newcastlecycling

Gai,

Any combined club MUST cater for the F graders as well as it caters for the A graders.  The situation at present is that HDCC caters well for A & B grade, caters at times for C grade, and the other grades are arguably not catered for in any meaningful way (except, perhaps, at Steel River and Friday nights).  KOCC caters well for grades C and below, but other than larger public holiday races and joint races, does not meet the needs of the bulk of A and B grade.

I do not think anyone sees post merger as being all at Blackhill - we do not have that now, as joint racing, CD and Opens mean there is not racing at Blackhill every winter weekend.  Some of the joint racing exists to allow for decreased racing numbers due to opens and races like G2T, T2Day etc..

I would hope that HD&KOCC will have reps from each grade on a Race Committee, and for a limited period (say 2 or 3 years) have a constituitional guarantee of racing at Blackhill, Kooragang and Steel River.

The "gap" between F and E grade probably exists for a number of reasons.  There are younger E graders, and they probably push the pace in E grade up a bit.  Ultimately the grading issue is one that oughht to be able to be dealt with, to bring the grades closer.

What seems to be happening between D, C and B grade is the pace is not really all that different.  Last night's race was an example.  B grade was slightly quicker than C grade, but only ntil B grade overtook C grade.  Not to say all in C grade could race effectively in B grade but many could (especially those who know which way to swing and how to roll on-roll-off a pace line.