Published: 14 July 2004
Report and Results from Reading Velodrome, Palmer Park, 12th July 2004
From John Dennis
Four wins out of five starts, not a bad evening?s work. That?s the score marked up by Track League 2003 Champion, Neil Cooper holidaying at home from his University Studies at Swansea. His victim on three of those occasions was Reading CC Clubmate Alex Peterson, and the closest call Cooper had was when he was challenged to an inches only decision by the new Divisional Sprint Champion Sam Sturgeon on the run in of the unknown distance race.
British Cycling?s World Class Performance talent scouts would do well to visit Reading Velodrome Racing?s Monday evening programmes to spot a few champions of the future. They couldn?t fail to be impressed by 15 year old James Boyman, a member of the Farnborough & Camberley Club, riding in the Team Luciano colours. He too scored high in the Youth events winning three of his four starts, he only missed out on winning the handicap race because the handicapper penalised him so heavily. His quality was seen at his best in the all-comers final race of the evening, the 20kilometres Endurance event.
He was the most active and aggressive rider in the pack, constantly chasing the breakaways to reel in the dangerous departures, and when he took his turn at the front of the bunch, his speed burned off numerous weaker riders. Only the inexperience of youth prevented him taking a pointwinning place in the final dash for the line. He made his finishing effort too early and was relegated to fourth place, much to the disappointment of his coach and mentor Philip Jackson, the man who organises the Youth League racing at Palmer Park. Young James fell victim to the wily Roger Woodford, Willesden CC who last month showed such determination to win British Cycling?s Central Division 20 kilometre Championship. Woodford played a carefully planned game, always in the right place to make sure that he didn?t lose contact with the front runners, and taking an occasional rest from pace making he produced a devastating finishing sprint which brought him victory by some 10 lengths from Vince Halpern, Twickenham CC, and the evening?s constant second place runner-up Alex Peterson.
There were some heartfelt ?good-byes? to Clara Beard who has brought so much life into Ladies racing at Palmer Park this season. Her brief spell at the Velodrome closed as she departed to accompany her parents who will move permanently to Italy, but she reckons to continue her racing on the track for she has already discovered a velodrome close to her new home.
Inter-Club rivalry peaked when the Twickenham CC renewed their contest with Willesden CC in the final of the British Cycling Central Division team pursuit Championship decided over 9 laps of the Reading Velodrome. Twickenham had shown their strength by producing the fastest heat that was repeated in the final with a fast time of 5 mins 19.9 secs, fast enough to catch and pass their opponents before they completed the distance.
My reference earlier to British Cycling talent scouts applied particularly to the young Palmer Park A and B teams which entered the Division team pursuit Championship. The skill that these youngsters displayed in close following of their team mates rear wheels to obtain maximum shelter before taking their turn at the front, and the excellence shown when changing positions from front to back of the team was a pleasure to watch. They displayed greater skill than their older opponents and they were worthy of world class attention. For 12-16 year olds they are a credit to their coach, Shane Benson, for the polish that they displayed and for the further success that they are bound to achieve.
10 laps Scratch:- (A riders) 1. Neil Cooper, Reading CC, 2. Alex Peterson, Reading CC, 3. Vince Halpern, Twickenham CC. (B riders) 1. Ian Greenstreet, Newbury RC, 22. Paul Cooper, Reading CC, 3. Trevor Bradbury, Reading CC (Ladies) 1. Clara Beard, Team Quest, 2. Abby Jackson, Team Luciano-Fondriest, 3. Cheryl Owens, Twickenham CC.
500 metres Scratch (A riders) 1. Neil Cooper, 2. Alex Peterson, 3. Sam Sturgeon, Evans Cycles, (Veterans) 1. Philip Jakszta, Team Quest, 2. Trevor Bradbury, 3. Paul Cooper. (Ladies) 1. Abby Jackson, 2. Clara Beard, 3. Cheryl Owens.
Devil. 1. Neil Cooper, 2. Alex Peterson, 3. Ian Greenstreet. (Ladies) 1. Clara Beard 2. Cheryl Owens.
Unknown Distance. 1. Neil Cooper, 2. Sam Sturgeon, 3. Alex Peterson. (Ladies) 11. Abby Jackson, 2. Clara Beard, 3. Cheryl Owens.
220 kms Endurance. (A riders) 1. Roger Woodford, Willesden CC, 2. Vince Halpern, 3. Alex Peterson. (B riders) 1. Ian Greenstreet, 22. Jeff Baird, Twickenham CC, 3. Trevor Bradbury. (Best lady) Clara Beard. (Best Youth) James Boyman, Team Luciano
British Cycling Central Division 9 laps Team Pursuit: 1. Twickenham CC, 5 mins 19.9secs caught 2. Willesden CC, 3. Palmer Park Velo A 6m 09.7s, 4. Palmer Park Velo B, 6m 13.5s
Youth League
Devil U16. 1. James Boyman, Team Luciano, 2. Christopher Bradbury, Palmer Park Velo, 3. Edward Allen, Twickenham CC. U14 1. Sam Serruya, Palmer Park Velo, 2. Christopher Legg, Palmer Park Velo, 3. Robert Jackson, Farnborough & Camberley, U12 1. Mark Baxter, Palmer Park Velo, 2. Stephen Bradbury, Palmer Park Velo, 3. Richard Barlow, Palmer Park Velo.
2 laps Handicap. U16 1. Robert Clarke, PPV, 2. Tom Withers, PPV, 3. James Boyman. U14 1. Gavin Mitchell, Twickenham CC, 2. Lara Wann, PPV, 3. Sam Serruya, PPV.
4 laps Hare & Hounds. U16 1. James Boyman, 2. Christopher Bradbury, 3. Edward Allen, U14 1. Sam Serruya, 2. Christopher Legg, 3. Edward Jakszta, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, U12 1. Mark Baxter, 2. Matthew Gittings, PPV, 3. Richard Barlow.
10 laps Scratch. U16, 1. James Boyman, 2. Christopher Bradbury, 3. Edward Allen U14 1. Edward Jakszta, 2. Sam Serruya, 3. Christopher Legg U12 1. Mark Baxter, 22. Stephen Bradbury, 3. Matthew Gittings.