RACV Energy Breakthrough :: Event Report :: Bendigo HPV Pursuit 2008

On track pursuit a great success
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Weeroona College, Maiden Gully PS, St Therese’s School and Bendigo Youth Racing. All successful on the track, but could the former managers of these teams pull together to organise a race themselves?
The answer – following the 2008 Cartridge World Bendigo HPV Pursuit – is yes.
View full results, including times available here (pdf)

John Taylor, Craig MacKenzie, Grant Pollard and Nigel Preston joined forces over the Labour Day long weekend to host a series of pursuit races on the Tom Flood Velodrome in Bendigo. The races featured four vehicles staggered at the quarter marks around the 412 metre track. The HPV Pursuit formed part of the Bendigo International Madison Carnival, which sees much of the town’s population turn out each year over 3 days of cycling.

The impressive field included Bendigo Senior SC, Bendigo Sth West SC (formerly Maiden Gully PS), Bendigo Youth Racing, Flora Hill SC, St Margaret's School, St. Therese’s, Weeroona College Bendigo and Willmott Park PS.

The timing of the event, 1 week after the Wonthaggi HPGP, seemed to sit well for teams and the number of teams turning out highlighted the strength of HPV racing in Bendigo

Click to Enlarge - Flora Hill's Buff Duck & Bendigo Youth Racing

Click to Enlarge - Fill's rider settles in at Station B

The day started with scrutineering and registration from 9:30am and Terry Trevena and the crew from St Margaret’s School (SMS) were more punctual than many of the local crews – despite travelling from Berwick to be there! Riders, flag marshals and time keepers were briefed at 11 and the gun fired for the first heat at 11:30.

During the heats, four riders from varying classes were pitted against each other over six laps. Many teams made up their stagger during the heats and there were no racing incidents requiring marshal assistance. With BYR providing flag marshals and the teams providing time keepers, the whole day ran as though it was it’s tenth time, not it’s first. A special thank you to the Bendigo crew for marshalling and also to St Marg’s and Willmott Park PS for travelling a great distance to participate.

Click to Enlarge - Scrutineering was carried out by Grant Pollard and John Taylor

Click to Enlarge - Fill on track and on a flyer

One of the highlights of the day was a 25 minute gap between the heats and finals where riders could pilot a vehicle from another school for a few laps. Riders from SMS were in BSSC’s ‘Vinnie’ & ‘Tree Goat’ and vice-versa, BYR riders in Weeroona and primary school students from St Therese’s and Willmott Park Ps in Flora Hill vehicles too. There was time to try 2, 3 or 4 different vehicles during this period. Design critique - from the riders themselves - began to flow, with comments such as: “The seat is too upright for me”, “the leg length is too long” and “I couldn’t see”; through to “Wow, that was quick!” and “I can see why they go so fast!”

For others, the opportunity to mingle with people from other teams and meet other students was the greatest gain. Leigh Eeles, team manager of Willmott Park PS reflected on the day: “I’ve made some contacts and I think I know the direction we’d like to head to.”

As the night session of cycling kicked into gear, 12 HPVs returned to the velodrome for a 12 lap multicar handicap race. With a large crowd looking on, the vehicles raised more than a few eyebrows as the riders lit up the track with plenty of passing moves and speed. With 80 seconds separating the field over 2 laps, it was spectacular, even if difficult to work out who was where. “We had no idea who was winning, but gee, it looked great!” Nigel Preston said, “Sure, we had a lap counter for each of the teams, but it was tricky to relay that info when a lap only takes 30 seconds!”

It was a brilliant showcase and the Madison organisers were impressed: “We’re always looking for something else to break up the cycling” one official said, “we have the athletics, but I could see us featuring HPVs more in future years.” The future signs look good too – will you be heading to Bendigo in March 2009?

Category winners:
Junior Boys Riley O'Shea - Eco Racer 1 - St Therese's School	Secondary Girls Bonnie McIntyre - Silver Bullet - Weeroona College, Bendigo
Secondary Boys Boyd Harris - Reloaded - Weeroona College, Bendigo	Community Callan Ridge - 'Old Bearded Mate' - Bendigo Youth Racing
View full results, including times available here

Cartridge World Involvement

Each class winner received a medallion and $100 cash from Cartridge World. All schools and riders received certificates of participation. They have been strong supporters of Weeroona College's Energy Breakthrough squads for many years.

Photos and article written by Nigel Preston, RACV Energy Breakthrough Planning Committee.