Published: 2 August 2005
From John Dennis
Despite many hilly road racing miles and early season injuries, Lewis Atkins, Glendene Biketrax, showed positive signs in Monday?s Reading Velodrome racing programme of a return to the super speed which last year won him a sensational Track League Championship status. He looks as if he is on the way to reaching pure track speed just in time for the National Junior Championships which take place in Newport, South Wales new indoor Velodrome in two weeks time. On Monday, at Palmer park Stadium, he kicked off his ?return? with a decisive win in the 10 lap A rider scratch race, went on to win the 2 laps Keirin for A Riders and then 2 second places in the 12 laps points score and the final event of the evening, the A W Cycles 20 kilometre Endurance race. He did, however, receive a stark warning that the National championships will be keenly contested for Monday?s programme saw the first appearance of a visitor to Reading, David Williams, I.team.uk, another 17 year old from Portsmouth, who finished 3rd to Atkins in the 10 lap and beat him to win the 12 laps points score race by a margin of three points.
Lurking in the background however, and still in the under 16 years category is Sam Serruya, the local grown Palmer Park Velo youngster who earlier this year decided to abandon Youth League racing in favour of greater competition in the senior ranks. That decision brought great satisfaction and encouragement, for on Monday he won the Keirin B riders final, beating Ian Greenstreet, Newbury RC. The Newbury man however, turned the tables on the youngster by pushing Sam into third position in the A W Cycles 20 kilometre Endurance.
On a windswept evening, when Palmer Park escaped the storms which raged all around Reading on Monday, the young brigade really made a mark in the result list Amongst the girls, Greta Junker,Lukracing.net, confirmed the promise she has been showing for weeks now, with a win in the 10 laps scratch, third place amongst the males in the 12 laps points score and runner up place to Carrie Bedingfield, the new Divisional Ladies title holder, in the unknown distance event. Not bad for an under 16 year old. However, she will have to pull out all the stops to overcome the tenacity, inspiration and hidden power that resides in modest Lara Wann. She really will be a power in women?s racing in the future. Already well established in the senior ranks despite being under 16 years old she overcame Carrie Bedingfield in the Keirin final, took third place in the 10 laps scratch and then stayed with the field all the way in the 20 kms Endurance after taking her share of the attacks, to be judged best lady in the race.
The Endurance event was off to a fast start, with Sam Sturgeon making an immediate breakaway which he maintained for 14 laps. He was reeled in ultimately as subsequent breakaways tried their luck, and they too were caught by the peloton. Sam made a final attempt to get away with another solo effort 3 laps from the finish which would have succeeded but for a heroic early last lap show of pure speed which took Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist, to a well earned and warmly appreciated victory crossing the finishing line arms upraised in a victory salute.
Photos
Photographs of the events are available courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography.
Results
Senior Results
10 laps scratch:
A Riders 1. Lewis Atkins, Glendene CC/Biketrax, 2. Brett Perez, Agiskoviner.com, 3. David Sinclair, I.team.co.uk
B Riders 1. Simon Lewis, V C Londres, 2. Ian Greenstreet, Newbury RC, 3. James Boyman, Agiskoviner.com
Ladies 1. Greta Junker,Lukracing.net, 2. Melanie Williams, Agiskoviner.com. 3. Lara Wann, Palmer Park Velo.
2 laps Keirin:
A Riders 1. Lewis Atkins, 2. David Sinclair, 3. Brett Perez.
B Riders 1. Sam Serruya, PPV, 2. Ian Greenstreet, 3. Simon Lewis
Ladies 1. Lara Wann, 2. Carrie Bedingfield, Team AW Cycles, 3. Melanie Williams
12 laps Points Score:
A Riders 1. David Sinclair (15 pts), 2. Lewis Atkins (12 pts), 3. Rob Richardson , Hounslow & Dist (5 pts).
B Riders 1. Simon Lewis (11 pts), 2. James Boyman, (10 pts), 3. Greta Junker (7 pts).
Unknown Distance:
A Riders 1. Sam Sturgeon, Trackcycling.co.uk, 2. Gary Kristensen, Agiskoviner.com, 3. Kirk Jenns, PCA Ciclos Uno.
B Riders 1. Simon Lewis, 2. Eli Lassman, Oxford University, 3. Sam Serruya
Ladies 1. Carrie Bedingfield, 2. Greta Junker, 3. Corinne Hall, V C Londres.
20 kms A W Cycles Endurance:
A Riders 1. Rob Richardson, 2. Lewis Atkins, 3. Neil Cooper, A W Cycles
B Riders 1. Ian Greenstreet, 2. Robert King, BC Private, 3. Sam Serruya.
Best Lady 1. Lara Wann
Prime Winners Lewis Atkins (2), Sam Sturgeon (1) David Sinclair (1)
Youth League results
6 laps Scratch:
U16 1. Michael Wilmot, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 2. Charlie Taylor, HS, 3. Eli Lyons, Palmer Park Velo,
U14 1. Robert Jackson, Agiskoviner, 2. Chris Legg, PPV, 3. Matt Legg, PPV
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, PPv, 2. Frazier Carr,PPV, 3. Cameron Swarbrick PPV
1 lap Time Trial:
U16 1. Toby Meadows, Agiskoviner, 2. Michael Wilmot, 3. Emma Paterson,PPV,
U14 1. Chris Legg, 2. Matt Gittings, PPV, 3. Jamie Fooks, PPV,
U12 1. Rosie Serruya PPV 2. Stephen Bradbury, 3. Cameron Swarbrick.
4 laps Block Handicap:
U16 1. Toby Meadows, 2. Michael Wilmot, 3. Charlie Taylor
U14 1. Robert Jackson, 2. Matt Gittings, 3. Chris Legg
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Frazier Carr, 3. Emily Clark, PPV
10 lap Scratch:
U16 1. Michael Wilmot, 2. Toby Meadows, 3. Charlie Taylor,
U14 1. Robert Jackson, 2. Chris Legg, 3. Jamie Fooks
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Frazier Carr, 3. George Withers, PPV.