Dubbo riders will take on some of the best in the state with another field of strong riders set to converge on No. 1 Oval for the carnival.

“Everyone has been getting ready for a lot of races around this carnival,” Dubbo Cycle Club president Matthew Gilbert said.

“Some having been going to national and state events so they’re in top form.”

The junior riders will contest the scratch race, individual time trial and sprint derby state titles in the under-9, under-11 and under-13 age groups, while the under-15, under-17 and senior riders will race in the open carnival, which includes scratch races, a two-lap handicap race, keirin events, a Wheelrace qualifier and the Wheelrace finals.

The evenings feature event is the five lap Cliff Hazell Memorial Wheelrace which is named in honour of the late Dubbo Cycle Club committeeman, who was a driving force behind the Western Districts Cycle Association and the amalgamation of the amateur and professional cycle clubs in Dubbo.

Hazell held several positions of office during close to 30 years of service to the Dubbo Cycle Club and this year the Memorial Race will be sponsored by his son, Stephen and his business Northern Region Couriers, in Echuca.

“We want the Cliff Hazell Wheelrace (prize) to stay at Dubbo,” Gilbert said.

Star Dubbo under-19 rider Kurt Eather headlines the list of nominated riders and the talented youngster will be a contender for the Cliff Hazell Memorial Wheelrace after his narrow second placing in the recent Clarence Street Cyclery Cup Wheelrace at Dunc Gray Velodrome in Sydney.

Last year’s Cliff Hazell Memorial Wheelrace winner Jason Farr, based at Dubbo, is entered along with another local hope in top form, Tim Hines.

Talented Central Coast rider James Schneider will again make the trip to Dubbo, while multiple National Masters road champion Simone Grounds, multiple Paralympic Games medalist Toireasa Gallagher and Canadian Women’s National Keirin Champion Lizanne Wilmot headline the women’s entries.

“We’re as prepared as we’re ever going to be,” Gilbert said, adding the Wheel Race is the centrepiece of the Open.

“But we expect fierce competition from others clubs likes Bathurst, Coffs Harbour and Orange and others who are very, very strong.”

Dubbo Cycle Club will be well represented at both the NSW Junior State Championships and Open Carnival.

A bumper contingent will contest the Championships, with Dash Aubusson-Foley, Lachlan and Georgia Farr, Makayla, Imogen, Jarryd and Jessica Fuller, Emily Hines, Ella Mann, Joe O’Brien, Ellie Reynen, Tom Williamson and Isabelle and Tommy Russell all ready to go for the gold.

Hometown senior and junior under-15 and under-17 riders entered for the Dubbo Track Open include Danny Barber, Jason Canobie, Lachie Clark, Dylan and Kurt Eather, Luke Ensor, Jason Farr, Sam Fitzgerald, Haylee, Zara an Zac Fuller, David Gerrish, Simone Grounds, Tim, Trent and Mitch Hines, Graeme Peadon, Jen Raines, Louis Russell, Heather Ticehurst, Bill Williamson and Darrell and Brodie Wheeler.

“We also have the Di Pascoe award for the most outstanding junior rider and last year Tyler Puzicha won that and she went on to win a number of national medals,” Gilbert said.

“That’s the thing, a lot of the riders who come to Dubbo often go on to bigger and better things.”

The highly-anticipated NSW Junior State Championships will take place at Dubbo’s No. 1 Oval on Saturday from 2pm and on Sunday from 9am.

The Dubbo Track Open kicks off around 4pm on the Saturday.