Published: 13 May 2009
A great turn out for the track league after two weeks off for rain and holidays saw a Keirin competition, 4 Endurance races for the Seniors and a full range of Youth races of which we'll start the report with first.
The Youth 1 Lap time trial saw all of our young competitors line up for 460 metres of pain and in the Under 16's it was William Macke who set the fastest youth lap of the night - a 37.11s, from Frazier Carr with Harry Strudley third. The Under 14's George Withers take the top spot from Jason Pitt and Jamil Gaida. The Under 12/10's had Reg Pay led Abbie Dentus and George Needham in the fastest lap for this the largest youth age category.
Within minutes the youngsters were thrown into a Devil which had U16's William Macke and U14's George Withers take their second victories of the evening and Matthew Lansley took the U12/10's top spot.
The 10 lap Youth Scratch race, which is the longest event for youth riders, produced another win for William Macke in the U16's and Reg Pay in the U12/10's with Jamil Gaida taking the top spot in the U14's.
The final event of the night for the Youths was the Keirin competition and it was Frazier Carr, who after finishing third three times finally took the victory in the U16's with George Withers and Reg Pay taking their third races of the night in the U14's and U12/10's. They were lucky to be finishing so quickly and heading for home as the previously sunny day turned bitterly cold once the sun escaped and the wind chill took over.
The Senior Events started with the usual 10 lap leg warmer and tonight it was a Hare & Hounds, with the Hares (B Cat & Women) holding off the charging A Cat riders until 2 laps to go. That is all except three escapees. Gavin Spiers had snuck off the front and was holding steady with a 60 metre lead when Cam Swarbrick and Dan Maslin jumped away from the field to latch on to him just as the A's were making contact. Swarbrick, Maslin and Spiers then worked quickly together to extend their lead and when they hit the home straight they were alone to fight it out for the top spot, which was won by newly crowned BSCA National Champion Cam Swarbrick, with Maslin second and Spiers third.
The Seniors then went though their various heats of the Keirin competition and after some close battles were left with 6 riders apiece in the A's, B's and Women.
The Keirin Finals saw some titanic battles of men whose quads would be right at home in a front row of a rugby scrum. The Womens final has lovely petite women who shouldn't play rugby , unless they want to of course.
So, to the senior A's final where Neil Cooper stole a march on the field, gaining 50 metres and he looked like holding it until the home straight where he was swamped by the marauding pack with Sam Serruya leading home Lee Povey by what would be less than 5 or 6 inches, with Martin Dawkins third.
The B's Final had a similar feel to it with Dave Dentus and Gavin Spiers charging, neck and neck, down the home straight with Dentus just holding on for the win from Spiers with Cam Swarbrick third.
The Womens final continued this early attack style of racing as right from the moment the derny pulled over it was Emma Patterson who hammered down the back straight to open a 20 metre lead but it was Harriet Owen who easily closed her down and then open up a 5 bike length lead, with Patterson holding on for second and Cassie Gledhill taking third.
The Senior Devil was next up and saw a close contest but eventually had Matt Gittings take the victory in the A's from Stephen Bradbury and Martin Dawkins third. The B's finishing places saw Cam Swarbrick in the points for the third time of the evening and Natalie Hill take best placed Women from Jayne Paine.
After a short rest the seniors were back at it with an Unknown distance and this one went down to the wire. As the riders hit the home straight it looked for all the money as if Stephen Bradbury and Eddie Sobieralski were going to take the win as they lead a charging pack round the bend, but it was Steve Legg who was winding up the big gear on the outside and charged over top of them easily to take the win. Harriet Owen was the best placed women with Cam Swarbrick again getting the top spot in the B's.
The final race, the AW Cycles 20km Endurance race saw a large field start under extremely cold conditions and darkening skies but within a half dozen laps the field which was probably 40 was reduced to 20 and then at half distance it was close to 13 as the relentless pace and attacking from the A's saw all but the strongest survive.
Superb late charges from Matt Gittings and then Rob King, and then Sandy King combined with Nick Abraham, had the field gasping for air but with the wind so strong it was a day to stay in the pack and follow wheels. And eventually as the pack hit the home straight for the final time it was Steve Legg who has saved more than most and he stormed past Neil Cooper and Matt Gittings for the win in the A's. Steve Clarke was the first of only two B riders to finish and Emma Patterson was the first of only two women to finish.
Lets all hope for warmer conditions next time.