Published: 11 May 2005

From John Dennis

Young ladies stole the limelight in Monday?s Reading Velodrome Racing programme at Palmer Park Stadium, but who could rightly be named as the Prima Donna of the night? Two named riders vied for that title, Janet Birkmyre, Twickenham CC who won all four lady?s races or 15 year old Lara Wann, Palmer Park Velo, who after taking a share of the points in the Youth League asked permission to join the big race of the night, the A.W. Cycles Endurance event.

Schoolgirl Lara won the admiration of all, for she not only stayed with the race all the way, took a share of the work at the front when the pressure was on, and finished with the main group to claim best lady?s title. She had tried the Endurance race once before, but was unable to last the distance, but this week she broke the pain barrier to finish with the main group. Lara, whose aim in life is to qualify for the medical profession, certainly had a tale to tell at school the next day.

It was a night when four of the big hitters were forced to take notice of the rising talent. David Dentus, Willesden, for example, showed a finishing sprint that could bring him much success in the future, for he won the opening event of the evening, the 10 laps Hare & Hounds, and followed it up with the best B rider in the 2 lap Keirin when he overcame the undoubted talent of Lee Povey, BCF who had already won the two lap handicap final with ease.

Ian Holt, Vinorbikes Agisko, however, was the man who caused the greatest difficulty to the big hitters, Bryan Taylor, Lewis Atkins, Rob Richardson and Tim Bedingfield in the AW Cycles 20 kilometre Endurance marathon. It was Holt who instituted the opening attacks which later built into a six man breakaway, which also included VC Londres ? Ross Muir in his first visit to Reading Velodrome. With 13 laps to the finish, the fast moving group lapped the field which threatened the Judges with the formidable task of separating the leading six from the rest if it had come to a bunched sprint at the finish. The problem was settled when the breakaway took off again to draw clear, and it was this group that then contested the sprint for A riders with Rob Richardson pressing Bryan Taylor all the way to the line with young Lewis Atkinson only inches away. It was Bath Roader, Paul Williams who snatched the sprint finish for B riders away from frequent winner Ian Greenstreet of Newbury R.C. while Bryan Taylor?s London clubmate, Simon Lewis, sealed his first visit to Reading with third place.

Photos

Photographs of the events are available courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography.

Results

Seniors:-

10 laps Hare & Hounds:
1. David Dentus, Willesden CC; 2. Lewis Atkins, Glendene CC Bike Trax; 3. Bryan Taylor, V.C.Londres.
Ladies: 1. Janet Birkmyre, Twickenham CC; 2. Abby Jackson, Team Luciano Trek; 3. Jayne Toyne, V.C.Londres

2 laps Handicap:
A Riders 1. Lewis Atkins; 2. Ross Muir, Vinor Bikes Agisko; 3. Tim Bedingfield, Team A.W.Cycles
B Riders. 1. Lee Povey, BCF; 2. Simon Lewis, V.C.Londres; 3. Paul Williams, Bath Road Club.
Ladies 1. Janet Birkmyre; 2. Rohan Bettison, Reading CC; 3. Abby Jackson

2 laps Keirin: A riders
1. Ian Holt, Vinor Bikes Agisko; 2. Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist.; 3. Lewis Atkins.
B riders. 1. David Dentus, Willesden CC; 2. Lee Povey; 3. Simon Lewis.
Ladies: 1. Janet Birkmyre; 2. Lara Wann, Palmer Park Velo; 3. Abby Jackson.

Unknown Distance:
1. Bryan Taylor; 2. Rob Richardson; 3. Lewis Atkins
Ladies: 1. Janet Birkmyre, 2. Abby Jackson

AW Cycles 20 kms Endurance:
A riders 1. Bryan Taylor, 2. Rob Richardson, 3. Lewis Atkins
B riders 1. Paul Williams, Ian Greenstreet, Newbury RC, 3. Simon Lewis
Prime Winners 1. Ross Muir, Tim Bedingfield, Simon Lewis
Best lady Lara Wann

Youth:-

6 laps Devil:
U16 1. Sam Serruya, Palmer Park Velo; 2. Lara Wann, PPV; 3. Christopher Bradbury,PPV;
U14 1. Edward Jakszta, Hillingdon Slipstreamers; 2.Emily Hogge, PPV; 3. Chris Legg, PPV;
U12. 1. Stephen Bradbury, PPV; 2. Richard Barlow, PPV; 3. George Withers,PPV.

1 lap Sprint:
U16 1. Sam Serruya; 2. Michael Wilmot, Hillingdon Slipstreamers; 3. Ben Lowe, Twickenham CC.
U14 1. Edward Jakszta, 2. Chris Legg, 3. Mark Baxter, PPV
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, PPV; 2. Richard Barlow,3. George Withers PPV.

4 laps Hare & Hounds:
U16 1. Sam Serruya, 2. Chris Bradbury, 3. Lara Wann
U14 1. Edward Jakszta, 2. Chris Legg, 3. Mark Baxter
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Richard Barlow, 3. George Withers

10 laps Block Handicap:
U16 1. Chris Bradbury,2. Tom Withers, 3. Sam Serruya
U14 1. Edward Jakszta, 2. Chris Legg, 3. Mark Baxter
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Richard Barlow, 3. George Withers