Published: 14 August 2007
Palmer Park Track League 13th August - Keirin action !!
Palmer Parks , AW Cycles track league continued with a flurry of activity this Monday evening with Youth and Senior events all affected by some unusual windy conditions. It seemed that every part of the track was a head wind and this affected tactics in most races.
This week saw the final round of the league's Keirin competition and what a round it was. In the Senior A league any one of five riders could take the overall title and with four of them making it through to the 6-up final, it was going to be a close one. With the wind very strong on the home straight causing riders concerns about leading out, it became a battle of wits and nerves.
As the derny pulled over to set the riders on their way, several accelerations had a stream of riders side by side causing some to be blocked and others a free run to the line. Neil Cooper had the best run and took the win with lead out rider, Ian Greenstreet holding on to second with Dave Sinclair third. This left the other two contenders Sam Serruya and David Jack out of the points and left the title to be shared by Cooper and Greenstreet.
In the Senior B competition it was similarly close with 5 riders in with a chance of the title but with only 2 of them making the final it would be between Eddie Sobieralski and Rob Drinkwater. With 6 riders in the final, positioning was going to be key and as they hit the back straight riders were all making their run for the line. Sobieralski opened up a lead and with Drinkwater blocked on either side, he could do nothing about it until with 80 metres to go a gap opened and he took his chance and cleared away from the pack but not in enough time to catch Sobieralski and it was he who would take the title.
- Janet Birkmyre wins the Womens Keirin
- Photograph courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography
In the womens event, Janet Birkmyre has a clear lead and was looking to extend her unbeaten run in the sprint competitions this year. She was to be given a run for her money by two GB talent team riders 25 years her junior, Rebecca James and Dani King, and in the final it was James who took the initiative and hit full speed on the final bend but Birkmyre was waiting to pounce, whilst hiding from the full force of the head wind, and as they hit the final 100 metre mark Birkmyre wound it up and passed the tiring James with Dani King chasing. Birkmyre keeping her unbeaten record with James holding on by a whisker to second from a fast finishing King.
- Rosie Serruya competing in the Youth Time Trial
- Photograph courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography
The Youth events had many riders with tired legs having competed in the final of the Youth Omniums in Manchester at the weekend but some great riding by George Withers to win all four of his events, Stephen Bradbury held off a determined John Paul to win 3 of his four events with Paul taking the other win and three second placings. Georgie Hardy won all of the Youth Girls events and finished 5th in the Senior Womens Keirin and then preceded to ride really strongly in the senior 20km finishing 3rd Senior Women.
James Hobbs took four from four in the under 16's boys events but with much of his competition riding up in the Senior B category, he is proving unchallenged.
- Sam Sturgeon goes for an early charge in the 20K Endurance race
- Photograph courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography
In a round up of the Senior events it was victories for Sam Serruya ( Hare & Hounds), John Warnock (Senior B Points Race), Dave Sinclair (Senior A Points Race), Neil Cooper ( Unknown distance) but the last event of the evening, the 20km AW Cycles Endurance event it was all speed ahead for Sam Sturgeon.
- An eerie sky hangs over the Endurance race
- Photograph courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography
Sturgeon has a habit of tapping off the front early and tonight was no exception as he held off a steady main pack for 10 laps until a move from Alex Peterson blew the field apart. First to make it to him was Dave Sinclair, Rob King and John Warnock. Then Chris Legg, Ian Greenstreet & Sean Bannister, with a chasing pack of Bradbury, Jack, Cooper and several youth riders including John Paul, Martin Dawkins, Matt Gittings plus Emma Patterson and Lara Wann.
With 10 laps to go everyone had been lapped by the leading 8 riders and it was then that attacks started to go off the front, firstly by Peterson, then Sinclair and then Rob King. King, Legg and Warnock held a small lead with 5 laps to go but it all came back together and by the bell they were riding steady tempo on the fence watching eack other. Someone attacked early, we couldn't see who but it caused an immediate response from Greenstreet, Sinclair and Legg. As they hit the home straight it was Under 16's local rider Chris Legg who was leading the charge to the line. Second in the Under 16's National Youth Omnium Series, Legg is going superbly well against his senior track league rivals and he showed this by holding off the ever present fast finishing Ian Greenstreet to win by a bike length with Dave Sinclair taking his fourth podium finish of the night. John Warnock, recently recovered from his silver medal ride in the National 24hr Time trial champs, took first in the Senior B's race with Emma Patterson holding off Lara Wann to win the womens event.
Remember - entries on the line are available for the Bordeaux-Paris event on the 9th of September held at Palmer Park, starting at 12 noon. Cash prizes, sprint competition too. Come along.