Published: 10 July 2007
Windy and coolish conditions greeted the riders for this evening of racing including a plethora of Dernys at the AW Cycles Track league at Palmer Park this Monday.
- Under 14 Keirin ready to let rip
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
Youths - we have some pretty good youths who ride this track league. Daniel Maslin in the Under 12's is the number 1 in the UK for his age. Stephen Bradbury and John Paul are similarly competitive in their age group, Alex "Sandy" King is Under 16 and highly competitive in the A cat senior events, plus is National U16 Circuit champion. The big question is, after The Tour De France came to town, would some of these young boys go on to ride for their country, or a Pro squad? Given that Mark Cavendish, Geraint Thomas, Bradley Wiggins & David Millar all rode track as youngsters, competing through the age categories and went on to be some of the best riders in the world. Couldn't these guys too!!
It would be great to see !!!!
- The bunch comes together in the Youth Block Handicap
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
But now back to our normal channel which includes the Youth racing and tonight's events were dominated by two of the aforementioned riders, Stephen Bradbury and Daniel Maslin, with both winning 3 out of 4 races (Scratch, TT & 4 lap Block H/Cap), only being upset in the 10 lap Block Handicap by John Paul (Under 14's) and George Withers (U12's). Rosie Serruya dominated the Girls racing winning all 4 of her races, with Holly Swarbrick finishing second every time, but each by close margins.
- Sam Serruya at speed
- Photograph courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography
The Senior events, as always, starts with a 10 lap jaunt of some sort and it was a mass start Scratch race for A's, B's and ladies. An active race with attacks going all the time but a closely packed field finished with a bunch sprint of which Michael Wilmot bested the fast finishing Sam Serruya. The B's race was won by Rob King, who as you'll read, went on to win all his events this evening. Rohan Battison finished best lady in the bunch.
- Senior Derny final gets underway
- Photograph courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography
The Derny racing, as usual, is fast (very fast) and always exciting. Tonight was no exception. In the Senior A's race it came down to a 2 horse race with strong 2nd Cat rider John Tuckett and Under 16's Sandy King going full out in the last 2 laps. Tuckett, who was on the inside, held off King by a couple of bike lengths to take victory, with Michael Wilmot taking third spot. The Senior B's race looked like it would be a runaway victory for ex GB rowing man - John Warnock, as he opened up a 100 metre lead on his field but was caught on the last lap by Rob King. King kept his position to win, Warnock held on to 2nd spot with Under 16's Matt Gittings taking third.
The Womens final was a fast and furious affair too, with Lara Wann holding the front position for much of the race, followed by the Agisko-Viner twins of Emma Patterson and Rohan Battison, with Janet Birkmyre holding steady in fourth place.
- Janet Birkmyre picks up the pace in the Ladies Derny Final
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
The drama unfolded on the home straight of the penultimate lap, where Wann almost lost contact with her driver, then as she regained her position, the forward surge from both Agisko girls had them beginning to overtake Wann but they then both lost contact with their overly excited Derny drivers. Fourth placed Birkmyre was having her own difficulties maintaining pace and position but with an experienced driver on her derny, she managed to keep her speed and as they hit the final banking heading for the home straight, Wann, who had regained momentum was still holding the lead, Patterson and Battison were going backwards and Birkmyre was making up space by the truck loads. In the last 100 metres, Lara Wann held on to her front position and won whilst Janet Birkmyre powered over the top of both Agisko girls on the home straight, moving from fourth to second place with Rohan Battison taking third spot.
- Early action from the 20K Endurance race
- Photograph courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography
The Final Event as usual was the AW Cycles 20km Endurance event, and it was attack attack attack from all quarters and all ages. Stephen Bradbury and Chris Legg took off with A rider Ian Greenstreet for a few laps before being brought back. Then Dave Dentus had a big glory effort, opening up a small lead before his legs and the bunch's pace closing it all up again. Sam Sturgeon was forever on the offensive as was Sandy King and John Tuckett but the bunch was having none of it, well, until B riders John Warnock and Rob King took off on a well timed attack. With no A cat riders in the break, they (the main bunch) let them go, and pretty soon they had half a lap, then three quarters of a lap, and with 3 laps to go, they were on the back of the main field. A rider John Tuckett had snuck off the front by this time and ploughed a lonely trail 200 metres out the front but it was King and Warnock who came round with a lap to go, in a small group of riders and King, who had the best position, on the outside, was able to sprint out of the bunch whilst Warnock, on the inside and blocked, could only coast in for 2nd. Tuckett took third across the line and first A rider. Rohan Battison and Janet Birkmyre finished first and second ladies to finish.
A brilliant night of non-stop action.
Remember - Bordeaux-Paris Derny/ National Endurance race and Open track meet that was cancelled twice due to the bad weather, is booked for the 9th of September - 12 noon start. Entries on the line too!! See you there.