Published: 9 August 2005
From John Dennis
Claims that Ladies racing at Reading Velodrome is achieving new heights were amply justified at Monday?s Track League meeting at Palmer Park Stadium, but it was the youngsters that justified that claim. Two under 16 year olds, Greta Junker, Lukracing.net who hails from Somerset and local girl, Lara Wann, Palmer park Velo, set fire to the action early in the evening programme when they finished first and second, ahead of local champion, Carrie Bedingfield in the 10 laps Hare & Hounds. Members of the Hares group (B riders) they had been caught by a determined bunch of Hounds (A riders) but they stood out in the group as it sprinted for the finish line. However, it was the Derny motor paced race where they were seen at their best. As they urged the drivers of their pacing machines to ?step on the gas? the others trailed in their wake and it was the girl from Somerset that edged her front wheel over the line first again.
The paced racing produced the most thrilling competition of the night, and while the two Londoners, Bryan Taylor and under 16 year old Simon Lewis both VC Londres respectively won the A and B riders events, they certainly did not have an armchair ride. Aggression of the top quality was demonstrated in the A race by Sam Sturgeon and Rob Richardson as they fought to stem the speed they knew Bryan Taylor could raise on the last lap which saw them lapping the Velodrome at close to 40 m.p.h. The powerful Londoner could not be overcome though as he scored yet another victory.
Much the same could be said of Simon Lewis in the B rider event, but this contest was a battle between a 16 year old, James Boyman and a juvenile under 16 year old which Lewis, the younger of the two won in great style. So the high speed paced racing proved to be the highlight of the night, and it was the youngsters who clearly demonstrated that there is a strength of talent just waiting to step up into the higher echelons of the sport.
Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist. Who won last week?s A W Cycles Endurance in a daring solo last lap dash, could not repeat the dose on Monday, he was second to Bryan Taylor in the Hare & Hounds and placed third behind Taylor and Joe Bayfield, Team A W Cycles this week, while veteran Ian Greenstreet, Newbury RC proved best B rider. Sam Sturgeon, Trackcycling.net again tried his luck with an early breakaway but was reeled in then with 2 laps to the finish, tried again, but succumbed to a flying Bryan Talor who roared past in the home straight. Sam went home pleased however, having taken two of the intermediate prime awards.
Photos
Photographs of the events are available courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography.
Results:
Seniors
10 laps Hare & Hounds:
1. Bryan Taylor, VC Londres, 2. Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist. 3. Sam Serruya, Palmer Park Velo
Ladies 1. Greta Junker, Lukracing.net 2. Lara Wann, PPV 3 Carrie Bedingfield, Team AW Cycles.
10 laps Derny motor paced:
A Riders 1. Bryan Taylor, 2. Sam Sturgeon, Trackcycling.net, 3. Rob Richardson
B Riders 1. Simon Lewis, VC Londres, 2. James Boyman, Agiskoviner.com, 3. David Dentus, Willesden CC
Ladies 1. Greta Junker, 2. Lara Wann, 3. Carrie Bedingfield.
Unknown Distance:
1. Ian Holt, Vinerbikes/Agisko 2. Joe Bayfield, Team AW Cycles, 3. Tom Smith, Vinerbikes/Agisko
20 kilometres A W Cycles Endurance:
A Riders 1. Bryan Taylor, 2. Joe Bayfield, 3. Rob Richardson
B Riders 1. Ian Greenstreet, Newbury R.C. 2. James Boyman, 3. Paul Williams, Bath R.C.
Ladies 1. Samantha van Gerbig, Oxford University 2. Cheryl Owens, Twickenham CC, 3. Rohan Battison
Prime Winners Sam Sturgeon (2), Bryan Taylor, David Jack. Twickenham CC, James Boyman
Youth Results:
6 laps Points score:
U16 1. Toby Meadows, Agisko/Viner, 2. Tom Withers, Palmer Park Velo, 3. Robert Clark, PPV
U14 1. Chris Legg, 2. Robert Jackson, Agisko, 3. Samuel Grant, Hillingdon Slipstreamers,
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury,PPV, 2. Rebecca Pressner, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 3. Emily Clark, Palmer Park Velo
½ lap Handicap:
U16 1. Robert Clark,2. Tom Withers, 3. Toby Meadows, Agisko,
U14 1. Robert Jackson, 2. Holly Swarbrick, PPV, 3.Samuel Grant
4 laps Hare & Hounds:
U16 1. Michael Wilmot, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 2. Toby Meadows, 3. Robert Clark,
U14 1. Chris Legg, 2. Matt Gittings, PPV, 3. Robert Jackson
U12 1. Rebecca Pressner, 2. Stephen Bradbury, PPV, 3. Emily Clark, PPV
10 laps Block Handicap:
U16 1. Michael Wilmott, 2. Robert Clark, 3. Toby Meadows
U14 1. Chris Legg, 2. Robert Jackson, 3. Matt Gittings
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Rebecca Pressner, 3. Emily Clark