Bike Manawatu Success at the North Island Series

by Bike Manawatu | Oct 29, 2020 | Notices

Bike Manawatu Success at the North Island Series

One of the main aims of the bike Manawatu board for the last 3 years has been to return to the roots of our club, and increase participation in club racing.
It hasn’t happened overnight, but boy has it happened.  To increase participation, we had to ensure we were running club races, and in the most cost effective way we could – Tim Lloyd upskilled and became qualified in STMS, and the club purchased a new timing system which Mike Craine has taken the reins of. – without these two giving up their time and energy we would not be where we are today.
Keryn our secretary has been amazing with TMP submissions and continually streamlining our logistics – so before I go any further I need to say a huge thank you to Mike, Tim, Keryn and their families – without your tireless efforts, we would not be where we are today

We slowly increased the races we had on offer, and reintroduced flat circuit racing at Linton and A1 loops  – this bought is some first timers who fell in love with the buzz of racing, including club sponsor Rob Ryan from Palmfeild Motors who loved it so much he sponsored a 3 race series with free entry to the 3rd race for those that had entered race 1 and 2 as well as a barbecue after race 2 of the series.  Participation was up and people were loving the racing we had on offer.

Then lockdown happened – and no one really knew what was ahead of us apart from late summer races and Age Group club Road Nationals were being postponed.  We had to think outside the square and as the country moved down the levels, we reintroduced club racing – starting with an ITT and then a 2 up TT before we made a return to club races with the help of Mike Simpson and the team at Manawatu Schools Cycling – this was a partnership that was very beneficial to Bike Manawatu and again saw thriving numbers at our races.  This year we had a record number of club members enter age group club nationals when they ran in July, and we had many entering for the first time.

Something we were hoping for was for Jorge Sandoval to change the format of his North Island series to a graded series instead of age group based racing, and when he did – we were eager to increase bike Manawatu’s participation from 1 team to 2, but interest was so great that we were able to enter 3 teams including a number of club juniors that we could introduce to teams racing with the support and guidance of our masters riders. Adding to that the WCNI , Base Solutions and Luxury Cycle Tours teams meant that there were 6 teams from Manawatu entering the series.

Although the North Island series is a team competition there is also kudos in the individual standings.

Race 1 of the series was cancelled due to weather conditions so race 2 the week later was our first chance to see how the new format worked out. All BM teams rode strong races with the Cat 2 second overall with max Ferguson getting 3rd place and Jeremy Rowe from WCNI in 4th place, Cat 3 I was 2^nd overall with Dale Nicholls finishing in 1st place and getting the leaders jersey.  Bike Manawatu Cat 4 was third overall in team standings with  Chris Harris and Mike Thompson who are riding for Luxury Cycle Tours finishing 1st and 2nd with Lochie Foote from the bike Manawatu Cat 4 team finishing 5th.

Race 3 was a two race format  I was extremely proud of Bike Manawatu and all our other local cyclists.  There was a lot of green on the podium, and other local riders on other teams were also on the podium – and this is absolutely fantastic for our club.
In Category 4 Jack Overwheel was 1st and Lochie Foote was 3rd in the crit and we went 1,2,3 in the first sprint with Jack, Lochie and Brady Kennett.  Lochie also took 2nd in the 2nd sprint. The team also won the the Team Time Trial which is a massive effort. .Mike Thompson riding for Luxury Cycle Tours is still wearing the Leaders Jersey for this category. 
In Category 3, Dale Nicholls was 3rd in the crit and kept the Leaders Jersey and former club member Eric D’Arbois was 4rd, while Riley Tunnicliffe was 2nd in the 1st sprint and 3rd in the 2nd sprint.  This team also wad 2nd in the team time trial 
In Category 2, Max Fergusson was 2nd and Jeremy Rowe riding for the WCNI team took 3rd in the first sprint.  WCNI  won the Team Time Trial just edging Bike Manawatu by 2 seconds

Bike Manawatu has no team in Category 1, but there are club members riding in this category and Madi Hartley-Brown was 1st and Adam Martin was 3rd.  Madi also took 2nd in the 2nd sprint, and their team won the Team Time Trial.

Points are still to be finalised but in Cat 2 WCNI and BM are tied for the lead. It would appear that BM are also leading  Cat 3 and 4

Game on.

It was a proud moment  to see all that green on the podium, and to see other club members riding for other teams also on the podium.  Many thanks to all the teams and their managers for assembling the riders to represent the club. As a club we are very proud of everyone.

Here’s to seeing club racing continuing to gain momentum at bike Manawatu and a big congratulations to all members racing in this series.

West Coast North Island Communique #1 2021 Track Nats

by Bike Manawatu | Oct 29, 2020 | Notices

 West Coast North Island Communique #1 2021 Track Nats               

Notice to all trackies…….

Whether you’re a current trackie, a past trackie or even a junior rider that doesn’t yet know they’re a trackie – here is some info for the 2020/2021 National Championship season.

·         Elite and Under 19 Madison and Omnium 27^th – 29^th Nov 2020 Cambridge

·         Elite and Under 19 Track Nationals 24^th – 27^th Feb 2021 Invercargill.

·         Age Group and Master’s Track Nationals 10^th – 13^th Mar 2021 Cambridge.

To be entered in the NZ Track Nationals you must be a member of a Cycling Club that has an affiliation with the West Coast North Island Cycling Centre and meet some qualifying criteria.  You will be riding for the WCNI centre. Selectors for our centre are

·         Grant Wilson      Taranaki               grantw@taranakieng.co.nz        

·         Mike Simpson    Manawatu          mikesimpson30@gmail.com

·         Nick Spark           Horowhenua     (Convenor)nickspark@xtra.co.nz

Selectors will be present at most Club and Centre events to observe riders but more importantly, be available to answer questions, and generally assist with the process. The table below displays the qualifying times for each event and describes the limitations we have in numbers attending etc. This may seem a little confusing right now, but it will become clear as the season progresses. I have listed below bullets points of some important facts/requests.

·         It would be helpful if each Club could appoint a single person to be their point of contact for communications etc. (Advise the selectors).

·         Club reps should be someone who can actively encourage participation in track riding and selection for Nationals.

·         All riders must register their interest as a Nationals contender with the convenor of selectors.

·         All track carnivals and training should be done on your gearing for your 2021 grade. Even if an event is run in 2020, we are targeting selection for 2021 but be sure to study the fine print of events run outside WCNI.

·         Selectors will be present at all Club carnivals and WCNI track champs, so it is important that you, as riders, attend these events to get noticed.

·         Qualifying time from outside events can be submitting but please let the selectors know where and when you achieved such times. Selectors can only use correctly recorded times from 3 stop watches and which have been signed off by a commissaire or published at events using electronic timing equipment.

It is a little frustrating for all of us that qualifying times are based on riding indoors, so riders are encouraged to attend events at the Cambridge Avantidrome. Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Auckland Centre Champs (held 11^th – 13th December 2020) is a good opportunity to hit your times and get some good racing.

Please be reminded that the selectors are motivated to get as many riders as possible to Nationals not chop riders or make it difficult to achieve selection. Any queries, please ask.

Selection Criteria/ Qualification Times

Listed below are the maximum number of riders the Centre can enter per event, together with Time Qualification standards where appropriate.

Selections for the Scratch and Points Race across the Age Groups are not limited but riders will need to demonstrate at the Centre championships that they are at a level of ability to be competitive at the National Championships.

Other contested events eg; Keirin, where there are limited spots available will be selected by rider placing at the Centre Track Championships, with the top riders gaining entry sequentially up to the permitted number of places.

Qualifying times that are recorded outside of the Centre Championships should be posted within the previous six months and signed off by a Cycling New Zealand official, eg; Commissaire Timed Events – All riders who match the Time Qualification (TQ’s) are permitted entry if selected by their Centre (no limit). If the number of TQ’s exceed the noted number, then no Non-TQ’s are permitted. If the number of TQ’s are less than the noted number, then the remaining places can be filled by non-TQ’s.

Qualifying Criteria 2020

Important Events to attend.

Please see attached WCNI Events calendar.

Finally, let’s all look forward to a great season of track riding and clubs will be canvassed for their rider’s names and details in due course.

Kind regards,

Nick Spark

Convenor of Selectors

027 485 3632

Please click here to view the latest WCNI 2020 – 2021 Events Calendar