Newcastle Hunter Cycling Club

09/09/2026

07/09/2026

Looking for something to do with the family. Pedalfest is on 18th to 20th September. https://pedalfest.org.au/
Unfortunately NHCC won't be part of it this year but hopefully next year will see Criterium Racing return to the streets of Dungog.

05/09/2026

Newcastle Hunter Cycling Club
Graded Scratch races HEZ 05/09/2026

Race report and results

My sincere thanks go to our volunteers for making our race meet a great success. On the desk we had Lauretta Mellows ably assisted by Ash Johns. Chris Groves took on the commissaire's role. Alison Lee, a registered nurse, volunteered for the first time to be our first aid officer. Many thanks. (She also proved handy on the camera.)

Fifty-two riders fronted for our first Spring race. The weather was more like late summer than Spring with the temperature gauge above 30 degree and a searing forceful dry westerly making racing conditions truly horrible. Hydration management was the key, and I would like to thank all the riders for racing with due care.

With Michael Picken taking a bye, the President’s A grade Spring Classic saw the riders conserve and converse until the last frantic kick to the line. Special mention goes to Matt Johns who attacked off the front and made the bunch work hard to chase him down. In the end it came down to a bunch sprint and Maxi Amidy had the power in his legs to take the first prize envelope. My thanks go to Margaret Conroy from the Griffith Cycling club who decided to take on the A grade men.

Felix Buda continued his run of winning form in the B grade race. It was good to see Stephen Jamieson and Russell Menzies returning to racing. The last lap proved decision when Gibson Herusalem launched a stinging attack from the roundabout, followed by a blistering sprint by junior Hayden Trevor up the last pinch. The bunch fragmented and the front four went on to compete for the places. With two wins from two races, the handicappers must be looking at Felix very closely.

That old warrior Bryan Atkins was all smiles for his C grade win. Niki Weston made the trip from Scone to race with us. The C grade bunch was the biggest bunch which is very pleasing. If you have not raced for a while join in the C grade Fun.

In D grade Warwick Nichols track racing with the Townsend Veterans proved the difference in the sprint to the line.

Finally, Harrison Lim completed his junior event and was handsomely rewarded for his efforts.

Thanks everyone for racing with the Newcastle Hunter Cycling Club. We race again in two weeks. See you all there.

Arthur Snow
Club President.

Results
A Grade: 1st Max Amidy, Joshua Lincoln 3rd Ryan Edwards, FW: Margaret Conroy
B Grade: 1st Felix Buda, 2nd Russell Menzies, 3rd Derrin Lee, FW: Ruby Sauvage.
C grade: 1st Bryan Atkins, 2nd Lincoln Hitchcock, 3rd Harry Schumaker, FW: Niki Weston
D grade: 1st Warwick Nichols, 2nd and FW Nadine Platt, 3rd Ben Platt
Juniors: Harrison Lim.

04/09/2026

Todays A grade scratch race becomes the President's A grade Spring Classic if ten or more riders front the line.

01/09/2026

Entries for this Saturday open.
Enter NOW https://www.buncheur.com/newcastle-hunter-cc-nhcc-hez-road-race-18-11

31/08/2026

House Keeping.

1. NHCC Club Members please log into the new Just go auscycling member portal and make sure your current racing license is up to date. If you have no intentions of doing State level events sign up for the cheaper "Club" membership and maybe even entice other family members to take out "Ride" membership. We will be inspecting the electronic copy of your license at the next race meet. https://auscycling.justgo.com/

2. We are racing at HEZ this Saturday 5/9/2026 2pm. This is our first race of Spring and the A graders will be competing in the Presidents A grade Spring Classic. (If we have ten or more riders sign up for A grade.)

3. Call out for volunteer traffic controllers. When we have one volunteer traffic controller we break even. Traffic control Certificate level 1 is sufficient if you are working with our contracted crew. If you know of a person with such qualifications and they would like to support our club's sporting activities, let us know. We really need to solve this problem to move forward.

Arthur Snow
Club President.

29/08/2026

Newcastle Hunter Cycling Club Graded Scratch races HEZ 29/08/2026

Race report and results

My thanks go to Col Haisell who responded to our late call to be commissaire. Col did a great job. Similarly, Chris Groves worked his magic on the desk and as race starter. He was assisted by Ruby Sauvage. Justin Sauvage did the heavy lifting and proved that it is possible to cram all of the race setup 'stuff' into a humble sedan. James Crew was our First Aid officer. Thanks James. Our traffic control team also did a great job - many thanks

I would like to thank the 47 riders who competed on the Roundabout Sprint finish variation of our course on a splendid late winter's afternoon. The charge into the roundabout was where the winners were decided for three of the grades.

In A grade Michael Picken continued to dominate. His power and pedalling efficiency are a joy to watch. Tom Burton rode away from the bunch at the last moment. Whilst youngsters Boston and Sebastian had a tight sprint for the final podium step.

There were a few digs off the front of B grade. Nothing stuck. Felix has a knack of finding the front of the race at the right moment and he held off two of our talented juniors in Cain Platt and Hamish Kirkman.

The decision to realign B and C grade has had the right outcome, with seventeen riders enjoying a fast "big bunch" race. Unfortunately, that HEZ wire shards took several of the riders out with flats. Next time Fellas. Grant Beattie executed a perfectly timed attack into the roundabout, paving the way for Daniel Hanly's explosive sprint win.

Last but not least the D graders also decided that the first in and first out bunch sprint was the way to go. Chris Arp took the win.

Next week we return to our traditional course.
See you all there.

Results
A grade: 1st Michael Picken, 2nd Tom Burton, 3rd Boston Gillanders
B grade: 1st Felix Buda, 2nd Cain Platt, 3rd Hamish Kirkam First Female Hayley Dell
C grade:1st Daniel Hanly, 2nd Sam Welbourne, 3rd Michael Frost First Female Lily May Mackenzie
D grade: 1st Chris Arp, 2nd Ben Platt, 3rd Ross Murdoch, First Female Nadine Platt

26/08/2026

We are trying something different this weekend. The graded scratch races will start and finish at the Junior Tour start point, which is close to the roundabout. For this format to work the roundabout has to be in perfect condition. If you are driving to the races please bring a broom and or blower and lend a hand with the course preparation.

https://www.buncheur.com/newcastle-hunter-cc-nhcc-hez-road-race-18-10-1

24/08/2026

Around the Traps.
Congratulations go to Jonathan Farley who claimed first place in the ACT championship road race. Farley decided not to leave it down to a bunch sprint, going off the front of the combined under 19, under 23 and Elite peloton, in an audacious attack 32km from the finish.

Ben Neppl won the MMA5 road race, nudging out Chris Ling in a tight sprint to the line. Ruby Sauvage also presented our club in the Under 17 Women's division, gaining more valuable race experience at the highest level.

A special mention goes to our Victorian based member Alex Hoffman who raced the 47th edition of the Rob Vernon Memorial 99km Handicap hosted by the Bendigo and Districts cycling club. with the race starting and finishing in Strathfieldsaye. The handicap was a beauty with the bunches merging in the last five kilometers, hooking through the narrow country roads at 60km/hr, leading to the crowed witnessing an absolute a mass stampede of riders, galloping to the line, eight a breast, with bayonets fixed, like the charge of the light horse. From the right of the road, Levi Hone of Echuca, timed his run to perfection to take the win. Check out the video footage curtesy of the Bendigo and Districts cycling club.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/997235660011914 See less

17/08/2026

2026 AusCycling Juniors Road State Championships - NSW.
After a last minute cancellation of the planned venue at Wagga, NHCC was asked to host the Junior States at HEZ. The event was held on 15-16 August. The states was organised and run by AusCycling with course preparation and logistical support from NHCC.

NHCC, and surrounding Hunter area was well represented with 6 podiums across the weekend.

Saturday was the Time Trial and Criterium. Weather conditions were perfect and the racing was close. In the U17 women criterium race Ruby thrilled the crowd with a daring attack on the last lap on the roundabout to secure 3rd place.

Road racing on Sunday started with some rain but it soon dried out. Unfortunately due to some changes in start times a number of riders missed out on the road race – definitely some lessons learned for the organisers (AusCycling) and for competitors for next time.

A special shout out to the Rotary Club of Kurri Kurri for keeping us fed, and NHCC volunteers, Alan Bradley, and Trevor Adrian who helped clean the course on Friday and to club president Arthur Snow, committee member Warwick Nichols and Caitlin Rose for helping out with set up, sign on and general running around on the weekend.

Time Trial results:
U17 M - Sebastian Chalhoub - 🥈.
U17 M - Boston Gillanders 8th.
U17 M - Thomas Stein - 17th
U17 M - Hamish Kirkman 18th
U17 W Ruby Sauvage 6th
U15 M - Caine Platt -🥉
U15 M - Lincoln Johns 🥈 (Singleton MTBC)
U13 B - Callan Johns 4th (Singleton MTBC)

Criterium Race
U17M – Boston Gillanders 5th
U17M – Sebastian Chalhoub – 14th
U17M Thomas Stein 19th
U17M Hayden Trevor 20th (Hunter MTBA)
U17W – Ruby Sauvage-🥉
U15M – Caine Platt 5th
U13B – Jordan Trevor 4th (Hunter MTBA)
U13M Callan Johns 7th (Singleton MTBC)

Road Race
U17M Boston Gillanders 🥈
U17M Sebastian Chalhoub 8th
U15M Caine Platt 🥈
U13B Callan Johns 🥉 (Singleton MTBC)
U13B Jordan Trevor 5th (Hunter MTBC)

Photos credit: Morgan Ho