Published: 22 September 2008
Palmer Park Track League - 8th Sept.
This years final track league encompassed three major finals, The John Ralph Memorial 20km Points Race, The WCLA Sprint competition and the Central Divisions Womens Omnium, plus a full program of Youth and Senior events.
First of the major events "The Womens Divisional Omnium " was a continuation of the Vets versus the Youths battle between Janet Birkmyre and Harriet Owen as these two dominated the event as they have the Sprint and Endurance events all year. Event 1 for them was the 6 Points race and it was Birkmyre who took first blood winning the first two sprints and letting Owen go with only one sprint remaining. Nicki Drinkwater took third place with Rosie Serruya 4th and Holly Swarbrick 5th.
- Janet Birkmyre sprinting ahead of Harriet Owen with Nicki Drinkwater chasing
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
Event 2 was the Sprint competition and after the heats it was Birkmyre, Owen and Drinkwater into the final three. A photo finish separated Birkmyre and Owen it was that close and with neither girl knowing who had won, it was Owen who got the nod going into the final event even on points in the Omnium with just the pursuit to go. The 4 lap Pursuit produced another close finish but it was Janet Birkmyre who won this event by 2 seconds from Owen, with Drinkwater third again, Serruya and Swarbrick 4th and 5th. Janet Birkmyre retains her Omnium title for the third year running.
The WLCA Sprint Competition is open to about 30 clubs and teams that register every year to be part of West London's array of track and TT events and with 9 entrants from 6 clubs, it turned about to be a real battle royale for the title.
The Heats produced few surprises but the semi's were hard fought tactical battles, with Semi-final 1 producing the fastest finish , with Rob Drinkwater winning and Eddy Sobieralski second but with Semi-final 2 being slower, Sobieralski qualified for the final. Semi-final 2 had Neil Cooper and Rob King being held high by David Jack, but Coopers finishing pace was just too much for Jack, winning by a few inches, with King third.
The final produced a wicked early effort by Drinkwater down the back straight, opening up a gap of 50 metres on Cooper and Sobieralski and it was only Cooper who would claw his way back and in the last few metres nip past Drinkwater to claim the title. Trophies were handed out by the legendary Dave Handley.
Before we head to the John Ralph Memorial we'll tidy up the other events on the night.
The Youth were exciting and closely fought, as they have been all season, especially in the Under 14's where Daniel Maslin and Cameron Swarbrick have gone hammer and tongs every night. Daniel Lansley took the 1 lap Handicap honours away in the first race but then it was Maslin in the Points, Swarbrick took the Sprint and then finished off with a fine victory in the Scratch too!!
- Harvey Watson winning one of three events on the night
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
The Under 12/10's had a three-peat of victories for Harvey Watson in the Scratch , Points and Sprint with Joseph Linehan spoiling a clean sweep with a win in the 1 lap handicap.
The Seniors had several endurance events to keep them warm, with a Hare & Hounds won by John Paul and a Devil won by Neil Cooper.
So to the John Ralph Memorial 20k Points race where attacks were many and the speed was high. With Sprints every 5 laps points were fiercely fought over and it was John Paul and Stephen Bradbury who opened their accounts early but keenly aware of the stronger Time triallers in the bunch, mad sure of covering the breaks too.
- John Paul (left) and Nick English go head to head in the John Ralph Memorial
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
Attacks from Tristan Natolie, David Jack, Nick English and Rob King were covered then nullified as the speed on the points laps intensified and within the final half of the race it was English who tried his luck again and escaped off the front to open up a half lap gap on the field.
- Nick English receiving the John Ralph Trophy from Mrs Ralph , with John Paul and Stephen Bradbury looking on
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
Points leader at this time were two Under 16 riders John Paul and Stephen Bradbury, with Paul several points ahead, but they hadn't noticed English taking 2 early points in the third sprint and this became the deciding factor as he stayed away from the chasing pack ,took the final 3 sprints to add to his total, came across the line first and take the line honours and the overall Points race win to be John Ralph Memorial champion for 2008. John Paul finished 2 points adrift with Bradbury a further 2 back from him.
Well done to all for making it a fast and exciting race, and an exciting season.
The Bordeaux-Paris meet which wasn't held on Sun 31st due to heavy rain will now be held on the 28th of September - pencil that in your diary for a late season effort.
Thanks to all the volunteers who make this league so successful and we hope that with the success of our Olympic track squad that it will bring more riders to the track next year. See you then.
David Jack
Images courtesy of www.swarbrick.com