City Cycling & Athletic Club

CITY CYCLING CLUB NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 1999

Selection Races Saturday 13/02/99 . A National , Junior and Development team was selected at this meeting to take on Australia and Denmark on 12th March. Although JP van Zyl is no doubt the finest sprinter in the country at this moment in time , BEEG Shawn Lynch and Charl Jubber entertained the crowd with a fine display of aggressive and nerve-wracking sprinting. There were falls and sprawls aplenty , mostly from the upcountry riders and the spectators really got there money's worth as the days events stretched into the late evening. The International promises to be really exciting and hopefully the MEDIA play there part in drumming up much needed publicity to an event that will showcase the best track riders this country has to offer.We must remember that we are going to witness our Commonwealth "stars" in action on our own soil against world class competition and this event is probably going to be the first step towards Sydney 2000 .

Willie Newman cleaned up the opposition in the recently held Track Champs at the Velodrome, Willie won gold in the sprint , 500m T/T and 1500m, with silver in the 3km individual pursuit in his age category 30-39 . In the open Vets 15k points race John Moss won silver with Willie taking bronze , John also won bronze in the 40years+ 3 km pursuit. Graham Ward also experienced his first Track champs and took part in the 40+ age category.

Janet Moss had a very successful time in the Women's section winning

In the Seniors/Elite we had Grant Cotton taking silver in the 1000m T/T and then scooping Gold in the 4000m individual pursuit

The South African Track Champs take place at the Velodrome between the 15 - 17th April , come and support your clubmates (some of us need it ) and the invitation to take part is also there , we know that YOU are out there.

A WORD OF WARNING to all you aspiring Cipollinis , the officials don't give a damm how you cross the finishing line in a sprint , for all they care you could be combing your hair or picking your nose, but it only takes one fellow competitor to lodge an objection to your Cipollinilike celebration as you cross the line ten bicycle lengths clear of the field . Cool down the celebrations until you've made it as a "BigTimePro" then you can do what you like .

Welcome to all our new members -too numerous to mention- and thanks to all the old members that have re-newed their membership so promptly. A special welcome goes to Cherie Pridham ,a member that is resident all the way in the United Kingdom , spare a thought for her when you are battling the good ol South Easter, you could be freezing your lugs off in the UK.

In the Tableview funride the D bunch swerved to miss a dead or dying guinea fowl and in the confusion of swerving and braking cyclists our treasurer ,Mike Maartens , ended up making acquaintance with mother tar and shattered his collar bone . A few stainless steel bolts later , and he was up and about watching non-stop satellite TV , not only is he going to miss the Argus but he has had to give up a fishing trip to Hentjies Bay as well.

LANCO DAVIES' post has been returned "gone away" if any of our members know of his new address please inform Steve Down (ph 462 4190 office/589490 home) or Graham Ward (ph 8515182- office/580852 -home).

ex City member and I suppose ex Chairman of the Officials Craig Hawtrey has been posted by the SAAF to Bloemfontein(shame) was it a promotion or a demotion ?? only joking. No offence to "Vrystaaters" intended, Bloemfontein is a nice place , its just a bit quiet during the week and over weekends.

Will someone tell Malcolm Lange that he is a very good one day cyclist. Also mention it to the SACF. Hopefully the Vodacom/Rapport Tour will reveal the next generation of cyclists that can compete and complete a Tour that lasts longer than five days.Toughies about the fall in the Rapport Tour.

We had a response to our fantastic Web Site that originated all the way from the U S of A . GH Sports E mailed chairman Steve and are prepared to offer us some sort of sponsorship , Willie Newman has Emailed back requesting finer details , and they will give us 30% discount on all their stock , we will download their catalogue for all members and include it in a newsletter.

The Vodacom/Rapport Tour should be on the go or finished by the time you receive this newsletter and our man Willie Newman will be there looking after the Development Team , I bet its going to be hot in more ways than one , do they have air-conditioned bakkies?. Also keep an eye out for the "manne" this is going to be their first big test.

Jamie Ball has been chomping at the bit in local super league races and seems to be unbeatable , I bet he can't wait to get at the "manne " in the Giro . After that he is off to ride in France and maybe Italy !

Andrew Morris has been doing some articles on local cycling each week in the Argus , and has contacted the club regarding sponsorship for a local u23 team . He is currently in the process of putting a team together in 2000 with the aim of competing in the Giro Del Capo , should you know of any company that would be interested in sponsoring a u23 team you may contact Andrew on 788 6184 after 8pm. or on email michaelm@ctn.independent.co.za

Sponsoring is not so easy now that the UCI are clamping down on sponsoring of individuals , UCI states that only clubs and trade teams may benefit from a sponsor , correct me if I'm wrong but I think sponsoring of individuals will be outlawed from the year 2000.

All cyclo touriste license holders who have had their licenses ratified by this club and therefore have been entitled to receive a club newsletter will have to join City as a full member for 1999. You don't have to register with the SACF but you would only have to join as an ordinary or non-active member .

VENUE: CLUB HOUSE , GREENPOINT STADIUM .

TIME : EIGHT O’CLOCK SHARP

For those of us that forgot about the original AGM that should have been held on the 1st March , here's your chance to make amends and attend the re-scheduled one. ALL MEMBERS , OLD AND NEW ARE URGED TO ATTEND.If you have any moans , questions about your club , sport or anything else (no politics) for that matter , even if you are de-moer-in with the committee , please make an effort to attend , if you can’t , it is common courtesy to send apologies. REMEMBER , YOU ARE THE CLUB.We want to know want you want . A meeting is an event at which minutes are kept and hours are lost. not so , if all you aunties and uncles pitch up we should be finished at +- 21h30 , still plenty of time for a quick one !!!!!!