Goulburn Trackpower returns in 2021 with surging numbers

Hosted annually by the Goulburn Cycle Club, Trackpower is the premier local track cycling event which pits some of the best competitors from NSW and sometimes beyond against one another.

And, despite the COVID-19 pandemic which caused the cancellation of all sporting events for more than three months last year, this Saturday's event is set to be bigger than that of 2020.

The more than 140 competitors scheduled to appear exceeds the 130 who turned up in 2020, which event organiser Graeme Northey attributes to the recent lack of cycling in the state.

"I just this morning got the final numbers, and we're expecting 148 entries, which is exceptional in this current climate," Northey said.

"It's an increase over last year, which is very pleasing. Part of that is due to the lack of racing due to COVID, there's been a drop in events. Therefore, riders are looking to get as much riding in as possible.

"The NSW Championships are coming up, so it's a good chance for them to have a hit-out before then."

The GCC was hoping for a similar number of competitors to last year, and may have had even more turn out in 2021 were it not for a scheduling clash with the National Road Championships.

The headline men's event at this year's Trackpower will be the Household Smoke and Fire Men's Wheel Race, which is a five-lap handicapped race spanning two kilometres.

Three heats will be held to determine the finalists, and Northey expects some big names to be in contention for first place.

"I suspect that the scratch marker will probably be up-and-coming Under 19 rider, Danny Barber, from Dubbo," he said.

"He was an Under 17 Australian Champion of Champions, and he's won a couple of events in the Under 19s at last year's nationals.

"The other one is Thomas Cornish from Southern Cross, he's very good. And we've got last year's wheel race winner, Devraj Grewal."

Meanwhile, the premier women's event of the day will be the Atkinson and Stalker Dental Women's Wheel Race, which is a three-lap handicapped race over 1,200 metres.

"We have a real quality field there, we're probably looking at Rebel Brooker from the Tolland Cycling Club, she won the recent Sydney Cup on Wheels race," Northey said.

"And then we've got some really good Under 19 riders coming through the system."

Though not as large as in years past, there will be a strong contingent of 12 Goulburn locals competing in Trackpower this weekend.

Indie Champion will be the only junior, while the senior group consists of Tassie Davies, Teisha Northey, Antoinette Mercuri, Sid Rowlands, Phil Champion, Wayne Bensley, Jason Patterson, Chris Berry, Bernie Bugden, Wayne Skillman, Chris Bushell.

The invitational roller derbies will also be held this year, in both the men's and women's divisions.

Trackpower will take place on Saturday, January 30, at Seiffert Oval. It will get underway with the junior events from 2pm, which finish at 4pm. The first round of roller derbies takes place at 4.30pm, before the senior events begin at 5pm and run until 10pm.

Entry is free, but attendees will be asked to register their attendance digitally as part of the GCC COVID safety plan.

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