Illawarra Cycle Club

Illawarra Cycle Club will host the elite, under 19 and under 23 NSW road time trial championships on its Dapto road circuit on Sunday, June  30.

The club has been given the honour to hold the event by Cycling NSW and in what is believed to be a first,  will run time trial events for non- championship riders concurrently.

Club vice president and handicapper Garry Doughty said being asked to host State championships was a feather in the club’s cap.

“It will bring riders and their families to the Illawarra for the day if not the weekend and showcase not only our club but our sport and our region,” he said.

Already a number of gun riders from throughout NSW have entered. Local hopes include Blair Arnold and Bradley Heffernan in the junior men 19 , John Berry, Eamonn Bell, Luke Meers and Scott Butler in the elite men.

Doughty said having the championship event in Wollongong was an excellent opportunity to provide riders not riding for the medals with the chance to time trial using the professional timing and starting equipment that would be installed for the day on the start line at the end of Avondale Rd, near the Don’s Farm recreation park.

Events of either 22km or 44km will be held for all grades (including the newly introduced women's E grade and juniors who can ride the distance) on that day - but there will be no other junior events.

Racing will start at 10am and according to Doughty, should provide some good spectator action.  Entries for the championships are  via the Cycling NSW website and for the club level event  through club handicapper Garry Doughty by email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . All potential riders must hold Cycling Australia gold race licences.

The Illawarra Cycle Club has shown its commitment to providing cycling opportunities for riders of both sexes, all ages and all capabilities by introducing two new racing streams as part of its Saturday afternoon winter road race program.

As well as running road racing events in grades from A through to D for regular riders, the Club has answered calls for a new introductory grade solely for women without any racing experience and created a new women-only E grade to be run normally as a scratch race over a limited distance, usually 20km.

Eight women ranging from an 11 year old through to a new rider in her early 50s took part in the first event held on part of the club's regular race circuit starting from Don's Farm on Avondale Rd, Dapto, and the race was declared a huge success by race organisers, who also provided some racing tips as well.

Similarly, 10 children aged from four to 12 years old lined up for the new junior juniors event, riding their usual children's bikes rather than specialised road bikes over a 7km course, with adult riders accompanying them.

Both grades will run each Saturday other graded events are held, with sign-on from 1.30-1.45pm and racing starting after the A, B, C and D grades at 2pm.

All competitors must hold a Cycling NSW gold racing licence available from the Cycling NSW website by clicking the Membership tab; or a day licence, available on the day at signon. For further information contact the Secretary by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

With the introduction of the Club's first National Road Series team, the two new grades help to create a solid pathway for junior, womens, masters and elite development.

Illawarra Cycle Club’s newly established elite road team has taken its first step towards realising a goal to become a regular on the prestigious National Road Series, after snavelling a prized wildcard entry into the upcoming Santos North Western tour at Narrabri on June 19-22.

The team, managed by Mick Kejda and comprising Alex Ball, Eamonn Bell, Joel Walsh, Josh Berry, Mark Jewel, Scott Butler with Scott Harrison and Dave Hoyle as reserves, was advised by Cycling NSW of its successful application yesterday and is now moving full steam ahead to procure vehicles, a mechanic and other support in time for the event.

Spokesman Scott Butler, a masters aged but A grade rider and the brainchild behind the newly formed team, said the acceptance of the team’s entry into the Santos tour was “just the start”.

“Having a club team riding the National Road Series is something Illawarra Cycle Club has dreamed of for some time and the riders were pleased the committee voted to support us when we broached the idea a few months ago,” he said.

“As we are still very new and not yet registered as an NRS team – which requires a reasonable investment from both club and riders, to now have the chance to ride an NRS event so soon after putting the team together is a dream come true. Our ambitions are modest – only one member, Josh, has almost a full NRS season under his belt – but our hope is that we will do well enough to become a genuine NRS team in 2014.

“If we realise our goal, an ICC NRS team would provide riders, managers, mechanics and organisers with a pathway to the next level in road racing, up from club racing to national series racing. It gives our younger club riders something to aim for and train hard to be selected for.”

Manager Kejda said the riders selected for the team had shown through hard work and personal sacrifice the ability to race at a constant high level. “These riders have taken the initial steps by attending major NRS races as individual entrants and showing they are capable of making the step up to a Teams racing format,” he said.

Illawarra Cycle Club’s talented juniors came up trumps in the recent Tamworth Junior two day road tour, with three overall wins and a number of placings in both general classification and individual events.

Sean Oaten was the winner of the U17B men’s general classification (GC), while U15 girls rider Natasha Mullaney won her general classification with two road race wins and a King of the Mountain (KOM).

Chloe Heffernan was second in this division on the GC and a win in the time trial while Chelsea Oaten was fifth overall.

Mitchell Wright made a clean sweep of all four stages in the under 15 boys event to win the GC and KOM. Thomas Murray, Zac Marshall and Lachlan Scott also rode well.

Riding in under 13 girls, Shari Heffernan was third in all stages and the GC.  Under 17 rider Bridget Mullaney finished fourth on GC with three road race wins. Jess Marshall competed well in this division after time off the bike.

Cameron Scott won two road races and placed third in the time trial in the under 17 mens A event, but a puncture in in the first stage had put him out of GC contention. Dylan Oaten and Matthew Pignatelli also rode well.

The club’s junior road racers will now focus on Canberra Junior Tour in July.