Published: 27 April 2005
From John Dennis
Palmer Park Velo ? the first stand alone Youth track racing club in the country- never fails to impress, and its members, now approaching the 100 mark, dominate the regular Monday evening Reading Velodrome Youth League which was initiated and is organised by Philip Jackson. British Cycling Federation?s National Facilities Officer, David Cockram, making an exploratory visit to the sports stadium at Reading, was full of praise for Reading Velodrome racing and its team of officials, and was particularly impressed by the number of youthful competitors, their bike handling skills and quality of performances. ?Here are the next generation of international champions to follow in the footsteps of Bradley Wiggins, the triple medal winner at the Athens Olympics who started his track racing career at Palmer Park? he observed.
Much credit for such a show of youth capability must be claimed by Shane Benson who is the mainspring behind the Palmer Park Velo organisation that stages the fun and frolic coaching programmes every Saturday morning at the Velodrome. His policy is to cater for all ages of children using their own free wheel bicycles and as they progress nurture them into handling fixed wheel track racing machines in preparation for the Monday Youth League racing programmes. It is a system much envied and copied in those areas where a Velodrome is available.
David Cockram?s attention on Monday evening was drawn to the unisex nature of the youth racing when he watched Lara Wann, Rosie Serruya, Emily Clark and Rebecca Presser in particular, mixing it with the boys to take a share of the points prizes at stake.
Seniors experienced Reading?s different style of Keirin racing for the first time. Instead of three preparatory laps before the race proper is on this has been reduced to one lap with the result that the action produces a sprint for the line much sooner. Monday?s men?s final gave Ian Holt (Agisko Biner Bikes) the opportunity to inflict the only defeat on an otherwise overpowering Bryan Taylor (VCLondres) who is using Reading Velodrome now that his home track at Herne Hill in S.London is out of action.
Reigning Track League Champion and still a junior Lewis Atkins rejoined the fray for the first time since he suffered a series of crash injuries, in the colours of his new Club the Glendene CC. Obviously lacking top form he nevertheless was the only rider, apart from Ian Holt, to challenge Bryan Taylor, the big Londoner, holder of the A.W.Cycles yellow jersey as the Endurance race leader. The 20 km race this week was quite different from last week?s event when Taylor in a group of four riders twice lapped the field. Monday?s race despite numerous breakaway efforts finished with a massed sprint which completely filled the full width of the race track.
Results
Senior Results:-
10 laps Hare & Hounds: 1. Bryan Taylor, VC Londres; 2. Lewis Atkins, Glendene CC; 3. Ian Holt, Agisko Biner Bikes.
2 laps Keirin: A riders: 1. Ian Holt; 2. B.Taylor; 3. Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist.
B riders: 1. Richard Guthrie, Willesden CC; 2. David Dentus, Willesden CC; 3. Ian Greenstreet, Newbury RC.
Ladies: 1. Janet Birknyer, Twickenham CC; 2. Carrie Bedingfield, A.W.Cycles Team; Lara Wann, Palmer Park Velo.
Devil: 1. Bryan Taylor; 2. Lewis Atkins; 3. David Dentus.
A.W.Cycles Endurance (20 kms): A Riders: 1. Bryan Taylor; 2. Lewis Atkins; 3. Ian Holt.
B Riders: 1. Ian Greenstreet, 2. Nicholas Peacock,London Dynamo; 3. Murray Hogge, Reading CC.
Best lady: Carrie Bedingfield.
Youth League Results:-
Devil: U16 1. Christopher Bradbury, Palmer Park Velo; 2. Lara Wann, Palmer Park Velo; 3. Sam Serruya, Palmer Park Velo.
U14 1. Chris Legg, PPV; 2. Mark Baxter, PPV; 3. Robert Jackson, Agiskoviners;
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, PPV, 2. Rosie Serruya, PPV, 3. Emily Clark, PPV.
½ Lap Hcp: U16 1. Marc Wilmot, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 2. Chris Bradbury, 3. Robert Clark, PPV.
U14. 1. Mark Baxter; 2. Matt Gittings, PPV; 3. Matt Legg, PPV.
U12. 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. George Withers, PPV; 3. Rebecca Presser, Hillingdon Slipstreamers.
4 laps Hcp. Hare & Hounds: U16. 1. Sam Serruya; 2. Chris Bradbury; 3. Lara Wann
U14 1. Chris Legg; 2. Mark Baxter; 3. Lara Wann
U12. 1. Stephen Bradbury; 2. Rebecca Presser; 3. Rosie Serruya.
10 laps Block Handicap: U16. 1. Sam Serruya; 2. Michael Wilmot; 3. Chris Bradbury.
U14 1. Mark Baxter; 2. Chris Legg; 3. Robert Jackson,
U12 1. Rebecca Presser; 2. George Withers; 3. Emily Clark
2 laps Keirin: U16 1. Sam Serruya; 2. Chris Bradbury; 3. Michael Wilmot.
U14 1. Mark Baxter; 2. Chris Legg; 3. Matt Gittings
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury; 2. Emily Clark; 3. Rosie Serruya.