The BBN team of Steve Martin, Luke Dougherty, Kain Nunn and Richard Knight successfully defended the title to make it three in a row to Blackburn!
The team rode together superbly, demonstrating great teamwork to record the fastest qualifying time of 5 minutes flat. The ride-off for GOLD was riveting with the opposition (Brunswick) lifting their performance over their qualifier by 5 seconds. BBN however also improved on their time to hold them off and win by the narrowest of margins (less than one tenth of a second).
Steve Martin has been in the winning team the last three years showing great committment and club spirit. Similarly Luke Dougherty should be recognised for also consistently supporting the club having been on the winning teams in 2002 and 2004 - missing the 2003 event only because of injury. Richard Knight and Kain Nunn both rode the event last year although in our number 2 team - so its fantastic to see them both now in our number one team and both win State Gold medals and uphold our great record. Well done guys!
BBN also fielded a second team consisting of Rowan Geddes, Carl Jacobson, Mathew Pegg and Tim Clarke and I think we should all be proud of them for riding and showing our club colours (BBN being the only club to have fielded two teams). Rowan Geddes has contributed enormously to the club over the years he has been a member as has Tim Clarke - with both of them having ridden for the club in previous years. And if I have my facts right - our number 2 team has now finished 4th three years in a row - with Rowan riding in all all three! Thanks also to Carl Jocobson and Mathew Pegg - two riders who have supported our racing right through summer. This was Mathew's first track season and he should be commended for his dedication in riding almost everything he can; the only way to develop the experience and track craft needed to move up the ranks.
Our number 2 team is where our future number 1 team riders come from. The experience they gain training and competing in such competitions is what produces great performances such as that displayed by our number 1 team, where the ability to put it altogether AS A TEAM can make the winning difference.
The State Club Team Sprint (formally Olympic Sprint) Championships were held in February and some events were completed before the day was washed out.
Our women's team of Anna Bigaton, Emma Franklin & Tabatha Cole won the Silver medal. Our womens pursuit team qualified fastest but unfortunately could not get together on the rescheduled date.
Our men's team of Kain Nunn, Jamie Goddard & Barry Woods took Silver in the Team Sprint.
Congratulations to all those who competed and I apologise for not recognising those great acheivements earlier.
Alan Barnes