President’s Message
Current President: Brett Clapham – Appointed by the Club’s Committee 18 April 2023
For those who have not been familiar with the recent years of our clubs operations, the road has been bumpy with the COVID19, committee changes and an ever changing operational requirements to conduct our racing.
In recent years our club has had major operational changes within our core management. The loss of our Life Member President Wayne Lally due to injury, retirement of our Life Member Secretary Mel Davies, then changes occurred within the new committee which caused uncertainty.
In the recent past, the club changed the way we took entry fees, with automated entry and payment systems. The next hurdles have been several changes to the club’s committee and the decision by the club not to join AusCycling (AC) who has attempted to amalgamate all aspects of cycling within competition and create one central license. Although it has bought together near all aspects, it has had a detrimental effect on license fees and insurance cover.
We remain affiliated with the Australian Veterans Cycling Council (AVCC). The main reason was that AusCycling offered us little in support for our racing and indicated that Western Australia would not have a voice in or on any AC future decisions. We also anticipated that insurance costs could not complete with our current cover which has since been proven.
Our membership numbers have dropped due to any of these reasons I have outlined above. Our new committee is now dedicated to re-building our membership and returning to our core focus, masters age group racing.
We have negotiated a single day race Entry Fee arrangement that will now allow a rider who is not a member of our club to race with us. The entry fee payment for the day will cover insurance for warm-up, race proper and warm down on completion. Our intention is to have this active through our Website Race Entry Page, although entry can be made at the race table on the race day. Grading will be overseen by the race grade handicapper.
The current economic environment and support within our club for Masters Racing is within our hands, and we will continue to operate as long as you want to participate and that is the bottom line. Come, race, enjoy and go home satisfied with the exercise. We have great people, and great races within our capabilities. It just requires your continued support to get out there to enjoy it!
Sincerely yours, Brett Clapham
President
WCMCC