Published: 24 August 2004
Report and Results from Reading Track Cycling League 23rd August 2004
From John Dennis
From its wealth of juveniles and juniors, track cycling at Reading Velodrome never ceases to produce Champions of the future, probably the most illustrious today being multi-Olympic medallist Bradley Wiggins, World Junior Champion Roger Hammond, National Champions Jody Crawforth and Neil Cooper, Divisional Champion Sam Sturgeon and this year?s League Champion Lewis Atkins, currently sidelined with injuries to his elbow and wrist.
Two more names are destined for fame in the not too distant future, James Boyman, from the Farnborough & Camberley Club and in the Luciano team and local lad Sam Serruya, Palmer Park Velo. Just 15 years old James sets a riddle for the League officials because in addition to racing in the under 16 years Youth League events he also has sufficient speed and strength to justify permission to race in some of the senior League events. On Monday this week he rode and won four youth races, won his heat and finished third in the final of the 12 laps Derny motor paced race and then had the cheek to finish best B rider in the 10 mile Endurance race, final event of the evening?s programme. All this was achieved on a limited gear which is the ruling in youth events, so when he passes his next birthday and is permitted to gear up to senior level he will be an even more formidable opponent for the star riders to contend with.
With Lewis Atkins out of the racing scene while his injuries heal, Neil Cooper, last season?s League Champion had another adversary to contend with, Ian Holt, Prestige VC.com, who is only an intermittent competitor at Reading. Holt opened his night?s score sheet with a win in the 10 laps Hare & Hounds event having won back the half lap handicap which A riders have to achieve before they can get into the prizes, and he beat another rarely seen figure, Rob English, just back from a couple of months expedition, mountain racing in Continental Europe.
Holt confirmed his good form by snatching victory, again from Rob English, in the 500 metres scratch race, but met his Waterloo when Neil Cooper overcame him in the Unknown Distance and the Endurance races, while Sam Sturgeon paced by father Clive, demonstrated their Derny motor pacing skills to take the 12 laps paced race after Holt and English were burned off in the final stages. It was the emerging James Boyman, still on his limited gear machine, who challenged Holt on the run up to the line.
When Boyman?s experience matures and he overcomes his eagerness to press ahead, sometimes at the wrong moment, and preserve energy he should reserve for the final dash to the finish line, then he will realise his full potential.
Results
10 laps Hare & Hounds: 1. Ian Holt, Prestige V.C. 2 Rob English, Private member, 3. Alex Petersen, Reading CC. Ladies. 1. Carrie Bedingfield, Thames Velo, 2. Cheryl Owens, Twickenham CC, 3. Abby Jackson, Luciano-Fondriest.
500 metres Scratch: 1. Ian Holt, 2. Rob English, 3. Richard Guthrie, Willesden CC. Veterans: 1. Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist. 2. Murray Hogge, Reading CC, 3. Jeff Baird, Twickenham CC.
12 laps Derny motor paced : 1. Sam Sturgeon,Evans Cycles, 2. Ian Holt, 3. James Boynan, Team Luciano.
10 laps Derny motor paced (Veterans): 1. Murray Hogge,2. Jeff Baird, 3. Paul Cooper, Reading CC.
10 laps Derny paced (Ladies): 1. Carrie Bedingfield, 2. Cheryl Owens, 3. Lara Wann, Palmer Park Velo.
Unknown Distance: 1. Neil Cooper, Reading CC, 2. Ian Holt, 3. Alex Peterson.
Ladies: 1. Carrie Bedingfield, 2. Cheryl Owens, 3. Leda Cox, Anglia Sport.
10 miles Endurance: A riders. 1. Neil Cooper, 2. Ian Holt, 3. Tom Smith, Prestige VC. B Riders 1. James Boynan (best youth), 2. Jeff Baird, 3. Keith Elliott, PCA Ciclos Uno.
Youth League
Devil: U16 1. James Boynan, Team Luciano, 2. Robert Clark, Palmer Park Velo, 3. Tom Withers, Palmer Park Velo; U14 1. Sam Serruya, PPV, 2. Edward Jakszta, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 3. Robert Jackson, Farnborough & Camberley; U12 1. Robert Barlow, PPV, 2. Emily Clark, PPV, 3. George Withers, PPV
2 laps Keirin: U16 1. James Boynan, 2. Tom Withers, 3. Robert Clark; U14 1. Sam Serruya, 2. Edward Jakszta, 3. Robert Jackson; U12 1. Matthew Gittings, PPV, 2. Richard Barloe, 3. Emily Clark
Hare & Hounds: U16 1. James Boynan, 2. Robert Clark, 3. Tom Withers; U14 1. Sam Serruya, 2. Edward Jakszta, 3. Robert Jackson; U12 1. Matthew Gittings, 2. Emily Clark, 3. Richard Barlow
10 laps Scratch: U16 1. James Boyman, 2. Robert Clark, 3. Tom Withers; U14 1. Sam Serruya, 2. Robert Jackson, 3. Edward Jakszta; U12 1. Richard Barlow, 2. Matthew Gittings, 3. George Withers.