Published: 18 June 2005
News from Reading Velodrome from John Dennis
Twenty one of the record entry of 131 competitors in British Cycling?s Junior Omnium League at Reading Velodrome on Saturday, July 2nd are members of Palmer Park RT and will be racing on home ground. Palmer Park Velo Chairman, Shane Benson, organiser of this the second event of the series is delighted with the volume of entries which have come from all over England and Wales.
The full day?s programme which starts at 10 a.m. will also include British Cycling Central Division?s Juvenile track Championships, so the local riders will have a busy programme.
The largest entry is the U 16 boys section with 41 riders. Big hitters ?Leader Jason Crombie, Rockingham Forest Wh, will have a hard time defending his position in this class field. The strength of Andrew Fenn, the intelligence of Adam Aldham-Breary, sheer cunning from Tom Price, and of course up against them are the local League riders Sam Serruya, Chris Bradbury, Michael Wilmot, Ben Lowe, Jamie Howes, Robert Clark, Tom Withers & Ed Allen. This group already ride like class professionals and are a joy to watch in the scratch and points races.
U16 Girls. Another class field with Jess Varnish, Halesowen ACC, current leader trying to fend off Lara Wann, PPV, Greta Gunker, Lukracing and Bridie Hindle, St Raphael.
In the Junior section the leader of the series so far, Andrew Tennant, will have a tough opposition from James Boyman who has just resumed racing at Reading after sustaining an injury, Gareth Dickenson, Scott Elliott, David Kingsbury and Alex Wise, currently placed second on the chart.
U14 Luc Jones, Nomads/Trackcycling, yet to be beaten in any of the 5 races of the series so far with a 100% record in all. Certainly a rider for the future. Others include Thomas Wieckonski, Halesowen ACC, and Joanne Wilman, Yasumitsu Schlapp. Local League riders up against them are Mark Baxter, Chris & Matt Legg, Emily Hogge, Holly Swarbrick & Robert Jackson.
Shane Benson, who nurtures the youngsters at Reading has decided to run competitions for U8 year olds and U10 year olds that are in addition to the British Cycling series.