Simonsky
28-02-2010, 07:55 AM
Hey all
A dedicated group of Vikings/MACT riders descended on Dunc Gray Velodrome last night for the NSW Masters Track Champs, Pointscore.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, a pointscore is a track race (anywhere between 60 and 120 laps --- 15 - 30km -- for masters) with a sprint for points every 10 laps. 5, 3,2,1 points for 1-4 place and 20 points for putting a lap on the field.
8 Vikings and 2 CCC club riders (might have missed some though) were there and lots of medals were taken home. Our account was opened by Terry Moore in the Womens masters 4/5/6 combined race who took the bronze. Vanessa had her work cut out for her in the 2/3 combined and just missed out on a place. Kerry Knowler (CCC, but one of us in spirit) turned her amazing diesel motor into a sprint to take the bronze.
Then Mark Harris Stepped up in the Mens Masters 5 and rode a superb tactical race, riding away and lapping the field with another big named rider rider in tow, to win the Gold.
Master 4 had the Albinator (Graeme Allbon) and Al Bontjer in the race. The Albinator was always the favourite, but couldn't just quietly win the race, that's not his style. He lapped the field, not once, not twice, but three times! Collecting 95 points on the way!!!!! The nearest competitor has 12 points. (Well he is world champion and the Australian Masters Cyclist of the year.) Al Bontger and Steve Jones rode really well and were both unlucky not to be on the podium. The remaining places were decided by whoever was lucky enough to be on the Albinator's wheel when he went for the lap.
Masters 3 had myself (Simon Niemeyer) and Neil Skipper in a strong field, which included the current world Pointscore champion (Danny Hennesey) and the World Hour record holder and former world champ (Jayson Austin). Also in there was Paul Connor, a Defence force rider, but associated with Vikings and a former national champ. The plan was for me to sit tight for a couple of sprints and then try to go for a lap up on the field. Skip won the first sprint, but missed the second. I led him out for the third sprint and felt good enough when the pace came off to jump the field. Jayson Austin followed and we took a lap. Hennesey tried to come but ended up in no-man's land until we caught the field and Austin kept going to take the second. Unfortunately I wasn't prepared for that and ended up having to try and drive the pace to stop Austin dragging Hennesey up to lap the field, relegating me from 2nd to 3rd. Alas, I didn't succeed, but was happy with the bronze.
Stay tuned for results from the team pursuit champs in a couple of weeks, when the dream teams of Allbinator, Skip, Pothole (John Forrest) and myself; and Harris, Prez Claringbold, Jim (Master Bling) Veal and Anton Wurzer go for glory in the team pursuit in the 'young' (under 150 collective years for youngest three riders) and 'old' (over 150) categories respectively. If there's any hidden trackies out there we have another team of Tony (Sluggo) O'Connor, Steve Jones and Al Bontjer are looking for a fourth rider.
Cheers for now
SimonN
A dedicated group of Vikings/MACT riders descended on Dunc Gray Velodrome last night for the NSW Masters Track Champs, Pointscore.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, a pointscore is a track race (anywhere between 60 and 120 laps --- 15 - 30km -- for masters) with a sprint for points every 10 laps. 5, 3,2,1 points for 1-4 place and 20 points for putting a lap on the field.
8 Vikings and 2 CCC club riders (might have missed some though) were there and lots of medals were taken home. Our account was opened by Terry Moore in the Womens masters 4/5/6 combined race who took the bronze. Vanessa had her work cut out for her in the 2/3 combined and just missed out on a place. Kerry Knowler (CCC, but one of us in spirit) turned her amazing diesel motor into a sprint to take the bronze.
Then Mark Harris Stepped up in the Mens Masters 5 and rode a superb tactical race, riding away and lapping the field with another big named rider rider in tow, to win the Gold.
Master 4 had the Albinator (Graeme Allbon) and Al Bontjer in the race. The Albinator was always the favourite, but couldn't just quietly win the race, that's not his style. He lapped the field, not once, not twice, but three times! Collecting 95 points on the way!!!!! The nearest competitor has 12 points. (Well he is world champion and the Australian Masters Cyclist of the year.) Al Bontger and Steve Jones rode really well and were both unlucky not to be on the podium. The remaining places were decided by whoever was lucky enough to be on the Albinator's wheel when he went for the lap.
Masters 3 had myself (Simon Niemeyer) and Neil Skipper in a strong field, which included the current world Pointscore champion (Danny Hennesey) and the World Hour record holder and former world champ (Jayson Austin). Also in there was Paul Connor, a Defence force rider, but associated with Vikings and a former national champ. The plan was for me to sit tight for a couple of sprints and then try to go for a lap up on the field. Skip won the first sprint, but missed the second. I led him out for the third sprint and felt good enough when the pace came off to jump the field. Jayson Austin followed and we took a lap. Hennesey tried to come but ended up in no-man's land until we caught the field and Austin kept going to take the second. Unfortunately I wasn't prepared for that and ended up having to try and drive the pace to stop Austin dragging Hennesey up to lap the field, relegating me from 2nd to 3rd. Alas, I didn't succeed, but was happy with the bronze.
Stay tuned for results from the team pursuit champs in a couple of weeks, when the dream teams of Allbinator, Skip, Pothole (John Forrest) and myself; and Harris, Prez Claringbold, Jim (Master Bling) Veal and Anton Wurzer go for glory in the team pursuit in the 'young' (under 150 collective years for youngest three riders) and 'old' (over 150) categories respectively. If there's any hidden trackies out there we have another team of Tony (Sluggo) O'Connor, Steve Jones and Al Bontjer are looking for a fourth rider.
Cheers for now
SimonN