Published: 22 September 2004
Story from Reading Track Cycling League at Palmer Park 21st September
From John Dennis
The dashing manner in which Tony Doyle burst into the hard world of professional cycling in Europe to win the World 5000 metres Professional Championship in 1980 was an inspiration to
the youngsters gathered in Palmer Park Stadium when he presented the awards at the Track League?s prize Presentation on Monday. Tony did it all without financial or practical help from the governing body (there was no Sport England or lottery funding in those days), after being excluded from the Olympic team of that year. He certainly ?showed ?em? for he repeated his victory six years later after being placed second in 1984,5,7 and 8 and rising to race winning stardom in the tough 6 day bicycle racing world.
Fifteen year old James Boyman, the Junior pursuit Champion, 17 year old Lewis Atkins who fought his way through the season, before crashing in training a few weeks ago, to win the overall League title, the Junior sprint , Endurance and Derny motor paced Championships and Neil Cooper who won the Keirin title and shared the Senior Sprint Championship, are the young men, who with the right encouragement could follow in Tony Doyle?s wheel marks.
Tony who received thunderous applause when he was introduced as the Race Director of the newly revived Tour of Britain race, praised the youth development which Palmer park Velodrome is noted for, and recalled his own use of the Velodrome as his training ground when preparing for 6 days Endurance races in Continental Europe. He explained how he spent many hours lapping the track following a Derny pacing motor and described it as the best form of speed and long distance training.
Only a few years below the junior level, Palmer Park Velo?s outstanding performers in the Juvenile Track League who will shortly be knocking on the door and demanding National and International attention, were under 12 years Stephen Bradbury, under 14 years, Sam Serruya and under 16 Chris Bradbury, all Champions in their age categories. They all demonstrate the skills and determination that will take them far and Tony Doyle was delighted to learn that they were already spending time following the Track League?s Derny motors.
At the Track League?s AGM which followed the Prize Presentation, Secretary Shelagh Dennis reported the highest level of competitors registration in the 10 years that she has been associated with the organisation, a rise of 25% over last year and through the good offices of an anonymous donor enthusiast, the purchase of another new Derny pacing motor bringing the total fleet to seven with two ?old timers? in reserve.
Wintertime racing and training indoors on static rollers and four turbo trainers was the subject of considerable discussion and it was decided to introduce this new form of racing at Reading on an experimental basis.
The racing programme for next year was fixed for the usual Monday evenings from April 18th ? September 12th with the exception of two Bank Holiday Mondays, May 30th and August 29th. The spring Bank Holiday Monday, May 2nd will see a second attempt to promote the two stage Bordeaux ? Paris type race which transforms from a bunch of 50 riders to a Derny motor paced final stage for the best 10 riders. This year?s event was one of the six race meetings washed out by rain.