September 26/03 8:22 am - Hamilton Cyclo-cross, OCA Year End Celebration, Blizzard Bike Club Weekly report

Posted by Editoress on 09/26/03
 

Skiis &Biikes Oktoberfest Cross
Courtesy Skiis and Biikes/Scott Doel

Skiis and Bikes is pleased to announce the first annual Oktoberfest Cross, to be held at Mountsberg Wildlife Center, just outside of Hamilton, Ontario. This exciting new addition to the race calendar will take place on October 5th, kicking off a fantastic week of cycling in Hamilton, with the 2003 World Road Championships beginning a few days later.

The course is a fast, 3.5km circuit that loops through sugar maple forests and past wetland marshes and lakes, with $2000.00 in cash and prizes. As well as fantastic, spectator-friendly racing, the Oktoberfest Cross event will also offer several family-friendly attractions for before or after the race: a 5-acre corn maze; children's play barn; a straw bale play area; a sunflower maze for the smallest kids; a wildlife walkway with elk & bison herds and several species of Ontario birds of prey; horse-drawn wagon rides; pumpkin launching; a Barbeque; a live band, and much, much more...

The racing begins at 11am! For more information contact Scott Doel, Skiis & Biikes Toronto: (416) 391-0654, or email scottdoel@hotmail.com

To find out more visit www.ontariocycling.org or www.skiisandbiikes.com for all the details!


Ontario Cycling Celebration hosted by Gears
Courtesy OCA

The countdown is on! There are less than ten days left before the biggest cycling party of the season. Join us for the Ontario Cycling Celebration hosted by Gears! The OCA is pleased to announce we are partnering with Gears Racing and Gears Bike Shop to make this event even better than ever.

The fourth annual event will happen this year on October 4th, 2003, at the Mockingbird (King St. W) in Toronto. Drop by after 6pm to get the party started. Curt Harnett and Mark Connelly, the voices of the Hamilton 2003 Road World Championships will begin the Awards presentations at 8pm, where Chrissy Redden will present the 2003 Ontario Cycling Association awards. The party will switch Gears after 9pm with a Live DJ and Dancing, Billiards, and a chance to let loose, cyclist style!

Throughout the evening there will be Year-end Visual Displays, Hors d'ouvres, a Full Service Cash Bar - A Healthy, Fun, Positive Night to celebrate cycling in Ontario, Canada and the world.

Cyclist and supporters of all ages are invited to this celebration of cycling

We would like to thanks our event sponsors for working with us to make this a great evening:
Co-host - Gears Racing and Gears Bike Shop
Web Media - Canadian Cyclist
Magazine Media - Pedal Magazine
Event Clothing provided by Sugoi
Jones Brown Insurance

Tickets for this event will be available from the Ontario Cycling Association. Advance tickets (before October 2) will be $20 for non-members, $15 for OCA members (with proof of membership). Clubs purchasing 10 or more tickets will receive a 20% discount - $12 each. Applicable taxes will be applied.

Call the OCA at 416 426-7416 or email at info@ontariocycling.org with your credit card info to book your tickets today.

Tickets will be $20 at the door.

You never know who's going to be there, don't read about it later and wish you had been there live and in person!


Blizzard Bike Club Fort St. John, BC - Sept 25th
Courtesy Pat Ferris

Robert Martens handily won the Thursday night cyclo cross at the North Peace circuit. He did 14 laps of the route in the 45 minute time limit. Mike Heintzman was second 2:14 later, also at 14 laps. Pat Ferris was third with 13 laps.

Gary Hilderman was 4th at 12 laps, Heather Haugen 5th at 10 laps, Gord Harris and Adam Currie 9 laps and Dayna Stickel did 8 laps.

Sunday is the first running of the "race of the Fallen leaves" for a brand new trophy. Riders will meet at the old Montney Store at 2:00 pm. The route is on the new pavement towards Prespatou and return for a total of 50 km's. It is the final road race of the season. The race favourites are Robert Martens and Stephen Ferris. Robert is the wily veteran and Stephen is the fast young gun. Both want this new trophy on their mantle. Piece. Only one can win it.

Sunday, Oct.5 sees the continuation of the Muddy Face Cyclo Cross Series. Robert Martens had a perfect unbeaten record for the Men's Series cyclo-cross with the Muddy Face Trophy for 2000 and 2001. Vaughn Hildebrand was the upset winner of the 2002 series by winning three of the four races in the series.

There will be four events, this year, all sponsored by SEACOR. They will be September 21, October 5,12th and 19th. The actual Muddy Face Trophy date will be Oct. 19th.

Robert Martens already won Muddy Face #1, last Sunday, Sept. 21.

Cyclo-Cross is a great spectator event as the riders go round and round a twisting, small marked loop in the forest and the fields. It is an off-road event ridden and run with road-style bicycles or mountain bikes. It is a sort of steeplechase event with riders covering fields, single track and carrying their bikes over barriers and obstacles. The bikes themselves have knobby tires, mountain bike type brakes and plenty of mud clearances. A lot of mud and snow is considered great for cyclo-cross conditions.
Dennis Morrison was the first winner of the 'Muddy Face' trophy back in 1998. He won the event on the Finch field circuit in a memorable affair that had lots of mud and fresh snow.

Robert Martens has won the 'Muddy Face Trophy' 2000 and 2001. The 1998 winner Dennis "Muddy Face' Morrison and 1999 champion Trevor McDonell also will try to get their trophy back amid the mud and snow. Vaughn Hildebrand won in 2003 but has now moved to sunny Victoria and is unlikely to defend.
Some of the local riders will be attending the Alberta Provincial Cyclo Cross in Edmonton October 26th. The National Championships are in Vancouver November 6th. Pat Ferris picked up a bronze in 2001 at the Provincial Cyclo-Cross. Pat and Stephen Ferris and Robert Martens went to the Nationals in 2001 with Martens picking up 9th place.