THIS Saturday will see the running of the 77th annual Wal Smith Memorial Casterton 50, when Wal’s Weekend of Cycling returns to town.
Hosted by the Wal Smith Cycling Foundation, the event honours the foundation’s namesake, whose passion for cycling over a 50-year period was rewarded when he was inducted into the Victorian Cycling Hall of Fame for his exceptional contribution as a competitor, official, commentator, press correspondent and sports promoter.
The foundation was created to continue the memory of one of the regions cycling legends and to continue his lifetime work of promoting the sport, especially for junior cyclists.
Wal’s victories included the Mount Gambier 100, Hamilton 75 and the Casterton 50; Wal also rode the Sun Tour twice and the Melbourne to Warrnambool on 18 occasions.
Alongside the main event on Saturday, 15 to 17-year-old cyclists will take on the Casterton 40.
Racing will start in McPherson Street and race to Dunrobin, before returning to Casterton, then onto Digby and back to Casterton, finishing in front of the Casterton Town Hall around 4pm.
Race Director, Gregg Housden said the Casterton 50 was a time-honoured race and its honour role included some of the cream of Australian cycling, including former Olympians.
“Our 2019 winner and 2021 fastest time winner, Sam Welsford, is currently racing in Europe and just this week chalked up another podium finish in one of Europe’s major one-day races,” Mr Housden said.
“Who knows, another star could emerge from this year’s race.”
One of the features of the after-race presentation on Saturday will be the announcement of the Wal Smith Cycling Foundation Scholarship winners and the presentation of their certificates.
The scholarships are funded annually and are designed to assist young sportspeople with the pursuit of their sport or assist with education and travel costs.
Wal Smith Cycling Foundation chairman, Tom Smith, said the scholarships were an important part of the foundation’s work and continued the legacy of Wal Smith, who was a great supporter of emerging young talent, especially in cycling.
“What has been pleasing is to see some of our previous scholarship winners now progressing on to success at state and national level,” Mr Smith said.
“People probably don’t appreciate how difficult is for youngsters living in regional centres to make their way through the ranks, especially when the key academies are city-based.
“If we can assist in a small way then we are happy.”
Smith acknowledged the “outstanding support of the Casterton and Hamilton communities and in particular the Casterton Traders who have again supported this year’s event along with the Bendigo Bank Coleraine and District Branch and Shire of Glenelg”.
“As the event usually draws competitors from greater than 200 kilometres from Casterton, it requires an overnight stay in the region, which in turn generates expenditure on accommodation, petrol, food and entertainment and this is all new money into the Casterton economy; it’s a win-win,” Smith said.
On Sunday, the racing will switch to a circuit which starts and finishes at the old Sandford Hotel and includes Casterton- Portland Road, Dunans Road, Boiling Down Rd, Lower Coleraine Rd, returning to Portland Casterton Rd.
Sunday’s program includes the Casterton Kelpie Country Classic, Junior Racing and the Victorian 100-kilometre Championship. Race, with presentations to be held at the Sandford Recreation Reservice around 1pm.
Director Housden said the shift to Sandford was a change from previous years, been brought about by the increasingly stringent traffic safety requirements for racing on open roads.
“It’s a sign of the times and we must fit in or not race … it’s that simple,” Housden said.
