Great start

Hello all

Great start to the year. Coaching and Commissairing going fantastic and after a 5 month wait for my thesis to be marked, went to a third examiner after the first two couldn't agree and then the third went AWOL over the New Year break, the results are in and it would appear I have a Masters Degree!!!

Year started awesomely up at the Tour of Vineyards as Commissaire for the new Junior Race and then Comm 2 for the Elite Men's Race which was rather cool in the searing heat. 

I was a Commissaire at Elite Road Nationals and over the three days got to witness some amazing racing and catch up with all my Comms buddies that I get to work with at various events and fight with at others. 

Elite Track Nationals were very early in the year so it was up to Cambridge for a week of more heat and some World Class Cycling. Despite a bumpy run in to the event the crew were on fire. Olivia Podmore won 4 Gold, 1 Silver and took the NZ record for the under 19 500m TT. Gemma Payne won Silver in the Elite Women's Teams Sprint, Sam Buckner Silver in the under 19 Men's Teams Sprint and Liam Brown won Bronze in the under 19 Men's Teams Sprint. 

Based on performances at Elites Olivia was selected for her second Junior World Track Cycling Champs being held this year in Astana, Kazakhstan. Liam Brown was selected for the Junior Anzac Cup that takes place in Adelaide. Olivia will compete here as well as part of the build up to Worlds. 

Was straight back home for Canterbury Track Champs where the crew dominated the racing. Won all the U17 girls events and scored Golds in Elite Women, U17 boys and Masters Women's. Gemma Payne won the 500m TT at the Southland, Waikato/BOP, Canterbury and WCNI Championships to go with her 4th place and sub 37s PB at National in Elite Women.

Now I have joined the gym and am trying to ride the bike where possible. Thanks to Geoff for dragging me out for my only ride in January...

Now it is back up to Cambridge for Age Groups Track Nationals and then stay on for a week to do a High Performance Coaching Course. Then up to Blenheim to be Commissaire for GrapeRide and some prep for NZ Club Road Nationals in Hastings before I knuckle down to some serious coaching to help people maintain their strengths and build their base over the Winter and help Schools riders prepare for their Nationals and various overseas riders prepare for cool events including Junior Worlds and then Masters World Track Cycling Champs.