Published: 6 June 2006
News and results from John Dennis Reading Velodrome June 5th 2006
Sprinters and stayers, the AW Cycles team riders proved best in both departments in Monday?s Reading Velodrome Racing programme at Palmer Park Stadium. Star man Tim Bedingfield headed up the Devil race and the 20 kms Endurance after under 16 year old Sam Serruya had set the scene for the evening?s racing with a convincing victory in the A riders sprint final. Bedingfield rated more a stayer than a sprinter showed he was in top form with a third place in the sprint final.
While it was really veteran?s night with their Derny paced Championship high on the programme, the strength of Reading?s youthful riders could not be ignored. Sam Serruya obviously set the pattern when he outsprinted Sam Sturgeon who has only recently joined the senior clan, then followed a series of first class performances by Alexander King, Twickenham CC, Michael Wilmot, Hillingdon Slipstreamers and Toby Meadows Beyond MTB and among the girls Charley Docker, PCA Ciclos Uno, Harriet Owen, PPV and her club mate Emma Patterson. While Wilmot, Meadows and King topped the B riders section in the 20 kms Endurance, they were amongst the strongest in the breakaways, and the chase groups pursuing the flying Tim Bedingfield who made numerous attacks before finally escaping four laps from home to achieve victory.
In an evening of top class racing, the veteran?s motor paced heats and final were outstanding. It was obvious from the start that Rob Richardson, Hounslow and Dist. Was determined to hold on to the title that he took in 2005, but he did not have it all his own way, for lurking behind, and biding his time, was a man of many abilities, Sean Bannister, Glade Ciclos Uno, a racing man, coach of budding champions, Derny motor driver and master tactician. When Richardson made his final effort in the 15 lap final, Bannister was many lengths in arrears in second position but limbering up for the final chase. He failed to catch the Hounslow man, but it was a close call.