John Woodman Memorial

Last updated

John Woodman Memorial Wagga Wagga to Albury
Race details
DateAugust
Region New South Wales, Australia
Nickname(s)Wagga to Albury
Discipline Road
CompetitionState Open
TypeRoad Handicap
OrganiserAlbury Wodonga Cycling Club
History
First edition1987 (1987)
Editions25
First winnerFlag of Australia (converted).svg Bernard O'Dea (AUS)
Most winsFlag of Australia (converted).svg Aaron Robertson (AUS) 2 wins
Most recentFlag of Australia (converted).svg Rhys Pollock (AUS) (2012)

The John Woodman Memorial, otherwise known as the Wagga to Albury is an annual bicycle handicap race that runs between the New South Wales cities of Wagga Wagga and Albury. The event was first run in the 1930s, leaving the Wagga Railway Station and travelling via Tarcutta and Holbrook to finish outside the Globe Hotel in Albury. In 1948 the race was changed to run via the Olympic Way and finish in Dean St. It ran this way until its conclusion in 1963. In 1987 the event was revived and has run every year since. The event is organised by the Albury Wodonga Cycling Club (AWCC) and for 2013, the race will be held on 28 July.

Contents

John Woodman

The race is named in honour of John Woodman, a talented Albury rider who turned professional in 1976, and 1986 join the Sydney base Gitane team. Winning a number of NSW & Victorian titles in his career, addition to riding in six Sun Tours. John was killed on 1 October 1986 whilst training for the upcoming Sun Tour.

Major results

1977
1st & Fastest – Lavington Open
4th – Cootamundra Annual
2nd – NSW Professional Road Title
1978
1st – NSW Professional Road Title
8th – Melbourne to Warrnambool
1979
1st – Tour of the North East
2nd – NSW Professional Road Title
1st – Open Road Title
1st & Fastest – Bathurst to Penrith
1980
2nd – Tour of the North East
Fastest Time – Griffith 100km Open
Fastest Time – Wangaratta '90'
1981
1st & Fastest – Sid Demmery Memorial Wagga
2nd – NSW Professional Road Title
1983
2 stage wins in the Sun Tour
1986
3rd – NSW Professional Road Title
3rd – Midlands Tour

The Race history

The first Wagga to Albury was held in the 1930s. Leaving the Wagga Wagga railway station, the race travel east to Tarcutta, before travelling south through Holbrook to Albury, finish outside the Globe Hotel in Dean Street. In 1948 the race change to a shorter route via the Olympic Way to Albury. The last of the original races was held in 1963. Albury rider Jack Sommer won the fastest time.

The race was revived by then the Lavington Sports Club Cycling Club. The first of the modern additions of race was held on 4 June 1986, with 96 entries rolling out from the car park of Tolland Hotel. The first addition of the race was title Wagga to Albury Cycle Classic. It was rename the John Woodman Memorial Cycle Classic a year later. Today its official name John Woodman Memorial Wagga Wagga to Albury Cycle Classic, is generally just known as Wagga to Albury.

Today it remains of one of the few city to city handicap races on the open calendar.

In 2010 the Albury Wodonga Cycling Club made the decision to stopping running the race due to the financial costs and other factors. The decision was later reversed.

The Course

Traditionally the race has started in front of the Tolland Hotel, Bourke Street, Wagga Wagga. In more recent times race has started from Jubilee Park on Holbrook Road due to traffic management issues. In 2010 the race started from Lloyd Road due to a clash with the Wagga Wagga Marathon, shortening the race by three kilometres.

The race travels through Mangoplah, Cookardina, Morven, Culcairn, Walla Walla, Jindera, before cresting the Jindera Gap and descending down to finish in front of the Lavington Hall, Urana Road Lavington.

Total Length: 135 km

In early years, the race finished in Albury's main street, Dean Street, in front of the Globe Hotel.

Past winners

YearCyclistClub/Location
2012Rhys PollockAlbury Wodonga CC
2011Declan GregoryAlbury Wodonga CC
2010Trent StevensonShepparton CC
2009William LindCanberra CC
2008 Michael Matthews Tuggeranong Vikings CC
2007Tim DeckerBendigo & District CC
2006Michael TolhurstCanberra CC
2005Andrew DugganSydney CC
2004Karl McKenziesTasmania
2003Richard MoffatWagga Wagga CC
2002Rob YoungLavington Sports CC
2001Leigh EganShepparton CC
2000Brad ScottShepparton CC
1999Ray JarrattCobram CC
1998Tim PalmerCanberra CC
1997Aaron RobertsonWagga Wagga CC
1996Aaron RobertsonWagga Wagga CC
1995Brendon CooperCootamundra CC
1994Jay SweetAdelaide CC
1993 Dean Woods Wangaratta CC
1992Peter CollinsMelbourne
1991Scott Steward
1990Paul EvansBendigo CC
1989Dean McDonaldWangaratta CC
1988John HolgateYarrawonga CC
1987Bernard O'DeaBendigo CC

Fastest Time

YearCyclistTimeClub/Location
2012Rhys Pollock3:04:41Albury Wodonga CC
2011Leigh Egan3:07:07Shepparton CC
2010Trent Stevenson2:54:46Shepparton CC
2009Rhys Pollock2:53:58Albury Wodonga CC
2008 Michael Matthews 3:16:40Tuggeranong Vikings CC
2007Timothy Decker3:10:39Canberra CC
2006Michael Matthews3:14:17Canberra CC
2005Stephen Fitzpatrick3:07:02Sydney
2004Karl Menzies3:01:55Tasmania
2003Richard MoffatHeld at Chiltern – 99 kmWagga Wagga CC
2002Tim Decker3:08:12Bendigo & District CC
2001Leigh Egan3:02:08Shepparton CC
2000Leigh Egan3:03:12Shepparton CC
1999Danny Hennessy3:03:12Canberra CC
1998Peter Milostic3:09:00Penrith Panthers CC
1997Jamie Drew3:00:43VIS
1996Tim Bennett2:57:19Bendigo & District CC
1995 Brett Aitken 2:52:34Adelaide
1994Jay Sweet2:42:12 Race RecordAdelaide
1993 Dean Woods 2:59:54Wangaratta CC
1991Peter Clayton3:01:28Sydney
1990Scott Steward3:01:28Melbourne
1989Dean McDonald3:01:19Wangaratta CC
1988Rick McCaig3:00:24Bendigo & District CC
1987Geoff Stevenson3:04:21Shepparton CC
1963Jack Sommer

First Female

YearCyclistClub/Location
2012Lisa BarryAlbury Wodonga CC
2011Trudi BeckAlbury Wodonga CC
2010Kelly LindenWagga Wagga CC
2009No female finishers.
2008Vicki WhitelawCanberra CC
2007Deborah FaggAlbury Wodonga CC

First Local (AWCC)

YearMalePlaceFemalePlace
2012Rhys Pollock1stLisa Barry
2011Declan Gregory1stTrudi Beck
2010Brendan WashingtonNA
2009Brian Harris4thNA
2008Daniel McIntyre5thNA
2007Greg Featonby2ndDeborah Fagg
2005Ken Payne3rdDeborah Fagg5th
2001Trent Perry3rd

Related Research Articles

Albury City in New South Wales, Australia

Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Hume Highway and the northern side of the Murray River. Albury is the seat of local government for the council area which also bears the city's name – the City of Albury.

Wodonga City in Victoria, Australia

Wodonga is a city on the Victorian side of the border with New South Wales, 300 kilometres (190 mi) north-east of Melbourne, Australia. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Wodonga LGA. Its population is approximately 35,100 and is separated from its twin city in New South Wales, Albury, by the Murray River. Together, the two cities form an urban area with an estimated population of 93,603.

Hume Highway highway in New South Wales and Victoria

The Hume Highway, inclusive of the sections now known as the Hume Freeway and Hume Motorway, is one of Australia's major inter-city national highways, running for 840 kilometres (520 mi) between Melbourne in the southwest and Sydney in the northeast. Upgrading of the route from Sydney's outskirts to Melbourne's outskirts to dual carriageway was completed on 7 August 2013.

Riverina Region in New South Wales, Australia

The Riverina is an agricultural region of South-Western New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, warm to hot climate and an ample supply of water for irrigation. This combination has allowed the Riverina to develop into one of the most productive and agriculturally diverse areas of Australia. Bordered on the south by the state of Victoria and on the east by the Great Dividing Range, the Riverina covers those areas of New South Wales in the Murray and Murrumbidgee drainage zones to their confluence in the west.

Lavington, New South Wales Suburb of Albury, New South Wales, Australia

Lavington is the largest suburb of the city of Albury, New South Wales, located north of the Albury Central Business District. At the 2016 census, Lavington had a population of 12,472. Lavington is a mostly flat area near Nail Can Hill to the west, and is bordered by Thurgoona to the east, Hamilton Valley to the west, Springdale Heights to the north, and North Albury to the south. Lavington is mostly residential, but has significant rural areas in the north-west and a commercial area. Features include Lavington Square Shopping Centre, Lavington Swim Centre, Jelbart Park and 5 schools . Lavington is the second major centre of the City of Albury, with its own commercial CBD.

Lavington Sports Ground

Lavington Sports Ground is a sports ground located in the suburb of Hamilton Valley near Lavington on the north-west fringe of the city of Albury, Australia. The oval is nestled in the side of a hill, with concrete terraces cut into the southern side of the oval below a grass embankment and the grandstand and changing rooms located on the north-west flank. The venue also incorporates a 4 table cricket wicket, a velodrome for track cycling and two netball courts. The Lavington Panthers Sports Club licensed club was formerly located next to the ground, across Hanna Street.

Hume Football League

The Hume Football Netball League (HFNL) is an Australian rules football and netball competition containing twelve clubs based in the South West Slopes and southern Riverina regions of New South Wales, Australia. The league features four grades in the Australian rules football competition, with these being First-Grade, Reserve-Grade, Under 17s and Under 14s. In the netball competition, there are six grades, with these being A-Grade, B-Grade, C-Grade, C-Reserve Grade, Intermediates and Juniors.

Walla Walla, New South Wales Town in New South Wales, Australia

Walla Walla is a town in Greater Hume Shire Council in New South Wales, Australia. It is about 39 kilometres (24 mi) north of Albury-Wodonga and 130 kilometres (81 mi) south of Wagga Wagga.

Ovens & Murray Football Netball League

The Ovens and Murray Football Netball League (O&MFNL) is an Australian rules football and netball competition containing ten clubs based in north-eastern Victoria, the southern Riverina region of New South Wales and the Ovens and Murray area. The name comes from the Ovens River, the river in the part of north-eastern Victoria covered by the league, and the Murray River, which separates Victoria and New South Wales.

Mangoplah Town in New South Wales, Australia

Mangoplah is a town approximately 36 kilometres (22 mi) south of Wagga Wagga in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2016 census, Mangoplah had a population of 309. The name of the town is believed to mean "Kooris singing" in the Wiradjuri aboriginal language.

Wodonga Raiders Football Club

The Wodonga Raiders Football & Netball Club is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the city of Wodonga. The Raiders' football and netball squads currently compete in the Ovens & Murray Football League. The origins of the club dates back to the Kergunyah Football Club.

Main Southern railway line, New South Wales Railway line in New South Wales, Australia

The Main Southern Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs from Sydney to Albury, near the Victorian border. The line passes through the Southern Highlands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes and Riverina regions.

Cookardinia Town in New South Wales, Australia

Cookardinia is a locality in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The locality is 57 kilometres (35 mi) south of the regional city of Wagga Wagga and 24 kilometres (15 mi) east of the town of Henty. Its surrounding area has an approximate population of 283 persons.

The Farrer Football Netball League (FFNL) is an Australian rules football and netball competition containing nine clubs based in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The league features three grades in the Australian rules football competition, with these being First-Grade, Reserve-Grade and Under 17s. In the netball competition there are four grades, with these being A-Grade, A-Reserve Grade, B-Grade and C-Grade.

St Pauls College, Walla Walla Independent, coeducational, secondary, day and boarding school in Walla Walla, New South Wales, Australia

St Paul's College is a coeducational day and boarding school providing secondary schooling in Walla Walla, New South Wales, Australia. It is a member school of Lutheran Education Australia, a network of 85 schools and 42 kindergarten/early childhood centres educating approximately 38,000 students Australia wide, and it forms part of the Riverina group of Lutheran schools together with Lutheran Primary School Wagga Wagga, St Paul's Lutheran Primary School Henty, St John's Primary School Jindera and Victory Lutheran College Wodonga (Victoria).

Cycling in the Australian state of New South Wales is a common form of recreation. In 2009, cycling was the fifth-most popular sports/physical activity in NSW.

Wodonga Football Club

The Wodonga Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the city of Wodonga, Victoria.

Albert Anderson was an Australian rules footballer who played for the St Kilda Football Club and Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Ken Ross (cyclist) Australian bicycle racer (1900-1974)

Ken Gordon Ferndale Ross (1900–1974) was an Australian road and track cyclist. His best results were achieved in the Goulburn to Sydney, where he set the fastest time on three occasions and in the Sydney Six-day race which he won three times.

Hambledon Homestead human settlement in Australia

The Hambledon Homestead is a heritage-listed residence and former inn and store at Tarcutta Street, Tarcutta, in the City of Wagga Wagga local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as Tarcutta Station. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

References