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.
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.
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 and 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.
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 .
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:
In early years, the race finished in Albury's main street, Dean Street, in front of the Globe Hotel.
Results
Major results 1977 1st and 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 and Fastest – Bathurst to Penrith 1980 2nd – Tour of the North East Fastest Time – Griffith 100km Open Fastest Time – Wangaratta '90' 1981 1st and 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
Past winners YearCyclistClub/Location2012 Rhys Pollock Albury Wodonga CC2011 Declan Gregory Albury Wodonga CC2010 Trent Stevenson Shepparton CC2009 William Lind Canberra CC2008 Michael Matthews Tuggeranong Vikings CC2007 Tim Decker Bendigo & District CC2006Michael TolhurstCanberra CC2005 Andrew Duggan Sydney CC2004Karl McKenzies Tasmania2003Richard Moffat Wagga Wagga CC2002 Rob Young Lavington Sports CC2001 Leigh Egan Shepparton CC2000 Brad Scott Shepparton CC1999 Ray Jarratt Cobram CC1998Tim PalmerCanberra CC1997 Aaron Robertson Wagga Wagga CC1996 Aaron Robertson Wagga Wagga CC1995 Brendon Cooper Cootamundra CC1994 Jay Sweet Adelaide CC1993 Dean Woods Wangaratta CC1992 Peter Collins Melbourne1991 Scott Steward1990 Paul Evans Bendigo CC1989 Dean McDonald Wangaratta CC1988 John Holgate Yarrawonga CC1987 Bernard O'Dea Bendigo CC
Fastest Time YearCyclistTimeClub/Location2012 Rhys Pollock 3:04:41 Albury Wodonga CC2011 Leigh Egan 3:07:07 Shepparton CC2010 Trent Stevenson 2:54:46 Shepparton CC2009 Rhys Pollock 2:53:58 Albury Wodonga CC2008 Michael Matthews 3:16:40 Tuggeranong Vikings CC2007 Timothy Decker 3:10:39 Canberra CC2006 Michael Matthews 3:14:17 Canberra CC2005 Stephen Fitzpatrick 3:07:02 Sydney2004 Karl Menzies 3:01:55 Tasmania2003 Richard Moffat Held at Chiltern – 99 km Wagga Wagga CC2002 Tim Decker 3:08:12 Bendigo & District CC2001 Leigh Egan 3:02:08 Shepparton CC2000 Leigh Egan 3:03:12 Shepparton CC1999 Danny Hennessy 3:03:12 Canberra CC1998 Peter Milostic 3:09:00 Penrith Panthers CC1997 Jamie Drew 3:00:43 VIS1996 Tim Bennett 2:57:19 Bendigo & District CC1995 Brett Aitken 2:52:34 Adelaide1994 Jay Sweet 2:42:12 Race Record Adelaide1993 Dean Woods 2:59:54 Wangaratta CC1991 Peter Clayton 3:01:28 Sydney1990 Scott Steward 3:01:28 Melbourne1989 Dean McDonald 3:01:19 Wangaratta CC1988 Rick McCaig 3:00:24 Bendigo & District CC1987 Geoff Stevenson 3:04:21 Shepparton CC1963 Jack Sommer
First Female YearCyclistClub/Location2012 Lisa Barry Albury Wodonga CC2011 Trudi Beck Albury Wodonga CC2010 Kelly Linden Wagga Wagga CC2009 No female finishers.2008 Vicki Whitelaw Canberra CC2007 Deborah Fagg Albury Wodonga CC
First Local (AWCC) YearMalePlaceFemalePlace2012 Rhys Pollock 1st Lisa Barry –2011 Declan Gregory 1st Trudi Beck –2010 Brendan Washington – NA –2009 Brian Harris 4th NA –2008 Daniel McIntyre 5th NA2007 Greg Featonby 2nd Deborah Fagg2005 Ken Payne 3rd Deborah Fagg 5th2001 Trent Perry 3rd
References 2011 John Woodman Memorial Flyer, published by the Albury Wodonga Cycling Club
External links Albury Wodonga Cycling Club Race route on Bikely Race route on Cycling Profiles Enter online at Cycling NSW Race route on Strava