Published: 19 July 2005
From John Dennis
Neil Cooper, now riding for the A W Cycles Team and holidaying from Swansea University, made his presence felt in Monday?s Reading Velodrome Racing programme with a resounding win in the 500 metre sprint final (A riders) over another local Reading man Tom Smith, Vinerbikes Agiskoviner. Cooper continued in the prizes department in the A W Cycles 20 kilometre Endurance Event by claiming two of the public donated sprint primes, making it a worthwhile evening?s ?working holiday?.
The sprint final for B Riders provided Reading newcomer, Jak Kenton-Spraggan, the reigning Junior National Keirin Champion, with the opportunity to show his talents, by overcoming Ian Greenstreet, and rising local star Sam Serruya. His performance will mean a reclassification to the A riders in the near future I am sure.
The gathering interest in Track racing sport was clearly evident, for eleven teams posted entries to Colin Garnham for the British Cycling Central Division Team Pursuit Championship over 9 laps of the Palmer Park Velodrome. Heat times put the two fastest teams up to contest the final which promised to be a needle match between A W cycles and the Willesden C C, but disaster struck the West Londoners soon after the start when a sheared crank on the bike of their fourth man put him out and upset the smooth pedalling of his team mates. The inevitable happened and a well practised A W Cycles team caught the remaining Willesden riders with one lap still to go to the finish, with the fastest time of the night, 5 mins 13.04 secs and four gold medals to take home with them. With an eye to the future, Palmer Park Velo coach Shane Benson decided to put three juvenile teams, one of them all girls, into the Divisional Championship fray. No medals were expected but they showed excellent team work which undoubtedly will produce winning performances in the future.
Resplendent in his yellow leader?s jersey, Bryan Taylor, V C Londres, held on to his lead in the A W Cycles 20 kms Endurance series with another faultless performance. He countered several breakaway attempts which could have proved dangerous, especially the first attempt by Sam Sturgeon who remained half a lap ahead for nine of the 44 laps. However, the chink in Taylor?s armour began to show through when Joe Bayfield A W Cycles pressed the Londoner very strongly up the finishing straight to finish just one length behind and marginally ahead of ever challenging Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist.
Next Saturday, July 23rd Reading Velodrome will for the first time ever, house the Women?s Cycle Racing Association track Championships. Usually staged at London?s Herne Hill Velodrome, which sadly is still out of bounds to racing cyclists in the South East, the Championships will be staged with the assistance of Track League Officials. Carrie Bedingfield, Team AW Cycles, who last week claimed British Cycling?s Central Division Women?s Track Championship heads the local riders in their bid for WRCA titles supported by Janet Birkmyre, and Nicky Hudson, Twickenham CC?s track stars. But they will have to watch out for Laura Bisell, Team Fat Birds UK, while Palmer Park?s Juniors will have to be aware of the dangers posed by visiting Joanne Rowsell, Sutton CC, Becky Figgitt, Plomesgate CC and Rachell Ball, Team trackcycling.co.uk. Women?s racing will start immediately after Palmer Park Velo Youth Club members finish their usual Saturday morning session at 1 p.m.
Photos
Photographs of the events are available courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography and swarbrick.com.
Results
Senior Results
10 laps Block Handicap:
1. Bryan Taylor, VC Londres, 2. James Boyman, Agiskovener, 3. Tim Bedingfield, Team AW Cycles.
Ladies 1. Samantha Van Gerbig, Oxford University, 2. Carrie Bedingfield, Team A W Cycles, 3. Lara Wann, Palmer Park Velo.
500 metres Sprint:
A Riders 1. Neil Cooper, Team A W Cycles, 2. Tom Smith, Vinerbikes Agiskoviner, 3. Sam Sturgeon, Team trackcycling.co.uk
B Riders 1. Jak Kenton-Spraggan, BC private member, 2. Ian Greenstreet, Newbury R.C., 3. Sam Serruya, Palmer Park Velo
Ladies. 1. Janet Birkmyre, Twickenham CC, 2. Samantha Van Gerbig, 3. Carrie Bedingfield
Unknown Distance:
1. Chris Denman, Beyond Mountain Bikes, 2. Alex Peterson, Team A W Cycles, 3. Daniel Manelfi, Agiskovener
20 kilometre A W Cycles Endurance:
A Riders 1. Bryan Taylor, 2. Joe Bayfield, Team A W Cycles, 3. Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist.
B Riders 1. Ian Greenstreet, 2. Paul Cooper, Reading CC, 3. Clive Evans, Beyond Mountain Bikes
Ladies 1. Carrie Bedingfield, 2. Samantha Van Gerbig.
Prime Winners Neil Cooper (2), Sam Sturgeon, Ben Lowe, Twickenham CC, Bryan Taylor
British Cycling Central Division Club Team Pursuit Championship, (9 laps).
1. Team A W cycles, 5 mins 13.4 secs caught Willesden C C , 3rd Twickenham CC 5 mins 36.5 secs.
Youth Results
6 laps Block handicap:
U16 1. Michael Wilmot, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 2. Tom Withers, Palmer Park Velo, 3. Robert Clark PPV,
U14 1. Chris Legg, PPV 2. Mark Baxter, PPV, 3. Robert Jackson, Agiskovener,
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, PPV, 2. Frazier Carr, PPV, 3. George Withers, PPV
1 lap Time Trial:
U16 1. Tom Withers, 2. Charlie Taylor, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 3. Robert Clark U14 1. Matt Legg, PPV, 2. Chris Legg, PPV,
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. George Withers, 3.Rosie Serruya, PPV
4 laps Handicap:
U16 1. Michael Wilmot, 2. Tom Withers, 3. Charlie Taylor,
U14 1. Robert Jackson, 2. Chris Legg, 3. Mark Baxter, PPV
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Frazier Carr, 3. Rosie Serruya
10 laps Scratch:
U16 1. Michael Wilmot, 2. Charlie Taylor, 3. Tom Withers,
U14 1. Robert Jackson, 2. Samuel Grant, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 3. Alexander Wilson, Twickenham CC
U12 1. Rosie Serruya, 2. Rebecca Pressner, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 3. George Withers.