Published: 12 July 2005

From John Dennis

Ladies Night at Reading Velodrome on Monday saw two stars of the future, Lara Wann, Palmer Park Velo and Bridie Hindle, VC St. Raphael, challenge the dominance of 1st Category rider Carrie Bedingfield, Team AW Cycles, in the battle to become British Cycling Central Division Ladies Track Champion, in a three match Omnium consisting of a 5 lap pursuit, 8 lap points score and a 500 metres sprint. Carrie took first blood with a blistering show of strength to win the points score by a breakaway, she also took first place in the pursuit contest with the fastest time over the 5 laps, but close on her heels was 15 year old Lara Wann, PPV?s star, a mere 5 seconds slower and in the 500 m sprint Bridie Hindle, another 15 years old, could not be beaten. It was Lara who was on her shoulder in the run up to the finish line to confirm that Reading will not be short of National honours in the future.

Youth was much in prominence in the men?s events for another 15 year old, Sam Serruya, Palmer Park Velo celebrated his first attempt to step out of the Youth League and enter the senior contests with a victory in the first race of the evening, the 10 lap Hare & Hounds. In this event B riders have a half lap start on the A riders, and the aim is to make up the difference in distance, but on this occasion the lesser riders could not be caught, and Sam Serruya came out on top in the run up to the finish.

While it was an evening when youth blossomed, one veteran, Ian Greenstreet, Newbury R.C. clearly demonstrated that there was still life in the old dog yet! Having set a personal best over 50 miles in a road time trial the previous day, 2hrs 1 minute, he showed a fine burst of speed to win the B riders Keirin event from David Dentus, Willesden CC, and young Sam Serruya. The veteran closed his score for the evening with another first place in the 20 kms AW Cycles Endurance event?s B rider category. However, it was Bryan Taylor who once again demonstrated his superior speed in the A class. He won both the Devil race and the Unknown distance event before devastating the field in the 20 kms Endurance event. From a field of 35 riders who started, he finished ¾ of a lap in front of his nearest challenger after going solo with 15 laps to go. It demonstrated his ability to make the pace alone as well as produce a devastating sprint finish. It started with a three man breakaway halfway through the race when he took off in company with Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist and Sam Sturgeon, returning after an injury. The speed had already overcome many riders, including Joe Bayfield when the trio took off, then Sam dropped back into the chasing peloton, and with 15 laps still to be covered Rob Richardson too had to relent to the Bryan Taylor onslaught. Nevertheless Richardson and Sturgeon finished the race in second and third places while Ian Greenstreet, still enjoying his earlier victory, finished best B class rider ahead of junior James Boyman, Agiskoviner, and another Hounslow competitor, Marc Cunnington. Carrie Bedingfield rounded off her successful medal winning evening with Best ladies? performance in the Endurance which finished in a record time of 27 minutes 8 seconds.

Photos

Photographs of the events are available courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography and swarbrick.com.

Results

Seniors

10 laps Hare & Hounds:

1. Sam Serruya, Palmer Park Velo, 2. David Dentus, Willesden, 3. Ian Greenstreet, Newbury R.C.
Ladies: 1. Samantha Van Gerbig, Oxford University CC, 2. Abby Jackson, Team Luciano

2 laps Keirin:

A Riders: 1. Lee Povey, British Cycling private member, 2. Sam Sturgeon, Trackcycling.co.uk, 3. Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist.
B Riders: 1. Ian Greenstreet, 2. David Dentus, 3. Sam Serruya.
Ladies: 1. Samantha Van Gerbig, 2. Lara Wann, Palmer Park Velo, 3. Cheryl Owens, Twickenham.

Devil:

1. Bryan Taylor, VC Londres, 2. Joe Bayfield, AWCycles.co.uk, 3. Rob Richardson.

Unknown Distance:

1. Bryan Taylor, 2. Jak Kenton-Spraggan, British Cycling p.m.3. Adam Blyth, Planet X
Ladies: Samantha Van Gerbig

20 kms AW Cycles Endurance:

A Riders: 1. Bryan Taylor, 2. Rob Richardson, 3. Sam Sturgeon.
B Riders: 1. Ian Greenstreet, 2. James Boyman, Agiskoviner.com, 3. Marc Cunnington, Hounslow & District.
Best Lady: Carrie Bedingfield, AWCycles.com. Time 27 mins 8 secs.
Prime Winner: Bryan Taylor

British cycling Central Division Women?s Omnium Championship (Points race, sprint, pursuit)

1. Carrie Bedingfield, 2. Lara Wann, 3. Bridie Hindle, VC St Raphael, 4. Janet Birkmyre, Twickenham CC, 5. Cheryl Owens, 6. Rohan Battison, Reading CC

Youths

6 laps Scratch:

U16: 1. Michael Wilmot, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 2. Tom Withers, Palmer Park Velo, 3. Farley Taylor, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
U14: 1. Chris Legg, PPV, 2. Robert Jackson, Agiskoviner 3. Matt Legg, PPV
U12: 1. Stephen Bradbury, PPV, 2. Frazier Carr, PPV, 3. Jamil Gaida, PPV

1 lap Sprint:

U16: 1. Toby Meadows, Agiskoviner, 2. Michael Wilmot, 3. Robert Clark, PPV U14 1. Alexander Wilson, TCL 2. Robert Jackson, 3. Chris Legg
U12: 1. Stephen Bradbury,2. Frazier Carr 3. Jamil Gaida
Girls: 1. Rosie Serruya, PPV, 2. Rebecca Pressner, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 3. Emily Clark, PPV

4 laps Block Handicap:

U16: 1. Toby Meadows, 2. Michael Wilmot 3. Farley Taylor, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
U14: 1. Chris Legg, 2. Robert Jackson
U12: 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Frazier Carr, Alexander Wilson, TCL 3. Jamil Gaida

10 laps Scratch:

U16: 1. Toby Meadows, 2. Ed Allen, Twickenham CC 3. Farley Taylor,
U14: 1. Robert Jackson, 2. Chris Legg, 3. Matt Legg, PPV
U12: 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Frazier Carr, 3. George Withers, PPV