Published: 12 June 2007
A perfect night of still conditions and warm weather for racing at Palmer Park for the AW Cycles Track league with the focus on the Divisional and League Sprint competitions.
- Roger Woodford on his way to the Regional Sprint gold
- Photograph courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography
The sprint events are always keenly contested competitions and 9 heats of 3 or 4 riders decided the finalists for both league and divisional Sprint events. The Divisional Sprint competition had a 2 up final with Roger Woodford leading Robert Drinkwater round the top of the banking and then as they hit the 200 metre line it was thrusters to maximum and a drag race all the way to the line. Woodford held a slender lead for the last 100 metres and won by a bike length as Drinkwater just couldn't close the final gap.
In the Senior A's League final it was a 4 up sprint which was also a very close affair. Ian Holt, "fresh", well not really, from the Hillingdon & Brentwood Crits, led down the back straight with Sam Serruya on his wheel and followed closely by Sam Sturgeon and David Jack. The pace really wound up and they were at full tilt as they hit the 200 metre line, still with Holt on the front and pulling away with Serruya still glued to his wheel. Sturgeon couldn't hold on as Serruya whipped past Holt with 50 metres to go, and Jack who had been biding his time went round Sturgeon but left it too late to close the gap but finished third.
The Womens League Sprint final was a more cut and dried affair, with Janet Birkmyre showing a clean pair of heels to clear away from Emma Patterson with Under 16 youth Rosie Serruya in third place.
The Leagues Senior B Sprint event was similarly clear cut with Eddy Sobieralski leading from the gun, winding up the pace, ripping up the track and winning by several bike lengths from Trevor Bradbury and Robert King.
- David Jack led every lap of the Devil
- Photograph courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography
In the Leagues other events Toby Meadows pipped Chris Legg to win the painful Unknown Distance race but the most exciting ride was the experienced track riders favourite, The Devil, where the last two riders are pulled out every lap until 5 are left. On the first lap an attack by the track leagues Press officer David Jack down the back straight had no response from the field and he quickly opened up almost half a laps lead. With the whittling down of riders pushing forward to avoid being pulled out, the pace varied but it wasn't until the last few laps that the gap closed between the field and the steady pace of Jack, and when the bell sounded, two riders, Toby Meadows and track regular Ian Greenstreet, set off in high pursuit. Jack had something in reserve though and picked up the pace and to the roars of an excited crowd, held off the charging duo to win by 5 or 6 bike lengths.
The final event of the evening ,as always, is the AW Cycles, 20 km Endurance event and with many tired legs from the evenings endurance and sprint competitions it was a very cagey affair but never short of attacks. In fact, it seemed like there was always someone prepared to have a go, especially Toby Meadows, Roger Woodford, Ian Greenstreet and John Warnock, plus some big efforts from Neil Cooper and Michael Wilmot.
- Ian Greenstreet wins the 20K Endurance Race
- Photograph courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography
But with no break staying away it was not until the last 4 laps that John Warnock attacked, opening up a 150 metre lead, with the main field watching each other. Coming on to the home straight with one lap to go it was Sam Serruya who scorched round the black line, towing team mate Roger Woodford. Serruya closing the gap significantly to Warnock, who was hanging by this stage, and when Woodford took over, Warnocks race was done. Woodford in the meantime had to contend with the ever present Ian Greenstreet, who is having a brilliant season, and as they hit the home straight Greenstreet edged his way passed Woodford to win by a bike length with Neil Cooper also closing fast to finish third.
The Youth Riders had their regular spate of events with stand out rides from the country's best Under 16, 14 and 12 riders, and it seems that every week we mention the same names. Perhaps this league has produced three very classy youngsters in Under 16's Matt Gittings, Under 14's Stephen Bradbury and Under 12's Daniel Maslin but these guys don't always get it their own way. Daniel Maslin and Stephen Bradbury won all of their evening's races, but they are always pushed hard to the line by John Paul, George Withers, Harvey Watson and Richard Barlow. Tonight's top stand out performer was Under 16 Sam Grant who took three out of four race wins. In the Youth girls events tonight's wins were shared between Rosie Serruya and Emily Hogge.
Diary note to remember The 24th of June is the rescheduled Paris - Bordeaux Open Derny Meet which incorporates the National Series Endurance event. Entries on the line available. Any Derny Drivers available, please contact Gordon Sherratt if you can help on the day. E-mail: Gordon Sherratt