The “POP” Stewart Memorial Trophy                                    

 It is without doubt the most prestigeous road trophy a Brunswick rider can have their name on.

In racing terms the day was not ideal for the Scratch men in the 2011 “POP” Stewart Memorial road race at Kyneton last Saturday, a warming sun was shining and barely a zephyr of a breeze accompanied the limit markers as they set off on their 77km journey.

The total field numbered more than 80, a great response for this time of the year.

The 2011 Pop Stewart Memorial boasted four previous winners, Aaron Wilson, Ross Mueller, Andrew Gannon and three time winner Richard McCorkell.

“Pop” started at the club back in the 1940′s, his involvement was due to his daughter Normas interest in cycling.

At this time the Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club as it was known then had their clubrooms in Lydiard St where regular social events like dances and billiard competions, yes we had our own pool table, were held. In fact during the Second World War the club used these events to raise funds for parcels to be sent to those in active service.

The track was one with a cinder surface around the Allard Park Cricket Ground, you pass this as you drive down Donald St to get to the current track in Richards Reserve.

My understanding is that Pop didn’t actually race, he embraced the club as if it were another member of his family and held many committee positions untill his unfortunate passing in 1979.

Back to the race!

 2010 Winner Andrew Gannon

The race was made up of 3.7 laps of the tough Pastoria – Bald Hill circuit and it wasn’t till the half way mark that the trademark winds began to blow around the back part of the circuit through Pipers Creek, by this stage the race had formed 3 main groups with the now lone scratchman Ross Mueller facing a chase of 9 minutes to the leaders and 3 minutes to the middle group.

“Pop” would prepare the cinder track before every Saturday race meeting which involved watering and raking the surface, by hand, and no one would be allowed on it before Pop had deemed that it had settled. Speaking to those who raced in that era and all commented that it was the best dirt track in Melbourne and if for whatever reason Pop did not prepare the track they could tell the difference.

Previous Winner and Fastest Time for 2011 Ross Mueller driving the chase.

With a single lap remaining it was going to be close!

With the gaps down to 4’15″ and 7 minutes respectively, the wind was steadily increasing and with half a lap left the time gaps continued to fall with the lead group now only 3 minutes from a hard chasing group which included Ollie Philips and Aaron Wilson with a further 2 minutes to those who were hanging onto the wheel of Ross.

Previous Winner Aaron Wilson

1956 saw the Club and Pop  build a new track at the bottom of the hill in Harrison St, virtually a stones throw from Allard Park. The initial earth works then had a framework of steel beams that were the old cable car tracks from the area and then covered with a bitumen surface.

An old Army hut was purchased and relocated next to the track, it was between the gate and the existing club rooms, and it was in this room that I first met Pop.

It wasn’t in the mid 1960′s when the track was resurfaced with concrete, but in 1974…ish when I applied to become a member of the B.A.C.C.

Yes back then you had to apply, then attend a Committee meeting to present your reasons for wanting to become a member.

You then went home and in time you were notified as to whether your application was successful, or not.

 Three Time Winner Richard McCorkell

I can still vividly recall the monthly meeting in the old hut, with those rows of seats that were spring loaded, “Pop” and the rest of the committee would be at the table and if anyone dare speak out of order they would be immediately brought to order by Pop with a stern “through the chair! Mr McFarlane has the floor” or whoever it was who was speaking at that time. As a 13 year old it was exciting stuff!!!

It was the mid 1970′s when the club built the existing clubrooms, part of the fundraising was by hosting the Australian Track Championships, which unfortunately were badly affected by rain that year, leaving the club with a very serious debt.

Pop passed away in August 1979 and the club immediately held a memorial in his honour.

Back then the club’s membership was such that there was no need to “combine” with other clubs to get adequate race entries, ask anyone who raced in the 60′s and 70′s and they will tell you that to win a Brunswick Club Race then was as good as winning an open.

Any open back then would boast a scratch bunch containing half of the Australian Olympic Road Team, to put that into perspective think of yourself as a first year under 19, turning up to your first open at Colac, a 120km handicap and having the scratch bunch with Cadel Evans, Stuart O’Grady, Richie Porte, Robbie McEwan and Mark Renshaw in it.

It is a truely AWESOME feeling!! Intimidating, but exciting at the same time.

So here we are in 2011, 32 years after Pop passed away and the leading group which consisted of the 12, 14 and 20 minute markers had managed to stay away, just.

It was a very suprised and excited St Kilda member Russel Sands who sprinted to his first ever win, in his first ever race!

Just behind him was Coburgs Glynn Mathey and Brunswicks Tim Feltham.

Being the first Brunswick rider to finish Tim recieves the Pop Stewart Memorial Trophy.

 On his way to 3rd overall and First Brunswick rider the 2011 Pop Stewart Memorial Trophy Winner Tim Feltham (left).

 The prizes were awarded by Pops daughter Norma who has been able to join us for some years now and we look forward to her company again in 2012, special mention to Andrew Gannon who without his hard work along with all the other people on the combine committee we would not enjoy the fantastic racing we currently do.

To our volunteers and officials, without them we can’t ride, let alone race and last but not least, to everyone who came out and pinned a number on their back, you are winners all.

Pop would be proud.

thank you, Cam McFarlane

More photos can be found on the Brunswick Cycling Clubs facebook page

1. Russel SANDS (STK) 20min
2. Glynn MATTHEY (COB) 20min
3. Tim FELTHAM (BWK) 14min
4. Alan GOODROPE (PRS) 16min
5. Jerome WALSH (STK) 18min
6. Michael SPARKE (BWK) 14min
7. Zac ANDERSON (HAW) 16min
9. Simon MACAULAY (COB) 14min
10. Daryl BEOVICH (STK) 22min
Fastest Time Unplaced: Ross MUELLER (BWK)
First Brunswick Rider: Tim FELTHAM

Come and support your clubs race!
Entries are now open on the Northern Combine Website: http://www.northerncombinecycling.org/

Check out full details on the CV Website