GIPPSLAND CYCLING

Naturally we are disappointed at the poor level of entry for last Sundays Open event, especially as Steve and the boys pulled out all the stops to make it such a good event.

If there is going to be an event next year there are a number of issues that need to be considered.

- Is it just the wrong time of year, even though we have always enjoyed good weather for the event, visitors may expect worse?

- Should we opt for another date?

- The VVCC has a convention that other clubs do not run feature events on the same day, we know other clubs did run large events to coincide with ours, coincidentally we didn't get much in the way of entries from those clubs. Should the VVCC be asked to sanction clubs that breach the convention?

- Some input cites the course as too hard?

- it has been suggested that more advertising is required, however the event is in the handbook, every member has a handbook. Would more advertising add entries?

- should it be a scratch races series, perhaps run over the Woodleigh circuit?

- Should we canvas the bigger Metropolitan clubs and their members who didn't really support the event (apart from a strong scratch group presence) as to why their members didn't support the race, especially given they are actually the closest clubs with therefore the shortest distance to travel.

- Should we just take a 'holiday' from Open promotion and consider coming back in 2013 or some future year?

I'm sure there are other thoughts to be discussed as well, the next meeting is the time and place to do this, make your thoughts heard.