4th State Round - Awaba 5 July 2009

.......Thomas....... Jake....... Jordan (should be Jack)

.... ...... Liam .... Andrew .... Brent
The Fourth and final round of the NSW/ACT State Series was held on the infamous Monkey Track at Awaba on the weekend of the 4th & 5th of July.

After getting up at sparrow's on the Friday of race weekend, we were on the road by 6:30am knowing we had a 6 hour drive ahead of us. After a couple of fuel and food stops, we were at the top of the shuttle road at 1pm. Boys both kitted up and we spend the next few hours doing shuttle runs. All done and we headed to our accommodation at Teralba (or should I say Dodge City!). Had a quiet night and up early on Saturday all ready for a day of practice. Mum and Dad decided to go for a walk up the track and Mum got as far as Battle Drop and was roped into marshalling for the rest of the day so didn't end up getting any further than that. This track is renowned for bad stacks having had to call the helicopter the last 2 years of state rounds. Luckily Mum only had to call the medics once and they ended up having to stretcher the guy out and off to hospital. He Spent the night in hospital but nothing too serious. Lots of broken bones over the weekend though. Practice for Team Crimmins went well and no major incidents.

Sunday race day arrived and having packed up the cabin and bidding farewell to Teralba, we headed to the track for a bit of practice and race run. Practice over and boys headed to the top to wait for race run. Thomas was the first of Team Crimmins to come down for his race run and looked the goods coming past us at Battle drop, over the wombat jump no probs and off to the finish line. Thomas made his way back up the hill to watch and told us he had placed 2nd in a field of 51 riders. Yay for Thomas, great result.

Nearly 2 hours after Thomas came down for race run, it was Andrews turn. Andrew came down 3rd in the U15's as that's where he was placed. He looked really good going past the battle drop and over the wombat jump, hoping for a podium place. As we waited for the Elites to do their race run, Andrew made his way back up the hill to where we were watching to inform us he had won by 9 seconds in a field of 18 riders. Yay Andrew, fantastic result.

With all points added up for the Series, end result was both boys placed 2nd overall in the Series. Considering both boys are racing well above their ages, this result was absolutely fantastic. Bring on the State Champs next Month. Yeeeewwwwww!!!

THOMAS TURNS 14

Happy Birthday to Thomas who turned 14 on 24th June 2009.

3rd State Round - Del Rio 5 June 09

With Dad due to arrive home on the Wednesday before Del Rio, we knew he would be pushing it to actually get home on time, and as expected, he was delayed and did not get home in time for Round 3. Mum took up the challenge again and all went without a hitch. We arrived at out accommodation at Del Rio Riverside Resort, a ski lodge which we were sharing with about 30 other people. This ski lodge was right on the Hawkesbury River and would you believe it, had a boat ramp right through the middle of it. You opened the sliding doors and could drive right through from one side of the lodge and launch your boat out the other side straight into the water. One side of the ramp was the kitchen, the other was the dining/lounge room. Very unique.

We arrived on Friday afternoon and decided to walk the track. OMG, how steep is this track, Mum was horrified. After walking up and back again, a few other people had arrived so we unpacked the car and found our beds and settled in.

Saturday arrived and Mum went and registered the boys and shuttles started. Mum was pretty worried about Andrew on the track as he had never ridden it before and there were some huge items in it. Thomas was pretty familiar with the track having ridden it quite a few times before. With the boys off practicing, Mum and a few other Mum's decided to walk the track and take some photo's. Well, we got about 1/3 of the way up and some kid stacked on the track and who should come flying around the corner just behind him but Thomas going flat out. Thomas couldn't stop in time to avoid the kid on the ground and hit a tree, came off and hit his hip and head really hard on rocks. He just had to do that in front of his Mother!! Not a good idea Son, believe me. I was a bit concerned Thomas might have a bit of concussion so followed him down to go back to the lodge and have a spell and keep an eye on him. He was in a bit of pain with his shoulder and hip injuries and looked very pale.
Meanwhile, Andrew was going great guns with his practice, getting the track dialed in no time.

After a bit of a rest, Thomas decided to suffer the pain and go out and do some more runs. The rest of the afternoon was uneventful thank goodness. I couldn't cope with any more injured children.

Sunday race day and the boys did a couple of practice runs and then headed up to the top to wait for race run. Elites and U19's did their qualifying runs and next it was the U17's. Thomas was due to come down as second rider as that's where he was placed in the rankings but next thing I know, he's coming through the trees, over the final jump and was finished. (Turned out the kid who should have gone first hadn't arrived at the top on time). Thomas came down in a time of 2:12.72, after hitting a tree in his race run. After all 56 riders had finally made it to the bottom, Thomas ended up in 2nd place, behind the kid who got 1st at Ourimbah. Gotta be happy with that as a 13 year old racing U17's.

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, finally it was the U15's group on track. Andrew was due to some down 2nd as that's where he was ranked. Out of the bushes comes Andrew, looking the total professional over the last jump in a time of 2:26.90. After all 16 riders had finished, Andrew ended up 3rd. Very impressive effort for an 11 year old who has never ridden the track before.

Another successful event for Team Crimmins.

2009 Rivers Athletics Carnival

ANDREW CRIMMINS - SENIOR BOY CHAMPION
(Andrew holding his award and the School's trophy)

The Rivers Primary School's Athletics Carnival was held at Snowy Oval in Cooma on Thursday 21 May 2009. The Rivers Carnival includes Schools from Bredbo, Nimmitabel, Numeralla, Dalgety, Adaminaby, Jerangle. The kids compete at this carnival to see who goes on to the District Carnival against the bigger schools on the Monaro.

During the course of the day Andrew ended up coming 1st in every event he entered. They included: 200m, 100m, 800m, Shot Put, Discus, High Jump, Long Jump and he also brought his team home to a victory in the 4 x 100m relay. This huge effort earned Andrew enough points to take out the Rivers Senior Boys Champion for 2009 and it also helped Bredbo School take out the very coveted Schools champions trophy.

He was pretty pleased with his efforts as it was the last feather in his primary school sporting hat. His previous achievements include Junior Boy Champion for Swimming & Athletics, 11 year Boy Champion for Swimming & Athletics and now Senior Boy Champion for Swimming & Athletics. Next the Olympics!!!

CORC Round 2 - Majura Super D

Thomas Crimmins Fastest time of the Day. Yewwwww!!!

Went to Majura on Mothers Day for Round 2 of the 2009/10 CORC Series. What else would Mum do on Mothers Day? Anyway, all ready for a Super D mass start but as it turns out, the track was only single track with no space for overtaking, so riders started one by one. They did have to run through the start gate, collect their bike, run to the top and start riding. Much to most of their disgust as I don't think downhillers like running much.

After 2 runs each, Thomas finished 1st in the U17's but also took out the fastest time of the day out of about 70 riders. Andrew was going to enter U15's but for some reason was put into U13's, anyway it was probably a good thing as the track wasn't really suited to his new hardtail (wouldn't have been for his dually either). Andrew finished 1st in the U13s so was pretty happy with that. Oh, that's right, after we got home from Ourimbah, we drove to Jindy to pick up Andrew's new STP 0 from Sacred Ride so that's what he rode on Sunday. Great day was had by all.

2nd State Round - Ourimbah 3 May 09

The 2nd round of the State Series was held at Ourimbah, near Gosford on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd of May. As Dad is in PNG working, Mum took on the job of getting the boys there and back in one piece. We all know Mum is up to the challenge and as usual, everything went without a hitch. She didn't even get lost (oh well, maybe once but that wasn't too bad).

On the road by 9am thursday and after one minor detour on our way, to pick up Thomas' mate Kaine Trevor from the Picton turnoff, we arrived at our accommodation with enough time to spare before dark to find out where the track was and walk it. Mum dropped the boys at the top of the track and met them at the bottom. Boys decided the track looked really good except for some really pedally and flat bits.

Friday morning and the boys decided they wanted to get to the track early for some practice. Mum would have to do shuttles. Arrived at track at 9am and no-one else there which was good as we had the trailer on and made it easier to turn around. Having a bit of a spell at around 11am and people started turning up. Did a few more runs and decided to call it a day. Dropped boys at cabin and went to get food for dinner and the next day. Turns out the boys got tuned up (just for something new) for washing their bikes with the fire hose!!! There seems to be too many old people in these caravan parks!

Saturday arrived and at the track early again but today there were shuttles so Mum could finally have a look at the track. Caught the bus to the top and walked down the track, trying to get the elusive photo's. Practice day went well and all geared up for race day tomorrow.

Sunday, race day, again at the track early. Line up for shuttles and off they go for a few practice runs. Mum and Helen (Christie Batt's Mum)decided to walk the track and watch a bit of practice. Lunch break and met the boys back in the village for a bit to eat and a bit of a spell before heading to the top to get ready for race. Race time arrived and surprisingly Mum was feeling pretty good at this stage, not too nervous. Well that was until one of the elite riders came down to the big double just before the finish line and ate it really hard. Mum felt instantly sick in the stomach (thanks Tom) with both the boys yet to race. Thomas came down the hill first in the U17 Div, as he was leading the Series after Thredbo, followed by the 2nd rider. In all there was 52 riders in the U17 Div and it seemed to take for ever to get to the end of them. Finally, they finished and ends up Thomas came 2nd, beaten by the kid who came 2nd at Thredbo. We knew he would give Thomas a run for his money as Ourimbah is his home track. But that's why Thomas is racing 17's for a bit more competition.
What seemed like an eternity, finally the U15's were on track. Andrew came down 2nd as that was his ranking after Thredbo. After the 20 riders in U15's finished, it turned out Andrew came 7th overall, again another great result.

EDIT: Turns out the kid who came 1st at Thredbo and 2nd at Ourimbah should have been racing U17's so as it stands now, Andrew actually won Round 1 and came 6th in Round 2. This now puts him in 2nd position overall at this stage. Yeah Andrew.

1st State Round - Thredbo 5 April 2009

Been a bit slack lately with updating the blog but better late than never I suppose.
The first of the NSW State Rounds was held a Thredbo on the weekend of the 4th & 5th of April 2009. Ian took the boys up on Friday for a bit of practice. After lunch it rained and the track got really muddy which the boys loved! Not so much Mum once they got home and needed all their muddy clothes washed. Ended up getting a lift back up with the Maggs' on their way through from Sydney on the Friday evening, getting back up to Thredbo about 11pm.
Practice on Saturday morning while Mum and Dad leisurely made their way to Thredbo for the weekend.
Thomas decided he would race the U17's division to give himself a bit more competition. Andrew would be racing U15's as that's the youngest division in the State Series. A very cold Sunday morning came around and we got the start lists. There were 52 riders in U17's and 30 in U15's. The boys sure would have their work cut out for them. A few practice runs on Sunday then head up for race run. It was freezing waiting at the top or the mountain and as always they were running late so start times were delayed.

Andrew was seeded 2nd in the U15's so he was the second rider in that division to come down the mountain. He came down in a very respectable time of 7:00.84 which put him in the lead for quite a while, eventually being knocked into 2nd place by an unbelievable point 4 of a second. Can't get much closer than that. Very proud of Andrew's result as he is still only 11 and he was very happy with his podium result.

Seemed like forever before Thomas came down as he was rider number 35 out of the 52 riders in U17's. He came flying out of the trees and crossed the finish in a time of 6:30.27, taking the win by point 3 of a second from the kid who had been in the hot seat for quite a while. Thomas' time would have seen him win the U19's and place in the top 10 in Elites. Pretty impressive.