<![CDATA[Tony Reeckman Photography

<![CDATA[Tony Reeckman Photography - Tony's Blog]]>Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:28:27 +1000Weebly<![CDATA[What happened to my "Tour of Wangaratta"]]>Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:34:02 GMThttp://www.tonyreeckmanphotography.com/1/post/2013/06/what-happened-to-my-tour-of-wangaratta.htmlI haven't written a blog for ages and was inspired by a comment left on my last post of photos from the Wangaratta Cycling Club's 2 Day Tour.I've put many blog posts up with just photos but have not actually written anything for quite some time.

"Farmer Tony, when are you going to post your tour report? Last years write up was a great read.
Cheers,
MC"

This is a cycling post but there is probably more ground to cover and we'll see where the key board takes me.After last year's Tour of Bright I had a holiday from cycling, or at least serious training for the whole of December,restarting in January with some big goals for 2013.You'll probably laugh but one of them was to win B Grade at the Wang Tour.In the previous 2 years I'd first won D Grade in 2011,then last year C Grade so B didn't seem out of the question although it would be a massive step up.It's hard telling people your goals,their quite personal and even if not completely realistic,you need them to motivate yourself.The Wang Tour was was one of them and I'm going to keep the others up my sleeve for now.

Back in January when I got back "into it" my term for serious training I'd mentally decided a few things.Ride more and ride harder in training.I was basically going to nearly double what I'd been doing.Instead of going for a 50 km ride I'd go for 100km.
I felt very motivated and nothing could stop me.Little did I know this theory would be tested sooner rather than later.Early February I had about 3 weeks in the Noosa area of Queensland with some family and friends, of course the first thing I packed was the bike,then the surfboard.In the morning I'd do 80-100 km on the bike then we'd surf for 3 hours in the afternoon.I was quite pleased with myself and remember saying to my life guard nephew "how many 49 year olds could handle that".I should have known better than to be so cocky.

Arriving home from Queensland there was a big race coming up in Dookie, near Shepparton.The Goulburn Valley Vets CC were holding their Open for 2013,I'd actually won the race in 2012 so was keen to have another go.I didn't have big expectations but was ready to start racing again for the 2013 year.

The day before the race I rode one of my regular loops around the Boorhaman area and decided to include a few short intense efforts.It was during these efforts I started to feel a niggling pain in the outside of my left knee.Deciding to give up on the efforts and slowly ride home there was no doubt something was not quite right.I still packed the car in readiness for the next day hoping that a good nights sleep would fix all.Getting out of bed the next morning as soon as my left foot hit the ground I knew there would not be any racing for me.

In the past if I'd ever had any injury, it would only take a few days and all would be well again.I decided to go and see a Myo-Therapist in Wang,after some massage and dry needling I thought that would be the end of it.A couple of days off the bike and I would just take up where I left off.Unfortunately this was not the case,I lasted 10 mins on my next outing on the bike before the knee was complaining profusely.

This was the beginning of several trips to various health professionals throughout the region in search of treatment that could get me back on the bike.After about a month of this it became clear that there would no quick fix.There seemed to be no improvement and I was so frustrated,I had all these goals but my body would not co-operate.My search for treatment found me at Osteo Health in Albury which is operated my Tom and Lisa Barry, both of whom are cyclists.I'd briefly met Tom and Lisa at some other bike races and had a good feeling about them.Tom was very honest from the start suggesting this was going to take some time before I'd be back to full strength.I'd go every couple of weeks and get treatment and different exercises to strengthen different muscles.I had other help from Myo-Way in Wangaratta and also Pete Goodman from Goodman Chiropractic.However, I believe that Tom Barry's treatments have been the most beneficial in the long term.

It has taken about 3 months to be able to ride again at a reasonable level and coming into the Wangaratta Tour I'd realistically been back training properly for about 3-4 weeks.I was offered B or C Grade but probably unwisely or stubbornly chose B.I wanted to ride in B Grade,I'm sure I would have been well beaten in C Grade too but I somehow needed to look forward and B Grade is where I needed to be.

The Wangaratta CC Tour is a great event and it was disappointing that the first morning was washed out due to heavy rain.Now instead of 4 stages their would only be 3,the Kermesse was omitted leaving 2 road stages and a Time Trial to finish off with.I was pretty much second last on both road stages,it was a little demoralising, but on another level motivation will come from the disappointment.Many people have been so supportive and positive and I am very thankful for that.The cycling community is quite close knit and most people have been through their own challenges so understand what it's like not to be able to compete at the level you're capable of.
Back to the Tour for a minute,the Time Trial was quite good in comparison to the road stages I finished 10th out of 25 in B Grade which made me feel a little better.

Having this injury has made me realise I'm not bullet proof and will see me being more conservative with my training methods.Listening to my body is something I've always been good at,thinking back it appears I forgot to listen.There were a few warning signs I probably ignored.Also when I finally got around to seeing my bike fitter Steve Hogg .He had to make some big adjustments to my cycling shoes/cleats.I wish I had gone to him earlier but didn't think there would be any problem.He told me in 30 years of bike fitting he had only altered 1 person more(between visits) than what he changed with me.I've seen him once a year for the last 3-4 years and normally we don't change much at all so this was as big a surprise for him as me.

I'm hoping this is now the beginning of a better year, at least as far as cycling is concerned.Off the bike, life in general, is pretty good.

B Grade Podium.1st Tomarsh Loki,2nd Thomas Slingsby,3rd Thomas McDonald,4th Andrew Kaye

]]><![CDATA[Wangaratta Cycling Club, 2 Day Tour Podium Photos.]]>Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:07:59 GMThttp://www.tonyreeckmanphotography.com/1/post/2013/06/wangaratta-cycling-club-2-day-tour-podium-photos.htmlMen's A Grade Podium

1st Shane Miller,2nd Ashley Baines,3rd Matt Clark

Extended Women's Podium

Back Row,L-R.4th Emma Payne,3nd Nic McNamara,1st Flick Wardlaw,2nd Lisa Barry.Front Row,Abby Gray and Nicole Clark

B Grade Men's Podium

1st Tomarsh Loki,2nd Thomas Slingsby,3rd Thomas McDonald,4th Andrew Kaye

C Grade Men's Podium

1st Clancy Lloyd,2nd Jacob Mumford,3rd Stephen Damm,4th Bruce Halket

D Grade Men's Podium

1st Peter Rosser,2nd Mick Carter,3rd Christopher Carter,4th Mick Doyle

]]><![CDATA[2013 Greame Daws Memorial Handicap.]]>Sun, 05 May 2013 03:04:42 GMThttp://www.tonyreeckmanphotography.com/1/post/2013/05/2013-greame-daws-memorial-handicap.htmlThe Greame Daws was run yesterday at Wangaratta and I've added a gallery of photographs here.

The race was won by Iain Davidson from Cobram Barooga Cycling Club.

]]><![CDATA[2013 Baw Baw Classic]]>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:56:18 GMThttp://www.tonyreeckmanphotography.com/1/post/2013/04/2013-baw-baw-classic.htmlI've added 2 Galleries of photographs from the Baw Baw Classic Gallery 1 HERE Gallery 2 HERE

]]><![CDATA[Wangaratta 15 Mile Creek Handicap ]]>Sun, 07 Apr 2013 01:50:04 GMThttp://www.tonyreeckmanphotography.com/1/post/2013/04/wangaratta-15-mile-creek-handicap.htmlA strong field of 24 riders competed at Wangaratta yesterday and I was a corner marshall and also managed to sneak in a few photos.The Limit bunch were to strong on the day with the first 5 places going to that group. Peter Gottschling getting the win and Matt Clark (scratch) taking out fastest time.

Limit bunch getting into there ride.

Aaron Smith (front) David Webb(back) I don't know the middle rider.

John Myles followed by Mark Newton

Steven Field

Laurie Lyster.

Adam Cartwright and Gavin Frawley.

Matt Clark followed by Tully Lyster.

Peter Gottschling crosses ahead of Steven O'Brien.

Matt Clark just holds off James Boal for fastest time.

L-R.Steve O'Brien,Matt Clark,Seamus Lane,Norm Gray,Peter Gottschling,Paul Lane.

]]><![CDATA[Buller in Black and White]]>Sat, 30 Mar 2013 23:44:55 GMThttp://www.tonyreeckmanphotography.com/1/post/2013/03/buller-in-black-and-white.htmlJust converted a few images from the Mt Buller Road Race to Black and White over an Easter Sunday Easter Egg.
I love Black and White images,portraits in particular.As my internet connection is playing up I'll keep this brief.
Happy Easter to all.

]]><![CDATA[Alp d'Buffalo 2013]]>Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:59:18 GMThttp://www.tonyreeckmanphotography.com/1/post/2013/03/alp-dbuffalo-2013.htmlThe 2013 Junior Mountain Climbing Championships were held over the weekend using Mt Buffalo as the major climb of the ITT and Road Race.I helped out on Sunday by driving my Hilux as the follow car for the Under 15 women's Road Race.
Whilst waiting for the start I manage to take some photos of the girls' warming up and getting ready to race.I also took a few more photos at the finish line and the top few U19 men about 500 metres from the end of their race. The small Gallery is here.

One of the U15 Women warming up on the rollers.

]]><![CDATA[Mt Buller Road Race Photo Gallery]]>Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:40:03 GMThttp://www.tonyreeckmanphotography.com/1/post/2013/03/mt-buller-road-race-photo-gallery.htmlI had the opportunity to head to Mansfield on Sunday to Photograph the Mt Buller Road Race.I've added a gellery of images the the website here.

Matt Clark took out A grade for the second consecutive year.In this pic he has just ridden around "Hell Corner" and is looking back to see where the other riders are.

]]><![CDATA[Wangaratta Cycling Club 2013 Autumn Series]]>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:09:15 GMThttp://www.tonyreeckmanphotography.com/1/post/2013/03/wangaratta-cycling-club-2013-autumn-series.html

James Boal Sprints for the Line at 2011 Wangaratta Cycling Club Tour Kermesse.

Just released is the Wangaratta Cycling Club Autumn Series of Races.It looks excellent with a little bit of everything.Graded Scratch Races,a couple of big Handicap events and some ITT's.Not forgetting the excellent Club Tour on the first weekend of June.Come and join us for some hard racing with friendly competitors on quiet country roads.More details via Wangaratta Cycling Club's website.

]]><![CDATA[2013 Geoff Dixon Memorial Handicap.]]>Sun, 03 Mar 2013 06:25:32 GMThttp://www.tonyreeckmanphotography.com/1/post/2013/03/2013-geoff-dixon-memorial-handicap.htmlI journeyed to Chiltern today with my cameras hoping to photograph the action during the Geoff Dixon Memorial.It was a perfect day for racing over an undulating and quite testing course.The race was won by Neil van der Ploeg, in a bunch sprint,Neil also had the fastest time.I've added a gallery of images here

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