Published: 25 June 2009
All around the country there were sporadic thunder storms with extreme downpours and with less than an hour till racing began there was a huge ground shaking lightning strike overhead with the corresponding thunder clap not far behind, but the rain never came down as Palmer Park held a full nights racing which included a fast and furious Central Divisions 500m Sprint competition.
First though is a quick round up of racing from the Seniors.
- Neil Cooper (centre) winning the first of three races on the night
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
The Senior A's racing results were dominated by local rider Neil Cooper who won the 10 lap Scratch and the Unknown Distance and then later on finished off a high speed 20km AW Cycles Endurance race with a last gap blitz to overtake a tiring Bryan Taylor on the home straight to win comfortably from Matt Gittings and Rob King.
The Senior A Devil was Bryan Taylors only win on the night and this event shows the talent of riders who know where to ride, how much effort to use to hold a good position and finally the speed to win the sprint too!
The B's results were shared amongst various riders with Kevin Holloway taking wins in the 10 Lap Scratch and the Unknown distance, Anthony Moye winning the Devil and Steve Clarke winning the 20km Endurance.
The Womens races had Jayne Paine taking wins in the 10 Lap Scratch and 20km Endurance, Natalie Hills taking the Devil and Emily Hogge the Unknown Distance.
The Central Divisions 500m Sprint competition was a highly competitive event with a great field of youth and experience.
Heat One saw fast endurance rider Martin Dawkins and Sprinter Tom Sparkes go through comfortably, where Heat Two saw Dave Dentus and Sam Sturgeon also qualified to the next round relatively comfortably. Heat Three and Four saw extremely close finishes. John Paul winning Heat Three comfortably with Eddy Sobieralski producing a final lunge to deprive David Jack of a place in the next round by a hares whisker. Heat Four had a similar result with Sam Serruya easily dominating but Matt Gittings just pipping Rob Drinkwater for the last place in the next round.
Semi Final A saw Eddy Sobieralski open up with 250 to go, being passed by Sam Serruya but keeping the pace high enough to qualify for the final as fastest loser.
Semi Final B was a slower race and at the 200m line they hadn't opened up fully but it was the super fast John Paul who qualified for the final by producing his trade mark fast finish.
- Sam Serruya holding off a fast finishing John Paul in the Central Divisions Sprint Competition
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
The Minor final saw Tom Sparkes overhaul Martin Dawkins for the win but it was the Final which we were waiting in high anticipation for.
It started slowly with Sobieralski leading Paul and Serruya. As the rolled down the back straight Serruya made the first move, Paul hesitated as Sobieralski responded but Serruya had opened up a great gap and it was Paul who needed to do the most. He passed Sobieralski and chased Serruya all the way to the line. He closed within half a wheel but the line won the race as Serruya held on for the win and his first senior Regional Title.