Branch Committee

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1 ULYSSES CLUB WAIKATO BRANCH September Newsletter Ulysses Club Waikato Branch meets 7.30pm at the Waikato Commerce Club 197 Collingwood Street, Hamilton on the first Monday of the month except January. Visitors Welcome. Evening Meals available from 6.30 pm except Public Holidays. Waikato Ulysses website: This Newsletter plus other information is available on this website. Branch Committee (l to r): Glenn (Shrek) Proctor, Goose, Rowena Smith (Treasurer), Mick Aldred, Anthony (Footrot) Mol-Krijnen, Athol Thompson (Acting Secretary) & Mark Empson. Committee Contact Details Coordinator Lawrence Gosnell g.cd@xtra.co.nz Vice Coordinator Glenn Proctor glenn_p@orcon.net.nz Treasurer Rowena Smith rowenagsmith@gmail.com Secretary Athol Thompson athol.thompson@hcc.govt.nz Committee Mick Aldred mick@eznet.co.nz Mark Empson markempson@gmail.com Anthony Mol-Krijnan penant68@gmail.com

2 GOOSE S GANDER Hi all, I have had a busy month and haven t been able to get out on as many Sunday rides as I would have liked to. I did manage to do the first day of the gravel ride last weekend which saw us going to places I didn t even know existed. This was a challenging but enjoyable ride with lots of new skills for me to learn and I look forward to the next gravel ride whenever that may be. We were planning to do a presentation of 10 and 20 year membership badges at the branch social on 12 September, due to a shortage of badges I only received them late last week and we decided to defer this presentation until the October branch night to give time for members to be contacted. The number of registered participants for the 12 point challenge this year is relatively low with 16 registered at this time of which 2 are unable to attend the branch social. The committee had some discussions about the viability of continuing to run this event in the future and I will be seeking guidance from members at the next branch night on two main points: Would those of you who have not taken part this year consider doing so next year if the event was run from September to November? Do we as a branch want to keep running this as a Ulysses Club Waikato branch event? If we decide as a branch that the 12 point challenge is no longer viable then there is the possibility of Honda Hamilton picking it up and running it as a Honda Hamilton event so all would not be lost for those of us who want it to continue. Finally, just a reminder that the last day to register for the branch social is Monday 7 September, Contact Anthony Mol-Krijnen before then if you intend being there. That s about it for now, ride safe Cheers Goose. 2

3 Waikato Branch Activities, Sept 2015 DATE DESTINATION MEET TIME IN CHARGE GRADE 29 & 30 Aug Overnight Gravel Ride Te Awamutu Caltex 9am Topher 4 Sun-6-Sept Mon-7-Sept Kawhia Club Night Commerce Club Commerce Club 10am Tutu pm Committee Sat-12-Sept 12pt Challenge Social Commerce Club 6.30pm Footrot Sun-13-Sept Economy Run - odo accuracy check, fuel use & cost comparison Cambridge BP 10.30am David 1 19 & 20 Sept Skills Training Airport Kart Track TBA Andrew Templeton Sun-20-Sept Afternoon Cruise to somewhere Hillcrest Caltex 1pm Jim 1 Sun-27-Sept David s 15th 500 miler - where to this year? pitch up at 6.45 to find out & ready for 7am start Glenview BP 7am David 4 Contacts: David ; Shrek (Glen) Goose ; Topher Jim Tutu (Ross)

4 SATURDAY 12 TH SEPTEMBER 12 Point Challenge Social At the Commerce Club, 6.30 onwards Finger food from 8pm All members invited regardless of whether you have done the ride(s) For catering purposes, confirm with Anthony by Club Night, Monday 7 Sept that you are coming [ or or penant68@gmail.com ] NORTH ISLAND REMEMBRANCE RIDE, 2015 Goose led around twenty bikes from Cambridge BP on Saturday 8 Aug to attend the Annual Memorial Service at Taupo. We were pleased to welcome companions from neighbouring branches, Auckland, Far North & King Country. Picture shows group parked at Lakeside Café, Rotorua for morning tea some took the opportunity to tick off the Rotorua picture for the 12-point Challenge. The Taupo service was well attended despite the cold, and occasional heavy shower. We were pleased to note that our names were not called, though did recall branch members Sir John Moore, Graham Needham, Jim Ross, Quentin Cameron and Ian Bigham among those who were remembered at the service. A splendid event run annually by Auckland & Taupo branches and well worth attending. 4

5 Weka s Path of War, 23 August Probably the most interesting Branch Ride I have ever been on. Wayne Weka Green took us on a trip round the significant sites of the socalled Maori Wars, 1861 to So called Wars because as Weka explained the colonial troops were assembled to combat belligerent Maoris, when in fact, it was simply a land grab by immigrant invaders who wanted access to the fertile lands of the Waikato so they might better control and profit from feeding the burgeoning Auckland population. (l to r) Ivan Goile, Jerry Newell, Norm Foster, Rich Broom & Weka at Queen s Redoubt, Pokeno [Sound familiar? 140 years later Iraq was invaded because it had weapons of mass destruction; many thought at the time that the invaders simply wanted to get their hands on Iraq s massive oil reserves, and this opinion was endorsed when no weapons of mass destruction were ever found the more things change, the more they stay the same!!] After a ride up the backroads to the east of SH1, Weka started at the Pokeno Queen s Redoubt, site of the British garrison assembled to invade before moving to Rangiriri and the cemetery which holds the remains of the colonial soldiers killed in the 1863 battle there. Following a pleasant brunch at the Rangiriri café, we continued to Paterangi, east of Pirongia, site of a well-fortified pa, which the invaders avoided, in favour of a brutal attack on the undefended farming settlement at Rangiaowhia, east of Te Awamutu. After that, we moved to the Orakau Battle site, east of Kihikihi. We intended to conclude at the Pirongia Redoubt, but with heavy rainclouds threatening, we gave it a miss. Six of us left Rototuna BP at 9.30am, and were joined by late-starter Sheriff Mick at Rangiriri. Lovely mild day, with definite touch of spring first time I haven t been cold on the bike for weeks for me, travel speed was a bit on high side and required total concentration on the road; I would have been happy to take half hour or so longer, and have time to smell the roses, err daffs, along the way. I have passed almost all of these sites dozens of times over the years and had a rough idea of the history; it was great to get clear, confident, detailed explanations from a presenter who knows his stuff. Thanks, and well done, Weka. David Coy, August 2015 oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Mercer is named after Captain Mercer buried at Rangiriri Cemetery 5

6 oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo SPUD GROWING COMPETITION It s that time of the year again. Collect your seed potato from Jim Galt at the September or October Branch Meeting. Plant in Spring, harvest in Feb. Time for farmers to step up townies had top crops, past two years. 6

7 Thursday Freedom Rides Every Thursday, in association with Whakatane Branch, there is a casual ride to a café in Waikato / Bay of Plenty for lunch. The venue is decided at the weekend before and details are circulated by to those on the Group List. Usually about arrive for lunch, and 4 8 riders depart from cycle track lay-by at junction of Wairere Drive & Cambridge Road, Ham East at 10am. In August, we went to Browny s Brewery Katikati, Dam Café Whakamaru, Rustic Pumpkin, Katikati & Sweet Painted Lady, Waharoa. If you want to be on the Group List advise David Coy of your address (either by to: dcoy41@gmail.com or TXT to: ). Welcome sun-trap at Whakamaru, 13 August Chance for a good catch-up and natter at Rustic Pumpkin, Katikati, 20 August oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo HONDA ST1300, 2003, 39,000 miles Mint condition New tyres, full Honda luggage set, full service less than 1000 kms ago. Intercom, heated grips, plug-in battery conditioner, helmets. Health issues force sale. $10,500 ONO CONTACT: Keir Ditchburn

8 THE NORTHERN ODYSSEY 2016 You will be given a route of approx kms of North Island roads selected for their good riding, great scenery and points of interest along the way. This year s route starts & finishes in Taupo and goes through Hawke s Bay, East Cape and Bay of Plenty. Every hour or so, you will need to stop and find the answer to a question. The questions can be completed any time between Boxing Day (26 December 2015) and ANZAC Day (25 April 2016). The route can be completed as one continuous ride or several short rides. REGISTRATION: $30.00 (includes Badge and complimentary drink at start & finish). ENTRIES: Accepted until 31 March those who enter before 13 December 2015 qualify for complimentary drinks at start & finish. Entries open to all, Ulysses members and non-members. SEND: Your Name & Contact details (address, , phone) either by to: dcoy41@gmail.com or by post to Northern Odyssey, PO Box 5232, Frankton, Hamilton Either enclose a cheque for $30.00 with postal entry or make a bank transfer to Ulysses Club, Waikato Branch, Westpac Account No: make sure sender s name is clear. Organisers, Jim Galt & David Coy of Waikato Branch, take no responsibility for any injuries or damage that may arise from participating in this event. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 8

9 GILLY S VIEW 9

10 Newsletter Editor: David Coy P: E: 10