Goulburn Cycle Club President, Adam Lambert, said that a clash with the National Senior Road Championships and a round of the National Junior Track Series in Adelaide next week has affected numbers but with great support from local sponsors, the club has put together a big program.

There have been nominations from 113 riders, including 14 locals, aged 6 to 83. The junior carnival starting at 2pm with the seniors at 5pm.

The feature event is the White’s Tractors Men’s Wheelrace, a five lap, 2000 metre handicap race. to be contested by 30 riders in two heats with the first eight in each heat contesting an exciting final. Handicaps range from scratch to 350 metres. The scratch marker is Bathurst’s Harry Carter, who is a very experienced rider and very familiar with the Goulburn track having ridden here from juniors. Luke Britten, Illawarra, off 50 metres, is a rising star, who took out the recent Illawarra Wheelrace.

Goulburn rider Zac St Vincent in his first season as a senior, was third at Illawarra. Off 90 metres he will be in the mix. He’ll be joined by fellow locals Paul Parlett, Brian Rawlinson, Wayne Bensley, Michael Beard, Chris Berry and Chris Bushell. All have been contesting regular 2000 metre events at local club racing so hopes are high that there will be plenty of Goulburn colours in the final.

The Atkinson & Stalker Women’s three lap wheelrace is a very open affair. Even though it is a small field it should be close. Former Goulburn, now Canberra rider, Tassie Davies is the scratch marker. She has been in good recent form after recovering from an injury. She’ll be chasing former fellow NSW team mates Claudia Jackson, Southern Cross, and Wagga’s Kate Vickers, who now rides for the Carnegie Caulfield Club in Victoria. Peta Brill, Canberra, finished second last year and will be wanting to go one better.

Locals Fiona Berry who is back to track racing this season and Belinda Smith who is contesting her first open are off handy marks but last year’s winner Rosemary Hastings from Bathurst, is in front of them with her teammate Marian Renshaw. Rosemary at 71 is still a very accomplished rider.

Des Kidd lives locally and rides for the Dulwich Hill club and is lining up again. At 83 years Des is the oldest rider in the field but is still a keen competitor and can be seen training most days on the local track.

With the NSW championships for under fifteens and seventeens only 3 weeks away, riders will be looking for some tough competition and with state selectors in attendance, will be out to impress. The under 17’s will ride in the senior carnival.

In the U17 Men, Goulburn’s Alex Parlett will be contesting his first open and although only taking up track racing recently, has been showing some good form. The one to beat here is Central Coast rider Lincoln Hey is in good form and intent on making the state team.

Tamika Wallace won’t have it all her own way in the Under 17 women with 7 other state squad members competing making it probably the strongest division in the carnival.

The under 15s also have a good representation of state squad members who will also provide some good racing as will the under 13s. Under 9 and 11 numbers are again good. Elsie Apps has stepped up to the Under 11 division and has been training the house down and although competing against older riders is sure to be in the mix.

Emma St Vincent is back riding after a knee injury and will contest the tough under 15 division. She is improving all the time as is club mate Caitlin Bensley who has been riding the carnival circuit.

A crowd favourite event is the Neville Smith Memorial Roller Derby. Riders contest heats on stationery rollers in front of the grandstand and close finishes are the norm. Eight riders will contest the event. The early favourite would have to be Harry Carter but the young guns Zac St Vincent and Luke Britten could surprise now that they have gone up on gearing.

Carnival Director, Graeme Northey said Seiffert Oval is a great viewing venue with good seating in the grandstand and around the track where spectators can park the vehicles. The action starts at 2pm with the junior carnival and the seniors following at 5pm. Entry to Seiffert Oval is free. ‘We encourage locals to take the opportunity to see some of the best riders in an action packed program. The club will be running a well stocked canteen, so make a day of it.