Tour De France 2009

I'm out at the airport ready to depart for London before we head off to watch the 2009 Tour de France. This time not with a group of Auckland Grammar and Westlake schoolboys, but with my wife Lorraine.

We're going to meet up with Lorraine's sister and her husband John, who live in the UK, are both keen cyclists and go over to the Tour each year. They were the couple that the school goup rode with in the UK two years ago and then Chris and John also joined us when we climbed Mt Ventoux.

I'll use the Tour De France Tour blog site to update our progress:

http://www.tdftour.blogspot.com/

Reminder re Meetings

Thanks to those that have confirmed that they are coming along to the Information Evening (23rd February - next Monday night at 7pm). NB. Please don’t forget to bring a plate of nibbles / desert type food on the 23rd to the Information Evening. Boys and parents should attend. Tea and coffee will be provided – so if parents want a beer or wine, please bring your own.

Thanks also to those that have already indicated if they can make it along to one of the Fundraising Information Evenings (either 18th or 26th of February – where AGS cycling can benefit if people wish to join a purchasing program to buy everyday products directly from the manufacturer, who can provide a wide range of cleaning products, bathroom products, cosmetics, nutritional products and sports drinks etc..).

NB. Senior riders, please don’t forget that there is the meeting regarding coaching and training this evening (Tuesday 17th) at 7pm.

As an update, the one day bunch ride (for seniors and juniors) has been shifted from the Saturday to Sunday (now March 15th) to avoid conflicts with a number of our cyclists having other sporting commitments on the Saturday.

Also, just so everyone knows - the fundraiser we were hoping to be involved with on 1 March is now not available to us, as we couldn’t commit to providing the required numbers in time. Thanks to the small number of boys that did offer to help – hopefully you’ll continue to be willing volunteers again, next time there is a need.

Grammar Cycling Meetings & other important dates

Welcome to Grammar Cycling for 2009

Please note the following important events and dates:

Grammar Cycling Information Evening - All current and intending cyclists, plus their parents, should make a point of coming along to this evening, which is a chance to hear about:
· Our plans for 2009
· What is happening regarding coaching and training
· Communications & web site information
· Fundraising initiatives
· Information about a proposed Grammar Cycling Incorporated Society.

Date: Monday 23rd February

Time: 7.00pm for registration / checking contact details - with the meeting approx 7.15 – 8.00pm followed by coffee and nibbles / deserts(a plate from each family would be appreciated)

Venue: Old Boys Sports Pavilion, Mountain Road


Fundraising Information Evening - One of the fundraising initiatives that we will be outlining provides an opportunity for Grammar Cycling to develop an on-going revenue stream, as recurring income, for 2009 and into the future. This is based on a commission on product purchases made by Grammar families – as well as any friends and families who wish to participate.

Please make a point of both parents coming along to one, or the other, of two evenings – for a presentation from Gerry Van der Merve, who will outline the benefits of the Non Profit Fundraising Program and how Grammar Cycling will benefit. Products include cosmetics, cleaning products, bathroom products, health supplements, protein drinks, sports drinks and energy bars. These are all everyday products that everyone is already purchasing now, but this provides an alternative by purchasing direct from the manufacturer who provides safer, cleaner, healthier alternatives. So no extra spending is involved – it’s just a redirected spending program. Please come along (bring other couples along as well if you wish) to one or the other evening to learn more.

Dates: Wednesday 18th February

Or Thursday 26th February

Time: 7.00pm for registration with the presentation approx from 7.10 – 8.10pm

Venue: Old Boys Sports Pavilion, Mountain Road


NB. To assist in organizing these events, could you please confirm by return email, or give me a call, to advise:
1. How many from your family will come along on Monday 23rd
2. Which of the 2 alternative dates (18th or 26th) work best for both parents to come along to hear how you and Grammar Cycling can benefit from the fundraising initiative. Thanks.


Senior Cyclists - Coaches Evening – Tuesday 17th February at the Old Boys Pavilion at 7pm for the Senior Cyclists to go over the training year, the proposed workout schedule and some goal setting.

Fundraiser help needed – Sunday 1 March – please volunteer to help marshal at a triathlon on Sunday 1st March. Mr Johnson needs names (boy and / or parents) so we can commit to providing the organizer the required assistance. ($500 to be made for Grammar Cycling.) If you are not one of the cyclists going down to Invercargill for the Track Nationals, please help out on this fundraiser. See Mr Johnson at school – or preferably email him d.johnson@ags.school.nz

One Day Training Camp – Saturday 14th March – likely to be an out and back ride from Auckland Grammar


Two Day Training Camp – Saturday 28th – Sunday 29th March – venue to be advised


Three Day Training Camp – (to be confirmed) likely to be Friday July 17th to Sunday 19th, the last weekend of the school holidays



Please note all the above dates in your diary – more information will be provided on at the meeting on Monday 23rd February regarding selection Time Trial dates, our practice run through, the waterfront racing schedule plus dates for the North Islands and Nationals etc.


Finally, please don’t forget to contact me to advise how many will be coming to the Introduction Evening from your family as well as which of the two alternate dates (Wenesday 18th or Thursday 26th) that suits parents to come along to one of the alternative fundraising presentations. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards



Richard Justice

Phone: (09) 520 1916
Fax: (09) 520 1814
Mobile: (021) 223 4741
Skype: rjustice
Address: 34 John Stokes Terrace, Remuera, Auckland, 1050
Email: richardjustice@richardjustice.com
Web site: http://www.richardjustice.com/

Photos from Nationals

Many thanks to Amy Churchouse for a series of photos from Nationals. I've added these to a Flickr site that you can all access: http://www.flickr.com/photos/agscycling/

Grass Track Champs at school

First week back at school we'll have our last Grammar Cycling event for the year. We hope you can all make it along. More information will follow by email, but this is just a reminder to keep Friday week free in the early evening:

Auckland Grammar School Cycling

Grass Track Cycling Championships

Friday October 17th

4.00 pm 1 mile Celebrity Race for Old Boys, parents, coaches
– bring your bikes !

4:15 pm 1 mile Caulfield Millennium Cup for Juniors

4:30 pm 2 mile Norman Carter Cup for Seniors

5:15 pm Social gathering in Old Boys Sports Pavilion
for the whole cycling squad, family members & guests

5:30 pm Presentation of Grass Track Championship Trophies & other awards

Wheel Missing

A Mavic Aksium front wheel is missing after the Mt Wellington Criterium event yesterday.

Anyone who may know where it is should contact Nick Porter at nb.porter@gmail.com or on mobile number 021 076 7754 – any helfpul information would be appreciated.

Fun’raising Dinner A Success

What a great night it was on Monday night. I am sure everyone enjoyed themselves and hopefully everyone had a chance to catch up with the wider Grammar cycling community.

After a count up of all the money - it was a financial success as well raising just on $1,600 to assist Grammar Cycling.

Thanks to all that came along. Hopefully some of us will have a chance to return to Taiko Restaurant again at some stage in the future and support Ian who put on the evening for us.

Limited number of tickets left

This is your final chance for tickets to our Japanese Fun'raiser night at Taiko restaurant in Kingsland on Monday September 1^st at 7pm.

At last count there were only around 19 tickets left – $39 each - contact Louise Forman if you would like to come along – we're keen for a sell out to ensure the evening's success. (Louise can be contacted on 623 2597, money can be dropped around to 81 Grange Road, Mt Eden – or bring it along to the time trial on Sunday morning)

Bring along your wallets on the night – there will be a cash bar as well as raffles during the evening, for prizes donated by Avanti Plus, Mt Eden – including:

A pair of Rubino Pro 120 TPI tyres RRP = $170

An Avanti Plus top and shorts RRP = $200

A set of BBB Aero bars RRP = $199

Reminder: Japanese Fun’raiser Dinner

Monday 1 September 7.00 pm

$39.00 per head

Tickets are available from Louise Foreman, at 81 Grange Road, Mt Eden – just 28 more tickets to sell for a sell out – we'd like to see you there – this function is for both parents and the boys to join in, as well as any of your friends or family you'd like to bring along.

There will be a mystery envelope raffle on the night for prizes donated by Avanti Plus Mt Eden, so please bring some cash for that – and your credit card for any drink purchases on the night.

NB. Our last fund raiser (the Morton Estate evening) raised just on $3,600 – a great result that assists us with the payment of the significant cycling expense s that are incurred each season – so many thanks to all that came along to that evening.

We'd like to see a big crowd for the Japanese Fun'raiser Dinner as well. So if you haven't already got tickets please mail off your cheque now to Louise.

Or, subject to availability, bring your money to the Team Time Trial on this Sunday to get tickets from Louise there.

For more information on the night just click on this link: http://agscycling.blogspot.com/2008/08/auckland-grammar-cycling-fundraising.html

Also – if you have anything you might wish to donate as a raffle prize for the night (does not have to be cycling related) please let either Louise or myself know.

Richard Justice

Phone: (09) 520 1916

Fax: (09) 520 1814

Mobile: (021) 223 4741

Address: 34 John Stokes Terrace, Remuera, Auckland, 1050

Email address: rjustice@xtra.co.nz

Junior Worlds – from Aaron Gate

The campaign started off with heading down to Invercargill at the beginning of week 6 in term 2, to re-commence the New Zealand Junior team training that had started a couple of months back. After training in cold and wet conditions (as low as 3 degrees recorded by a bike speedometer) out on the road and in the slightly warmer covered Velodrome, spending up to and in excess of 5 hours a day on a bike, every day, for one and a half weeks, we made our way over the Perth.

The warm, sunny weather made training a lot better, but was still just as hard if not harder, as the coaches prepared the team for the tough competition ahead. I suffered a crash after only being on the track for 5 days over there, where a mechanical error of the chain coming off and locking up the rear wheel at 55km/h left me grazed and the bike and rear wheel smashed. The team manager was able to arrange a new bike that the Australian Senior Team had been using as a spare to be transferred over to me, in a more stand out yellow than everyone else's black bikes, which arrived the next day from Adelaide. So after having the many wood splinters removed from my upper thigh and wounds patched up, I had to resume training the very next day, on the new bike.

The final part of the journey then came after spending almost 3 weeks in Perth on the long flight to South Africa, into Cape Town. After working out the final technical aspects of the different track, racing was underway. I was in the first heat on the first day of racing in the Junior World Track Cycling Championships, in the race against the clock: the individual pursuit. I passed the Dutchman on the other side of the track, setting a new personal best time of 3min28 sec for the 3km race, holding an average speed of close to 52km/h, which got me 5th place in the world, and only 6 seconds behind the current world record holder.

The following day was the big one, the Teams Pursuit, what all the training and build up had been towards. We flew out of the starting gates with me on the front, lapping off one by one each lap for the 4km race. We qualified 3rd fastest with a time of 4min24sec, which put us up against France in the ride off for the bronze medal. It was a very close race, but New Zealand just managed to edge in front winning by only 4/10ths of a second, winning us the bronze medal.

Mt Wellinton - NZ Individual Cycling Champs

NEW ZEALAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS INDIVIDUAL CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

MT WELLINGTON, AUCKLAND

5^th , 6^th & 7^th September

Hosted by Auckland Secondary School Cycling

The Championship involves three races:

Mangers Meeting – 7:00pm – Thursday 4th September – St Kentigern College
TIME TRIAL Friday 5th September
From 9:00am		An 8km course for U/20 Boys and Girls and U/17 Boys. A 4km course for U/15 Boys and Girls, U/16 Boys and U/17 Girls. Along Dunkirk and Riverside Roads, Panmure.
kes.com HILL CLIMB Saturday 6th September
From 9:00am		Hill Climb up Mt Wellington
CRITERIUM Sunday 7th September
From 8:00am		A 1.2km circuit in East Tamaki – Stonedon Drive & Cryers Road. U/15 Girls, U/15 Boys, U/16 Boys, U/17 Girls; U/17 Boys, U/20 Girls, U/20 Boys;

PRIZEGIVING: 2pm St Kentigerns College Old Boys Sports Centre

ENTRY FEE: $20.00 per rider.

Schools will be invoiced after entry closing date.

ENTRIES DUE: by Wednesday 20^th August

Entries will be done online www.enternow.co.nz

If you don't have an Enternow.co.nz login and password your school Sports co-ordinator will need to contact lara@collegesport.co.nz for this. Entries are accepted from Schools, not individuals.

Entry fee will be invoiced to each school

Further copies, Race rules and additional information are available on web: http://www.collegesport.co.nz/ and http://www.bikenz.co.nz/

No Entries will be received after midnight on 20^th August 2008

The race director reserves the right to limit any field on safety grounds, preference will be given to higher ranked riders.

ACCOMMODATION:

Billeting is possible for competitors from the South Island and southern areas of the North Island. If you wish to receive more information regarding Billeting please contact . Other accommodation can be found in eastern area of Auckland – Pakuranga, Howick, Ellerslie, St Heliers.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS:

It is the responsibility of all team managers to be aware of any medical conditions of a cyclist, and to have available the contact details of the cyclists parents/guardians should it be required in an emergency.

Managers should check that students, who suffer from asthma, carry an inhaler with them.

The race organisers will organise First Aid to be in attendance.

FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES CONTACT:

Lara Collins, Sport Manager

Ph: 09 845 8496

Mob: 0275 484 612

lara@collegesport.co.nz

EVENT RULES

The race director reserves the right to limit any field on safety grounds, preference will be given to higher ranked riders.

1. Riders, schools and parents/caregivers agree to abide by all rules and regulations in order to participate in this event.
   
2. Schools shall provide marshals in a ratio of 1 marshal to 3 riders with a minimum of one marshal per school. Marshals' names are to be included on the official entry form.
   

   Eligibility
   

3. This is an event for individuals
   
4. All competitors must be currently enrolled as full time students at a New Zealand secondary school and be named entrants selected by that school. All entrants must be able to produce evidence that they are currently attending that secondary school or college. Student ID card, Library card etc.
   
5. Competitors must take part in all three events to be eligible for awards.
   

   Classification
   

   The age groups for the three events are as follows:
   

   Under 15 years of age on 31 December 2007 (born after 1992)
   

   Under 16 years of age on 31 December 2007 (born after 1991)
   

   Under 17 years of age on 31 December 2007 (born after 1990)
   

   Under 20 years of age on 31 December 2007 (born after 1987)
   

   Fees
   

6. Race entry fees are non-refundable, once entry has been confirmed by the organisers unless the rider is withdrawn by the organisers.
   

   Equipment
   

7. This event is for road racing bicycles outfitted as per the Road Code, however, lights and reflectors are not mandatory and both wheels must have a brake.
   
8. Mountain bikes, pursuit and track bikes are not eligible for this competition.
   
9. Standard drop handlebars only are permitted; triathlon aero bars including clip-ons and bullhorns are not permitted.
   
10. Full composite, tri-spoke, quad spoke and disc wheels are not permitted.
    
11. Standards approved safety helmets must be worn securely fastened when warming up, racing and warming down. Aero style helmets are not permitted.
    
12. All competitors will complete a mandatory gear rollout check before the start of the time trial and criterium, once checked they must remain in the holding area until their race start.
    
13. U15, U16 and U17 riders' cycles must be restricted to 6.61 metres of gearing, U20 riders are restricted to 7.93 metres of gearing. In one complete turn of the pedals, the cycle must not travel more than the specified distance.
    
14. Multiple gears or one freewheel gear are permitted for all events. NO FIXED WHEELS are allowed for any event. The Hill Climb has a gradient of approximately 12 per cent and the organisers recommend a 39 – 26 tooth ratio.
    

Clarification must be sought from race organizers with details, in writing.

Bicycles should be professionally safety checked prior to the event.

Attire

1. Riders will wear their school's cycling uniform. In the event of a school not having an official strip then school colours are to be worn.
   
2. Riders will wear their number on the mid left back and left shoulder for all events to assist judging. (See picture.) The number must be returned at the prize giving for competitors to be eligible for spot prizes.
   

Start

1. Riders in the hill climb and individual time trial shall be given a held start.
   
2. Riders late to any start will not be given an altered start time.
   

Racing

Both hands must stay on the handlebars at all times during the race and at least one hand must stay on the handlebars during warm up and warm down. Holding on to cables is not permitted.

Passing

1. A rider who is overtaken in the hill climb or individual time trial must avoid all contact with the overtaking rider, and NOT DRAFT. The race director may impose a penalty.
   

   Results
   

   1. Awards for gold, silver and bronze medals in each category are based on highest total points in that category.
      

Points will be awarded (10 – 1) for the first ten eligible riders and those points collated to determine the overall winners.

1. All matters of controversy need to be presented immediately to the race director through the designated school manager, in writing and by 6pm on the day of the criterium and within one hour of the finish of the time trial and hill climb. All protests will be considered by the Protest committee with the final determination from the race commissaire.
   

   Prize giving for all events will be at the completion of all racing.
   

   Conduct
   

2. Competitors must follow the instructions of officials prior to, during and after the race.
   
3. Riders shall not be allowed outside assistance during racing.
   
4. Riders and /or their supporters identified as being obstructive to the progress of any racing shall be disqualified. Abuse of officials will not be accepted and may lead to disqualification.
   
5. Cars, or support vehicles are not allowed on any course during racing.
   

Auckland Grammar Cycling Fun'raising Dinner

Japanese Fun'raiser Banquet Dinner

15-course Japanese Banquet

$39 per ticket

On: Monday, September 1st at 7:00pm.

At: Taiko Japanese Restaurant

www.taikokingsland.com

460 A New North Road,
Kingsland
(adjacent to the Kingsland Railway Station)

Tickets available from:
Louise Foreman (623 2597)

Please send your ticket request with payment (number attending x $39) to Louise at:

81 Grange Road, Mt Eden

$15 from each ticket sold will be credited to the Grammar Cycling Fund to offset costs incurred during the season.

Wine available on the night, with $10 per bottle sold going to our fundraising activities.

We also hope to have a few raffles on the night – so if anyone has appropriate prizes that could be donated, that would further help the cause. Please contact Louise if you can assist.

We hope to see as many as possible of the Grammar cycling community along on the night –the boys, parents, friends and family. This will be a great chance for the parent community to meet socially and mix and mingle with others involved in supporting Auckland Grammar Cycling.

Lake Taupo Challenge Accommodation

For those wanting to compete in this year's Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge which will be held Saturday the 29^th of November please let the Gate family know ASAP, if you want to stay with a group of cyclists at the Silver Fern Lodge.

As accommodation for this weekend is always a difficult you will need to act quickly. Just email them at: gate@xtra.co.nz by the 31^st of August as they are offering this Grammar families first.
Silver fern lodge is located near the start and offers modern bunk beds at @25.00 per night with a min of two nights. (Friday & Saturday must both be paid for)

Individual Time Trial - Saturday August 9th

Please don’t forget there is an individual time trial on Saturday – for seniors only.

At the usual place at Montgomerie Road, Mangere.

First rider away at 8am – be there no later than 7.30 am.

Parent assistance is required to help out with marshalling, starting, timing etc – any volunteers that can help out will be appreciated.

Could riders please respond to us by email, ( rjustice@xtra.co.nz ) just to confirm you will be there on Saturday to race – or if not able to make it, please still let us know, so we can confirm the start list ahead of racing.

Blog Site Features

The Grammar Cycling Blog Site has had some new useful features added.

A key one is that “Subscribe via email” on the top right hand side of the blog - there will now be a subscription box – so that you or anyone else can automatically be advised about changes to the blog site – emails that will be delivered to you via Feedburner, which will be automatically checking for updates daily. All you need to do is subscribe once – from then on the process is automated.

A “Subscribe via email” option also appears at the end of the right hand side footer
With either option you will be asked to enter verification codes from the screen, and then a confirmation email will be sent to you. Then once you click on the link in the email you’ll receive you’ll then be subscribed – and thereafter you will be notified of new postings to the blog site automatically.

(For those that used the “Blogarithm” service in the past, which is no longer functioning, this is a superior performing service – and comes highly recommended.)

Also there are now new items added at the end of each posting, as below:
Email this • Email the author • Subscribe to this feed • Share on Facebook

As the names suggest, these will allow you to simply click on any of the above four options to:
(1) Send an email referencing the posting to anyone you wish to.
(2) Send an email back to the author about the posting.
(3) Subscribe to the feed (useful if you subscribe to lots of blogs and use RSS feeds, Bloglines etc & also again provides an option to get updates for AGS Cycling to be emailed to you.)
(4) Share this posting on Facebook, if you want the information showing on your Facebook page.

The line that was previously at the end of each posting still exists:
Posted by Auckland Grammar Cycling at 12:43 AM 0 comments

The last two icons you will see there allow for:
(1) Sending an email referencing the posting to anyone you wish to
(2) Posting a comment that will appear on the site about the posting – we encourage some feedback here

As we approach the Mt Wellington Champs and the NZ Champs, we’ll be making more use of the Blog site for posting general information – which will then be on the site for all to access as reference material, should you wish to come back to it over the next few weeks.

Therefore, it is recommended that if you do nothing else, please go on to the site ( www.agscycling.blogspot.com and register your email address.

If you have any questions on any of the above, or any suggestions, please let me know.

(These enhancements are all thanks to “Feedburner”, “Firefox”, “Firebug” the use of “widgets” as well as some useful HTML coding assistance from my daughter Laura.)

Regards


Richard Justice

Phone: (09) 520 1916
Fax: (09) 520 1814
Mobile: (021) 223 4741
Address: 34 John Stokes Terrace, Newmarket, Auckland, 1050
Email address: rjustice@xtra.co.nz

Race 4 Feedback

Way to go!! You plucked the living heart out of the competition today with that first and third place. It was real important that we re-establish ourselves, and you guys went out and did it.

On the other hand, the final man in a few teams forced the other four to exceed themselves. As was the case with the Juniors. Oh, and that unofficial third place (Massey) included a girl. A girl! Good thing they were a composite team.

So, we’ve still got work to do to get firing on all cylinders of a given team.

Again, well done! The Grammar Lion has roared.

Senior A from North Islands, get your medals to me by Wednesday. Ditto medal and stories from Aaron, Sam and Hamish.

Wind training for those who can Monday 4 pm at Bike Shed. Tuesday morning for all seniors, 7 am Bike Shed.

Re Juniors : Some good riding yesterday but still plenty to do. Well done Kirk and co in the C team for giving the B team a beating – interesting result.

Teams for Sunday 3 August

Senior A (Start Time: 6:45)
Aaron Gate - captain
Alex Ray
Michael Poole
Tom Williams
Hamish Elley-Brown

Senior B 6:47
Hamish Snow - captain
George Scott
Joe Sparks
Max Justice
Jono Hunt

Senior C 6:49:30
Howie Gaudin - captain
Nick Porter
Chris Dayaram
Ben Rendall
Jamie Small

Senior D 6:55:30
Dan Smith - captain
Matt Wall
Jack Perry
Tourley Munro

Senior E 7:19
Dillan Keshav - captain
Nick Dunning
Will Marson
Dane Naidoo

Junior A
Matt Foreman – captain
Sam Morreau
Daniel Poole
Adam Smith

Junior B
Damien Hill - captain
Sam White
Alec Cairney
Daniel Gate

Junior C
Alex Best - captain
Kirk Sowter
Hugo Bloor
Jackson Staub

Junior D
George Albury - captain
Misha Tosswill
Tony Sun
James Watt

Junior E
Andrew Russ - captain
Henry Watt
Callum Sweeny
Gabriel Metcalf

Reserve
Seaton Hill

Important Dates to Note

Please take note of the following important dates for all Grammar Cyclists and their families.

Additional information about each event will be sent out in due course – but for now, please block these off in your diaries so you are available:

9^th August (Saturday) 7.30am Individual Time Trial
All riders should be at Montgomery Place, Mangere, by 7.30am at the latest, ready for the first rider away at 8am. This selection time trial will assist coaches in selecting teams for the racing ahead in the weeks to come.

20^th August (Wednesday) 7pm – Nutrition Presentation
Dr Clare Wall (BSc, PhD) will be coming along to the school at 7 pm - something not to be missed by any cyclists serious about maximizing their performance on the bike – and also for parents to come along to know what is the current best advice in this area. ($5 door charge)

24^th August (Sunday) 5.45am onwards – Waterfront Team Time Trial – make up race
Race 3 in the series was called off – the make up race day is scheduled to be the Sunday in between race 5 and race 6. (We have racing on 7 out the next 9 weekends ahead.)

1^st September (Monday) 6,30pm for 7pm start - Fundraising Dinner
Taiko Japanese Restaurant, 460A New North Road, Kingsland. $39.00 per head, plus drinks that can be purchased on the night. All cyclists, their families and friends are welcome, but tickets are strictly limited on this one (only 74 available) and can be obtained (with payment) from Louise Foreman or Ken Sparks, with tickets available on Sunday at the Waterfront Time Trial.

5th September (Friday) to 7th (Sunday) NZ Individual Champs, Mt Wellington
Over three days this year, for the time trial, criterium and hill climb.

25th September (Thursday) Travel to Palmerston North
26th September (Friday) Pre Race Preparation at Palmerston North
27th September (Saturday) to 29th September (Monday) NZ Secondary Schools Championships at Palmerston North
What we're all building up for – the annual trip for the boys and parents to Palmerston North for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cycling Championships, incorporating the Team Time Trial, Road Race (or Manawhatu Under 17 Tour for Licensed riders) and the Points Race at Manfield Race Track. We will be seeking confirmation of numbers (adults and children) shortly.

Training Thursday & North Island Champs

Hi, Guys,

Training is ON for Thur.

Exam week, incidentally, is a great opportunity to integrate quality, focused mental workouts with solid, concentrated physical exercise. Especially when we have a major event coming up. The hours spent studying need an hour or so of clearing out one's head each day. The discipline helps both endeavours.

I have the junior trophy with me, just in case we have to give it back. There was no senior trophy last year. Let's bring one home.

We will be located in Room 5 of Gordonton School, same room as last year. Remember to park along the road leading up to the school grounds. There will be no parking on in the paddocks like before.


It's not to late to get your team entries in for the inaugural  National Points Series!
The first event in the series is the  Auckland 1000 on July 27th and to be eligible for overall points, teams must compete in a minimum of 6 events in the series.  
Click here <http://www.bikenz.org.nz/Article.aspx?ID=3107 <http://www.bikenz.org.nz/Article.aspx?ID=3107> >  for more information or please contact rachael@bikenz.org.nz <rachael@bikenz.org.nz>  or Phone: 04 560 0327

Le Tour begins Saturday. Marion Clignet would love to see us back in France in the near future.

Let's meet Friday lunchtime in Room E5.

Cheers,


Dale Johnson
AGS Cycling 
d.johnson@ags.school.nz <d.johnson@ags.school.nz>



Regards

Richard

Sent from my Blackberry (ph. +64 21 223 4741)
------------------------------------------------------------

Update from Aaron Gate

Hey Team!

The training in Perth has been going really well, its taken me a little bit longer to come onto some form but I'm really starting to go fast now.

Yesterday we were entered in a Track Racing Carnival here. It was really hard and fast racing, as the NZ Team was all put into A-Grade, up against Aussie's such as Graham Brown; holder of 2 Olympic Medals, member of the Australian Teams Pursuit Team to ride at the Olympics this year, and member of the RaboBank team to race the Tour de France this year; and Travis Meyer; who won 5 Junior World titles during his 2 years as a Junior. We worked as a team in the 5 lap wheel race to get the win in the 5 Lap Wheel Race, and I picked up a couple of 5th places in 2 of the other races.

Sam Webster has also been going really well, he, Ethan and Sam Steele were a close 2nd to the Senior Western Australia Team Sprint team, and he qualified fastest in the 200m sprint, to not quite get around the Senior Australian sprinter in the final (who's name escapes me).

Tomorrow is a big day as well, as it is the trials day when the whole team is put through a number of individual time trials to select the places for racing in the Final competition of the World Champs beginning on the 12th of July. My goal is to ride in the Team Pursuit team, as some of the lap times we've been doing in training indicate that we have a pretty strong chance in Cape Town. We fly out of Perth on Sunday the 6th of July to finish off our training and familiarise ourselves with the track we will actually be racing on, which we have been told is rather rough and bumpy (being concrete rather than wood), as well as having really steep corners.

I had a crash last Monday in training as well, which was caused by my chain coming due to a faulty front chain ring. I managed to write off the $8000 BT track frame on loan to me from BikeNZ by cracking it, and destroyed a $3000 rear disc wheel... (Luckily covered by the team's insurance...) I only suffered some grazing and quite a few splinters that the team masseuse had to pick out of my right bum cheek with a needle... which wasn't the most pleasurable experience for me or her no doubt, but it could have been a lot worse.

I'll try to stay in touch,

Cheers

Aaron

Yellow Hoodies / North Islands

Yellow hoodies are IN! $72. See me with dollars in your hand. Cheques to AGS Cycling. Twelve people ordered them.

If you have told me within the last two weeks you will be not attending North Island Championships (there are three), you must repay the entry fee for individuals ($5) and suffer the ignominy of letting down the other riders on your team.

Commitment to school, team and yourself figure large in Cycling at AGS. Cycling is not a sport where you can pick and choose when to train. There is no hiding. There is a large team of adults behind each and every rider, donating time, energy, personal effort on your behalf. You need to respect that.

Dale Johnson

North Island School Cycling Championships

NORTH ISLAND SCHOOL CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

5^TH AND 6^TH JULY 2008

UPDATE

June 2008

Teams Time Trial – Saturday 5^th July

Gordontown School

Manager's Meeting 9.30am

Start Time 10.30am

Order of Events -

Junior Girls

Junior Boys

Senior Girls

Senior Boys

Individual Road Races – Sunday 6^th July

Due to major road works the large circuit course has been changed

Racing starts in Kent Street and proceeds along River Road to Lake Road, then Howard Road ,Driver Road, River Road which forms the circuit where cyclists complete the 13.5km laps as below then back along River Road to finish in Kent Street.

Order of Events -

Morning -

These races on new circuit

8.00am Under 17 Boys 2 laps

8.05am Under 16 Girls 2 laps

9.30am Under 16 Boys 2 laps

9.30am Under 17 Girls 2 laps

10.45am Under 20 Girls 2 laps

11.00am Under 20 Boys 3 laps

Afternoon –

These races on small school circuit

From 12.45pm Under 14 Girls 6 laps

Under 14 Boys 6 laps

Under 15 Girls 6 laps

Under 15 Boys 8 laps

Please note - start times may be changed – Team Managers and Riders please check in the School Hall on the day.

Scratchings –

Scratching for Sunday's events to be notified to Sandra Carter in the hall on Saturday by 2.30pm.

Prior to that
John Young can be contacted on Phone 07 8247416

Parking –

Teams Time Trial – Saturday 5^th July 2008

The field beside the school will be used for this purpose, this year with a cost of $2.00 per vehicle. The reason for this being that unfortunately there was damage to fences last year and so a hireage fee has been charged to the organisers this year.

If the paddock cannot be used due to weather conditions, parking will be available prior to the one way bridge before the school and down an adjacent side road. This will mean a short walk of 300-500 metres to the venue.

Marshalling –

Sunday Morning only -

Ten people are still required for this important task on the large circuit. These persons would need to be on site by 7.45am through until approximately 12.15pm but even an hour and half would be of assistance. It has been suggested that if school do not want to assist they supply a reasonable donation to cover hiring a group to do this job.

Lead Cars – All of Sunday

Cars and drivers are required for the ten Individual Road Races on Sunday. The Race Organiser will make sure there is some help to these drivers.

Food –

There will be food on sale both days, please support these fund raising efforts.

Any questions please do not hesitiate to contact John Young

Phone 07 8247416 or email younalan@ihug.co.nz

Junior squad update

Well done on the turn out on Saturday morning for the ITT and on the many improvements. There will be some changes for the next TTT that I will outline for you on Tuesday as we look to that race and the North Islands.
 
Good to see Daniel P, Kirk Sowter, Alec Cairney and Adam Smith out at Auckland Half Distance Champs.
 
Tuesday training is back at Abbott's Way. See you then.
 
Alwyn


Regards

Richard

Sent from my Blackberry (ph. +64 21 223 4741)
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Individual Time Trial

Some seem not to have heard, so here it is:

ITT Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. for Juniors first, then Seniors, alphabetically in both cases.

Is it time for an after-school Wind Training session on Monday? Let's give it a go this Monday, 3:45, under shelter by the bike trailer. Music can be arranged, but whose, is not yet clear.

Don't forget, those St Cuthbert girls are keyed up to ride with us after time trials tomorrow. So wear your most flash gear.

Cheers,


Dale Johnson
AGS Cycling 
d.johnson@ags.school.nz

I'm mad!

Good training guys……..but……….riding home safely and considerately is a huge part of training. Following a particular group home that was two or three abreast, holding up traffic, riding no hands, falling off at an intersection, etc. It takes one car to get mad, swerve past you or into you and you have caused and been a part of an accident. You need to get this aspect right. Superman is bullet proof – you are not. Enough motorists are fed up with cyclist – don't add to it. And don't be the next statistic.
 
Many thanks to the parents who rode tonight and helped on the corners.
 
Alwyn


Regards

Richard

Sent from my Blackberry (ph. +64 21 223 4741)
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Coach’s Comments on Junior Performances

Hello Spinners

For results from Sunday see:

http://www.avantiplus.com/Auckland_Secondary_Schools_Cycling/assc.aspx


Junior A 23:00 2nd place (33secs down)

BIG improvement. Well done to all four. Lots of progress and you would have surprised the other teams by what you have achieved in two weeks. We will keep up the hard work and look to halve the gap again (at least) by TTT 3 and then aim for gold at North Islands.


Junior B 24:47 6th place (13secs down on St. Kents JB)

A solid ride guys (10secs slower but in harder conditions). You held your place. We have to really get those legs spinning fast and in each of your programmes you have components for that. We should be aiming top 4 in Auckland but you will need to work to achieve it.


Junior C 26:12 10h place (51secs down St. Kents JC)

A ride we need to improve on. Pity to lose Hugo early. Well down Jackson on stepping up and putting in a solid effort. Endurance is important but in a race as short as a 16km TTT you need speed (through leg turnover/cadence) first. Keep working on this. The Senior A guys tell me that on the way out they had their cadence up around 140 for sections of the course.


Junior D 27:07 13h place (55secs down St. Kents JD)

This is solid compared to your TTT 1 ride and you held your place. A really positive effort after losing Simon early and a long way ahead of where you guys were as individuals last year. Keep up the hard work.


Junior E 29:42 24th place (1:17secs down St. Kents JE)

Not as bad as it looks men. Well done Andrew on getting out there for the first time and really riding hard through to the end. Lots of ability here and you will all improve a massive amount during the year.


See you Tuesday afternoon. I would love to get an F team out there and given that James Watt, Misha, and Michael were not there on Sunday we are close to it when all are fit and well. Keep asking around – 2 or 3 more riders would make a huge difference.

Thanks

Alwyn Poole

Junior training this Tuesday 10th June

Well done this morning on what looked like a much improved effort throughout the teams. We are making progress. More on this when I see the times.
 
This Tuesday we will train at One Tree Hill. Meet at the car park beside the observatory by 4pm. It would be very helpful to have a couple of parents there as marshalls for a couple of the points on the hills.
 
See you Tuesday.
 
Alwyn



Regards

Richard

Sent from my Blackberry (ph. +64 21 223 4741)
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Junior Teams for Sunday 8th June

Hi Men (and all of those attached to them).

 

The following are the teams for this Sunday. On the attached sheets are the timetables for Sunday. Please click on the tab that applies to you. Get back to me with any questions. If I have missed anyone (or you should not be on my list) get back to me on that also.

We won't set place aims for this one as we are still settling in given the punctures, etc, from TTT one.

With Seton Hill no longer available everyone moves up a click. Keep in mind the individual TT next Saturday morning at the airport – it will strongly determine teams for TTT 3 and the North Islands. As you get relatively faster – you move up. If you are disappointed in the team that you are in at present – show me why this Sunday with a great ride for your team and then really demonstrate it on your own next Saturday.

Andrew – even though you are listed as reserve come along ready to ride with the E team as there is still some illness and injury and it is very likely that one or two riders will be missing.

Don't forget that the parent of the team captain gets the lucky job of being team manager.

 

Thanks

 

Alwyn Poole

 

Junior A

Matt Foreman – captain

Sam Morreau

Daniel Poole

Adam Smith

 

Junior B

Damien Hill - captain

Sam White

Daniel Gate

Kirk Sowter

 

Junior C

Alex Best - captain

Alec Cairney

Hugo Bloor

Jackson Staub

 

Junior D

George Albury - captain

Misha Tosswill

Tony Sun

Callum Sweeny

 

Junior E

Andrew Russ - captain

Sam Brothers

Simon Stafford-Bush

Gabriel Metcalf

 

Reserve

 

Andrew Cribben

 

Richard’s Crash

Dear Grammar Cycling Community,

Just to fill in the gaps for those of you who don't already know -yes I received that phone call on Sat afternoon that nobody ever want to get - "Mum - Dad has had a crash and is in hospital". I was in Auckland and this was all happening in Taranaki - many miles away. I flew down on the first flight Sun morning.

Richard crashed on Sat afternoon while sprinting in the last 500m of the second event of the B grade of the Tour of Taranaki - Tom Williams was just within his grasp. There was a 10 person crash - 3 people being taken to Hawera Hospital. Richard has a fractured left clavicle, 2 broken ribs eventually discovered on Tues and multiple abrasions on his left side - including his arm, hip and his entire left leg.

Many thanks to the Grammar Cycling Community for their care and support - not to mention individuals but - John and Joy Williams for taking care of Max - mentally and physically - James and Meren Webster - for only being a phone call away, Blair James - Hawera Hospital would not have been the same without you being there, and Mike Sowter for directions around Taranaki.

Aaron and Sam leaving this weekend - may the wind always be at your back - have a great time and enjoy the experience - make us proud boys.

Cheers lorraine j

Provisional Start Times Race 2 June 8th

Time		Number	Grade
6:45:00	Auckland Grammar A	1	SB
6:45:30	Westlake Boys A	39	SB
6:46:00	Auckland Grammar B	2	SB
6:46:30	St Kentigern College A	29	SB
6:47:00	Massey High School A	18	SB
6:47:30	Sacred Heart College A	26	SB
6:48:00	Macleans College A	15	SB
6:48:30	Westlake Boys B	40	SB
6:49:00	St Kentigern College JA	99	JB
6:49:30	Westlake Boys JA	112	JB
6:50:00	St Kentigern College B	30	SB
6:50:30	Takapuna Grammar A	36	SB
6:51:00	Auckland Grammar C	3	SB
6:51:30	Kristin School A	13	SB
6:52:00	St Kentigern College JB	100	JB
6:52:30	Pakuranga JA	87	JB
6:53:00	Diocesan A	7	SG
6:53:30	Auckland Grammar D	4	SB
6:54:00	Rangitoto College A	22	SB
6:54:30	Glendowie College A	12	SB
6:55:00	Massey High School B	19	SB
6:55:30	Auckland Grammar JA	63	JB
6:56:00	Auckland Grammar JB	64	JB
6:56:30	St Kentigern College JC	101	JB
6:57:00	St Cuthberts College A	27	SG
6:57:30	Macleans College B	16	SB
6:58:00	Rangitoto College B	23	SB
6:58:30	St Kentigern College C	31	SB
6:59:30	Auckland Grammar JC	65	JB
7:00:00	Macleans College A	17	SG
7:00:30	Diocesan JA	72	JG
7:01:00	Baradene College A	6	SG
7:01:30	St Kentigern College JD	102	JB
7:02:00	Diocesan B	8	SG
7:02:30	St Kentigern College A	33	SG
7:03:00	Westlake Boys C	41	SB
7:03:30	Kristin School A	14	SG
7:04:00	Sacred Heart College JA	89	JB
7:04:30	Westlake Girls A	43	SG
7:05:00	Macleans College JA	81	JB
7:05:30	Pakuranga A	21	SB
7:06:00	Epsom Grammar A	10	SG
7:06:30	Whangaparoa JA	118	JB
7:07:00	Takapuna Grammar B	37	SB
7:07:30	St Kentigern College JA	106	JG
7:08:00	Howick College JA	80	JB
7:08:30	Auckland Grammar JD	66	JB
7:09:00	Sancta Maria College JA	93	JB
7:09:30	Westlake Boys JB	113	JB
7:10:00	Sacred Heart College JB	90	JB
7:10:30	Whangaparoa JB	119	JB
7:11:00	St Kentigern College JE	103	JB
7:11:30	Macleans College JA	83	JG
7:12:00	Westlake Boys JC	114	JB
7:13:00	St Cuthberts College JA	95	JG
7:13:30	Takapuna Grammar JA	109	JB
7:14:00	Auckland Grammar E	5	SB
7:14:30	Diocesan JB	73	JG
7:15:00	Rosehill College A	24	SB
7:15:30	Macleans College JB	82	JB
7:16:00	Diocesan C	9	SG
7:16:30	St Kentigern College D	32	SB
7:17:00	Epsom Grammar JA	77	JG
7:17:30	Auckland Grammar JE	67	JB
7:18:00	St Peters College A	34	SB
7:18:30	St Peters College JA	107	JB
7:19:00	Takapuna Grammar A	38	SG
7:19:30	Baradene College JA	69	JG
7:20:00	Diocesan JC	74	JG
7:20:30	St Cuthberts College JB	96	JG
7:21:00	Rangitoto College JA	88	JB
7:21:30	Glendowie College JA	79	JB
7:22:00	Whangaparoa JC	120	JB
7:22:30	Sacred Heart College JC	91	JB
7:23:00	St Cuthberts College JC	97	JG
7:23:30	Westlake Girls JA	115	JG
7:24:00	Westlake Boys D	42	SB
7:24:30	Auckland Grammar JF	68	JB
7:25:00	St Kentigern College JF	104	JB
7:25:30	Sancta Maria College JB	94	JB
7:26:00	Takapuna Grammar JA	111	JG
7:26:30	Takapuna Grammar JB	110	JB
7:27:30	Diocesan JD	75	JG
7:28:00	Massey High School A	20	SG
7:28:30	Westlake Girls JB	116	JG
7:29:00	St Kentigern College JG	105	JB
7:29:30	Massey High School JA	84	JB
7:30:00	St Marys/Marist Composite	35	SG
7:30:30	Sunderland Sch & Col JA	108	JB
7:31:00	Massey High School JB	85	JB
7:31:30	St Cuthberts College JD	98	JG
7:32:00	Sacred Heart College JD	92	JB
7:32:30	Rosehill College A	25	SG
7:33:00	St Cuthberts College B	28	SG
7:33:30	Diocesan JE	76	JG
7:34:00	Whangaparoa A	44	SB
7:34:30	Epsom Grammar B	11	SG
7:35:00	Epsom Grammar JB	78	JG
7:35:30	Baradene College JB	70	JG
7:36:00	Westlake Girls JC	117	JG
7:36:30	Baradene College JC	71	JG