THANK YOU:

Commissaires John Buckton, Chris White & Richard Jenkins.  Thanks to Richard Jenkins who deployed and retrieved all the witches hats and signs. Thanks Joanne Buckton & Rosanna Fortuna who helped on the registration table.  Thanks to Anna Fortuna and Jerry Fortuna for manning the canteen.  Thanks to St John Ambulance for our 3  First Aid Officers.  Thanks to our safety marshals

EVENT SPONSORS

It looked like Tent City with all the sponsors in attendance on the day.

There was Cycling Projects (distributors of Campagnolo and Veloflex tyres), Excelpro, Bike Bug, Vantage Freight and the RBCC Marquee.  RBCC would like to thank the major sponsor of the day Bike Bug, who amonst other goodies, put up $500 for first place.  We would also like to thank our major club sponsor FRF/Excelpro for assisting RBCC and making the day possible.  We would like to thank Cadbury Schwepps for supplying a Gatorade for every rider.   We would like to thanks Cycling Projects who donated a pair of Veloflex tyres to the first unplaced C & B grade riders.  We would like to thank Vantage Freight who donated a bottle of Champagne to the winner of each grade (A, B, C, D & E).  Finally, SEDC who donated a pair of Kuota sunglasses to the winner of each grade.

REPORT

This is getting to be perhaps the biggest day on the RBCC calendar.  Some will remember that last year's event was won by Graeme Browne.  Unfortunately Graeme was unable to compete this year, however we had several other UCI International riders competing.  Despite the terrible weather conditions, some 84 riders took part in the Bike Bug 500 and many had to race in the rain.  We wanted the Bike Bug 500 to be special and it was.  In fact we are pretty sure that it was a FIRST for Heffron Park.  A handicap race in the reverse direction.  To our knowledge, it has never been conducted before. Congratulations to the kids who all took part in the Junior Club Championships held before the main event and had no problems competing in the wet conditions with zero incidents.  After the events we quickly adjourned to the clubhouse where the kids were surprised when Santa arrived.

After santa had given out losts of goodies from his sack he then was very helpful and assisted by handing out the championship medals.

Even in pretty ordinary racing conditions, A grade was really going with the likes of Peter McDonald driving the bunch.  In fact they averaged 42.5kph and caught B grade who were averaging 39.2kph with 4 laps to go. Another lap and the collective A/B had reeled in C grade who were travelling at 36.6kph.  Peter McDonald, not renowned as a sprinter knew that he had to do something special to get the $500 and he did.  Despite doing heaps of work on the front, he rode off the front just prior to the bell lap and managed to hold the gap in front of a quality field who were all trying to get him back.  Congratulations Peter.
Early in the race and  Frank Fortuna drives the B grade bunch over and downs the pimple in reverse direction.
Dave "Knuckles" Crampton, CEO of Vantage Freight doing what he likes best, driving at the front of C grade.  Dave was also supporting the Bike Bug 500 racing in the strip.

PRIZE MONEY

Handicap winner receiving $500.  A grade winner on normal day is $120 and we now have a first A club prize of $50.

START TIMES

Randwick Botany Cycling Club conducts racing at Heffron Park, Maroubra NSW each Saturday throughout the year. Juniors start at 3pm. Seniors D, E, & F grades will start at 4pm and A, B & C grades will start at 5pm. Racing resumes after the Christmas Break on Saturday 6 January 2007.

RACING SHEDULE

A handicap race for A B & C grades will be conducted on the first Saturday of every month.  Second,  fourth & fifth Saturdays will be normal scratch races.  On the Third Saturday of every month racing will be longer and conducted in reverse direction.  A grade 25 laps (50 kilometres), B grade 23 laps and C grade 20 laps.  D, E & F will be normal distance

For more information please contact the club secretary Joanne Buckton on 02 9315 7801 or email: secretary@randwickbotanycc.com

Web page layout & editing by: John Buckton

Photos by: Rocky "Snaps" Fortuna  and apprentice Antonio Fortuna

Report by John Buckton

Contact:
John:   webmaster@randwickbotanycc.com