by Glenys Taylor | Dec 22, 2014 | News
SIMON VAN VELTHOOVEN
Cambridge 2014
Since moving back to NZ from Japan in September earlier this year all I can say is that it has been awesome. Training in this town is much ‘easier’ in regards to the facilities and the coaches available but I can tell you now – the efforts themselves are much harder and every session has all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed.
Once arriving into the country I had to crack straight into the Class 1 race that each country has to hold in order for their riders to qualify for Worlds and Olympics.
It was good to come straight from Japan with all the racing and travelling and then post a good 200m time and end up 4th in match sprints and win the Keirin the following night.
After the Commonwealth Games my coach Anthony and I had a quick debrief. Coming second in the Kilo TT without a PB time and a very mediocre performance in the Keirin we decided the bottom line was that I was not tracking upwards like the other guys in the team were. The simple answer to it was that I needed to stay put in one place and do a proper training block to get my base strength back to where it used to be in 2012. This meant I was in for a whole lot of squats and track work, which I have loved every minute of. I do find it difficult to sleep at night when I feel I have not trained hard enough to satisfy my needs to beat the best in the world. Many times the light was out at8.30pm!
Even though the best thing for me was to stay at home and train I still felt very left out when the team departed for the London World Cup. It was talked up to be the test event for most countries leading into the World Champs in February so was to have stiff competition. The last time I raced a World Cup in London was at the Olympic Test event in February 2012. I made the Keirin final which had riders not too different to the final at the Games, but more importantly afterwards I stood outside in the crisp winter air and told myself over and over that you were good enough to win a proper medal here in August, and you will smash World Champs in Melbourne in a couple of months to justify your spot in the Olympic Team.
So yeah it would have been nice to compete in a big race on a velodrome that holds so many good memories, but I just had to keep my mouth shut and look after the small things so when the time comes the big things will look after themselves.
Not all is lost because in January after the training block has finished and the tapering has been done I will race the third World Cup in Cali, Colombia where the World Champs were held in February this year where we won the Team Sprint and I placed third in the Kilo TT. Hopefully my legs will be thumping so I will produce some good results (win) and feed my desire to stand on that top dais!
The training has been going well – I am squatting over 200kg and pumping out seated kilometre time trials around 1.04 pace which is not too shabby on drops and spoke wheels. There is still a little more training to do where we need to bale all this strength up and somehow convert it to speed on the track so wish me luck!
Thank you for your ongoing support over the year. I hope you have a great Christmas and very sunny New Year.
Regards,
Simon van Velthooven
by Glenys Taylor | Dec 17, 2014 | News
On Monday night nearly 100 people descended on Marist Clubrooms for the final major gathering of the year. It was also an opportunity to say thanks to Paul van Velthooven who had served as chairperson of the Board since Bike Manawatu was formed.
The BBQ had been cooked by a handful of the younger men of the club and started off the evening before the formal proceedings started.
Steve Stannard welcomed everybody and thanked sponsors, family members and riders who had supported the club in many ways over the year.
Cups and trophies were awarded to a very diverse group of riders, not all young or old, showing the strength of the club. A number of people were adked to help present the cups including Paul van Velthooven, Board members Iona McCarthy and Marcel Hollenstein and life member Mike Keenan as well as club personality and Enduro cyclist Colin Anderson.
Hill Climb Champs
This year the champs were held up Ngahere Park the same course that was used a couple of years ago on Saturday 13th December .
Men Matt Watts 12:11 Hill climb champ trophy
Women Libby Arbuckle 14:43 Womens triers cup
U17 Madi Hartley- Brown 12:21 U17 hill climb trophy
Club Time Trial Champs were held at Rongotea earlier in the year . Cups will be presented tonight
U23/Senior/Open(25Km) Matt Seeley 35.17 Wilson and Beach cup-open individual TT
Vet Men (25 Km) Steve Stannard 35.25 Pirie Family Cup – 1st Vet Men
U19 Men (25 Km) Alex West 34.40 Medal
U19/U23 Women 20km no participants
U17 Boys (15 Km) Robert Stannard 23.51 Bloomfield challenge Cup (U17 TT)
U17 Girls (15 Km) Michaela Drummond 27.33 Hollows Family Trophy
U15 Girls (15 Km) Kelly Levin 31.45 Watts cup (1st U15 rider)
U15 Boys (15Km) Fergus Washington Smith 32.36 Medal
Vet Women (20 Km) Megan Blatchford 39.11 Pirie Family Cup – 1st Vet Women
Club Road Race Champs This year it was raced again on the Hiwinui – Colyton loop for the masters riders and the juniors including the senior and open men had a separate race doing the Valley Rd circuit. Cups are to be presented tonight.
(4 laps)
U19 men Joel Yates Ian Little Wheel (1st U19 rider)
U23/Senior Paddy Daly Toon challenge shield
U17 Boys Stewart Campbell Broadway cup (1st U17 rider)
U15 Boys (2 laps) Fergus Washington-Smith Bate cup (1st U15 rider)
Master Women 1(3 laps) Gabrielle Bahler 1:41:42 Medal
2(2 laps) Vicki Carne 1:10:33 David Black Memorial Vet Wome
3(2 laps) Katherine Stannard 1:24:37 Medal
U19 Women Elizabeth Stannard 2:14:33 Medal
U17 Girls (2 laps) Michaela Drummond 2:14:33 Morris Family Novice Road
U15 Girls (2 laps) Samara Fenn 1:14:16 David Black Memorial B Novice
Thank you to the helpers and to everyone who has marshalled or been a timekeeper or recorded results at a club event. Without your help the events wouldn’t happen.
SPECIAL EVENT CUPS
This year it was decided to hold the sealed handicap on a different course as the Pahiatua course meant that a lot of riders were heading out on to a major road all together so for safety reasons it is better to have small bunches on this road at a time.
Woolworths Cup Sealed handicap at Halcombe Chris Denholm
Essex Cup Ashhurst – Pohangina – Totara Res over metal Alex West
Sutton Cup Graded handicap Pahiatua Dylan Simpson
Cheltenham Cup Mens Carlos Lopez
Cheltenham Cup Womens Emily Shearman
Donaldson Cup for fastest time chelty handicap Robert Stannard
INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
This year the following members have all competed at international events and it is fitting that we acknowledge not only their selection to represent NZ at their age level but also their hard work that got them to where they are now. Jesse Sergent, of course continues with his racing team in Europe and raced in the road race and time trial at the Commonwealth Games and recently got married. So congratulations to Amber and Jesse on that achievement also.
Simon van Velthooven, has done regular updates on the events that he has competed in including the NZ track team events and the Commonwealth Games. He is back in Cambridge and sends his apologies for not being able to attend tonight.
We have an exceptional group of young riders that are doing BM proud. Kate Stewart and Jordan Castle competed at the Junior World track champs in Korea along with Luke Mudgeway , Campbell Stewart, Carne Groube and Michaela Drummond competed at the Oceania track champs in Adelaide Australia. Elizabeth Stannard competed at the Oceania Road champs where Elizabeth won the u19 Womens Road race. Robert Stannard won the Canberra Tour for under 17 boys where he competed alongside other Bike Manawatu riders Campbell Stewart, Carne Groube and Chris Denholm. Not to be left out are Nate Levin, George Roberts, Alex West who have also competed in Australia in road events and Joel Yates who placed 2nd in the Australia Crit champs. Congratulations to you all.
SPECIAL CUPS
Croad challenge trophy (best U15 rider) Dineth Rajapaske
Dineth has competed in this years club handicap series in B grade. He competed at the Manawatu School champs finishing in 3rd place in under 15 boys. He always has a smile on his face and on provisional results finished 11th in under 15 boys in the recent Novice tour.
Baker Family Trophy (best U17 rider) Robert Stannard/Campbell Stewart
Too hard to pick the best under 17 rider between these 2. There are too many outstanding performances by both of them. They have both presented themselves and represented this club at the top level both here in NZ competitions and overseas.
PNMCC trophy (best U19 rider) Elizabeth Stannard
The highlight of the year for Lizzie must have been competing at the Oceania Road champs where she won the u19 Womens Road race. But she has also competed in triathlon at the Junior Olympics. She has competed as part of a team in the North Island series as well as numerous junior events throughout the country.
Ooteman Cup (most improved female rider over 23) Gabrielle Bahler
Gabrielle has only recently started racing again and represented the club at the Club Nationals in her age group.
Bill Love Memorial trophy (Most improved female cyclist u23) Peita Ransom
Peita has shown dedication and determination at the start of the year gaining a place in the PNGHS TTT which was eagerly contested amongst the other students. She has stuck to her guns competing at events including the TA tour to the Novice tour.
Theo de Cuff Memorial shield (administrator of yr) Mike Simpson
Mike has dedicated a lot of time to ensure that school cycling has run smoothly throughout the year. He has been able to put together a good calendar of events and coordinate officials and volunteers to ensure that the school cycling programme has continued to produce quality events throughout the year.
Fowler Cup (most improved male rider u 23) Mitchell Kinghorn
Mitchell Kinghorn is in his final year as an under 17 rider . This was a very hard decision to make, ther riders that have had an exceptional year showing improvement have been Joel Yates and Alex West.
Ooteman Cup (most improved male rider over 23) Derek McNabb/ Wayne Fage
Derek and Wayne have both started racing at club events this year. They are both in different age categories but have both ridden in C grade in the graded series. This award is to encourage them to continue racing and to see if their results next year reflect the results that they have been able to achieve this year and hopefully encourage other riders to come along to see if they can get their names on the most improved next year.
Best Enduro Rider Among club members we have a hard-core of mad-cap enduro cyclists which makes awarding the Enduro Trophy difficult each year. During this year the usual Taupo Enduro events took place and 2 other standout events were completed in 2013 and it was these that caught the attention of the selection panel.
The first consideration was Colin (Wal) Anderson’s 65th birthday marathon, taking 3 months off work and challenging himself to 67 laps of Lake Taupo, an accumulated distance of over 10,500 kms, starting during Feb and finishing early April, some days completing 2 laps and others a single, sometimes unaccompanied and others with a cycling friend(s). Colin also completed another 8 laps of Taupo in the annual November challenge just over 2 weeks ago, being 1 of the only 2 enduro cyclists who completed out of a much larger starting field.
The second event was Glenys Taylor’s personal challenge to solo cycle in Australia, from Perth to Adelaide, taking in the Nullabor Plains, a distance of 2460kms over 14 days during June. This challenge was carried out unaccompanied on her bike but was supported by husband Murray driving a mobile home to provide meals and a bed each night. Some days the cycling went into the evenings in total darkness as Murray had lost his way and took some time to relocate Glenys.
Both these events included novelty and personal challenges making choosing a winner for 2013 very difficult. Both Glenys and Colin are asked to come forward:
The winner of the Enduro Award this year goes to Glenys plus we have a special presentation to make to Colin
In the end the selection panel choose Glenys to receive the trophy as it was her first enduro challenge, had a novelty aspect, was carried out solo and was in a totally new environment.
Murray Jessen trophy Andrew McKenzie Most improved Taupo rider
It was originally donated to be awarded to club member who rode the annual Lake Taupo Challenge nom. 160km, age was not a criteria nor whether you rode the Solo or Classic.
Andrew McKenzie is the winner of the Murray Jessen Trophy with the best percentage improvement, it was a close finish with Wayne Fage 2nd. Other club members also did very well and made a close contest for the top five listed.
Steve concluded the evening by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.
