Published: 1 June 2004
News from Reading Track from John Dennis 1st June 2004
The biggest and most spectacular cycle race meeting of the year at Reading Velodrome in Palmer Park Stadium starts at 1 p.m. next Sunday, June 6th. Sponsored by the town?s leading cycle shop, A W Cycles of Caversham, and with the backing of the town?s daily newspaper the Reading Evening Post.
The first, second and third placed riders in last year?s National Derny motor paced Championship, Bryan Taylor, Martin Freeman and Chris Richardson, head up the field in the 30 kilometre invitation paced race. It will also include two up and coming youngsters, local rider Sam Sturgeon who rides for Evans Cycles, and young Welsh visitor, Tom Smith whose potential has been recognised and he has been snatched up by track racing organisation, the City of Edinburgh team.
Entitled a ?Sprinters and Stayers? race meeting, the country?s top sprinters headed up by Barney Storey, the reigning National Keirin Champion, will do battle in the National Sprinter?s League contest. Sunday?s event will be the second of the year, in a series of six to be held throughout the country. In the first event of the year in Liverpool, Barney, VC St Raphael/Waites Contracts, finished third to Matthew Haynes, City of Edinburgh and Jon Norfolk, from the Manchester specialist track team Yasumitsu Schlapp, so he will be hell bent to improve his position in the League standings.
The formula for the sprinter?s League contest requires participants to clock a flying start time over 200 metres, the fastest 12 then progress through conventional sprinting races to the finals. For those eliminated in the time trial there is a second chance sprint, a novel move to provide a contest for those unlucky first time round. There is another new move too, for there will be second chance sprint for veterans. Veterans ? who are quite difficult to identify, they look so youthful, also have their own Course des Primes race, sprint every lap over a 10 lap event for individual prizes, quite separate from the similar event for Senior riders.
In contrast to the Veteran?s racing, the Reading Evening Post is backing newspaper delivery boys and girls races as a departure from conventional racing. Boys will have to race over 3 laps and will have to deliver newspapers at four stations every lap until the last delivery station, then they will abandon their bikes and run the last 100 yards to the finish. The same formula will be used for the girls races, but they will cover only 2 laps. Good fun is guaranteed here. Contests for kids, also part of the Reading Borough Council?s Children?s Festival will take place with a series of ?bin races? in the Velodrome home straight. Bin racing, an event invented by Palmer Park Velo Youth Club, sets newcomers on a race between two bins placed 50 metres apart, more good fun to take part in and watch.
Following Reading Velodrome Racing?s policy of presenting cycle sport free of charge to spectators, there will be no admission charge thanks to the generosity of the sponsors and supporters.