Published: 3 July 2008
The last Monday in June brought hot and sunny conditions to Palmer Park and with a full program of events, it was full on action.
First up, as always, were the youth riders, who started with a flying 200m competition. Daniel Maslin set the fastest time in the Under 14's with Cameron Swarbrick second and Frazier Carr third. The Under 12/10's it was Dan Lansley who won with Harvey Watson second and Max Stedman third. They then went into an unknown distance where it was Maslin who was victorious again, from Swarbrick with Matt Hargroves third. Harvey Watson beat Dan Lansley and Max Stedman to the line to win the U12/10's.
- Stephen Bradbury leads a small group away in the B's Scratch race
- Photograph courtesy of Chris Macleod
The Seniors then got up onto the track for a Hare & Hounds and after the A's hunted down the B's it was an attack from Ian Greenstreet which was timed to perfection, as the bunch swung up on the back straight with 400m to go, he continued through at full speed, opening up a gap of 60-70 metres and cruising easily down the home straight to win with Chris Legg leading in Martin Dawkins for the minor placings.
Palmer Park then brought out their fleet of Derny bikes and set about causing pain and suffering to all who followed.
With the youth field slightly smaller than usual it was decided to go straight to a one off final and Daniel Maslin continued his fine evening by winning from Cameron Swarbrick and Frazier Carr. Harvey Watson won his second race of the evening with Dan Lansley and Max Stedman picking up the minor placings.
The Senior heats produced some great racing and brought forward a very strong group for the finals and in the A's final it was a dominant display of high speed riding from Chris Legg and he was easily half a lap ahead of the next rider, Rob King, with Sam Sturgeon third. The B's final had Under 16's rider John Paul show some amazing speed in his smaller gears to beat veteran Paul Cooper with another under 16, Stephen Bradbury, third.
- Sean Bannister leads Janet Birkmyre in the Derny heats
- Photograph courtesy of Chris Macleod
The Women's final produced a great battle early on between Harriett Owen, Emma Patterson and Janet Birkmyre, but is was Owen who opened up the after burners and blasted away from her competition, who, it must be said, were still recovering from a long day of top racing at the Cardiff GP on the weekend . Not to take away from Owen though as she fair whizzed around the track to win comfortably with Patterson leading in Birkmyre.
- Gavin Spiers takes it on early to win the B's 10 lap scratch race
- Photograph courtesy of Chris Macleod
With a Senior B's 10 lap scratch race to keep the riders warm in between heats it was an early first lap attack from Gavin Spiers which caught the B's off guard and he opened up an un-assailable lead of over half a lap, comfortably winning, with John Paul out pacing Stephen Bradbury for the minor prizes.
The final endurance race the AW Cycles 20 km race, normally 44 laps, was reduced to 22 due to the derny racing taking up a fair whack of time, but this didn't detract from a high speed attacking race.
- Under 16's John Paul stretching out the field in the 20km scratch
- Photograph courtesy of Chris Macleod
An early surge from David Jack split the field up immediately and then multiple attacks from Sam Sturgeon, Jack, Rob King and the ever present Chris Legg had the pace stay high for long periods but as they came round for the penultimate lap, a big group still together, Sturgeon tried one more big effort, followed briefly by Jack, who was soon swamped by an attentive bunch and they caught Sturgeon down the back straight. Legg then kept the pressure on to hold off the fast finishers, Michael Wilmot and John Paul with Stephen Bradbury and Ian Greenstreet in the next group back.
Next week its back to sprinting.
Good luck to all those competing in the National Masters Track champs this weekend.
Photo's courtesy of Chris Macleod
David Jack