2024 Narrabundah Open Race Report
The carnival ran on Saturday 2 November and was split into a Junior Carnival and a Senior Carnival.
Junior Carnival
The Junior Carnival kicked off in the morning with 36 riders from U9 through to U17.
The race program included a warmup Scratch race, a two lap Handicap, the Merv McDonald Memorial Wheelrace, a moto-paced Scratch race and finished up with a bit of a fun Italian Pursuit.
Merv was a loved husband, father, poppy, brother, cyclist, masters world time trial champion, super coach and commissaire. A talented Queanbeyan sportsman and champion cyclist, Merv and his wife Gwen relocated to the Sunshine Coast after a 39-year-long stint in the public service and a notable career in cycling as a rider, coach and official.
Thanks to the 99 Bikes ACT stores, who assisted with the prize pool of vouchers for the competitors.
The U9-U13 Merv McDonald Memorial Wheelrace was won by Canberra Cycling Club’s (CCC) own Annika Astridge, followed by Illawarra rider Oliver Morris, Vikings (VCC) Hudson Taylor with George Williams(CCC) and Eric Taylor (VCC) closing out the podium spots.
The U15-U17 Merv McDonald Memorial Wheelrace was won by VCC’s Jackson MacDonald followed by CCC’s Will Astridge and Wagga Wagga’s Jacob McLachlan. CCC’s Ryker Bentlin and Illawarra’s James Allen closed out the podium.
Senior Carnival
The Senior Carnival commenced in the afternoon with 35 riders. This carnival is part of the 2024 NSW/ACT Country Track Series and thank you to all our interstate racers, families and supporters for coming.
As with the Junior’s the race program included a Scratch race, 1,000 metre Handicap, the Derek Aisbitt Memorial Wheelrace and a moto-pace Scratch to finish off the days racing.
Derek Aisbitt is best remembered as being one of Canberra’s most innovative cycling coaches of his time. He started coaching in the early 1980’s, and as the original owner of the Bike Shed, he pioneered the morning bunch rides from the shop in Phillip. Many local kids were given their first job in the shop so they could pay for their love of cycling.Derek coached a multitude of World and Australian Cycling Champions including Peter, Dean, and Michael Rogers; Michael Hayman; Robert McLachlan; Adrian Nolan; Simon Calder; Nathan Page and too many others to name. 2009 Masters World Champion Jim Veal and Derek’s son Michael, also a legend in the ACT cycling community, give Derek the credit for getting them to the top of their sport.Derek’s wife Angela and son Michael presented the prizes to the winner and place getters.
Thanks to Baden Burke from the Bakehouse in Ainslie for his support for the winner’s purse.
The Women’s Derek Aisbitt Memorial Wheelrace was taken out by CCC and ACTAS rider Claudia Marcks, followed by VCC’s Ali Hale and Castlemaine Cycling Club’s Emma Jackson. VCC’s (and Birthday girl) Sara Buerger and Peta Brill closed out the podium.
The Men’s Derek Aisbitt Memorial Wheelrace was a great contest with the middle markers taking it out. Albury Wodonga rider David Mann claimed the win followed by CCC’s David Sitsky and Illawarra rider Chris Allen. VCC’s Ryan Bates and CCC’s Baden Burke coming in 4th and 5th in a toughly fought sprint to the line.
The Narrabundah Open couldn’t have been run without the support of some key volunteers including Tony O’Connor (Sluggo), Jim and Lyn Veal, Michael Buerger, Llewella and Dan Grillo. Thanks to Paul Vumbaca for the sound stem, Michael Langdon on the microphone, Harry O’Connor for the tunes and Mark Henwood and parents from the Junior Development Fund (JDF) for the awesome canteen. Thank you to all the other volunteers who assisted with setup and pack down and throughout the day.
Alone with the general volunteers, another integral part in the event’s smooth running were the men and women in blue, the wonderful Commissaires. Thanks to the Chief Commissaire Peter Tomlinson who was supported by Simon and Caet Watch, Jim Veal and David Kallir Preece.
The ACT Club’s Vikings Cycling Club and Canberra Cycling Club were proud to host this event and would like to take all participants, parents and supporters who made this event a lot of fun to run.
Ride safely
Michael Buerger
Race Director