CYCLING
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This year’s Mark Dwyer Handicap and Pieter van Gent Scratch races have been cancelled by Mudgee Cycle Club due to a lack of traffic management personnel.
At a time when the proper use of Mudgee’s roads by motorists and cyclists has generated much discussion, the Mudgee Rescue Squad informed the cycle club about a month ago they would not conduct traffic management at this year’s event.
This left the cycle club with a task of finding alternative arrangements and they were unable to viably engage professional groups from outside the Mid-Western Region.
The event was scheduled for August 2 and 3, but will not run for the first time in seven years.
The cancellation announcement was officially made by Cycling NSW chief executive Phil Ayres on June 6, as a statement was posted on the organisation’s website.
On Friday discussion between past and potentially future participants grew on Twitter, expressing their disappointment of the cancellation.
Yesterday Mudgee Cycle Club president, Carl Holleman, said the decision from both the Mudgee Rescue Squad and the Cycle Club was not taken lightly.
“The news that the Mudgee VRA would not be able to supply traffic control for the event was devastating to the event,” he said.
“I would like to thank the VRA for their support over the past seven years of running the event. It is an unpleasant job which they were required to do and I totally understand their decision to withdraw from this year’s event. Each volunteer organisation, whether it is sporting or community based, always has issues in supplying manpower to events.
“It seems that the Mark Dwyer and Pieter van Gent event is becoming too difficult.”
Holleman said the cancellation was unfortunate on many levels.
He said the event had attracted between 400 and 500 entries over the two days and has become one of the most recognised race weekends on the NSW cycling calendar.
“Competitors return because of Mudgee’s terrific terrain, as well as Mudgee’s growing tourism prospects. I am sure that many cyclists visiting have supported local business,” Holleman said.
“Many of our club juniors have grown up being involved in the race, and then participating. This has seen Mudgee Cycle Club become one of the most respected competitive clubs in NSW, with many of our juniors going on to represent at state, and last year, international level.
“ It is unfortunate for the juniors who were due to race this year’s event will have to wait another year.
“As a club we will have to review how we run this event. Hopefully there will be a workable solution to have a race in 2015.”
Ayres acknowledged the Mudgee club’s efforts in attempting to secure alternate resources for the event for this year and “we will continue to work with them on various approaches to ensure the event can re-enter the schedule in 2015.”