Steam’s inaugural TTT outing
The 5 Steam teams intrepidly set forth on Sunday 15th for their inaugural outing as a cycle racing club in the NSW State Team Trial Championships run up at Calga over 22kms of very rough, dead road. Sunday morning dawned cloudy and windy – although not as windy as the afternoon before. It was freezing up at Calga and it was hard to take off clothing to set off up the road on our 22km warm up to the start line. After the women’s and men’s Division 5 team narrowly avoided arrest (we were pulled over by the police for riding more than 2 abreast when our front two riders rolled off), we were allowed to set off again for the start line. The girls arrived just in time to sign on and pretty much had to line up at the start line to be counted down. The course had changed from the one we trained on and we had worked out on the warm up that we were going to be riding back into a headwind and crosswind the whole way – not yours truly’s favourite conditions.
However we sped off (a little too fast in retrospect) and took a breather about 5kms into it. By the half way mark, Alison was established as the strongest rider as she was the only one that could speak at all. We were down to three by then with no margin for error. I took the hills, Therese did the downhills and Alison did everything in between. By the top of Blood Hill we were panicking and Alison yelled out “They’re catching us” – as we were delirious we didn’t think to ask her who and how she knew so we just dug deep and pulled a little bit more out for the last 3kms to the finish line. Alison admitted later that she was just making that up but it sounded good at the time. Alison lead out (as per our plan) yelling “get on my wheel”, I moved over for Therese to do just that (I’m no power sprinter, I’m the climber !!!) but such was Therese’s power that she pulled her foot, lost her chain (not in the plan) and I suddenly realised that I would have to fill the gap and sprint !! Yeah right – luckily in some superhuman fashion Therese recovered her foot and her chain and Alison’s wheel and we all finished pretty much together. And very happy – we rode our race and there was nothing we could have done better on the day. We ended up with gold – and our very worthy opponents from Sydney took out silver (having won gold last year). I’m sure we’ll have a rematch next year.
We then drove back out in the support van with the new splendid Steam Racing magnets (available for all support cars in Steam races) and waited halfway up the Peats Ridge hill for the boys. All teams were riding really well together and the orange teams coming up the hill looked just awesome. All the teams finished very credibly indeed for their first outing – and congratulations everyone for having a go and achieving such great results.
All the stories came out later on at the bbq (thanks again to Marcus and Leica for being our hosts – next time Marcus you’re not supposed to drink all the red wine before everyone gets there) – how people could have ridden harder and should have pedalled downhill (if you’ve been in my group you should know that one by now !!). The important thing was that everyone had a lot of fun and I know that Steam will be back next year – bigger and faster and even more orange if coach Daniele has his way.
Thanks to all our supporters out there – Jan and Stephanie Davies, John Sceri, Robert Vanolini and Leica Ison who drove vans, yelled out of windows and handed out snakes to everyone. And even Kerry Freeman managed to hobble to the finish line and yell out – it’s great to have support out there as everyone knows.
Congratulations to all Steam members who raced as there were contingents for Sydney CC in both the men’s and women’s divisions, Northern Suburbs and our affiliated club Eastern Suburbs. A very special congratulations to our coach Adam for getting a silver medal in the Men’s Masters Division 2-4 – no mean feat although I heard that mysteriously a few teams got DQed enabling better placing for all.
And a very special thanks to coach Daniele for putting in a huge amount of work to get everyone to commit, race and turn up and enjoy themselves on the day. And I’m totally shocked by how much alcohol a sporting club gets through on a Sunday afternoon/evening. Marcus will be putting out bottles for days.
More photos at www.steamsports.org
Note: Lots of PHOTOGRAPHS now on Ernie Smith’s website from the TTT on Sunday. Anyone interested in purchasing a copy should access the website: www.erniesmithphoto.apexhost.com.au/Main.htm
Place
Club Team Name
Division
Race Time
3
Sydney CC Elite Women
Elite Women
43:53.3
YVOINE MCCORT
3
Eastern Suburbs CC Men Master 2-4 Team 3
Men Masters 2-4
34:33.5
ADAM RADFORD
12
Northern Sydney CC Men Masters 2-4
Men Masters 2-4
35:36.8
DAVE PEGLEY
BARRY KENYON
16
Eastern Suburbs / Steam Men Masters 2-4 Team 1
Men Masters 2-4
37:27.9
DANIELE VANOLINI
MICHEAL BAKER
NEIL COCKS
GREG SUTHERLAND
17
Sydney CC Men Masters 2-4 Team 2
Men Masters 2-4
37:56.3
MICHAEL AVAKIAN
24
Eastern Suburbs / Steam Men Masters 2-4 Team 2
Men Masters 2-4
39:58.1
MARCUS HODGSON
MARK PRESTON
SHAWN BURGESS
COLIN HARRIS
30
Eastern Suburbs / Steam Men Masters 2-4 Team 3
Men Masters 2-4
42:49.3
NEVILLE
SOWTER
ROWAN DAVIES
DAVID HUMPHRIES
GREG SMITH
4
Sydney CC Men Master 5+ Team 1
Men Masters 5+
38:07.0
STEVE ALPERSTEIN
6
Eastern Suburbs CC Men Master 5+
Men Masters 5+
39:05.3
RAUL RUSSELL
FRANK CONCEICAO
7
Sydney CC Men Master 5+ Team 2
Men Masters 5+
40:11.9
GRANT HANSEN
10
Eastern Suburbs / Steam Men Masters 5+
Men Masters 5+
41:43.4
ANTHONY FREEMAN
ROD KNUTSON
KEVIN ELEY
PETER CRAIG
1
Eastern Suburbs / Steam Women Masters
Women Masters
39:45.6
ANNA MURRAY
THERESE BECKER
JULIE GRAHAM
ALISON URQUHART
2
Sydney CC Women Masters Team 1
Women Masters
41:30.3
JULIE AVAKIAN
JULIE HOWARD
KATE EVERETT
Yepoon Half-Ironman
Congratulations to STEAM members competing in the warmth of Queensland on the weekend. Jonathon, Diane and Peter also secured spots for Forster next year.
| Overall | Swim 1.9km | Cycle 90km | Run 21.1km | ||||||||||
| Name | Cat Des | Time | Place | CatPl | Time | Place | CatPl | Time | Place | CatPl | Time | Place | CatPl |
| Diane Clementson* | 45-49 | 5:38:24 | 229 | 4 | 0:32:29 | 200 | 4 | 3:08:20 | 276 | 5 | 1:57:35 | 204 | 5 |
| Gary Leahey | 50-54 | 5:18:08 | 173 | 7 | 0:33:09 | 220 | 12 | 2:51:13 | 161 | 5 | 1:53:46 | 176 | 8 |
| Scott Doble* | 35-39 | 4:44:23 | 43 | 8 | 0:27:31 | 25 | 3 | 2:41:36 | 79 | 13 | 1:35:16 | 46 | 8 |
| Jonathan Papalia* | 35-39 | 4:52:56 | 69 | 11 | 0:27:05 | 15 | 2 | 2:54:42 | 187 | 34 | 1:31:09 | 27 | 6 |
| Peter Lee* | 30-34 | 5:29:38 | 208 | 41 | 0:32:25 | 195 | 39 | 2:52:02 | 168 | 38 | 2:05:11 | 238 | 42 |
WEEKEND TRAINING
There will be no ride Saturday this week as Daniele needs to recover from the previous 7 weekend straight of Time Trial Training!Stay tuned for the next cycle racing event STEAM riders will aim for.
SUNDAY WATERFALL RIDE 22nd of August
There will be a ride to waterfall & back ,meeting at the caravan at 6.30am, Rod Knutson will be the ride captain.
Atagun's recovery
If anyone from STEAM wants to pop in for a coffee, tea, beer or wine at my place whilst I am on the mend they are welcome. My contact details are: abensan@grantsamuel.com.au 1/22 Macpherson St Bronte H: 9388 0204 M: 0409 100 061
Zoo Bar addition
For those who know our sponsor Marcus from the Zoo Bar in Bondi Junction, there has been an addition to his family - born last Thursday who is called Claudia and is their first baby. I’m sure all those that know him will wish him well and expect even better things from the coffee machine when he returns.
Triathlon NSW AGM
All Triathlon NSW members are welcome to attend the AGM on August 24th 6.30pm Sports House Wattle St Ultimo. I have a proxy form available for anyone who wants one.
Cycling
Skills for Beginners - Junior
Tanya Bosch is running
skill workshops for juniors aged 7 - 14 for the Randwick Botany club on 4th
September and 16th October 12.30-1.30pm. If you have kids or know of kids who
want to try cycling all they need is a roadworthy bike of any kind. Cost is $5
per family. Insurance is covered by Randwick
Red Rock – Corindi Surf Life Saving Club
An invitation is extended to all your members to join us at beautiful Red Rock this October long weekend. Our surf club will be holding its annual triathlon on Sunday 3rd October commencing at 11.00am. Why not make a full weekend of it by entering our triathlon and stay around for Woolgoolga's the next day? We look forward to welcoming you to Red Rock soon.
Sunday 3rd October 2004, 800m Swim - 15 Klm Cycle - 5 Klm Run
Entry Fees: $25 Individuals - $25 Teams. All Proceeds to aid the Red Rock-Corindi SLSC
Contact: Leane McLachlan 02 6649 1248 / 02 6649 1276, PO Box 51 Corindi Beach NSW 2456
E-mail: redrockcorindislsc@ceinternet.com.au
PS. I have entry forms if you want one. Rob