Published: 18 June 2008
Tonight's feature event at the AW Cycles sponsored track league was the Central Divisions Sprint Competition, and with a good turn out of youth and experience, a few surprises and awesome races, as you'll read.
The first heat saw an in form Neil Cooper roll over the top of Eddy Sobieralski with good DHL Sprint school rider john Paul boxed in and unable to pass. The second and the fastest heat saw Dave Dentus take a flyer on the back straight, opening up an unassailable lead from Martin Dawkins and an under the weather David Jack. The final heat produced a real surprise with Rob Drinkwater using his skills gained on the previous weekends Geoff Cooke Sprint camp, held in Manchester, as he followed the move by Sam Sturgeon and then powered over top to win by a bike length with Sturgeon second and Ian Greenstreet third.
The Youths had their Sprint event this evening too and with the heats going to form in the Under 14's it was Daniel Maslin up against Frazier Carr and Cameron Swarbrick. Carr started the Finals action with an early move which Swarbrick saw and jumped on his wheel. Maslin took station on Swarbricks wheel and as they hit the home straight made his move towards the front. Swarbrick fought him all the way to the line but Maslin pipped him by half a wheel length. The Under 12/10's had multi sport athlete Jamil Gaida take a comfortable win from Daniel Lansley with Katie Metalli third.
- Sam Sturgeon leads off Ian Greenstreet and eventual champion Rob Drinkwater in Heat 3 of the Divisional Sprints
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
The Mens Final saw a slow start with Drinkwater taking the lead, Cooper watching as Dentus took a route towards the fence for more height. As the hit the back straight Drinkwater, anticipating an attack from Dentus, took off. Dentus, 5 lengths back, gave chase with Cooper on his wheel. Drinkwater, though, had the gap and wasn't about to let up and as they came off the final banking onto the home straight, the lead was the same but with Cooper at full pace trying to close the space. Cooper had too much to do though, having had to come the long way round Dentus and never made it to Drinkwaters back wheel and the winning margin of two bike lengths was plenty for Drinkwater as he eased up over the line. Cooper finishing second with Dentus third.
- Frazier Carr leads the field in the Under 14's Scratch Race
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
In the Endurance events it was business as usual for in form Chris Legg who took victories in the Scratch race, Devil and Unknown distance events. Seemingly each age category has its dominant rider as in the Under 14's Daniel Maslin, fresh off his Sprint victory also took wins in the Devil, Hare & Hounds, only missing out in the 10 Lap Scratch race to Frazier Carr. The Under 12/10's Jamil Gaida won the Devil and Hare & Hounds but was also pipped to the clean sweep by Harvey Watson who took victory in the 10 lap Scratch race.
- Neil Cooper lunging for victory, from John Paul, in the 20 km Scratch Race
- Photograph courtesy of swarbrick.com
The last race, as usual, is the AW Cycles 20km endurance race, which this week, went off at full speed from the gun as Sam Sturgeon in one of his acts of madness decided that 44 laps on his own was a good thing !!! I don't know about you but 44 laps would make me dizzy. Anyway, he wasn't about to be let loose and was reeled in fairly quickly. The event was all out action with multiple attacks from Chris Legg, Neil Cooper, Stephen Bradbury, Rob King and David Jack but with constant hard work from Robbie Richardson, John Warnock and the rest of the field, they were brought back into the fold. Although not as fast as say , Welwyns 10 miler, this attacking racing reduced the field to the strongest dozen riders, and with all lapped riders taken out with 10 to go, it was down to a last gap effort if anyone was going to get away. Legg tried continuously but with being marked heavily he was not given any space.
As they came round for the final lap, Jack wound up the pace, Cooper on his wheel with King and Legg sitting comfortably. Jack swung off, his effort done, leaving Cooper to use all his Sprinting speed to hold the lead all the way to the finish, with B's rider John Paul taking second and Legg taking third.
Next week's action has Keirins for all, separate Senior A & B Points races and a Youth Madison event.
See you there.
David Jack