Jindabyne Training Camp

Easter Jindabyne Training Camp planned.  Click here for full details

There were actually two camps overlapping each other.  Peter Zala conducted a camp from Saturday 19th to Thursday 24th January 2002.  The camp was for invited elite over 17 juniors from Randwick Botany Cycling Club as well as some of the elite NSW State Junior triathlete squad that Peter coaches.  The kids got along great and the Tri's kept our lads, including Chris Jenkins, Rob Cater, Michael and Thomas Murdoch, very much on their toes. For More Photos Click Here

Here's the Junior camp crew.   Trickie Dickie isn't there because  he was the photographer.  (Click on image for full size)

  The Club Captain (Mark Robertson), the Club President (myself) and Richard (Trickie Dickie) Jenkins went down to assist Peter with the kids (and to get some riding in ourselves).  The training camp was fantastic.  Peter ran it very strictly and professionally, for example, the kids had to be in bed by 9.30pm of an evening.  I'm pretty sure that they were but most evenings Mark, Trickie Dickie and I were unconscious due to fatigue by about 8.30pm so I cannot say for sure.  All jokes aside, I must congratulate Peter on an excellent camp.  I must also congratulate and thank his lovely wife Jesse, for the magnificent meals that she and Mary (mother of one of the triathletes) prepared every day and night .   I have to thank Peter for letting a couple of old blokes tag along (and for leaving us off the washing up roster) and finally I must thank Bruce Vote from Sydney Club for the magnificent venue in Jindabyne.  Anyway the Zalas and most of the kids packed up on Thursday and the big kids started to arrive Thursday onwards for the Adult training camp.  Whilst Mark was going out killing himself every day, I wanted to leave a little in the tank for when the big kids came to play so I did sneaky things, for example, on Monday when they all blew their legs apart going up Charlottes Pass,  I took my bike up with Peter on top of his van and raced them all back down the mountain.

The camp/s were fantastic in all aspects, in terms of fitness/training, low cost, socially with copious amounts of  laughter, accommodation, food etc.  We all had a great time and I would urge all members to support the Easter Training camp that Mark is planning.  I guarantee that you will have a fantastic training holiday.

So who were the riders at the camps from Randwick Botany ?

Then there was all the wifes and kids who had a great time and pitched in to assist with meals and driving support vehicles, etc.  I would like to thank my wife Joanne, the other wives Sarah, Charlotte and Anita and the kids who kept us amused Zac Zala (aka ZZ), Shannon and last but not least little Katie White.

Mark has put together a diary of each of the days, so without further ado, I will let him relate the story via his diary:  I hope you don't mind Mark but I have made a few edits/remarks in blue:

            Sat 19^th;           The BOSS (PZ) is late, some excuse about not being able to fit all the Corn Flakes into his VW. Meanwhile Tri Kids meet the Old roadies and trackie (John), then off into the Hot Hot sun for a torture session, sorry I mean easy acclimatization ride. We are all kn--kered (pommy word apparently meaning "very fatigued"), after ride and seem to slip off to bed very early, especially me!

             Sun 20^th;          Hardest Climb in OZ someone in a 39/21 gear says, I agree. Can my legs take much more? It must be doing me good though I keep telling myself!!!.  This was from Jindabyne to Dead Horse Gap and beyond.  Beyond Dead Horse was a 33km descent which one had to climb back up.  I'm not that stupid so I just waited at Dead Horse Gap.  Apparently the turns were pretty treacherous down that side as well (that would account for the ambulance that went by with its siren on whilst I was sitting enjoying a nice cool Gatorade - just ask Chris Jenkins - ).  Anyway whilst they were all complaining in their 39/21, I was happily spinning along in my 39/25 which I put on prior to going down there. Had to give up my beloved 11 though which was a bit stressfull.

             Mon 21^st;          Hats off to the “Man” Cater, Robbie that is. Charlotte pass twice!!  It must have been all that peanut butter he eats!!  Britney Orr, one of the Tri girls beats most of the lads to the top, me included, she is only 15, what a rider!! Then to rub it in the Tri’s run off to the top of OZ for a bit of fun, when they get back to Jindy Peter decided they have not done enough and they swim the lake….I was Very impressed. JB decided it would be best to take the VW up with PZ and then swoop down at incredible speed onto to the unsuspecting prey. Eventually catching me in the neutral zone past the park gates, all with a grin from ear to ear. That evening the story got better and better over a Cold or two, alright we did have a 10 minute start on him so fair play JB, U the maaan!!  Two comments here.  Firstly, the climb after the gates was NOT the neutral zone, it was well within the field of play.  Secondly, these triathletes must be mad.  Who climbs Charlottes Pass then throws on their running shoes for a 1 hour run on a bush track up towards Mount Kosiosko.

             Tues 22^nd;         Recovery ride day for me only 60 kms, the rest of the gang Swim Bike Run. Robbie Cater takes out a street Criterium after Graham and JB do all the Big turns then does a TT in a hurricane, JB and I follow in the warm car, the folly of youth!!  Graham incidentally was one of the Tri's (Angela's) father.  Graham was fantastic company, a great bloke and fit as a mallee bull from the Bicisport club.  I wasn't going to do anything this day and I hadn't seen the Crit circuit.  My good mate Mark told me that there were no hills in it and I stupidly believed him.   Graham and I were hitting about 80km down the back straight.  It was great going down that big hill and putting 10 bike lengths into the kids.  Only trouble was we had to go back up the other side.  And where was Mark whilst the afternoon criterium race was on?  Well I woke him up when I walked into our room with my cleats on after the crit.  That's right he slept through the whole thing.

             Weds 23^rd;        Dambusters time, time for a scenic “FLAT” ride to one of the snowy dams, Michael Murdock would disagree with the “FLAT” comment. We then decide what better way to finish the day than to do some sprints and pursuits at the Institute of Sport and rec. Michael Murdoch could be the next BIG thing in the track for RBCC?? JB takes out all other titles for the day, 54kms/hour in the sprint and beats moi in the pursuit. He was serious; he even put on his track pedals onto the “MOSER”. And bought new laces for my track shoes too!!

             Thurs 24^th,       It’s bon voyage for the Tri’s as they go off to the National and State champs in St Kilda and Orange respectively. Everyone has become good friends and after enough photos to make David Bailey look an amateur they depart with our best wishes and good luck. All is quiet on the Jindy front…then Mr. Callum arrives. He and Robbie battle it out for the KOM title, the rest of us consider alternate sports. Table tennis looks good. RJ the DJ aka Richard Jenkins is filled with glee as he reaches his nemesis  the top of CP with ease, congrats RJ and this time you didn’t even get a cold head, U the Maan!!  Funny incident when Scotty Callum went back down the hill to ride up with Richard.  He is nowhere near Richard with no intention of doing other than riding up with him when Richard, so focussed on beating this climb without any help, exclaims, "DON"T TOUCH ME !!!"  Scotty gave him heaps for the rest of the camp with big girlie, "Don't touch me" calls. 

            Fri 25^th;                        Whitey, Steve Bligh and Nick “the mountain goat’’ Cater arrive and think lets race to Dead Horse Gap, Driving sounds good to me so I become the drinks and food boy. We follow Chris white and JB up a big climb and even though he says he was not trying Chris was hammering.  On the way back Chris hammers and he got away from JB until a Hyundai slowed for a corner and Jonnie sucked its wheel down a big decent and up to CW.  He said whiteys face was a picture when he looked over his shoulder and JB was still there. I thought I was getting a bit "fair dinkum" with my 25 cog but Steve Bligh came ready to take on those hills with a 26.

             Sat 26^th;           Paddy, Janelle and Matt Lucas arrive its CP again after a warm up to the park gates its on again, this time Robbie, Scott and Paddy share the honors for KOM. King of the desenders?? Well I think that goes to JB again, Whitey, Scotty and I did our best to drop him but the persistent bugger hung on in there and even passed us at the bottom. One thing on my side is 85kg and the big pull to the bottom of the hills called gravity.

             Sun 27^th;          Time for recovery again, well sort of started slowly the TT’ed it to Dalgety, regrouped then did the same again to Berridale regrouped then it was the sprint to Jindy dam, are we mad or what?  Mark leaves out the descent to Hell.  Half way to Dalgetty there is this descent that I went down 80kph plus with the brakes screaming.  I see poor Chris White by the side of the road.  He looks OK so I keep going.  Hell I couldn't have stopped even if I'd wanted to.  Chris had hit something which had cut right through his tyre and dropped him on his rear rim in a fraction of a second.  How you ever held it upright Chris, I will never know.  I went through a couple of the sharp turns at a bit of speed to find they had bumps and ridges in them throwing me off line.  I didn't want to look like young Chris, so I took it very tentatively from there on.  When I got the bottom there was the madman showing everyone his max speed read out, 97.8kph.  You are mad Mark !!!  (Mad dogs and Englishmen)

            Mon 28^th;          Matt and Paddy get serious and go to dead horse gap whilst us of the dead legs dept go for a FLAT ride, we now know there is no such thing in the Snowys. John impresses us with his gas canister pump which blows his spare tyre, thanks for that JB I was nearly going to buy one!! Janelle and I leave him to lament not bringing 2 tubes and a real pump and get on with riding. JB got a nice lift home though in an air conditioned car.  Got the gas canister cheap though!

That’s it 9 days of riding, all in all a great time especially being with the juniors and Triathletes who were a great bunch. I look forward to Easter when we plan another trip. Thanks to all that helped out with bringing the drinks/food etc and to Jesse and Mary (one of the mums) for there great cooking for the first 5 days. Lastly Thanks to Bruce Vote for providing a great venue for training at a very reasonable price.

Now if Mark has not already had a big enough shot at me, Chris White wants to have a go.  You see I got a nice BBQ going and cooked them a sensational meal on the last night.  This is Whitey's comment in red:

I'd like to thank the girls for some great support along the way and at meal times. I'd also like to thank John,  cordon bleu chef - bbq'ed Frankfurters, uncooked onion & well done (just short of burnt) steak. Give me a pizza anytime.  My only comment to this is that you don't see Mark complaining.  Fact that he is a vegetarian has nothing to do with it.

            Story by Mark Robertson, John Buckton & a little bit from Chris White.

Finally someone has given me some photos:  Click here.

Click here for the story of Mulga Bill. We are now calling Chris Jenkins, Mulga Bill.