Published: 19 May 2004
New members flooded in to join Reading Velodrome Racing?s League events at Palmer park Stadium on Monday with eleven newcomers bringing the total membership up to 68. It was one of these new members, Keith Coffey from the Bec CC, South London, who moved in to take the League?s Individual Pursuit Championship title, disputed over 9 laps of the track. He took the Championship with the time of 5m 27s and beat Simon Howes of Sigma Sport by eight seconds, although in the qualifying heats Howes was clearly the fastest of the night with a scintillating time of 5m 17.8s.
The final was the second time these two faced each other across the track for they first met in the heat, and since finalists were determined on a time basis, they emerged as the two to dispute the title.
The local battle, strangely enough, was between Gary Kristensen, now racing for Prestige, a soldier based at Arborfield, and Reading CC?s Alex Peterson, in their chase for British Cycling?s Central Division Pursuit Championship. The anomaly is created because while membership of the League is open to all members, the Divisional title must be disputed by members of clubs within the divisional boundaries set by British Cycling. Barely recovered from a viral complaint that laid him low through the winter months, Kristiansen was racing for the first time this year, although he admits that he has been training hard for the last month.
From the word go this was obviously going to be a closely fought contest, for in their heats both riders qualified with similar times, Kristensen 5m 27.2s and Peterson 5m 27.6s. Soldier Gary Kristensen snatched an early lead, but it was marginal, for looking from one side of the track to the other they looked to be level. Peterson?s smooth riding style was most impressive but the power that Gary Kristensen showed could not be denied and as they completed the nine laps (4,610 metres) he was just two seconds ahead.
With the League?s pursuit title under his belt Keith Coffey played a leading role in the Endurance race, last event on the programme. He was one of six courageous riders who escaped from the large bunch less than halfway through the 44 lap (20 kms) race. It was obvious that this group meant business and they were soon half a lap ahead, then three quarters, and with 18 laps left they lapped the field. They did not ease up but drove on with a dispirited field unable to co-ordinate an effective pursuit which saw the escapees taking a second lap lead. It was a most impressive effort with only one man from the original six weakening and dropping out in the final stages, so the five were left to dispute the fight to the finishing line. Disaster struck just 50 metres from the finish line. As the five sprinted shoulder to shoulder one man, Ian Holt, Prestige VC.com could not avoid a lapped rider who was in the way with the result he crashed heavily. He finished his evening in the hands of paramedics who were rapidly on the scene.
The crash took the attention of everyone and young Lewis Atkins, last weeks multi victorious rider repeated his dominance of the bunched races with a win,(the second of the evening) from newly crowned pursuit Champion, Keith Coffey. Another Junior star of the future shone through at the end of the evening in the shape of James Boynan, Team Luciano. Just 15 years old he survived the rigours of 44 laps to finish third in the Endurance race. He showed that he will be a force that Lewis Atkins will have to contend with from now on.
Next Monday?s Reading Velodrome Racing?s fixture will feature special schoolchildren?s events for newcomers, all are welcome, at no charge. A novelty will be the Evening Post?s paper delivery boys and girls in mock delivery races within the Velodrome.
Results:-
10 lap Hare & Hounds: 1. Lewis Atkins, PCA Ciclos Uno, 2. Marc Wilmot, Willesden CC, 3. Ian Holt, Prestige VC.com.
Veterans 500 m Scratch: 1. Angus McInnes, RAF CC, 2. Paul Cooper, Reading CC 3. Rob Richardson, Hounslow Wh.
20 kilometres Endurance: A riders. 1. Lewis Atkins, 2. Keith Coffey Bec CC,
3. James Boynan, Team Luciano, B riders 1. Rob Richardson, 2. I Greenstreet, Newbury RC.
Individual Pursuit Championship Series.
League Ladies 6 laps: 1. Carrie Bedingfield,Thames Velo 4m 5.3s 2. Cheryl Owens Twickenham CC 4m 8.9s 3. Tracy Austin, 21st Century Airports 4m 27s
League Senior Men 9 laps: 1. Keith Coffey, Bec 5m 27s, 2. Simon Howes, Sigma Sport 5m 35.2s, 3. Gary Kristensen
British Cycling Central Division Men 9 laps 1. Gary Kristensen, Prestige VC.com 5m 31.4s, 2. Alex Peterson, Reading CC 5m 33.8s, 3. Steve Legg, Twickenham
Youth League
Devil: U16 1. Chris Bradbury, Palmer Park Velo, 2. Stuart Whitby, PPV, 3. Tom Withers PPV. U14: 1. Sam Serruya, PPV, 2. Chris Legg, PPV, 3. Gavin Mitchell, Twickenham CC, U12 1.Matthew Legg, PPV, 2. Emily Clark PPV.
One lap sprint: U16 Gareth Dickinson, Team Luciano, 2. Chris Bradbury,
3. Robert Clark PPV, U14 1. Sam Serruya, 2. Chris Legg, 3. Robert Jackson, Farnborough & Camberley,. U12 1. Matthew Legg, 2. Emily Clark
4 lap Hare & Hounds: U16 1. Gareth Dickinson, 2. Chris Bradbury 3. James Boynan, Team Luciano, U14, 1. Sam Serruya,2. Chris Legg, 3. Robert Jackson, U12 11.Matthew Legg, 2. Emily Clark.