Like the New England Patriots, the word ‘dynasty’ is becoming synonymous with Sydney Uni Velo Club with SUVelo being awarded the 2018 NSW Road Premiership by Cycling NSW for the fourth year in a row. We also won for the first time, the NSW Team Time Trial Club Shield for the best performing club at the NSW Team Trial Championships at Nowra. These awards are a testament to the men and women who regularly pin on a number and compete for the club around NSW and Australia. As an established and well recognised road cycling club, SUVelo enjoys a solid reputation as a safe, competitive, welcoming and developmental club, catering for the interests of road cyclists of all abilities.
There are some individual achievements that need to be recognised and 2018 was an incredible year for Georgia Whitehouse. Georgia was awarded the 2018 NSW Female Road Rider of the Year following her consistent results at National Road Series and State Open level. Georgia Whitehouse who rode for the Sydney Uni – Staminade team had a great year winning a stage at the Tour of King Valley as well as numerous other notable results at NRS level, the University Nationals Div 1 and numerous State Opens.
SUVelo was also the winner the Battle of Bridge interclub series for the 2ndyear. This is a multi-event competition which clubs from the north and south of Sydney compete. It was a great effort by all our riders over this four-event series to win this trophy for the 2ndyear. Following our success at the Battle of Bridge, SUVelo would go on to claim the Sydney wide interclub one day race series known as “Judgment Day”.
The club has continued to refocus its racing efforts this year with an emphasis on racing at a club level. We created the Racing@SUVelo program which aims to create a collaborative and supported program for our members to race, learn skills and come together. Top end high level racing is still important to the club and in 2018, we partnered with two great teams to provide a strong link to the highest level of domestic racing and to provide a pathway for club mates who wish to compete at these top levels. On the men’s side we partnered with NERO racing in their 2nd year as an NRS team and on the women’s side we have partnered with the Sydney University-Staminade team who are competing at an NRS level and proudly flew the flag at the World Tour level at the Santos Tour Down Under in January 2018 and Cadel Evans Road Race.
SUVelo had the good fortune to gain new sponsors for club with Wilson Asset Management coming on board as the title sponsor. We were also thrilled to welcome Claudios Seafood and Haverick Meats as club sponsors and to welcome back Staminade, The Malaya and Turbo Studio. The role and support of the Sydney University Sports Federation cannot by understated, their commitment to the club is second to none and we are proud to wear the University lion on our jersey.
The club’s social side is just as important as the riding and the club organised a series of stellar event for its member and supporters. The highlight of which was hosting renowned sports journalist and endurance cyclist, Rupert Guinness at the SUVelo President’s dinner at the Malaya Restaurant in November.
2018 was another successful year of growth for SUVelo, building upon its solid performance-based ethos of which SUVelo is proud and from which we can work to further enhance the reputation and rewards for our club. I would like to thank the SUVelo committee for their efforts over the past year and without them none of this would have been possible.
Like the end of the reign of Emperor Akihito and passing of the crown to Emperor Naruhito last week, my time as President of SUVelo has come to an end. I am immensely proud to have served as President over the past 3 years and as the Club moves into its 10thyear, I excited as so should you all for its future. As I hand over the presidency over to our first female president shortly and I look forward to continuing to being part of the committee as we continue to build this club as the premier cycling club in NSW and Australia.
Andrew Duggan
President
