on a show and enjoy the racing is important.

We're also really heartened by the feedback from our international riders who have raved about the ILT Velodrome and to hear BikeNZ Track Coach Tim Carswell say Tuesday night's Madison was in his eyes the greatest field ever assembled is pretty staggering.

It's vital we put New Zealand on the world track cycling map with a view to our hosting of the Junior World Track Championships in 2012. I think we've raised the bar a fair bit, but we won't leave it there. The challenge for us is to take more steps up through 2011, starting with our New Year Carnival on January 15th and 16th.

We capped last week with our end of year prize-giving evening on Friday. After watching the countrys best compete with international riders during the week, it made perfect sense to also recognise our top Club performances during the year in the same week.

We also introduced three new awards for Contribution to Junior, Senior and Masters Cycling. So often the focus is on those who cross the line first. These three awards are designed to recognise the huge numbers who contribute so much to our organisation through the year.

And we have made a point to award these in the name of some gentlemen who themselves have given lifetimes of service to Cycling Southland. We are delighted to advise the inaugural winners of the Laurie Tall Cup for Overall Contribution to Junior cycling was Dave Beadle. Waine Harding claimed the Tony Ineson Cup for his contribution to senior cycling and Erin Criglington was the first name etched on the Peter Grandiek Cup for her services to masters cycling.

My personal thanks to each for their outstanding and invaluable work.

Forecast for Extreme Speed

2010-12-06T17:20:00.000+13:00

The forecast for Southland this week is extreme speed. The ILT Festival of Speed begins tomorrow night headlined by New Zealand’s leading endurance and sprint men and women, along with international riders from Australia, the Pacific and Europe.

The New Zealand team fresh from winning a full set of medals at the Melbourne World Cup rolled into town last night. It is an arduous pre-Christmas schedule for the squad with Oceanias and two World Cups in the space of five weeks but with each outing the BikeNZ squad continues to impress.

Shane Archbold’s incredible effort in winning the Omnium in Melbourne (cycling’s equivalent of the decathlon) stamps his name as one to watch this week - his mullet also makes him hard to miss. The phenomenal silver medal-winning ride from Aaron Gate and Myron Simpson in the Madison on Thursday night means they will start as short-priced favourite in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Madison Champs while the Team Sprint combination of Eddie Dawkins, Sam Webster and Ethan Mitchell will go head-to-head in our sprint competition – a mouth-watering prospect for those of us taking a seat at the ILT Velodrome.

We are delighted to also feature international talent from all over the globe. The Swiss combination of Gregory Hugentobler and Cyrille Thiery arrive fresh from Melbourne while Jerry Bousquet & Mike Michel-Villaz add to the Euro flavour, riding under the French flag from New Caledonia. And then comes the Aussie contingent. Despite clashing with the Australian Madison Champs on Friday the green and gold will be well represented with Tasmanian flyer Clay Murfet and former Trexlertown Riders of the Year Doug Repacholi and Laura McCaughey. They will be joined by impressive Institute of Sport sprinters Tim McMillan, Jamie Green and Zac Deller in the men’s field and Cassandra Kell and Madison Law in the women’s. The raw power of these young Aussie sprinters was one of the talking points from our riders returning from the Oceania Champs. To see them first hand will be yet another treat.
So all is in readiness. The entertainment including Stunt BMX rider Paul Langlands and friends, our live bands The Heartleys and Lipstick, celebrity racers and our large swag of prizes is all ready. All you need to do is turn up. Tickets for the ILT Festival of Speed and for our Thursday morning Gold Medal Breakfast with Ali Shanks are on sale at Stadium Southland.

Southlanders Impress at Oceania Champs

2010-11-29T17:24:00.001+13:00

Another weekend passes with more outstanding performances by Southland cyclists on the international scene. It’s early in the track season and for many of our elite athletes the Oceania Championships which ended over the weekend in Adelaide was the start of a long season which they hope will end with success next March at the World Championships in Holland.

For others it was a chance to send a message to the BikeNZ High Performance Programme that theirs is a name to consider. That’s exactly what Pieter Bulling has done. He raised eyebrows for all the right reasons as he trained with the squad at the ILT Velodrome over the past fortnight. Then, when the decision was made to give Tom Scully more time on his comeback from injury, Piet delivered the perfect example of taking one’s opportunity by lighting it up in Adelaide to claim a spot in the Elite team for the Melbourne World Cup starting Thursday. This is one young man going places and I’m told he is leaving many more experienced members of the squad in his wake.

I am also particularly delighted with Tom Beadle’s effort to claim silver in the U19 Keirin, a matching pair of medals after his second-place finish in the U19 Team Sprint on opening night. Tom is another prodigious talent to roll off the Cycling Southland production line and we will watch his age group with particular interest over the next 18 months as they will wear the black skin-suit when the Junior World Champs are staged in Invercargill in 2012.

Our Development Officer Matt Archibald got his first taste of international competition over these championships and finished his debut campaign by leading out his three-some to fifth place in Saturday’s Team Sprint qualifications. Matt has only been in the sport for a handful off years but has a work ethic and raw power which guarantees his choice to change his oars for a bike was a wise one.
The most exciting news is that all of the guys and girls who starred at the Oceanias along with the full BikeNZ Elite and Development squads and internationals will be lining up in the ILT International Festival of Speed next week.
We’ve had a lot of fun putting this event together because it has been about a lot more than track cycling. Our entertainment includes stunt BMX rider Paul Langlands and friends. Having seen video online of this guy, I can’t wait to see what he and his mates deliver next week. We’ve got live music from The Heartleys and Lipstick to complement the adrenaline pumping track cycling.

Yes, I’m biased. But if you have never been to a cycling event before, this is the one to come to. $20 gets the whole family in for two or three hours of awesome entertainment. And if that’s not enough we’ll offer an unashamed bribe by putting you in the draw to win a weekend to Adelaide in January. Sold? I sure am.

Privileged To Be Part of Tour Family

2010-11-08T17:23:00.005+13:00

I feel very privileged to have been involved with the 2010 PowerNet Tour of Southland. Having now been part of this iconic event, I understand why the huge army of volunteers put their hand up year after year to be involved. It is truly something quite special.

I am wary of trying to do justice to all that is good about the event in this column. Space limitations mean I can only touch on a few highlights from the past week. So many more serve to be mentioned.

One does stand out though. The major highlight for me was the people. The event is served so well by people who love what they do. Whether it is driving a vehicle, standing on a corner with a flag, setting up the stage finishes, officiating in a pressure-cooker atmosphere for days on end or being part of a team’s support crew , every single one is there because they are passionate about the event and about the sport. A “family” atmosphere like this can’t be manufactured. It happens naturally or it doesn’t at all and the Tour family is recognised by officials and riders alike as the key reason for the PowerNet Tour’s continued success. I’d heard about it, but hadn’t realised what a factor it was until last week.
I spent the week out in front of the event, getting the school kids along the Tour route hyped up and amped for the arrival of the riders. I apologise to the teachers of Southland for any classroom carnage that followed our visits. The kids were great and it is this kind of community support we want to foster even further in coming years.
Then came the emotional rollercoaster of the race itself. Watching 100 plus riders descending on the finish line in Tuatapere at over 70 kilometres per hour will live long in the memory banks, as will the sportsmanship of Hayden Roulston, waiting for then Tour leader Jeremy Yates to rejoin the race following his fall on the Crown Range road. The raw power of Roulston and Jack Bauer over the final stages of Friday’s grind into Te Anau turned the race and set up an incredible finish on Saturday where the perfect race plan was completed to perfection by Roulston, Greg Henderson and their Calder Stewart/BikeNZ team mates. And that was the bike race. After nearly 900 kilometres incredibly, it came down to just two seconds.
To hear the Police say it is the easiest race they have been involved with, Bruce Ross label it the best Tour of his time and Hayden Roulston say it is the sweetest victory of his four means things went pretty well. Even Mother Nature played her part.
But all of it would not be possible without the unwavering support from the whole PowerNet Tour “family”. Special thanks to PowerNet, our volunteers, Police, sponsors and community funders, the riders and of course Bruce and Pam Ross and family. Bring on 2011.

PowerNet Tour Education Complete

2010-10-25T17:13:00.001+13:00

When I started in the new role of Cycling Southland’s Chief Executive back in March one event loomed large; the PowerNet Tour of Southland. New to the sport of cycling, my previous experience with this iconic Southland event was limited.

In my previous life in the media world I had chatted with organisers, rider and past winners which gave me a brief insight into the workings of the Tour. Back then I was struck by the colour and speed of the peloton and by how effortless they made their six days in the saddle look.

I had cause to be in Auckland last week spending some time with members of other sporting codes from throughout the country and the moment you mention what you do and where you are from, two things come up – the ILT Velodrome and the PowerNet Tour of Southland. I can see why.

This year my Tour education has stepped up a notch and it has done nothing but emphasise what a great event we have and what wonderful work the organising committee delivers year after year.

Bruce Ross and his team of hardworking volunteers work tirelessly to ensure every detail is covered. In recent years the regulations and compliance required to run public events has increased markedly. Safety is rightfully the highest priority, but it sure does make delivering an event on public roads across 900 kilometres of southern highway a logistical nightmare and the cost in terms of dollars, time and manpower sure isn’t getting any cheaper.

Another great field has been assembled. Last week I covered off just a few of the names we may well see up in lights by next Saturday. But the PowerNet Tour always throws up some surprises.

I was shocked also to note the long range forecast for the start of next week. Fine, calm, 20 degrees. There’s obviously been some mistake! Mind you if we can get a fine calm Labour Weekend, then anything’s possible.

Another delightful aspect of this year’s Tour preparation has been the support from Southland businesses. We all recognise that for the south’s small/medium enterprises the last year has been challenging, however the financial support in terms of sponsorship has been on par with previous years, with very few turning down the opportunity to again be involved. A special thank you to each of our sponsors, large and small for your generosity.

So all is in readiness. We start with the PowerNet Tour’s Stage Zero – Riding With The Stars from the Feldwick Gates in Queens Park on Sunday at 1.30. Bring your bike and helmet and come ride with some of the best in the business. Then comes six days of torment before we crown the 2010 champion in Gala Street mid-afternoon next Saturday.

You can watch, read and listen to all of the action thanks to our wonderful media partners, including The Southland Times, but nothing beats getting out there and seeing it for yourself. So, we’ll see you out there.

Two Weeks to Tour ... And Counting

2010-10-18T17:12:00.005+13:00

Now I’m getting excited.

The start of the 2010 PowerNet Tour of Southland is a fortnight away. Nineteen six-man teams have been confirmed to start this year’s tour. Most attention has centred on two all-star teams – Calder Stewart/BikeNZ and Share The Road, but as you cast your eye over the field you quickly realise this will be more than a two-horse race.

We are delighted to bring two of our international superstars Greg Henderson and Hayden Roulston to the Southland sporting public. It is thanks only to the outstanding support we have received from Calder Stewart and the tremendous work on the international front by BikeNZ which has combined to make it possible.

After losing UCI classification a few short months ago the door to Pro-Tour riders competing in the PowerNet Tour opened slightly. Calder Stewart set its sights on this opportunity immediately (ie: that very day) and BikeNZ has negotiated the sometimes murky waters of the UCI rulebook to ensure we deliver the result which serves all masters. We can showcase our premier bike riders in a way which ensures the riders’ and our event’s future international aspirations are not damaged in the process. A brilliant result.

Many of us sat glued to our TV sets last Sunday night watching the brilliant performance by the NZ mens’ team in the Commonwealth Games Road Race. This phenomenal team effort which ultimately led to a silver medal for Roulston has been hailed as one of the great team performances. Through the first week in November we will feature the bulk of that team battling each other around Southland’s highways and that is truly mouth-watering prospect. Gordon McCauley and last year’s runner-up Jack Bauer line up in Share The Road colours and Clinton Avery in Ascot Park Hotel.

But wait, there’s more. Jeremy Vennell has been in blistering form for his Bissell Pro Cycling team and boosts the Calder Stewart/Bike NZ stocks further. Subway-Avanti again line up with no weak links in their team, featuring leader Joe Cooper, new Trek/Livestrong signing Michael Vink and Alexandra’s James Williamson. Benchmark Homes has dominated the Benchmark Series with teammates James McCoy and another Trek/Livestrong acquisition Josh Atkins battling all season for top honours. Pure Black Racing will take its first steps down the path of what it hopes will be NZ’s first Pro-Tour racing team in a few years time. PowerNet features the returning Tom Scully alongside fellow NZ reps Myron Simpson and Shane Archbold while George Bennett who has been in hot form will be one to watch in Team SVS colours. And the local flag will be flown as high as ever with Cam Karwowski in the form of his young career along his Southland Times/H&Js Outdoor World team mate Matt Marshall returning from a winter racing campaign across the Tasman.
This is a whistle-stop trip over our field of 2010 and I apologise as I don’t have the space to mention every story-line. But can you see why I’m getting excited?

Juniors Impress on ILT Velodrome

2010-10-11T17:10:00.000+13:00

After last weekend’s wonderful Yunca Junior Tour of Southland, Cycling Southland’s focus switched indoors to Stadium Southland’s ILT Velodrome last Tuesday and Wednesday nights for the staging of our Trans Tasman Junior Track Cycling Challenge.

A large contingent of junior bike riders from New South Wales, Western Australia, Brisbane and Wagga Wagga lined up under the green and gold banner to take on this country’s best and brightest over two great nights of racing.

Watching big fields circulating the ILT Velodrome at pace is truly spectacular and the crowds were treated to some of the closest racing across the full programme in recent times. In the end, New Zealand etched its name on the silverware but you can’t help but be impressed with the visiting Australians. We got a glimpse at the long term development planning the country employs, the fruits of which have been very apparent in Dehli over the past week. I have little doubt that we will hear more from some of the visiting names, brought to our shores last week.

There were also some eye-catching displays from our Kiwi boys and girls also. Cycling Southland’s own Matt Archibald is a name to watch. Sure I’m a little biased because I employ the bloke, but he was untouchable whenever he got a sniff of the finish line last week and as he continues to refine his craft he is likely to feature prominently at the highest levels. It’s not inconceivable that Sam Webster might be sandwiched between two Southlanders in the NZ Team Sprint line up before too long.

Pieter Bulling also showed his unquestioned class (when doesn’t he?) and young South Canterbury lad Dylan Kennett underlined his name as one of the best in the business. He is likely to be one of our best chances when the UCI World Juniors Track Championships are staged in Invercargill in 2012.

A number of those on the boards last week will pull the New Zealand skinsuit on for the Oceania Championships at the end of next month at the Super-Drome in Adelaide. The early-season form shown on the ILT Velodrome last week points to a cracking track season ahead.
The frenetic last few weeks locally has also coincided with the shop window for the sport – the BikeNZ Elite NZ team – running into excess baggage issues following their medal haul at the Commonwealth Games, even if a few more God Defend New Zealands and a few less Advance Australia Fairs would have been preferable.
From an event perspective our attention now swings to the PowerNet Tour of Southland which is only three short weeks away. This is a massive undertaking for our Club under the tutelage of long-time Tour Director Bruce Ross and there are some exciting story-lines developing ahead of the 2010 event. We know there will be drama. All that needs to be decided is who will provide it, when and where. Not many local events reach iconic status, but that title sits comfortably around the PowerNet Tour.

Magnificent Yunca Junior Tour

2010-10-04T17:08:00.000+13:00

An outstanding weekend of racing concluded in McIvor Road yesterday afternoon as the Yunca Junior Tour of Southland finished its 26th edition.

I am in the fortunate position of enjoying events like the Yunca for the first time and yet again I was blown away by the magnificent racing, the fantastic atmosphere around the event and, as always, the incredible level of support from a huge number of volunteers and supporters.

As I write, the results team are furiously tapping away beside me to determine final classifications and in some age-groups to say it is close is an understatement.

The wind certainly made it tough on this year’s fields and following Friday’s Prologue at Teretonga the youngsters were put through their paces over another four stages around Otautau, Tuatapere, the Central City and finally around Mabel Bush/Springhills yesterday afternoon. You’ll find the final results elsewhere in this fine publication but all 160+ who lined up at the start line on Friday will certainly have earned their kip last night. I commend each and every one of them from for the level of commitment and mateship they showed over the three days of this year’s Tour.

The strong Australian contingent added another element to the racing. These relationships have been formed over many years and to hear yesterday afternoon just how highly our Aussie mates rated the event was very heartening. And let me tell you, they know how to handle a bike.

This also provides the opportunity for me to publicly thank the organising committee. The huge number of parents and Cycling Southland members and supporters who so willingly put their hand up to give up three days of their free time is astounding. You are the heartbeat of our organisation and I thank you greatly. A special thanks to Sier Vermunt, Phil Culling and Shane Brazier and their organising committee for delivering the best Yunca Tour yet.

We’re giving ourselves today off and then we follow up with our Trans-Tasman Challenge Track Carnival on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. The only problem we have is that we have too many riders! Not a bad position to be in. Over 170 will line up over the two nights and there should be some spectacular racing.

It doubles as the first major local sporting event to be held in Stadium Southland’s ILT Velodrome since the Stadium collapse a fortnight ago. The way things have come together through the recent dramas is nothing short of extraordinary.

I know the whole community supports the Stadium team’s efforts over the last two weeks and the best way we can all show that we’re in behind them is by getting down to the ILT Velodrome this week. Curtain-raiser racing and happy hour starts at 6pm with the Race Programme beginning at 7pm both nights. My advice, get your ticket and get down early. We’ve come off a massive weekend on the road and we’re not planning on slowing down any on the track. See you down here.

Crazy Week: From Stadium Collapse to Yunca Tour

2010-09-27T17:06:00.000+13:00

Talk about a crazy week. It started in the worst possible way, assisting in some small part with the aftermath of the collapse of Stadium Southland. It ended with cyclists back on Stadium Southland’s ILT Velodrome and a full weekend at the Southland Time Trial and Road Race Championships.

Much has been written since last weekend’s day of destruction. Many opinions have been voiced. Whatever yours is, know this – you should be extremely proud of those working on the ground behind the Stadium scenes. Life tends to throw up its fair share of tragedies and they tend to either bring people together or push them apart.

Certainly the evidence of the last week tells me that the sporting organisations and Stadium Southland team are closer now than ever. Already it’s become obvious what can be achieved when we work together. Yes, there will be challenges, but if this week is anything to go by, nothing should be insurmountable.

The best way to bounce back was to get back to business. It seems incredible to me that just four days after the collapse the Dunkley’s Craft Show was setting up in the centre of the track. Today the Stadium Southland team open ticketing for our OctoberFest Track Carnival next Tuesday and Wednesday night (Tickets only $10 for adults and $5 for students from the Stadium’s new reception). That shows how committed the team is to maintaining their spot as the heart of the Southland sporting community.

After the challenges of the last week, it was great to get out in the fresh air to assist with the Southland Road Racing Champs. A lot of familiar names appear in the results you’ll find in this fine publication today, but one should make us all particularly happy. Tom Scully is back and in winning both the Senior Men’s Time Trial and Road Race he’s shown how to bounce back from adversity. You don’t get bitter and twisted. You just get on with the business. Nigel Skelt’s Stadium team provide another perfect example.

This Friday the 26th Yunca Junior Tour will be staged around Southland. Over 160 junior riders from Australasia will battle each other (and maybe the elements) in the country’s premier junior road race. It’s the last round of the National Junior Points Series so the competition should be hot. That will be true also of the OctoberFest Track Carnival which follows the Yunca next week. It will be a great way to get major local events back in Stadium Southland. We’ve got some exciting things planned for these two nights and if you are looking for a couple of hours of non-stop sporting theatre, I know you won’t be disappointed.

And to finish, yesterday Cameron Karwowski showed just how much he’s benefiting from his recent European racing campaign by winning for his H&Js Outdoor World team at this weekend’s Benchmark Road Race in Christchurch. Apparently he went out on training rides every day this past week. That’s commitment ... or madness.

Stadium Will Return Stronger

2010-09-20T00:40:00.002+12:00

Two weeks ago I wrote about being caught in the middle of Christchurch’s big shake. That surreal feeling returned on Saturday morning as news of the collapse of the Stadium’s court structure spread like wildfire throughout the south.

That feeling turned to one of disbelief upon viewing the destruction first hand. It is truly remarkable that no one was killed. Structures can be replaced, people cannot. The lack of injury is nothing short of a miracle.
The other remarkable thing about this tragedy has been the way Nigel Skelt and his Stadium team have swung into action. Although they have been totally shattered that this cornerstone of their lives and of Southland sport has been brought to its knees, they immediately focussed on the job at hand and on the logistical nightmare that the coming days, weeks and months will present.

The Stadium may be down, but the team behind it is already up off the canvas. This augers well for the challenges ahead. It is our responsibility as the Southland sporting and wider community, to unite positively to ensure this jewel in our crown returns stronger than ever.
We hosted our first ever Starter Team’s Racing Night at the ILT Velodrome on Friday night, where 40 newbie racers charged all over the track for two great hours of entertaining racing. (For the record the Edge Roofing and Spouting team snuck in front of the ILT/Heineken team by a solitary point on the table to earn a first up victory.)

To return just over 12 hours later to witness the devastation was incredulous.

Bruce Ross was hosting a track session in the Velodrome at the time. Just 15 minutes earlier he had run through his standard briefing, “in the unlikely event of an emergency ...” Again it shows why organisations can never fall complacent about safety procedures. So it proved on Saturday.
Now we wait for the thaw. I know you will join me in hoping and praying it is fast and incident-free. The ILT Velodrome will remain closed through today up until Tuesday lunchtime at the earliest.

They say things like this happen in threes. Earthquake, Stadium ... I don’t want to think about what the third might be.

To happier matters, congratulations to all of our newbie racers in Cycling Southland’s inaugural Starter Team’s Race Night on Friday.

This new initiative was designed to give newcomers the chance to race against riders of their own ability and try their hand at a number of different events. Lining up with around 15 others in a Scratch, Points or Elimination race is a challenge our riders relished.

This event is a concept we will develop further to make it as easy as possible for beginners to develop in the sport of track cycling. Having spoken to a number of riders over the weekend, each was surprised with how they backed up after a strenuous night on the bike. Shows what a great low-impact activity biking is, doesn’t it?

Proud to Become A MAMIL

2010-09-06T18:38:00.000+12:00

This past week has been notable for a couple of personal milestones.

The first occurred on Thursday when I officially entered the realm of Masters’ cycling, ticking over to 35 years of age. This, I am told, is a landmark in any cyclist’s life and it means I now enter the fastest growing age category in the sport.

I’ve noted a number of newspaper stories recently from home and abroad which have discussed the topic of cycling’s growth amongst middle-aged men particularly. Cycling’s been labelled the new mid-life crisis. Instead of trading in a wife or car, men the country and world over are trading in the couch for a road bike. And a carbon fibre road machine is a far healthier option than a sports car or new life partner for your marriage, your bank balance and your stomach circumference.

It has also given rise to a new favourite acronym of mine, the MAMIL or Middle-Aged Men In Lycra. Now, while that may be a visual image we can all do without, I readily admit, even with my rather limited experience in the saddle, that padded bike shorts do make the world of difference!

On a similar note, yesterday I read on the Stuff website Dr Hamish Osborne from Otago University prescribing exercise for its medicinal benefits. He believes the Government should spend more promoting exercise and less on drugs for the treatment of illnesses, the incidence of which could reduce by as much as 50% with daily exercise. So rather than chastise the MAMIL on how he looks in his figure-hugging get up or label his decision as a mid-life crisis, we should celebrate and follow his choice of a healthier lifestyle.

My second milestone could more accurately be described as a crisis.

It occurred at 4.35am on Saturday morning in what was easily the most terrifying moment of my life. Having overnighted in Christchurch on Friday, I was awoken from my slumber in my hotel room by the damaging earthquake which shook the garden city like never before.

I can think of no greater feeling of helplessness than to know you are completely at the whim of Mother Nature and I don’t think I have ever had a greater sense of relief than when the plane I was finally on lifted off on Saturday night bound for Invercargill.

Stories at the airport and on-board were swapped between friends and strangers, all with common themes of drama, fear and ultimately survival. Like most, I have mates who reside in Christchurch. Some had the good fortune to escape major damage while others had their homes and a lifetime of possessions ruined in less than 60 seconds.

There is something very crystallising about being reminded of your own mortality as we all were in the small hours of Saturday. That’s why I have made the lifestyle and wardrobe choice to join the ever increasing band of MAMILS and it’s why you should seriously think about doing the same.

Feeling the Need For Speed

2010-08-30T17:03:00.001+12:00

It started with a casual conversation at the ILT Velodrome in Invercargill in March with New Zeland Track cycling coaches Tim Carswell and Dayle Cheatley who were about to take their charges to Copenhagen for the World Track Cycling Championships. In between their tortuous final training sessions down on the track we collared the two of them to unashamedly mine them for information on the types of track events which really pack in the crowds around the world.

Early in the conversation Tim piped up, “there’s a window of opportunity later in the year between World Cups,” he said. “When we’re over at the Worlds, why don’t I tap a few guys on the shoulders and see if there’s any interest in some of them coming over for an event between the Melbourne and Cali World Cups in December.”

“Righto” we said, while at the same time wondering how he’d ever find the time to follow through with that statement. A few weeks after he’d returned from his successful Worlds campaign, true to his word he phones and said, “Mate, the response was huge.” And so the ILT Festival of Speed was born.

Over the last four years the ILT Velodrome has been privileged to host some top international talent, but nothing like this. Thanks largely to the work of Tim, Dayle, Justin Grace and co, we have a tremendous opportunity to bring together one of the greatest international track cycling fields ever assembled in New Zealand. Interest is already being fielded from Europe, America, Asia, Australia and of course here at home, guaranteeing some of the best endurance and sprint racing imaginable. We’ve lined up three full nights of full-on racing from December 7th to 9th including the National Madison Championships on the first night of competition.

But the ILT Festival of Speed is about more than just what’s happening on the track. Our aim is to turn this into one major party for three nights. Being a long time sports fan and a relative newcomer to cycling, I don’t think I’ve found a more addictive spectator sport. Certainly the world class facility we are lucky enough to call home in Invercargill helps, but when the gun goes, few sports can match the thrill of track cycling. The ILT Festival of Speed offers a unique opportunity to get up close with some of the world’s best.

Add the calibre of riders to a thumping atmosphere, live music, corporate hospitality options in the track centre, lighting, prize draws and fireworks and we believe we’ve got the perfect combination to launch the sport as a true spectacle to the wider sporting public.
Tickets will go on sale over the next month so keep an eye on www.cyclingsouth.org.nz. You can also register to stay up to date with the event and receive all of the information on the ILT Festival of Speed as soon as it is available by emailing office@cyclingsouth.org.nz or by phoning 03 2173215. It’s going to be some ride.

Recreational Debut Proves Point

2010-08-22T17:40:00.001+12:00

Cycling Southland’s road racers descended on Mabel Bush on Saturday for an 81 kilometre Handicap race around the Woodstock circuit.

Kylie Young was able to hold off Tony Raggett over the final 500 metres to snatch a deserved victory with Mike Matheson in the points again in third ahead of a fast finishing bunch. Garth Cooper was the first scratch rider home in sixth place overall to also claim the fastest time of the day, 2 hours 6 minutes and 30 seconds.

Three weeks in to the new season and our Points Series leaders are Robert Huisman (A Grade), Ray Robinson (B Grade) and Mike Matheson (C Grade).

Given the rather chilly conditions and the absence of our Junior riders who were in camp in Heriot for the weekend, numbers were again strong and included a great group of recreational riders. It was great to be part of that bunch on Saturday and I can now speak from experience when I say this Recreational Ride is the perfect way to get into cycling. We had some experienced heads to guide us in Nick Harris, Graeme Irvine and Neil Jamieson and they even offered a tow up the hills if required (although I’m still waiting for mine).

As someone who hasn’t done any competitive cycling in my life it was great fun and proved to me yet again what a great recreational activity cycling is. The bunch travelled at the speed of the slowest rider, you could have a chat along the way and an hour later you were off the bike and watching the competitive cyclists hammer their way around the circuit to the finish line. The best news is you don’t wreck your body in the process. Even I woke up the next day feeling fresh ... a minor miracle.

The recreational ride has quickly become an important part of our Club activities. I’d encourage you to contact the Cycling Southland office for details on how you can join the ride on Saturday afternoons and try road cycling in a fun, safe and supportive environment.

This weekend we host our annual Memorial Weekend. This is unquestionably one of our Club’s most important weekends. It provides the chance to remember and recognise the contributions made by our cycling forebears. The 100 kilometre handicapped race follows the course of the old Glengarry 100 Club Classic. A Grade competes for the McLeay Memorial, B Grade for the Bunty Hewitt Memorial, C Grade for the Martin Verbeek Memorial and the Juniors race for the Curtis Dunn Memorial.

Each has a special place in our Club’s history and identity and this weekend offers the chance to salute their memory is the most appropriate fashion possible – by going out and racing hard.

This year we are also fortunate to have close to a full complement of the McLeay family in town to either ride or support the event. We are very appreciative of their personal effort to be part of our Memorial event on Saturday.

Piet Shows The Way

2010-08-16T09:35:00.000+12:00

It’s great to be a Southlander. On Saturday evening we watched another gutsy Southland Stags’ effort and 12 hours earlier, 18,000 kilometres away in Italy, Southland’s Pieter Bulling was just as courageous, coming within an ace of standing on the podium at the Junior World Track Cycling Championships.

I awoke Saturday to a text from coach Stu Macdonald in which he used the term “pure Southland pride” to describe Bulling’s ride in the Points Race. Piet was one of five riders who lapped the rest of the field and finished just a point behind the bronze-medal winner. With two fourths from his first two events, (his final ride is this morning NZ time in the Madison) Bulling will certainly not lack for motivation as he eyes a second shot at the Worlds in 12 months time.

Without wanting to buck the trend of Aussies claiming credit for a Kiwi when it suits them, we can also claim a small piece of the performance of our Trans-Tasman neighbour. Again Australia has shown its class as a world cycling powerhouse at the Junior Worlds and over recent years a number of its 2010 Junior team has spent time around Southland in the Yunca Junior Tour and on the ILT Velodrome. It’s a pointer to the quality events and facilities our young riders are blessed with in the south and the wonderful opportunity it presents Southlanders to achieve on the world stage.

Already a large Australian contingent is lining up for this year’s edition of the Yunca Tour. With renewed focus over recent years this event has enjoyed a real growth spurt. It has always provided a launching pad for top southern talent, Glenn McLeay, Matt Randall, Glen Thomson have all cut their teeth in the event, but more recently it has quickly become one of Australasia’s premier Junior events. This year it also has the honour of being the last event in the National Junior Points Series and like all of the events in the Cycling Southland calendar, it is only possible thanks to the unwavering support of an army of parents and Club volunteers. This year’s Yunca Tour runs from October 1st to 3rd and is followed by our OctoberFest Track Event on the 5th and 6th.

Saturday also saw another record turn-out for Cycling Southland’s Road Race at Woodlands. A total of 114 riders lined up at the start line across Junior, Senior and Recreational Divisions. The major lesson I have learnt in my four months in this role is that Cycling Southland is first and foremost a sporting club. The single most important thing we do is provide the best opportunities for our Club members to ride. While hosting major national and international road and track events is wonderful, it is merely the by-product of a strong local riding scene. If we continue to do the best job possible for local riders, everything else will follow. And the really exciting thing is that we are just getting started.

Bulling To Lead Charge

2010-08-09T07:56:00.000+12:00

The World Junior Cycling Championships are being staged in Italy this week. The Road Championships have already begun but from a Southland perspective our interest will focus on the Track Championships in Montichiari, where on Thursday morning our time, our own Pieter Bulling and the rest of the Kiwi Track squad will line-up for the start of a busy five days.

Bulling is unquestionably one of the most talented all-round riders in the Men’s squad and even though this is his Junior Worlds debut he represents New Zealand’s best medal chance in a majority of the endurance track events.

However, due to the congested nature of the programme, team management have been forced to make some strategic decisions about which events he enters to ensure he is at the peak of his powers when he lines up in the black skin-suit. The question for coach Stu MacDonald and co is where to focus Piet’s attention to give him the best chance of emulating Southland’s Cameron Karwowski’s medal winning effort in Moscow 12 months ago.

Bulling will start his campaign in the early hours of Friday morning our time when he lines up in the Teams Pursuit Qualifying. Early Saturday he will compete in the Points Race, before teaming up with Canterbury’s Alex Frame in the Madison on Monday morning.

Bulling adds another name to a long list of Southland youngsters who have represented their country on the World Junior stage. Last year Karwowski won gold in the Team Sprint, while Hamish Tomlinson just missed out on a podium finish in the Teams Pursuit.

In 2008, Southland’s Cathy Jordan and Sequoia Cooper teamed with Gemma Dudley to claim silver in the Women’s Team Pursuit in South Africa and in 2007 Jordan had a couple of Southland lads by the name of Dawkins and Scully who have gone on to be reasonable bike riders.

The build-up to Piet’s trip to Italy has also provided a reminder that Invercargill’s hosting of the 2012 event is now just two years away. This week’s UCI Management Committee meeting should provide us with confirmed dates and our planning will then be able to begin in earnest.

If you are going to host any World Championship the Juniors is the one to get. Depending on how optimistic you are, there could be anywhere up to a thousand international visitors descending on Invercargill in a couple of years.

Already we have engaged the service of Arthur Klap to assist with our initial planning and organisational structure. If there is a major event to be staged in New Zealand, Arthur’s normally involved somehow. His insights have already been invaluable and our international promotional campaign begins this week in Italy. We are making sure New Zealand (and Southland) is on the radar a long way out.

Seeing a young Southlander in the silver fern on the top step of the podium sometime over the next week would provide a nice helping hand to our efforts. Go hard Piet.

Record Field To Start New Season

2010-08-02T21:48:00.001+12:00

Frenetic racing and big numbers marked the start of Cycling Southland’s Road and Track Club racing this weekend.

Friday night featured the sixth round of the Baxter and Neilson Junior Track Points Series at the ILT Velodrome, followed by the first roll-out for our more experienced senior riders in our new Senior Racing Night.

After an eight week break over winter, Saturday saw the first of the new season’s road races with 100 riders descending on Winton to stretch their legs and blow-out any cob-webs from the break. I have only been on the scene for five minutes but I am reliably told by those who have been involved in the club scene for a lot longer that this was one of the biggest fields ever assembled.

That support is heartening, but don’t think we are about to finish there. This Saturday will see the launch of our Recreational Rides, on the same course as our Club races. This is designed for those new to the sport or those who just want a quiet roll over some fabulous country-side. We will only be riding as fast as the slowest rider (which will likely be me) so check out cyclingsouth.org.nz this week for details. And yes, we will be starting early to let you get to Rugby Park in time for kick-off.

Friday night at the ILT Velodrome was just as large. The junior racing was fast and furious and shows how highly sought-after the Yellow Baxter and Neilson jerseys are. Remarkably both Under 17 Men and Women categories has to be split by count-backs with the top three in each age-group tied together at the end of night. Tom Beadle and Georgia Timpany took the honours courtesy of their Time Trial victories. The Under 15s were clear cut. Both Michael Culling and Sophie McMurdo kept their unblemished Baxter and Neilson seasons intact with comfortable wins. The Under 13 Boys continued an arm-wrestle that has swung back and forth all year between Hamish Beadle and Josh Carpenter. Beadle was able to but another couple of points on his rival in the overall standings with a narrow win on Friday. And if the points table wasn’t proof enough of how evenly matched the two are, on Friday their 250m Time Trial times were separated by one one-hundredth of a second. 22.72 seconds played 22.73. Congratulations also to Madeline Gough who rode well to claim the U13 Girls jersey. Mark in the last Friday of the month for the next exciting chapter.

The seniors then suited up to start their Friday Night series. Features of the night included Brehan Cairns drawing first blood in the 8km A-Grade Motor-Paced scratch race, covering the distance in 9’44. Karl Watson showed why he has such a fine future in the sport, holding off the rest of the A-Grade field for a debut win in the 2.5k Scratch.

I can’t wait for more of the same this weekend. Hope you can enjoy the ride with us.

Dean Shows How It's Done

2010-07-26T21:43:00.002+12:00

By the time you read this, the 2010 Tour de France has rolled under the Champs Elysees and mercifully, sleep patterns can return to normal. This year’s event was filled with high drama headlined by the “to wait or not to wait” debate following Alberto Contador’s attack, taking advantage of Andy Schleck’s mechanical issues in what has unfortunately proved to be the decisive moment of this year’s event.

Whatever side you take (and there is no middle ground on this one) if nothing else, it has guaranteed this year’s Tour will live long in the memory banks.

From a Kiwi perspective, it has also been notable for Julian Dean’s outstanding effort in earning multiple podium finishes. At the same time he continued his habit of being caught in the middle of some of the Tour’s most bizarre instances.

Last year he had pellets dug out of his fingers after being shot at by an air-gun wielding spectator. This year he was on the receiving end of Mark Renshaw’s head at 70 kilometres per hour and was crash tackled by a gendarme who mistook him for a member of the public on the race route prior to Friday morning’s stage. I would have though the gaudy orange Garmin-Transitions team kit might have been a giveaway. Throw a hospital visit in to the mix and Dean’s 2010 Tour experience also fits into the memorable category.

Further outstanding news over the weekend as Eddie Dawkins created a little piece of history on Saturday by becoming the first New Zealander to win the prestigious Keirin Cup in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. With the number of Brits (the latest being Sir Chris Hoy) withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games to concentrate on Olympic qualification at the new European Championships, Dawkins and his fellow sprint men could be eyeing some excess baggage charges when they return from Dehli later in the year.

Whilst on the subject of Dehli, Cycling Southland’s Graham Sycamore is wearing out another passport, officiating at the Commonwealth Games test event at the track cycling venue this week. Syccie tells us the new Dehli velodrome is amazing, as it should be with a price tag of US$52 Million – although even all those zeros haven’t stopped some rather shoddy workmanship. He confirms (totally unbiased of course) it still falls short of the ILT Velodrome.

And while all of the above was going on, Pieter Bulling slipped quietly out of the country last week, bound for Montichiari, Italy and the World Junior Track Cycling Champs. We have watched Piet put the finishing touches on his preparation under the watchful eye of mentor (and legend) Laurie Tall.

As Andy Schleck has found out, many sporting fairytales don’t always have a happy ending, but if one young man deserves to taste success it’s Bulling. His work ethic and level-headed nature have made him a great ambassador for his family, his province and his sport.

Fingers crossed he can provide a golden glow for Big Eddie to follow in October.

Relief to Hear From UCI ... Finally

2010-07-19T15:35:00.001+12:00

The feedback since our announcement last week on the PowerNet Tour’s parting of ways with the UCI has been interesting.

Internally, the overwhelming sense is one of relief. Relief that finally, after 18 months of trying, cycling’s international body has provided some belated direction on our Tour’s ability to continue to operate under the UCI’s onerous road rules. Clarity at last.

In any sport, gaining the endorsement from your international body should be the ultimate – something to aspire to, something that once you have it you don’t want to live without it. In this case however, I am still struggling to find anyone who can provide a concrete benefit in favour of fighting to retain UCI status.

After reading this paper on Saturday, I suspect the only benefit might be to offer “bragging rights” over other similar events. I apologise to our Tour of Wellington friends if that appears a “loser attitude,” but on the evidence of the torrent of correspondence and calls I have received since our announcement late last week, it seems team managers, officials and cyclists generally agree.

The rules have become so prescriptive there seemed a real danger the life could be squeezed out of the “friendly Tour.” With the outstanding support we receive from volunteers, riders and sponsors, headlined by PowerNet, I know we all now have that little bit extra motivation to make this year’s PowerNet Tour the best in recent memory.

Here’s the crux of it for me. As New Zealand’s reputation continues to rise in the world of cycling, the number of Kiwi riders in UCI racing teams around the globe will also increase. How ridiculous would it be, in time, if the country’s top twenty bike riders couldn’t take part in the PowerNet Tour because of UCI fineprint?

Last week we couldn’t entertain the thought of seeing the likes of Greg Henderson, Julian Dean, Hayden Roulston, Tim Gudsell or Sam Bewley on tour. This week we can. (Yes, we’re already on it, don’t worry).

At its highest level the UCI is questioning the lack of events registered on its Oceania Tour calendar for this season. There is only one UCI calendar event in New Zealand and Australia. Instead of sending correspondence down under, the UCI should be asking itself serious questions as to why that might be.

Don’t get me wrong, UCI accreditation has served us well in the past. It elevated the Tour to the international stage at the perfect time in its life cycle. But we now have a timely opportunity to again re-focus our energies into what has always made the Tour of Southland great for 53 years and counting.

It’s a sad indictment on the international body, but last week’s news was truly a weight off our shoulders. We can now get on with running the country’s best Tour, with the riders we want and continue to showcase the racing, the hospitality and the experience that is the PowerNet Tour, without being suffocated by rules and regulations.

The Race for a Cycling Centre Begins

2010-07-12T11:03:00.003+12:00

The cycling week has been dominated by Le Tour, features being Kiwi Julian Dean’s outstanding lead-out work and Mark Cavendish’s total domination of stage sprint finishes.

Closer to home this week we received further information from SPARC regarding its proposed Cycling Centre of Excellence.

Last month, Sports Minister Murray McCully announced that a hub of cycling excellence is to be developed to provide for all cycling disciplines (road, track, BMX, mountain bike). This week we learned a little more about the process.

Expressions of interest documentation will be released on July 30th and will be submitted to the SPARC High Performance Board by the end of August. Those expressions will be reviewed and from there a yet to be determined number will be confirmed to take part in the second phase. Request for Proposals will be released to the targeted regions/cities at the end of October and be submitted by the end of January 2011. Following a review of these proposals and presentations to its HP Board, SPARC will identify its preferred proposal. Then, subject to the Minister’s and the SPARC Board’s approval the decision will be confirmed by mid-April next year.

There is a lot we don’t know. The devil will be in the detail to be released later this month. The process outlined above would tend to suggest that politics will play its part. Bill and Eric, take this as a heads up to expect a call. What we do know is that a number of regional centres have lodged an interest and we are one of them.

We have an incredible facility which gives us a head-start. We have runs on the board with Bike NZ given that the ILT Velodrome has been the nation’s home of track cycling for the last four years. We have strong mountain-biking and BMX clubs and a proven ability to firstly build and then resource facilities which are world class. Sure, we could do with a few more hills for road racing, but a Central Otago base for a road programme would be a perfect fit.

Even given all of this, to my mind the biggest asset we will have in this process is community support. Many centres have talked about building a Velodrome, some for years. We just got on and built one. That is due to the commitment of passionate Southlanders and the outstanding support from funders, headlined by the Invercargill Licensing Trust and Community Trust of Southland. Those organisations make us the envy of the cycling community.

Back in my former life in radio I used to talk to businesses about point-of-difference. What’s the one thing that separates you from the guy across the road, pedalling the same goods or services.

Southland has a huge strategic advantage with the ILT Velodrome. This process isn’t just about cycling. It’s about answering whether we as a region want to give up an advantage like this and become just one of the crowd.

I know my answer.

Nick Jeffrey

nick@cyclingsouth.org.nz

Southlanders Taking on the Cycling World

2010-07-06T10:55:00.001+12:00

With the Corporate Pursuit now confined to the memory banks, aside from a few lingering aches and pains, Cycling Southland is busy planning for its upcoming road and track racing seasons.

Last week’s Harrex Group-sponsored event was an outstanding success with record fields, record crowds and record times. The atmosphere created in the ILT Velodrome was superb and provides the benchmark for future events. Since taking up the role of Chief Executive I have been blown away by the potential which exists in our sport. We have a world-class facility and a world class spectator sport. Our key focus is providing the overall package which delivers a great experience for riders and spectators alike in this magnificent arena.

Cycling is a truly international sport. Its flagship event the Tour de France began its three week journey in Rotterdam yesterday and the break in the local season allows us to reflect on the number of southerners who are plying their trade in the saddle around the globe.

Our team farewelled Eddie Dawkins this week. The big fella flew out for the US on Thursday to start his pre-Commonwealth Games build-up in earnest and if the way he devoured his Indian lunch is anything to go by, he looks primed for Dehli.

Gabby Vermunt reports in regularly from Belgium with news of clear blue skies and frenetic racing over cobbled roads.

Mat Marshall is across the Tasman and this week completed a seventh place finish in the Tour of Toowoomba general classification, not a bad effort considering he admits to being some way of being fully race fit.

Junior Sportsperson of the Year Cam Karwowski is State-side enjoying life on his bike at one of world cycling’s most popular sites, Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. Riders the world over descend on the township every northern summer.

Cam’s form is nearly as hot as the 40 degree temperatures and it’s even better when the prize money is paid in greenbacks. On Wednesday (NZ time) he and Christchurch’s Chad Adair won three of the four track events they entered and he reports that out on the road you could ride the area for three months without having to follow the same stretch twice.

He’s joined in T-town by Southland team mate Hamish Presbury and a couple of transplanted Southlanders, Andy Hughson and James Canny who are all riding under the Team New Zealand Pro Cycling banner. They too defied jet-lag to compete with distinction in their debut effort on the track – Presbury’s fifth in one of the All Star Finals races a highlight.

There is no question that the impressive feats of New Zealand’s elite riders on the international stage can be traced directly to the ILT Velodrome. The fact that these and many more Southlanders are also now able to compete and win offshore is further evidence of the power of this community facility we call home.

And by the way, it’s not a bad place to turn up to work every morning.

Enjoy the ride
Nick Jeffrey

Why Tom Scully Will Bounce Back Stronger Than Ever

2010-06-02T10:59:00.000+12:00

This morning I arrived at work to be greeted by news I had spent a week praying wouldn't come to pass.

Tom Scully's crash in last week's RAS Tour in Ireland has ended his cycling year and with it, his hopes of representing his country at the Commonwealth Games in Dehli.

When news filtered through last week of the crash within sight of the finish line of the third stage on the RAS we all felt sick to our stomachs but we knew that if anyone could find a way to come out of a 60km/h crash with a power pole unscathed, it would be someone like Scud.

Unfortunately the luck of the Irish deserted him and this morning's email from his hospital bed in Galway confirmed our worst held fears - his year is done. No Commonwealth Games. Surgery in Ireland, followed by a couple of weeks to stabalise and then what I guess will be an uncomfortable flight home.

His pre-Games campaign which was to take him from Ireland to Belgium, Pennsylvania, Bordeaux and then Dehli ends just three days in.

Now, mere mortals like I would be lying in my hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, in the depths of gloom, wrecked with self-pity. But that's not Tom's style.

I replied to his emailed update to supporters this morning to add to what I'm sure is a long list of well-wishers. Within half an hour he was back to me (I guess he has time on his hands to reply) with, and I quote, "it's a wee set-back." He is really positive and believes something like this "is all part of it eh."
(Note: You can read his full update by clicking here.)

I know it's easy to say things like this, but having known Tom for only a brief time, I know it's more than just talk. It's the reason he's achieved such phenomenal things on a bike in such a short amount of time and quickly become such a key member of Bike NZ's HP programme. He's level-headed and takes things in his stride.

Example two ... he blows up in his World Championship debut in the Points Race in Copenhagen and two nights later he's powering to seventh in the Scratch Race.

It's not how you fall ... it's how you get back up.

He's already talking about getting back on the bike, setting his sights on the end of this year or the start of next for his competitive return.

I'm reminded of the famous quote, "that which does not kill us, only makes us stronger."

Even though right now he struggles to make it down the corridor, I'm sure you'll agree that it won't be long before the Scud is back on target.

A Crash Course in Cycling

2010-04-18T22:53:00.000+12:00

I've had my feet under a desk in the Cycling Southland office for something like six weeks now. I'm not sure whether it's because I feel so at home, or whether it's because I've had a bit on, but it feels like I've been here for months, rather than days.

It's been a crash course for the last month and a half and boy, have I learnt a lot!

My background was outside the sports industry. Media actually (16 years in radio ... although I try to keep that quiet.) I came into the role with a commercial background. I'd readily admit that in my blissful ignorance I thought that my role would have been mostly around commercial opportunites - sponsorships, increasing funding streams, developing new programmes and events and revenue sources.

Now, after my crash course, I won't say I've gone 180 degrees ... but it's not far off it. What I've realised is that all those commercial aspects are very important. To be fair there is limitless potential for this organisation. Naturally a key part of my role is making sure the balance sheet stays looking good and the risk around the organisation is minimised. But I now believe it is secondary to the most important function in my role. Members.

Cycling Southland is a sports club. A large one admittedly, but one none the less. I've come to the realisation that the balance sheet can look good, but unless we have a happy, healthy membership, we are as good as bankrupt as an organisation.

There is so much goodwill around this organisation, so much experience and expertise and so many ideas. Although I shouldn't publicly state this ... my job is pretty straight-forward. 1. Listen. 2. Put the people to make thing happen together. 3. Give them all the support they need to get the job done.

At the risk of sounding like a local body politician in election year ... it's about putting Members first. The best part about that, is that I know all the commercial stuff will start roaring along too if we make sure the most important person in Cycling Southland, you the member, is in the middle of every thing we do.

Hope you're enjoying the ride. I know I am

Nick

Strong Southland Contingent Off To World Champs

2010-03-16T14:44:00.003+13:00

Cycling Southland congratulates club members Eddie Dawkins and Tom Scully, who were this morning confirmed in Bike NZ’s 17-strong squad for the World Track Cycling Championships in Denmark later this month.

Dawkins, who has been in blistering form over recent months, is part of a five-strong men’s sprint squad and Scully will ride the Points race and the two-man Madison alongside Timaru’s Marc Ryan.

Cycling Southland’s Chief Executive Nick Jeffrey said, “we are delighted to see Eddie and Tom’s continued development to the point where they now form a key part of the national squad. The NZ squad has been in camp at the ILT Velodrome for the last two weeks and certainly have been driven hard by Tim Carswell and his coaching team. We’ve been lucky enough to see Ali Shanks wearing world championship colours while training and it would be outstanding if we see a few more of those white uniforms when the squad returns for its next camp in Invercargill after Copenhagen.”

“I know I speak for all of the Southland sporting public and certainly for Tom and Eddie’s fellow club members when I wish them and the rest of the squad the very best for their World Champs campaign,” Jeffrey said.

Cycling Southland member Chris O’Connor from Invercargill also joins the team as mechanic.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Cycling Fan?

2010-03-13T20:49:00.001+13:00

For sixteen years I was very lucky. I worked in an industry that I loved and was passionate about. Radio was my life and I had a heap of fun. The only way I was going to leave the industry that gave me so many good times through the years was if I found something I could get equally passionate about. And it hasn't taken me long to confirm that cycling was the best possible choice.

In fact I know the exact amount of time it took to confirm my thinking - 44.632 seconds. Let me set the scene ... I had been appointed to the role of Cycling Southland CEO early in January, to start March 1st. Even though the Elite National Track Champs were scheduled for mid-February I knew it was too good an opportunity to not get an early look behind the scenes. What I saw blew me away.

On the Friday night with the track and the talent running hot, the programme finished with Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and local hero Eddie Dawkins suiting up with the Team Sprint record in their sights. They blew it (and me in the process) away.

The seats at the ILT Velodrome were probably three quarters full - but those eight or nine hundred people lifted the roof off the place for a tick under 45 seconds, roaring to get those boys home.

Coming into my new role, it's pretty obvious that we need to bottle that 45 seconds and give it to the paying public as often as we can.

I've been converted in less than 45 seconds. Now my aim is to do the same with you.

Enjoy the ride
Nick