Port Adelaide CC held its second cyclo-cross race for Winter 2020 and with the Covid-19 restrictions easing, the small but enthusiastic crowd, heckles, and the Trott Park BBQ were back and in force at the Adelaide Superdrome and Forester's Forest Grounds.
Port Adelaide CC held the second cyclo-cross race in the southern hemisphere post Covid-19 shutdown under modified conditions (the first was Cyclo-Cross Hawke's Bay in New Zealand a week earlier). The venue was what's now known as 'Goon Bag Reserve' in Port Adelaide.
We are aiming to return to more 'normal' club activities in the week starting 1st June 2020, as permitted by law. While this means we can start to recommence some of our activities, we are still limited in what we can offer. Our interpretation of the Emergency Declaration is we generally offer a non-contact sport (where any contact between participants that does occur, is accidental) and we can make changes to our activities to try to keep riders, coaches, officials and volunteers Covid-safe.
Due to the growing COVID-19 crisis worldwide, and acting upon advice from State and Federal Governments, and our State and National Sporting Organisations Cycling SA, Cycling Australia and Mountain Bike Australia, the Port Adelaide Cycling Club is cancelling all upcoming races and coached training sessions for the immediate future, pending further advice.
After a long cyclo-cross hiatus we had a 'cross event uninterrupted by extreme weather or apocalyptic bushfire smoke, and we returned to the ever-changing John E Brown Park in North Adelaide. What was a mudfest for us in September was a delightfully changing dusty short course with myriad different corner grips and geometry that took advantage of some of the park's mulchy, grassy and dusty features. There were some spectacular starts and finishes across all grades with over 100 riders enjoying mild but sunny conditions.
Port Adelaide CC is excited to be teaming up with Kilkenny Cycling Club and Cycling SA to present the Return to Hanson Reserve track and cyclo-cross event, incorporating the official (re)opening of the Velodrome with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield.
Skid city! It started out as a pretty fine day with maximum grip on most of the course, but during the tail end of the B-Grade mens race, conditions turned 'epic' with a 2mm dumping of rain falling within about a 15min period.
Congratulations to the many new State Champions crowned on a new course in Foresters Forest, Gepps Cross!
Another fantastic new venue in our club's traditional heartland - a waterfront course in Port Adelaide with a variety of surfaces and challenges including sand, random shopping trolleys and some slippery off camber corners. We'll be back!
The Committee is seeking assistance from members who have a car with a tow bar and a bit of free time to transport the the club trailer to and from our events.
The trailer will be housed at the Adelaide Super-Drome at Gepps Cross and we need it to be collected and returned before and after races. Pick up and drop off are flexible (as long as you have a secure place for it to be stored until it is returned). With 12 CX events a year, we hope to be able to get multiple volunteers and share the load over the CX winter and summer seasons.
Please email [email protected] if you are interested in assisting.
Alternatively, if any members have large or access to cheap storage facilities in the city or city fringe, please contact the Committee.
Photo: Stacey Klein snaps Mitch Vervaart leaping the barriers while David "Millo" Miller keeps an eye on the trailer.
