Club History
The Coral Isle Cycling Club was established from the Queensland Mountain Bike Club and subsequently renamed on 18th April 2002 to recognise the wider variety of cyclists in the club including mountain bikers, social riders and competitive road and track cyclists.
The first meeting regarding the formation of the mountain bike club was held in George Crowther’s workshop at the back of his bike shop on Princess Street. The minutes of this meeting have been lost but the first official meeting was recorded on the morning of the 14th June 1992 at the Elliott River forestry reserve. A dedicated group of mountain bike enthusiasts voted in favour of forming a new sporting club in the Bundaberg and Isis region, catering for cyclists from Maryborough and Bundaberg.
A resolution was moved that the ‘Isis BATS (Bouncing All Terrains) Mountain bike Club’ be formed for the purpose of ‘organising competitive and social events for Mountain bike riders’ and to affiliate the new club with the Australian Mountain Bike Association Inc (AMBA), become an incorporated body and adopt the Model Rules for its Constitution (Minutes, 1992). The acronym BATS later became secretly translated as Brainless Adolescent Thrill Seekers, (George Crowther, 2009). Phillip Kearney was elected President , Sonia Kearney, secretary and Kevin Blythe treasurer (minutes June 1992).
However, it was a century earlier in June 1892 that a club called The Bundaberg Bicycle Club was formed. This was the first recorded evidence of organised cycling in the region and the president of the club was Captain Boreham, but the club was not affiliated with any sporting body or union since the committee and members did not want to adopt the rules of the Queensland Cyclists Union of that time (Bock, 1993). The club organised cycling carnivals, social events and participated in cycling and sports meetings in the region and as far north as Rockhampton (bock 1993). A cycle track had been established in the Bundaberg Agricultural & Pastoral (A&P) Society grounds by the Society. It was 440 yards (400m) in circumference resulting in 5 laps to the mile. Cycling was becoming very popular and good prize money was a sure incentive to keep fit and compete. In the early 1890s, wages were 7 shillings 6 pence to 10 shillings per week. A bike suitable for racing cost 17 pounds. The bike lamp alone cost a fortnight’s wages for the working man! (bock, 1993). How a working man could afford a bike as well as feeding his family, one will never know. Maybe it was the prize money on offer at the local sports meetings. The January 1st sports meeting held at the grounds and organised by the Musgrave Caledonian Association included a 2 mile bike race with prize money that must have been mind blowing for the potential nominees. Nominations were 5 shillings to enter (approximately half weekly wage), but 1st prize was £3 pound, 2nd prize £1, and 3rd prize 10 shillings. It was serious money!
During 1894, the BBC resolved to stay outside of the systems governing cycling and prize money in Queensland and thus not be affiliated with any association. However in June 1895, the Bundaberg Bicycle Club formed itself into the Bundaberg Branch of the League of Queensland Wheelmen. With sports carnivals that included cycling, lights placed around the track at the showgrounds and great social events, cycling in Bundaberg was booming. In March 1896 a new track was laid at the Showgrounds and was promoted as ‘one of the best tracks in Queensland’ (bock 1993). The Easter sporting carnival was offering huge prize money for the three mile bike race – 1st prize £30, 2nd prize £5, 3rd prize £2. However in 1897, owing to officialdom reigning supreme from the Brisbane head office of the League of Queensland Wheelmen, which put restrictions on racing and cyclists, many races seemed to be abandoned. From 1913, all cycle races were run under the rules of the Wide Bay and Burnett District Bicycle League and in May 1914, the local club became officially known again as the Bundaberg Bicycle Club. The club conducted road races from the Burnett Heads Hotel to East Bundaberg and return. The First World War (1914 – 1918) surprisingly did little to dampen sports in the Bundaberg region, despite the social upheaval. The war needed supplies of food, horses and other commodities. Cash flow seemed to support prize money and each sports meeting donated to the various patriotic funds (bock 1993). However, thousands of young men joined the services and left the region. Thus it was decided n September 1917, that the bicycle club needed to be resurrected. A new club was formed which was called the Burnett Wheelers Club. The Burnett Wheelers Club was a fully constituted club, affiliated with the Wide Bay and Burnett District Cycling League (WB&BDCL). Road races were held regularly, necessary permits were issued by the WB&BDCL, and the Kolan and Gooburrum Shire Councils. Still officialdom caused disruption as the Maryborough club was affiliated with the League of Queensland Wheelmen. Cycle racing between the two clubs was difficult as cyclists faced disqualification should they compete in a race controlled by the other cycling body.
A new club called The Bundaberg Cycling club was formed in February 1928 and sponsored the initial race from Maryborough to Bundaberg (80 mile, 135 km). However disputes over cyclists competing at unregistered track meetings in Brisbane occurred between the club and their governing body, the League of Queensland Wheelmen. Hefty fines were imposed on the club and the club was eventually barred from track racing. Thus the Bundaberg Cycling club embarked on an ambitious project and built their own oval track on a piece of land in Kepnock known as Grothers Paddock, which they eventually purchased. Due to the acts of officialdom by the Council of the League of Queensland Wheelmen, the club reformed itself into the Bundaberg Bicycle Motor and Athletic Club (BBMAC) in January 1930 (bock 1993). Further disputes with the BBMAC resulted in the club not being readmitted to the League of Queensland Wheelmen. Consequently the club ceased to operate after December 1930. Whatever happened to the track and piece of real estate at Kepnock?
A new cycling track was constructed at the Showgrounds. The ring comprised of a full sized football ground and a 440 yard trotting track inside the cycling track. It was open for Easter 1931 and was equal to any track in Australia (Bock 1993). The Labour Day sports carnival was held on 4th May 1931 and the cyclists praised the efforts in the construction of such a fine track. This track served the needs of Bundaberg cyclists until the present velodrome at Drinan Park was opened in 1961.
Meanwhile the Burnett Wheelers conducted road races in the Woongarra Shire starting and finishing at the East End Hotel. During the 1930s to 1940s, the Burnett Wheelers members travelled widely to compete. The years of Depression were almost over and more people could afford to buy a bike. Thus the Bundaberg Junior Amateur Wheelers was formed in November 1934. The meeting was chaired by the former president of the Burnett Wheelers Mr G Dawson and Tom McManus Senior acted as Secretary (Bock, 1993). In June 1935, the club hosted the 25 mile Junior Amateur Road Championships. Both the Burnett Wheelers and the Bundaberg Amateur Wheelers operated successfully, conducting joint and separate carnivals over many years (bock 1993).
Unfortunately, the bombing of Pearl Harbour and the subsequent enlisting of many of the Burnett Wheelers members into the armed forces resulted in the recess of the club. But cycling was still popular in Bundaberg and the Bundaberg Junior Amateur Wheelers organised many carnivals and races throughout the years. In January 1946, the Burnett Wheelers was reformed and there was once again two active cycling clubs in Bundaberg. Up until 1954 members of the Burnett Wheelers and Bundaberg Junior Amateur Wheelers travelled widely. Road and track races were a weekly feature of the Bundaberg cycling calendar. Visiting riders came from afar with their families and supporters to attend the well organise carnivals. Hotels were booked out and cycle shops did a roaring trade. For reasons unknown the Bundaberg Junior Amateur Wheelers disbanded in 1954. Unfortunately 2 years prior, personalities between members of the two clubs clashed and the conflict was never properly resolved (bock, 1993).
Members of the Burnett Wheelers still competed on a regular basis in road racing, at the Showgrounds track and in Maryborough, where close rivalry existed between the two clubs. the Showgrounds track had been in use since 1931. On average ten carnival days per year, plus twenty-six club days had been conducted by willing and dedicated club members and officials. In 1955 a sports committee was formed, called the Bundaberg and District Sports Committee, for the purpose of ‘Improving sportsgrounds for the benefit of cyclists, athletes and any other sport coming under its control’. The President was Mr Harry D Bertram and the objective of the body was to ‘encourage youth to participate in sport with the object of building a healthy nation and provide a sportsground of which the citizens of the City of bundaberg may be proud’ (Bock, 1993). The Burnett Wheelers and the Bundaberg Amateur Athletics club took up the challenge to assist with the project. Fundraising was a huge task and included cars and a house that were raffled as well as numerous street carnivals and fetes (Bock, 1993). Drinan Park, at the corner of Crofton and Powers Streets in West Bundaberg was chosen as the site, although it was very swampy. Underground drainage was connected to the existing system, which in later years led to problems and a track rebuilding programme in 1975. However, the first track was sealed at the end of 1960. Members of the Burnett Wheelers, the Amateur Athletic club and East Bundaberg Rotary club spent many volunteer hours of labour erecting the safety fence, levelling, draining and grassing the inner area and erecting the stands and fundraising for the lights. Digger Thiele supplied the lights at cost and wired them free of charge (bock, 1993).
In 1968, the Burnett Wheelers conducted their final carnival which included the reformed Bundaberg Amateur Cycling Club. Although the Burnett Wheelers did not have any active cycling members, they maintained an active role in the fundraising and management of Drinan Park until October 1972. On the 7th October, the track was generously handed to the Bundaberg Amateur Cycling club as a debt free gift from the Burnett Wheelers. Yet a lot of money has been poured into the velodrome since 1972 by the Bundaberg Amateur Cycling club for rebuilding the banks, resurfacing the track, building of the canteen, broadcast area and meeting room and maintaining the lighting tower. The 1990s saw the running of the 4BU Spectacular, the Canelands Tour and the Gin Gin to Mr Perry Classic. Thousands of dollars in prize money drew cyclists from all over Queensland to compete in these classic events. Thus the main cycling club in Bundaberg at that time was the Bundaberg Amateur Cycling club. A BMX club, initiated by George Crowther and the Bundaberg city Council to provide an outlet for the youth in 1978 has grown from a nucleus of participants to a very popular sporting club in Bundaberg.
The Mr Perry and District Touring Association Inc and the Mt Perry Mountain Cup are considered the catalysts for organised mountain biking in the region (bock 1993). The first race was in September 1991 and four new clubs formed in the central zone of Queensland - the Isis BATS in Bundaberg in June 1992 and clubs in Nanango, Rockhampton and Emerald.
In 1993 and 1994 the Mt Perry Cup, an endurance course with designated drink stops, was run with the help of the central zone mountain bike clubs. The Isis BATs together with the Nanango club cleaned up track and camp site prior to the event. Isis BATS members were also heavily involved in the running of the event from time keepers to recorders and course markers. Jim Porter was the starter and George Crowther was Chief Commissaire and was known for following the rules, but he also did what was best for the future of mountain bike riding and racing. Outside assistance both of a mechanical and sustenance nature was illegal and when it was observed and it was acted upon immediately.
As well as competing in intra regional races, the club organised their own rides throughout the hilly terrains surrounding Bundaberg. Their notable rides were Mt Watalgan to Rosedale and return, after a delicious counter lunch and Pine Creek to Wallaville. (Minutes, 8th August 1994)
In 1994 AMBA merged with the Australian cycling Federation (ACF). On the local front, discussions began in June 1994 about changing the club name from the Isis BATS to the Bundaberg BATS, since the Isis was a district not really relevant to Bundaberg and most people outside the region did not know where the Isis was. It was also proving difficult to secure sponsorship and convincing businesses that the club consisted of local members (Minutes 14th June, 1994).
In 1994, concerns were also raised regarding the Queensland grand Prix calendar which did not include the zone races, thus only catering for the elite riders and not nurturing the spirit of all riders. The Isis BATS club helped to re-establish the central zone and their own racing which nurtured the spirit and encouraged all riders of all abilities. In January 1995 discussions were held as to whether the Isis BATS should amalgamate with the Bundaberg Cycling club. There would be advantages: sharing the Queensland Cycling Association fee, use of club and track facilities, road riders joining with mountain bikers (Minutes 23rd January 1995). Although those decisions were put on the back burner, the decision to change the club name went ahead and in May 1995, the club became known as the Bundy BATS Mountain Bike Club Inc. There seemed to be a good feeling repour within the Bundaberg cycling fraternity between the mountain bikers of the Bundy BATs and the road and track cyclists of Bundaberg Amateur cycling club. The road and track cycling club were also catering for the disabled cyclists known as the Bundaberg Sporting Wheelies (Minutes, 10th July 1995). Both clubs worked together to nominate talented junior cyclists on the track, road and mountain bike (Minutes, 29th July 1995).
The Bundy BATS sought to purchase a share of the Mt Perry Mountain bike Park for $1500. (Minutes 1.6.98). An initial deposit of $900 was paid and the successful planning and running of the canteen by Jenny Mallet, the outstanding amount of $600 completed the purchase of the share 3 months later (Minutes 7.9.98). In November 1999 Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) became a new incorporated body, whilst the Queensland Cycling Association was putting more restrictions and costs in place for membership including an insurance cover plus a minimum of 10 riders. Thus discussions commenced about forming a new club, which would be ‘one large Mountain bike club for Queensland’ with affiliation to the MTBA (Minutes 29.11.99). Harry Harkness was elected President on the new Queensland club (19.12.99).
Therefore in March 2000, it was moved that the Bundy BATS dissolve and transfer all assets, including the single share in the Mt Perry Mountain Bike Reserve, to the Queensland Mountain Bike Club Inc. All past committee and club members were thanked for their contributions and making Bundy BATS a viable and worthwhile club for so many years (Minutes 21.3.2000). Since the inception of the Isis BATS to the formation of the Queensland Mountain bike club, Harry Harkness poured and immense amount of work, time and effort into the sport of mountain biking in the Bundaberg region, as organiser of the Mt Perry Cup, on the Mt Perry Sport and Tourist Association and on the Central Zone Cycling Committee (Minutes 29.3.99). He and secretary Jacquie Mutton were remembered as ‘working hard for the club and were dedicated to improving the profile of the sport of mountain biking in the region. It was a huge amount of work keeping the club going’, George Crowther remembers, ‘ and they both did their respective jobs very well.’
Members of the Bundy BATS and later QMBC spent many weekends at the Mt Perry (Wolca Reserve) maintaining and preparing old and new track for the events held there. In March 2002, many track and road cyclists who were disillusioned with the direction of the Bundaberg Amateur Cycling Club were welcomed at the meeting of the QMBC. It was moved that for the ‘betterment of cycling in Bundaberg the QMBC would welcome the road and track cyclists as members’ and to accommodate these cyclists a name change and affiliation with Queensland Cycling would be required (Minutes 20.3.2002). On the 27th March, ‘due to the desired change in the direction of the club to include road and track cyclists as well as mountain bikers’ a new executive committee was elected to operate until the next AGM. The President elect was Bernie Kemps. A mountain bike committee and secretary as well as a road racing secretary were also elected. The members resolved to have a name change from the QMBC to the Coral Isle Cyclists Inc, which came into effect on 18th April 2002 (Minutes 27.3.2002, Minutes 2.5.2002).
In May 2002, the idea of a criterium circuit at Kendalls Flat was set in motion. Letters of support from local primary and high schools, politicians, sporting clubs and the Queensland Police Service poured in. With more cyclists transferring from the Bundaberg Cycling club, the Coral Isle Cyclists were in full swing organising fundraising and support for the criterium circuit, road races, mountain bike rides and social coffee morning rides.
Unfortunately relations between the transferring members and old members of the Bundaberg Cycling club soured even more so, when the Coral Isle Cyclists received notification that they were banned from using the track due to derogatory comments made. However, no information was forthcoming regarding who made the comments and what was said (Minutes, 11.7.2002). The Bundaberg Cycling club refused to put anything in writing and wanted a personal meeting with Cycling Queensland (Minutes, 8.8.2002). It was later discovered that the ban from the track was due to poaching not derogatory comments from the Coral Isle Cyclists (Minutes, 12.9.2002). The Council were concerned that juniors and cyclists of the calibre of Allan and Scott Davis and Aaron Kemps were being refused use of the track to help them with their cycling development and career, but were reluctant to interfere (Minutes 8.8.2002). In the November 2002 the Bundaberg Cycling Club took the matter to the next level and presented CIC with a letter from their solicitor regarding use of the velodrome. Unfortunately the objectives of the Bundaberg and District Sports Committee for Drinan Park, which was established in 1955 for the ‘benefit of cyclists, athletes and any other sport coming under its control’ and to ‘encourage youth to participate in sport with the object of building a healthy nation and provide a sportsground of which the citizens of the City of Bundaberg may be proud’, was completely disregarded. However, the young Bundaberg cyclists who were performing well at state and national level, were not too disadvantaged as CIC organised car pools to transport cyclists to and from Maryborough to compete in their club track races on Friday nights. It was reported that the ‘track was good and prize money was paid on the night’ (Minutes 14th November 2002).
Despite the difficult times within the cycling fraternity between the two clubs, CIC continued to increase the membership numbers and develop its road and mountain bike racing and social rides, as well as work towards the construction of a dedicated criterium cycling track. During the summer months, the first season of criterium races were held at the St Lukes carpark and proved a great venue with successful participation numbers including many juniors in the junior race (Minutes 10th April 2003). Later that year the venue was changed to Charlie Trigg Crescent, known as the ‘food precinct’ (Minutes 13th November 2003). In an attempt to heal relations, the Bundaberg Cycling Club requested a letter of support from CIC for the resurfacing of the velodrome. CIC replied that support would be given, if their cyclists were given permission to use the track (Inwards correspondence March 2003; Minutes 10th April 2003). In March 2003, after 12 months of gathering support from businesses and local authorities, the funding body Jupiters replied that the application for a criterium cycling circuit was unsuccessful. However the club was welcome to reapply (Minutes and Inwards Correspondence, 10th April 2003). In September, the disappointing news that the funding application for criterium track was once again unsuccessful, was received (Minutes September 2003). Meanwhile the Bundaberg Cycling club was successful in their application to resurface the velodrome (Minutes, 12th June 2003).
The inaugural Luigi Stocco Annual Memorial Race, established to involve both CIC and BACC, was held on 11th October 2003 at the Bucca Crossing Circuit with a perpetual trophy donated in Lou’s honour from his own collection (Minutes 14th August 2003). ‘He was a great cyclist,’ recalls Bob Stockwell, ‘he rode in many races throughout Australia and overseas and won many trophies.’ At every Lou Stocco Memorial race Bob wears the pink jersey Luigi won at the Tour of Vanuatu. The Lou Stocco Memorial Trophy is a combination of a number of his trophies. ‘I took a base from this trophy, a stem from another and the cup from another, and put it together,’ relates Bob. This has created a wonderful tribute to a great Bundaberg cyclist. This race has continued every year since 2003 and is traditionally set as final race of the CIC road season at the end of September before the Maryborough Masters sporting carnival. To enhance relations between the regional clubs, invitations are sent to the Bundaberg, Maryborough and Rockhampton cycling clubs.
The Century (100 mile) Ride to Gayndah commenced in April 2003 to mark CIC’s first ‘social ride’. Cyclists over-nighted at the Orange Hotel and were bussed back to Bundaberg the following day.
The year 2003 also saw the first Tour of Queensland event being held in October and was heralded as a great success (Minutes 13th November 2003). This race continued for two more years and in 2005 a number of stages were raced in the Bundaberg region with CIC being the ‘home club’ for those races.
In March 2004 a meeting was held between the executive committee members of CIC and BACC regarding the re-unification of the clubs. Since the situation regarding the management committee of BACC had not changed since the split, it was suggested a slower process than immediate reunification be followed and the two clubs could race together on alternate weeks to renew relations between members. The BACC committee suggested that CIC strongly recommend reunification to their members on BACC terms. CIC president Greg Davis informed the BACC executive committee that CIC ‘does not dictate to our members but we would certainly discuss their offer at our next meeting and allow the members to decide’ (Minutes of Special Meeting, 16th March 2004). Discussions seemed to drag on with no resolution. BACC informed CIC that the cost of using the velodrome would be $85 per hour. This will assist the club in their 10 year financial plan to resurface the track. Interestingly a CIC club member approached BACC on behalf of another Bundaberg organisation regarding the use of the velodrome, but no hire fee was mentioned by BACC (Minutes, 16th September 2004). Discussions and formal letters continued between cycling Queensland, BACC, their solicitor and CIC to no avail. In 2004 Cycling Queensland sent a letter to CIC stating their obvious disappointment at the lack of reconscilliation between the club and reiterated that ‘for quite some time significant problems in Bundaberg associated with the relationships between some members of the two clubs operating within the region’...leading to ‘major problems in interclub operations and adversely affecting the sport of cycling in the region’, where the ‘sport of cycling is being brought into disrepute’ (Wendy Sanders CEO, 29th September 2004). However in December and January club criterium racing was reported as going well and a lot Bundaberg Club riders were participating (Minutes, 9th December 2004; Minutes, 20th January 2005). In the beginning of 2005, relationship between the club members of the two clubs was definitely on the improve with everyone being on ‘friendly terms’ (Minutes, 20th January 2005)
January 2005 saw the running of the first January criterium around the streets of Bundaberg. Feedback from out of town riders was excellent and the club was assured that the word would be passed around to ensure a successful event the next year (Minutes, 20th January 2005). 2005 Coral Isle Criteriums held in early January – great success with competitors and spectators, hoped to make it an annual event. In appreciation of assistance $250 was donated by CIC to the SES
The second criterium event was held in November 2005 to tie in with the start of the International Criterium series held in Brisbane and the Gold Coast (Minutes, 20th January 2005). Coral Cove Resort and Golf Club gained exclusive naming rights and the event was renamed the Coral Cove Cycling Classic, sporting the Resort’s logo. The third criterium was held the following year, but due to financially difficult time, the Coral Cove Resort withdrew its sponsorship for the following year and the event ceased to exist.
The Coral Isle cyclists was a progressive and diverse club catering for cyclists of a number of disciplines: road, track, mountain biking and of course the all important social events. The club was Affiliated with Cycling Australia and with Australia’s largest mountain biking body MTBA (letter dated 5th February 2005, by Ross McKinnon to CEO of Bundaberg City Council). Socialisation between the two clubs was progressing well and BACC was appreciative of the support received by CIC in both racing and officiating at track nights. BACC members expressed their desire to have competitive rides with members of CIC during the forthcoming road season (Anne Connor, BACC Secretary, 14th Feb 2005). It seemed the relationship between the clubs and its members had been restored and CIC received an invitation 18 months later to partake in an interclub meeting to discuss dissolving both clubs and join as one (Minutes, 8th June 2006). The meeting was set for a Sunday in July. However due to unforseen circumstances, it was subsequently postpone by BACC. (Minutes, 6th July 2006). No further responses were received from BACC regarding the clubs’ position for the rest of the year. In March 2007 CIC formally contacted BACC again regarding the dissolving of both clubs and the formation of a new club (Minutes, 12th April 2007). Relations started to strain again between the two club as members and the executive committees were unable to come to a sound agreement on the dissolving of both clubs and the formation of a new one with a new name. Thus in 2009, two cycling clubs affiliated with Cycling Australia both with recreational and competitive members still exist in Bundaberg.
