Published: 5 July 2005

News from Reading Velodrome from Paul Gittings

The talented group of young riders who form such a vibrant and integral part of Reading Velodrome Racing will surely be inspired to set their sights on Olympic glory if London?s bid for the 2012 Games is successful in Singapore next week.

But for now they are acquiring the skills and tactical requirements of top class track cycling by regular competition on Monday night?s at Palmer Park, mixing it with riders of the status of Bryan Taylor (VC Londres) and ex-professional Joe Bayfield (Awcycles.co.uk).

Palmer Park Velo?s Sam Serruya is proving a fast learner and mixes raw aggression with a canny ability to be in the right place at the right time.

The 10th round of this summer?s programme saw Serruya win three of the four under-16 races on offer after close competition with Toby Meadows (Agiskoviner) before smashing the Palmer Park Velo club record for the flying 200 metres.

The 15-year-old Prospect College schoolboy clocked a blistering 12.75 seconds to draw applause from the grandstand and club coach Shane Benson.

Not content with his evening work, Serruya then produced a cheeky move to win the bonus prize on offer for winning the sprint at mid-race in the 20 Kilometres AW Cycles Endurance.

The all-conquering Taylor was generously lining up another Palmer Park protégé, 16-year-old Lara Wann, for the prize when Serruya spotted the move and crossed the line a whisker ahead.

Taylor duly went on to take the final event to complete a clean sweep of the distance races on the night, but he came under pressure of the final bend from comeback man Bayfield, who is getting more competitive by the week.

The race was cut to 30 laps after an unfortunate early crash left several riders nursing cuts and bruises and Trevor Bradbury (Reading CC) needing hospital treatment for a suspected broken collarbone.

Earlier, his son Stephen did him proud in the under-12 racing with a clean sweep from ever-present club-mate Richie Barlow, two more to watch for the future.

Wann and fellow national youth champion Bridie Hindle renewed their rivalry in the 500 metres for under-16?s, with the former getting the verdict, but Wann had to give best to Carrie Bedingfield (Awcycles.co.uk) in the 20 kilometres endurance.

Bedingfield also had the better of her young rival in the one lap time trial, but in turn was beaten by specialist Janet Birkmyre (Twickenham CC).

Local honours were satisfied in the Senior ?A? riders one lap time trial as Neil Cooper, returning to action after injuries and studies, held off Sam Sturgeon in a time of 34.75 seconds.

In the ?B? riders and vets competition it was Newbury?s Ian Greenstreet to the fore, dominating the points race and taking the 20 kilometres endurance from Murrray Hogge (Reading CC).

Next week?s programme sees the British Cycling?s Divisional Pursuit Championships, while on Saturday Palmer Park hosts the latest round of the National under-16 track omnium series, a chance to see nearly 150 of the best young riders in the country in action.

Photos

Photographs of the events are available courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography and swarbrick.com.

Results

Seniors

Hare and Hounds 10 laps:

1. Bryan Taylor (VC Londres), 2. Simon Lewis (VC Londres U-16), 3. Angus MacInnes (RAF CC)

One lap Time Trial:

A Riders: 1. Neil Cooper (AWcycles.co.uk), 2. Sam Sturgeon (Trackcycling.net), 3. Rob Richardson (Hounslow and District)
B Riders: 1. Steve Benton (Teamtrackycling.co.uk), 2. Schemit Knoesen (Twickenham CC), 3. Ian Greenstreet (Newbury RC)
Ladies: 1. Janet Birkmyre (Twickenham CC), 2. Carrie Bedingfield (AWcycles.co.uk), 3. Lara Wann (PPV)

Points Race 10 laps:

A Riders: 1. Bryan Taylor (VC Londres), 2. Tim Bedingfield (AWcycles.co.uk), 3. Angus MacInnes (RAF CC)
B Riders: 1. Ian Greenstreet (Newbury RC), 2. Paul Williams (Bath RC), 3. Gareth Dickinson (Agiskoviner)

Devil take the hindmost:

1. Bryan Taylor (VC Londres), Joe Bayfield (AWcycles.co.uk), Rob Richardson (Hounslow and District)

AW Cycles 20k Endurance:

A Riders: 1. Bryan Taylor (VC Londres), 2. Joe Bayfield (AWcycles.co.uk), 3. Rob Richardson (Hounslow and District)
B Riders: 1. Ian Greenstreet (Newbury RC), 2. Murray Hogge (Reading CC), 3. Brian Randall (Sutton CC)
Ladies: 1. Carrie Bedingfield (AWcycles.co.uk), 2. Lara Wann PPV)

Youths

Devil 6 laps:

U16: 1. Sam Serruya (PPV), 2. Toby Meadows (Agiskoviner), 3. Lara Wann (PPV)
U14: 1. Robert Jackson (Agiskoviner), 2. Chris Legg (PPV), 3. Matt Legg (PPV)
U12: 1. Stephen Bradbury (PPV), 2. Richard Barlow (PPV), 3. Frazier Carr (PPV)

500 metres:

U16: 1. Sam Serruya (PPV), 2. Toby Meadows (Agiskoviner), 3. Tom Barlow (PPV)
U16 girls: 1.Lara Wann (PPV), 2. Bridie Hinkle (VC St Raphael), 3. Abby Jackson (Team Luciano-Trek)
U14: 1. Edward Jakszta (Hillingdon Slipstreamers), 2. Matt Gittings (PPV), 3. Chris Legg (PPV)
U12: 1. Stephen Bradbury (PPV), 2. Richard Barlow (PPV), 3. Frazier Carr (PPV)
U12 girls: 1. Emily Clark (PPV), 2. Rosie Serruya (PPV) , 3. Rebecca Pressner (Hillingdon Slipstreamers)

Handicap Hare and Hounds 4 laps:

U16: 1. Toby Meadows (Agiskoviner), 2. Bridie Hindle (VC St Raphael), 3. Lara Wann (PPV)
U14: 1. Edward Jakszta (Hillingdon Slipstreamers), 2. Robert Jackson (Agiskoviner), 3. Chris Legg (PPV)
U12: 1. Stephen Bradbury (PPV), 2. Richard Barlow (PPV), 3. Frazier Carr (PPV)

Block Handicap 10 laps:

U16: 1. Sam Serruya (PPV), 2. Toby Meadows (Agiskoviner), 3. Robert Clark (PPV)
U14: 1. Chris Legg (PPV), 2. Robert Jackson (Agiskoviner), 3. Matt Gittings (PPV)
U12: 1. Stephen Bradbury (PPV), 2. Richard Barlow (PPV), 3. Cameron Swarbrick (PPV)