Mark French - 2002 Victorian Cyclist of the Year 2002 – 2003 Annual Report CycleSport Victoria President’s Report Finance I am delighted to announce that for the fifth year running, CycleSport Victoria has returned a trading surplus and we have achieved what I believe is a better than satisfactory result. A lot of hard work has been invested in returning this result and I commend the Board and staff for their constant cost monitoring, with a special mention going to our finance director, Trevor Wilkie. With our new home within reach, this surplus will be essential in providing the best possible membership benefits from the new facility. As a result of the Junior Worlds being conducted, the surplus funds here have now been transacted to CSV under the agreement that the money is spent on a major project. In this case, the money will be allocated directly to the timing equipment required at the No 2 training velodrome. CSV has also now had the trust money passed across from the trustees, holding the money on our behalf. This money will be allocated directly to the seating provision in the back straight of the training velodrome. In terms of significant purchases made this financial year, a new photocopier was purchased for the office at a cost of $13,000. Membership CSV have continued to work tirelessly on offering and providing a greater level and range of servicing to our members. The website for one continues to provide excellent service. With race entries, results, club contacts, handicaps, velodrome details and latest information amongst many more sections, it is an excellent resource to any member and the general public. With new sections on the website including women, commissaries/officials and masters, it continues to improve. We have now made a considerable investment in the concept of on-line race entry, which will greatly improve the current system for our members. This system will be in place in the near future and will give riders easy access to race entries and credit card transaction. In terms of membership numbers, in the year 2000, CSV had 2265 members and this has increased consistently each year since then, to arrive at the current figure of 2562. The latest increase from last year can be largely put down to an encouraging increase in female membership, which proved to be the most significant growth area. To this figure, we can add 500 odd Audax members, who are also recognised CSV members, making the transition across, in order to take advantage of our insurance benefits. Vodafone Arena We have finished our third season of promotion at Vodafone Arena and as you are all well aware, it continues to be a very difficult task for the promoters Cyclist International. In terms of ensuring that the facility remains viable, not only the high cost involved but also the promoter’s inability to get bums on seats in high levels has put the future of elite level cycling in Melbourne in real jeopardy. For this reason, CSV urge that all members make their best efforts 2002 – 2003 Annual Report CycleSport Victoria to support these dates at Vodafone Arena. The use of the facility in the upcoming season will involve 4 Cyclist International events, along with 4 Victorian Championship and 2 junior training days hosted by CSV. No 2 Training Velodrome Construction continues on the new facility, now on track with the revised schedule, looking at completion in late February. At this stage, the track looks like it will be completed in late April. There is progress being made on the discussion and negotiation of the licencing agreement, between CSV and the City of Darebin. It is a lengthy document and the sub-committee continues to work on it. Once the agreement is finalised and the financial component becomes familiar to us, we can then begin to talk with clubs and coaches in terms of tenancy arrangements. Major Events In the past financial year, there were two major events conducted, with the Junior World Track Championships and the World Masters Games both taking place in Melbourne. The were organising committees set up to run these two events and both went very well. As well as the Junior Worlds, the World Masters Games also returned a small surplus after the event was conducted. I A special mention goes to two of CSV’s Board members who were involved in their respective committees. Barry Langley, as the driving force behind the Junior Worlds and Jim Taylor, Chairman of the Masters Games cycling organising committee. I also found myself on the organising committee of the Womens’ World Cup which took place this year in Geelong. It was a great success and will be back again next year. As most would be aware, we now have the World Track Champs coming up in May next year and the organising committee have their preparations for this event well underway. I am a member of this organising committee and I hope to have as many Victorians involved in the events as either officials or volunteers as possible, to reward the dedicated volunteers who have put so much into the sport in this State. Also in 2003 we initiated the Victorian Cyclist of the Year awards and I feel this event has enormous potential to develop into cycling’s night of nights. I thank the Maillot Jaune club who were a terrific help. David Good, Matthew Wright and Tony Marchant are to be congratulated, along with Amy McCann and the staff in the office, for their commitment to this project. We had good club support but we would hope to improve this in the future. It is a good concept and we should and will continue it in future. The tentative date for next year’s event is July, due to the fact that the World Track Champs are due to be held in May. It is envisaged that the awards night be held at the No 2 velodrome. Racing/Officials This is CSV’s most important function, after all this is what we do. I feel our racing has been excellent, with entries continuing to rise. I would like to thanks Ian Maher and Steve Peterson in the office, along with all clubs and promoters involved in open racing, all of whom have worked hard to ensure 2002 – 2003 Annual Report CycleSport Victoria that Victorian open racing has continued to improve. With the financial results achieved in recent years, we have managed this year to raise the level of officials reimbursement for both travel and accommodation, with a toll allowance also included. This has been long overdue I will admit but until now, CSV have not been in a position to offer it. In the Year of the Official, we have endeavoured to improve the conditions that our officials are working under and have also purchased uniforms for our officials, along with new handheld and car UHF radios. All of this has come at a considerable cost to CSV but all in a bid to continue to build and improve on the level of open racing we are able to offer our members. For many years, we have made an extended effort to cater for the mountain biking community, in an effort to service this area of the membership but unfortunately due to deteriorating numbers and a lack of support at the organisational level, CSV has had to cease its involvement with mountain biking for the time being. I thank Chris Beales and his small commission for all the work they have put in over recent years in running the sport, with limited resources. The doors are not closed on this segment of the sport, but much depends on the outcome of ongoing discussions at National level relating to the re-integration of the two bodies, currently separate. Premises As you know, CSV will be relocating to the new No 2 training velodrome early next year, with Victorian Cycling finally finding a permanent home. Because it is such, I feel that the move must be done professionally, not only with the shift, but also the setting up of the new offices. In terms of set up, this will include the installation of state of the art telephone & security systems, computers, office air conditioning etc. All this will be very expensive but it must be done correctly and properly the first time, we must bite the bullet. We also intend to house our extensive memorabilia collection in the best possible way and we have appointed retired journalist, Keith Esson as CSV’s historian. The Cycling Facilities Advancement Committee (CFAC) have also kindly donated $20,000 towards glass display cabinets which will play an integral role in showcasing the trophy collection. Development In April, there was a new State Development Officer appointed and Kerrie Baumgartner took over from the position previously unoccupied for a period of time. For this reason there was considerable work to be done with coaching courses, commissaire courses, development camps along with preparations for the Schools Championships. I thank Kerrie for her hard work in the short period of time she has been with us in getting on top of all this. Womens cycling has been a focus of our development programs this year and there have been significant gains made in this area. Kerrie organised an introductory womens’ cycling breakfast, which was attended by more than 100 women and featured on an edition of a local television series. 2002 – 2003 Annual Report CycleSport Victoria Staff Second to our racing, the administration of cycling in Victoria is obviously a major function of CSV.