1885-1914

For a truly remarkable account of the long history of bicycle racing in Manly, Warringah, and along the northern beaches of Sydney, please refer to Alive with Wheels by historians George Champion OAM and Shelagh Champion OAM. This 19-page document details many aspects of the early days of cycling. The following extracts provide just a glimpse of Manly-Warringah’s early bicycle racing history:

In March 1885 the first hint of the formation of a Manly Bicycle Club was given.  A road race from the Lime Kilns [Brookvale?] to Manly took place on Saturday, distance about 2 1/2 miles; 10 starters, top handicap being 650 yards. E quirk, from scratch won by about 20 yards, followed by F Passau from scratch; the others coming in a bunch behind. The Manly cyclists intend starting a club shortly. (SMH 10 March 1885)

The Evening News of 10 April 1885 made this announcement. The Manly Bicycle Club is now an accomplished fact. The following officers have been appointed  Captain and treasurer, E Quirk; sub-captain, E Badmington; hon sec, J O’Grady; bugler, E Gould; delegate to the NSW Cycle Union, E Hind.

Shortly after its formation the Manly Bicycle Club took part, on their pennyfarthing bicycles, in the Suburban Bicycle Club Intercolonial meeting of 9 May 1885 held at the Association Cricket Ground.

Manly Bicycle Club was a forerunner to MWCC until the beginning of WWI in 1914.

On Saturday 13 September 1913 the Manly Bicycle Club conducted a 10 mile road handicap race over the Narrabeen course. (DT 12 Sept 1913)

Just before war was declared on 4 August 1914, the Manly Bicycle Club held what it thought was its first annual sports day on Saturday 1 August 1914, on the Manly Oval. Other Manly bicycle sports had however been held in previous years long gone by and forgotten. (SMH 3 Aug 1914)

It should be noted that two of the greatest participants and supporters of the Manly Bicycle Club over many years were Manly Mayors, Ellison Wentworth Quirk and Frederick Charles Passau.

Unfortunately because of the Great War most of the bicycle clubs then in existence were disbanded for its duration.


1914-1957

The existence of Manly Bicycle Club from 1885 to 1914 is well documented in Alive with Wheels (see above), but its relationship to MWCC is yet to be determined. It remains unclear whether any bicycle club existed on the northern beaches between 1914 and 1957 when MWCC was formed. If anyone has information about local cycling during this period it would be greatly appreciated.

1957-1992

Three 17 year-old friends and riding companions from Narrabeen, Jeff Hoffmann, Phil Lambert, and Roger Aldenhoven, had the vision to form a cycling club for the northern beaches of Sydney on 3 October 1957. The attendance record for the first meeting of Manly-Warringah Amateur Cyclists Club shows that most of the founding members were also from Narrabeen, or the surrounding suburbs, and that Jeff Hoffmann’s family was well represented.

MWCC’s formation and history from 1957 to 1992 is thoroughly documented in the club’ October 1992 Newsletter, which contains an excellent article by Gary Teague who was the club’s historian at the time. The following extracts provide a summary of the important milestones for the club during its first 35 years:

* The first ever race was held on November 9th [1957] on the Warriewood circuit ..

* Our first committee meeting took place on February 12th 1958 ..

* In April [1958] a Ladies Section was formed 

* that same month [April 1958] the club colours first became available and cost £2..8s..6d. These colours were:- black jersey with three inch band of pale blue around chest and back with pale blue collar and cuffs. Later a white silhouette of a seagull in flight was added to the back, underneath the letters M.W.A.C.C.

* On July 2nd 1958 Leo Fransen was first elected president and would subsequently prove to be our club’s longest serving president (15 years). Wendy McDonald took over as treasurer and gave the first written treasurer’s report ..

* there was discussion about changing the club colours which eventually happened in January 1963 [to green and white]..

* One of our present day life members Chris Kruf had a meteoric rise to the top for he and Dave Humphreys [1964 Tokyo Olympian] both represented N.S.W. in the [1964] Australian Cycling Championship.

* Gary and Dorothy Teague joined the club in 1965 and within a year Gary [achieved] fastest time in the 1966 Sydney to Goulburn. Later that year he became secretary ..

*In 1967 a perpetual trophy was proposed for the first time for the club champion and is still in use today ..

* 25 mile (40km) perpetual Time Trial Championship Shield was also bought but unfortunately has since been lost.

* The club fees for 1967 were $2 for seniors, $1.25 for juniors and 50c for juveniles.

* In 1967 the club began racing at the rear car park of Warringah Mall. Barely a kilometer in distance with six right angle corners, it made for some very exciting racing.

* Our club celebrated its tenth birthday in October 1967.

* 1967 was also the first time that a Sydney Metropolitan Road Cycling Championship was held .. it was Frank Fransen’s idea for our club to promote the road equivalent [of the Track Championships] .. on May 28th.

* Police Commissioner Norman Allan agreed to become our patron to cap off a very successful tenth year.

* In August [1969] Gary Teague was selected in the N.S.W. Road Team to contest the Australian Championship in Hobart where he finished seventh.

* Early in 1971 Chris Kruf took over as president and his sister Emmie became secretary.

* 1972 saw Bart Kruf win the Sydney Metropolitan Road Championship at Warriewood in a thrilling sprint finish.

* There were no recorded minutes for 1973 and much of 1974.

* 1974 Gary Teague won the Metropolitan Road Championship at Warriewood in a 20 km solo breakaway finishing 2 minutes, 30 seconds in front of the bunch.

* Regular monthly club meetings ceased in November 1975 and did not commence again until 1986 ..

* In 1979 membership had fallen to nineteen with less than ten members racing regularly.

* In 1983 Bernie [Freeman] gave up a whole season of racing, became president and helped the club through a very difficult period.

* Gary and Sue Fairweather made their impact on the club in 1985/86 boosting membership to over one hundred and forty when we were the second largest club in N.S.W. Many of these new members were triathletes ..

* 1987-1990 could best be described as rebuilding .. numbers fell so low that every member found himself on the committee!

* 1991 will be remembered as the year Tony Sattler shatter[ed] the Brisbane to Sydney cycling record by three hours, twenty minutes.

*[In 1992] we [had] a membership of over eighty .. Sandra Bury enjoyed her first serious mountain bike season .. lying second in the Australian National Series. John Guy, who [in 1991] won a silver medal in the Australian Mountain Bike Championship also [did] extremely well ..

 

1992-1998

Little documentation for this period has so far been obtained. Some is thought to have been lost during a dispute over leadership shortly after this time (see 1999).

1998-2008

The following provides some information about the club’s endeavours and difficulties during this period. Any further information that club members or associates can provide would be greatly appreciated.

1998

Warringah Council Minutes of the Special Meeting of the JJ Melbourne Hills Reserve Management Committee held 12 March 1998 record that:

The Manly Warringah Cycling Club initially made application to the Abbott Road Land Management Committee to install a cycling track on the land. Unfortunately the area the Club required was greater than that available to the Management Committee.

As Council is anxious to establish this type of recreational use somewhere in Warringah, an alternate suggestion was made to establish the track at the JJ Melbourne Hills Reserve. This site was inspected by Councillor Brook, Eugene Herbert and Graham Jones from the Manly Warringah Cycling Club.

A special meeting was called of the stakeholders in the Management Committee for the reserve to discuss the proposal by the Manly Warringah Cycling Club.

Recommendation of Director Services

1. That subject to Council approval the Committee agreed that the Manly Warringah Cycling Club proceed with their application for a grant.

2. That further consultation take place between the equestrian representatives, the cycling representatives and Council staff on the location of the track. Should the tests prove satisfactory to all parties concerned the project is to proceed.

1999

Disagreement within the club over how to further develop its recently constructed track, and how to meet its related financial commitments, divided both the committee and club membership. It also threatened to jeopardise its relationship with Warringah Council and other users of the JJ Melbourne Hills Reserve who were relying on the club to meet its previously agreed financial and track-management responsibilities.

On 24 February 1999 Warringah Council convened a meeting of the affected parties. Minutes of the meeting outline the club’s immediate responsibilities to ensure conflict with other reserve users was minimised. The club’s financial situation and leadership are also raised as issues during the meeting.

Unreconcilable differences of opinion regarding the JJ Melbourne Hills Reserve track split the club’s membership and committee and led the club into a lengthy period of decline. Both the BMX and Mountain Biking constituents left the club and the committee tried to address a leadership dispute which resulted in its own disbanding.

2002

10 November 2002 Graham Jones, former Manly Warringah Cycling Club secretary, was killed 7.15am Sunday morning after he and a bus collided. The accident happened on Archibald Rd Roseville. Graham was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital but died several hours later. The exact cause of the collision is not known as yet. Although the club can never repay Graham for building the Terrey Hills BMX and criterium circuit, his memory will be respected with an annual memorial race. [Extract from club web site]

Postscript: In 2004 the bus driver was convicted of negligent driving while Graham was shown to have been riding in a safe and legal manner.

2003

Public liability insurance concerns were making it difficult for all sporting organisations to continue their activities. The situation was no better for MWCC which was already suffering a decline in membership. As reported in the Manly Daily July 5, 2003: Public liability insurance has led the crown solicitor to tell the government to tell cycling clubs that they can’t race. Peter McNamara president of Manly Warringah cycling club.

2004

Criterium races conducted at Brookvale around 1km (250m square) street circuit – Orchard Rd, Mitchell Rd, Wattle Rd, Ada Ave – until commercial development and traffic calming devices made it too dangerous to continue using as a race circuit.

Time trials conducted at Terrey Hills from Tepco Rd out and back along Booralie Rd.

Road Races conducted in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park from bottom toll booth out and back along West Head Rd (some races continuing through Akuna Bay and finishing at the top toll booth).

2005-2006

Summer racing: mid-week evenings at St Ives Driver Training Centre.

Winter racing: Sunday mornings at West Head / Akuna Bay.

2007

The last decade was difficult for MWCC after the tumultuous events of the late 1990s. Membership fell to less than 30 despite strong growth in cycling generally during the same period. Peter McNamara served as Secretary / President during this time and continued to organise races despite the dwindling numbers. Bernie Freeman once again stepped-in and lent a hand at a time of great need.

At the end of 2007, coinciding with the club’s 50th birthday, a bunch of enthusiastic cyclists came forward to help breath new life into the club. The AGM, on 2 December 2007, was reported in the subsequent newsletter as follows:

There was a strong turnout at Barcino to the AGM last Sunday with 21 attendees and 5 new members joining the club on the evening. Peter McNamara was nominated to be a Life Member for MWCC. It was enthusiastically endorsed by all in attendance. Peter has been the lifeblood of the club over many years, and he continues to devote lots of time and energy into the club.

The main reason for the AGM is to appoint the Club Committee for the next 12 months. The new Committee is:

President: Mike Foster

Vice President: Peter McNamara

Treasurer: Bernie Freeman

Secretary: Jordan Reizes

Committee Members: Nick Williams, Antoni Mikac, Gary Oliver

Other appointments included Peter McNamara as Race Director, Peter Hopper as Social Ride Co-ordinator and Jim Buda as Club Handicapper.

2008 – 2010

Plans to revitalise the club came to fruition in 2008 with: regular meetings; new logo, uniform, and sponsors; increasing membership (aiming for 100 by the end of the year); and greater communication with members leading to a significant increase in the number of competitors at club races.

Thanks to the work of Mike Foster and particularly club Secretary Ross Mackenzie and his partner Angela Falzarano the club has become reinvigorated. The club secured increased sponsorship and with a greater presence on the road, the local riding and racing scene continued to grow. Membership numbers continue to grow due to the tireless work of Ross and co and when it came time for a change in leadership – the previous committee handed over a club in a good financial position and also a growing and active membership base.

2011 -2013

In 2011, the club saw a change in committee leadership due to work commitments of both Mike and Ross. Long time member Jim Buda became president of the club and this was also a time of a large amount of exposure for cycling due to Cadel Evans winning his first Tour De France title. As a result the club saw further growth in numbers at its races and its membership levels. The club grew to a size of ca. 225 financial members and has continued with its monthly races at West Head which were held on the second Sunday of the month. These races have been attended by riders such as Rabobank Sprinter Mark Renshaw and the certain races have had over 150 riders in attendance. In 2012 the club in conjunction with Manly Warringah Mountain Biking Club, launched a cyclo cross series at JJ Melbourne Hills Reserve at Terrey Hills, this race series has been incorporated into the inaugural Cycling Australia Cyclo Cross Series in both 2012 and 2013.

In 2013 the club in conjunction with MWMTB hosted the inaugural NSW State Cyclo Cross Championships, which were held during Bike Week and as part of the Manly Bike Festival the race was held at Manly Lagoon. With the riders racing through the park and parts of the lagoon in front of hundred of spectators.

The club finished 2013 with just over 350 financial members. At the end of 2013 saw the return of criterium races to the HART Driver Training Centre at St Ives, with races held on Friday nights.

The Club was the 2013 State Team Time Trial Champions.

2014

The club continued to grow strongly and by the end of the year would have just over 400 financial members within the road cycling group and 120 in the mountain biking section.

The decision at this AGM was made that the club would not support riders wearing non MWCC kit at races and would not support private race teams and riders unless they were racing at a National level. This was to ensure continued equity within the club, to grow club culture and to protect valuable sponsorships with firms such as Subaru.

The club has also focused on increasing participation for female riders and there is a popular Wednesday ride and also a social ride series introduced thanks to sponsor Allpress Coffee. The club also hosted female only race grades as part of the sydney Womens Race Series.

2015

In 2015 the club’s hierarchy was as follows:

President: Jim Buda

Vice President: Antoni Mikac

Treasurer: Richard Saunders

Secretary: Alexis Kaless

CX: Sean Couley

MTB: Lana Moy

General: Evan Snow

During the year, the club hosted the first open handicap at West Head known as ‘The Wall’. This involved 5 laps of West Head before finishing at the peak of the Wall on West Head Road. This involved 200 riders and was won by Rob Redpath of SUVelo, with Jake Kauffmann of MWCC the fastest rider on the course.

The club also hosted the U/17 NSW State Mens and Womens Road and TT Championships, along with regular Road Racing events at West Head and over summer on Friday nights there was crit racing at HART Driver Training Centre, Mona Vale Road, St Ives. The club over winter hosted the Subaru Cyclocross at Terrey Hills.

The Club Champion for the year was Andrew Pickering, the Masters Champion Phil Gray, Womens Champion Lynne Clarke, Junior Champion Alistair Hirsch. At the end of the year the club had just over 400 financial road riding members.

2016

President: Jim Buda

Vice President: Antoni Mikac

Treasurer: Richard Saunders

Secretary: Evan Snow

CX/MTB: Dave Musgrove

General: Alexis Kaless

The club has continued to improve its regular racing circuit, with the introduction of traffic controlled races along West Head road, which sell out every month. The cyclocross series was sponsored by Cell Bikes, 4 Pines Brewery and Kask Helmets for the first time. As per all previous years since the foundation of our series the club hosted a round of the State Championships for Cyclocross with Garry Millburn winning the MWCC round.

MWCC became a sponsor of National Road Racing Team – Mobius Future Racing. This allowed the club to offer the full range of cycling offering from free training for kids at our crit races, club training rides all the way to a pathway with an elite racing team.

The Club announced that its official charity was TAD Freedom Wheels. This charity provides altered bicycles for children with disabilities giving them the opportunity to ride a bicycle and experience the freedom and joy of this hobby that they otherwise may have missed out on.

The year also witnessed the commencement of the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ a four round, interclub racing series between MWCC, NSCC, SUVelo and RBCC. Each club hosted a round of racing between these four clubs.

Planning is also underway for our next edition of The Wall.

Club Champion for Road was Phillip Gray who also took out the Masters Division (40+).

2017

President: Jim Buda

Vice President: Antoni Mikac

Treasurer: Richard Saunders

Secretary: Evan Snow

The club continued to host road racing at West Head, criterium racing at HART and cyclocross at JJ Melbourne Hills Memorial Reserve off Kamber rd.

2018

2018 saw a change in leadership with 5 new committee members elected. The club also saw several new non-committee members taking up roles. The club opened a new web store and started a women’s development squad. The club embarked on a revised sponsor format including a 5-race series at West Head.    The CX team also hosted a round of the National Series and the State Series.

President: Mitch Dixon

Vice President: Antoni Mikac

Treasurer: Richard Saunders

Secretary: Peter Reynolds

MTB: Chris Taylor

Women’s: Sarah Anne-Evans

Digital: Alexis Kaless

CX: Jim Buda

2018 ended with 580 financial members from Cycling Australia, MTBA and Bicycle Network. 

2018 Club Champions:

Elite and U/23 Champion: Peter Livingstone

Masters: Tim Clarsen

Super Masters: David Ledger

Womens Champion: India McLean

Racing highlight of the year was our underdog junior team winning the NSW Team Time Trial Championship.

 

2019

2019 saw more growth for the club finishing with a whopping 700 members! The bulk of over 600 came through Cycling Australia and the rest from MTBA and Bicycle Network.

2019 saw the adoption of the Cammeray Roadies into the club to give this rising community an official home. A good match for club, we provide fundamental insurance, funding and training, while the Roadies bring new geography and a different cycling demographic. As a large club, we have many avenues and identities and now one more! 

We continued our road racing at West Head, and our crit racing at HART. We also reembarked on hosting Cyclocross races under the guidance of Grant Kepler.

The introduction of kids holiday skills camps in the previous year came to fruition with 100s of kids attending skills days during the school holidays across the year.

Our elite pathway team BridgeLane (nee Mobius) took a clutch win in the final NRS race to win the overall Teams Classification.

The highlight of our racing year was winning the Club Shield at the NSW Team Time Trial Championships – officially recognising MWCC as the fastest club!

President: Mitch Dixon

Vice President: Antoni Mikac

Treasurer: Richard Saunders

Secretary: Peter Reynolds

General / MTB: Chris Taylor

General / Women’s Captain: Sarah Anne-Evans

General / Digital: Mitch Wheatley

 

2019 Club Champions:

Elite and Junior Champion: Hugh Phillips

Masters: Phil Taaffe

Super Masters: John Kippen

Womens Champion: Bree Playel

 

2020

2020 saw a slight change in the committee, noting the return of local cycling celebrity Alexis Kaless to the committee after a 4-year hiatus. 

President: Mitch Dixon

Vice President: Alexis Kaless

Treasurer: Richard Saunders

Secretary: Peter Reynolds

General / MTB: Chris Taylor

General / Chief Commissaire: Antoni Mikac

General / CX: Grant Kepler

Women’s Captain: Sarah Anne-Evans

Club Champions:

Bree Playel – Women’s Champion

Chris Bee – Men’s Champion

Super Masters – Tony Holland (50+)

Masters – Phil Taaffe (40+)

Juniors – Hugh Phillips (U/19)

Womens B – Katie Lee

Mens B – Benjamin Treble

Mens C – Richard Mowbray

Women’s C – Gina Lewis-Enright

Mens D – Joshua Couriel

MWCC retained the NSW Club Team Time Trophy.

Racing and training activities were severely hampered from March 2020 due to restrictions on public gatherings and movements introduced in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.