The second clinic in MIVA's four week series of CX workshops and races is this Tuesday in Beban Park. Start is at 5pm in the BMX compound off Labieux Road, Nanaimo. Janna Gillick and Paul Thompson are the instructors but they would welcome some help in setting out and tidying up. The first clinic was very well-attended, with fourteen riders showing up. It will be great to see even more attendees this week.

MIVA WEEKLY CYCLO-CROSS #1, 120911 Baban park, Nanaimo

11 laps of a 1.1 kilometer circuit

This was the first in a four race series on a short course in Beban Park. Points are awarded as in the time trial series. Each category has a separate competition.

Ian Smith,who won MIVA's criterium series, showed his class by eventually lapping the entire field, although his closest rival, Justin Mork gave him a real fight until he unexpectedly retired in the eighth lap. (It should be noted that all disputes must be left to the commissaire's decision).

Kirby Villeneuve, who was only lapped just before the finish finished second, with John Lam another minute down in third place. Russell Berg, hung on a further two and a half minutes back to take fourth.

The women's event was won comfortably by Judy Villeneuve, who finished fifth overall.Youth male Brodie Hay finished in eighth place and youth female, Mykelti Berg, ended up a further minuteback in ninth.

Thanks to all who helped to gather the course markers and to Kyle Waring for timing.

The next three events will be held after the weekly clinics and the course will include more technical elements each week.

Thanks to the offer of two of our club members, Janna Gillick and Paul Thompson, the second cyclo-cross clinic will be back on schedule in Beban Park, Nanaimo, at 5pm on September 18th. Where would we be without our volunteers!

As the course conductor of the MIVA cyclo-cross series of clinics will be out of town next week, the September 18th. clinic has been cancelled. Instead, a fourth clinic will be added to the series on October 11th. Sorry for any inconvenience.

MIVA HILL CLIMB NO. 3 12 09 06 Maxey Road/E.Wellington/Jingle Pot Rd. ,Nanaimo

As hills go, this wasn't a stiff one, with only 430 ft. elevation change in 3.4km. Since it is the first time this hill has been used, best time in each category established a record. Next year, if we have sufficient marshals, it'd be good to continue the climb up Kilpatrick and on to Benson View, resulting in nearly a thousand feet of climbing in just over six kilometres. Doug Merrick was the clear winner tonight, over thirty seconds up on Kirby Villeneuve. Notable was Lorrie Baildham's performance. With age standard correction for the climb, her handicap time would be 6' 35”!

Next week's event is the steep College Drive climb. The first 1.5 kilometres is on the highway and varies from four to six percent but, after the turn onto College, the hill kicks up and increases from seven to a maximum of 13 percent.