Welcome
to Nothern Veterans Cycling Club!
:: History
The
Northern Veterans Cycling Club was formed in 1976. We were then known
as Veterans North of the River. The inaugural meeting was held on 21st
June 1976 with 11 members being in attendance.
The
V.C.A.V. better known as the Southern Vets, were already a successful
organization at this time and they provided great assistance in getting
our new Club up and running. At the initial meeting, they had 5 members
in attendance to provide any help which may be needed. This meeting
set the standard for the Club as we know it today, with a strong band
of office bearers being appointed.
The
new Club completed a successful road season, and on the 14th November
1976 began track racing. This was not a continuing success, and by the
1980’s the Club was involved in road racing for 12 months of the
year.
In
April 1977 the Club was officially named the Northern Veteran Cycling
Club.
Rod
Hay, the 1976 Champion in his age group, is still a Member of the Club
and it is obvious by the early minutes of the Club, that he was one
of the most supportive founder Members. His name come up on a very regular
basis, as a donor for one reason or another and his support would have
been invaluable in those early struggling days when the Clubs assets
were low.
Our
main feature of the year is the Tom Stewart 3 Day Tour at Seymour. Tom
had been our President from 1980 – 1994 and he nurtured the Tour
to what it is today. It is successful and challenging as the riders
ride themselves into fitness.
Some
very good times have been experienced at the Seymour venue where the
Goulburn River Caravan Park was once managed by Life Member Clem Healey
and his wife Margaret who were extremely good hosts and set the scene
for successful events both competitively and socially.
A
strong flavour in the early years contributed to a day at the bikes
being more than just 30-40 miles of hard work. Races had to be re-run
back at the tent where another great worker and Life Member, Jim Gleisner
would make everyone welcome to join in the fun.
:: Membership
Cyclists
become eligible for Membership in the year in which the age of 35 is
reached for males, and 30 years for females.
To
race with our Club, or any other Veteran Club, it is mandatory that
a V.V.C.C. licence be held. The cost of a licence is
included in the Membership fees. Membership fees are
due before 31st December each year. The Membership
fee also covers the cost of Insurance (see later section on Insurance).
The
Annual presentation night is another event which is an important feature
of our calendar year having grown from a humble beginning at the Coburg
Club rooms to now being a very good value night out at the Melrose Reception
Centre. A lot of effort has been put in by Life Member and Social Secretary
Merle Jamieson to make this a most enjoyable evening each year.
General
meetings are held on the second Monday of each month,
unless a holiday occurs then it is the following Monday, to which all
Members are encouraged to attend. It would be nice if all new Members
after receiving their letter of acceptance, would turn up at the next
meeting, so that the Committee and Members could meet them. The Annual
General Meeting is held in March.
Since
June 2000 the meetings are now held at the Preston Cycling Club
rooms.
While
a short course at Mickleham was the home base in the early years, heavy
traffic forced the Club to move out to the Toolernvale 16km
circuit, a course which is very suitable for Veteran racing
and considered as being the home track since 1980.
The
Club also races at various other venues throughout the year and have
been fortunate to have full support from both the Victorian Police and
the respective Councils. These alternative courses vary in the degree
of difficulty and present conditions suitable for styles.
Typical
venues are:
- East Trentham, Pig and Whistle Hotel
- Seymour, Avenel Rd. out and back Vic Road (61 D2)
- Seymour, School House Hill circuit Vic Road (61 D2)
- Ballan Vic. Road (77 E3)
- Filo Drive. Campbellfield (Mel. Map 180 F9)
- Lancefield Vic. Road (60 D6)
The
Club is well equipped to hold road races being in possession of all
mandatory safety equipment (marshall Jackets, road signs, flags etc.)
a portable address system, a B.B.Q. which is housed in a trailer belonging
to the Club. The supplies of first aid equipment are always kept well
stocked.
::
The AVCC
The
Australian Veteran Cycling Council Inc. is the umbrella organization
for Veteran Cycling within Australia and arose as a result of dissatisfaction
with the attitudes towards Veteran racing shown by other Australian
Cycling bodies. It is through the A.V.C.C. that the Insurance cover
for riders is provided. Those States which have controlling Veteran
Cycling Bodies (Vic, NSW, ACT, Tas, WA) make up the A.V.C.C. Any rider
holding an A.V.C.C. licence may participate in any event held by these
affiliated bodies when visiting these States. On occasions when there
is a special event, riders outside the A.V.C.C. may be invited to participate
but are required to take out a temporary insurance cover with the A.V.C.C.
insurers.
The
Australian Championships are normally, but not necessarily, held during
Easter each year under the patronage of the A.V.C.C. There are usually
4 days of racing with the feature event, the Australian Road Championships
being held on Easter Saturday. While the Road Championships are always
age-graded, other Championships, namely a 25km Time Trial, a 4km Road
Teams Time Trial, and a Criterium Championship may be conducted on a
graded basis.
The
A.V.C.C. may also sun age-graded Track Championships. The constitution
stipulates that Sprint, Scratch, Pursuit and Time Trial events shall
be run, distances being scheduled according to age grouping.
Policy
decisions of the A.V.C.C. are determined at the Annual General Meeting,
usually held in conjunction with the Road Championships, with delegates
from each affiliated State/Territory being represented. The Executive
is made up of a President, Vice-President and a Secretary/Treasurer.
:: The AVVCC
The
Victorian Veteran Cycling Council Inc. is the governing body for Veteran
Cyclists in Victoria. It is comprised of 10 affiliated Veteran Cycling
Clubs spread throughout Victoria with over 900 registered riders in
total. The other clubs apart from Northern are:
Ballarat
Veteran Cycling Club Inc.
Central
Victorian Veterans Cycling Club Inc. (Bendigo based)
Colac
Veteran Cycling Club Inc.
Eastern
Veteran Cycling Club Inc.
Geelong
Veteran Cycling Club Inc.
Grampians
Veteran Cycling Association Inc.
Hume
Veteran Cycling Club Inc.
Southern
Veteran Cycling Club Inc.
Warrnambool
& District Veteran Cycling Club Inc.
Each
of the affiliated clubs provide delegates who make up the Victorian
Veteran Cycling Council.
Except
in special circumstances, such as closed Club Championships, all clubs
welcome riders from other affiliated veteran cycling clubs to their
races. The graded structure, A-F, is replicate at these other clubs.
Most
Clubs race every weekend although midweek racing is also common due
the months of daylight saving. Emphasis is placed on providing competitive
racing in as safe conditions as possible. Local Council and Police permits
are obtained at all times. Off road circuits are used where possible.
The length of a race can vary, but generally during the winter months
can last from 45-75km and during the summer months from 1-2 hours, is
the distance with 48km raced during summer months. These distances represent
40 minutes and 30 miles respectively on the old scale.
The
V.V.C.C. oversees the conduct of the annual State road and criterium
Championships. These are run in 5 year age groups with medals and/or
sashes awarded to the place getters. Southern is usually the host club
for the criterium Championships as they are generally held at Waverley
Park. Hosting the Road Championships is generally shared between the
other Member Clubs.
Each
year the V.V.C.C. determines the composition of the races which make
up the VicHealth V.V.C.C. Road Aggregate. Points are awarded for place
getters in each of the races that make up the series.The series consists
mainly of handicaps with a few graded scratch races as well as the State
Road Championships.
One
of the V.V.C.C.’s functions is in providing a State Handicapper.
The results of all Club races are forwarded to the handicapper shoes
duty it is to ensure a consistency in grade standards across all Clubs.
The State Handicapper is also responsible for the handicapping of open
events including those which are part of the V.V.C.C. Aggregate.
All
riders please note:
TO
QUALIFY FOR AGE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS YOU MUST HAVE 10
RIDES TO QUALIFY.
THIS
IS TAKEN OVER A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS FROM THE LAST TIME IT WAS RUN.
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Club
President: Ian Brown - Phone: 9890 2528, Email:
iwb0@optusnet.com.au
Treasurer:
Bob Burt - Phone: 9481 1696
