Published: 23 August 2005
From John Dennis
A combination of a motorway accident which blocked the access roads to Palmer Park Stadium and day long rain did not prevent Reading Velodrome?s cycle racing programme going ahead on Monday, but it certainly cut the volume of competitors to the lowest turnout of the season. But it failed to lower the quality of the racing which saw Lewis Atkins topping the prize list in three of the evening?s events, the 10 laps Hare & Hounds, 2 laps handicap and the Unknown Distance race.
Nothing stood in the way of Bryan Taylor?s season long dominance of the AW Cycles 20 kilometre Endurance race. The smaller field, battered by a blustery wind blowing down the back straight, was reminiscent of the ?ten green bottles hanging on the wall? as one by one riders dropped off the back of the bunch and was reduced to six men by the finish with Taylor up front, elbows spread to take another victory and add more points to his leading position in the season long Endurance series.
With only two more left before the season closes on September 12th, there is no racing on Bank Holiday Monday next week, the multi national champion is in an unassailable position to take the Reading League?s 2005 Championship. Taylor, who will return to Monday racing at London?s Herne Hill Velodrome when it returns to operational programmes next year, will gain the plaudits at Reading when on September 19th he will step up to take his awards from Tony Doyle, twice World Champion and renowned six day rider, fresh from his Directional responsibilities in the forthcoming Tour of Britain.
Monday evening?s weather however, did not stand in the way of celebrations of last week?s triumph by Lara Wann, Palmer Park Velo?s young star, in the National Junior Championships at Newport, S. Wales.
Lara had already won the under-16 National Championship on the Road last June and has now matched this with results on the track. She was competing in the Juvenile individual pursuit, an event where GB won a gold medal in the Athens Olympics. This is one of the most intense and grueling of track events where 2 riders start on opposite sides of the track and battle to gain a lead. In the final of the 2k (8lap) pursuit Lara was against Greta Junker from Taunton, 2 friends who have had a series of battles in the Reading Track League in the past few months. Greta had qualified for the final just 2 tenths of a second faster than Lara. Lara used the strategy of allowing Greta a slight lead in the early laps then increased her pace to storm through in the final laps, bringing the crowd to their feet as she reached 52kph for a blistering last lap of 17.3s. Both girls sliced seconds off their qualifying times and personal bests. Lara?s time of 2:38.36 was a second clear of Greta, 5secs clear of the 3rd placed rider and would have beaten some of the (non-GB) riders in the recent Junior World Championships. Lara also moved up an age category to compete against the under18 girls and displaced one of the GB squad riders to take the bronze medal in the Junior 2k Pursuit. Unexpected success came in the sprint events where Lara set a new National record over 200m and then progressed through a series of tough sprint matches to the sprint final. Lara who has done very little match sprinting lacked the tactical skill to cope with top sprinter Jessica Varnish of Halesowen, but was delighted to take the silver medal. Lara also took a bronze medal in the standing start 500m, another sprinters event, with a time of 38.7sec. All of Lara?s times show exceptional promise and place her in a strong position as she moves to Junior level next year when there is the opportunity to compete in international events. Lara?s exceptional performances are a credit to the Palmer Park Velo Club in developing young riders, her personal coach John Percy of Agiskoviner.com, and to Reading Track League in providing a competitive forum where young riders can hone their skills and compete at the highest level in UK sport.
Photos
Photographs of the events are available courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography.
Results
Seniors
10 laps Hare & Hounds:
1. Lewis Atkins, Glendene/BikeTrax, 2. Simon Lewis, VCLondres, 3. Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist Wh
Ladies Greta Junker, Lukracing.net
2 laps Handicap:
A Riders 1. Lewis Atkins, 2. Tom Smith,Vinerbikes/Agisko, 3. Tim Bedingfield, Team AW Cycles
B Riders 1. Sam Serruya, Palmer Park Velo, 2. Simon Lewis, 3. Steven Wrigley, Palmer Park Velo
12 laps Points score:
1. David Jack, Twickenham CC (20 points) 2. Lewis Atkins (11 pts), 3. Rob Richardson (6 pts)
Unknown Distance:
A Riders 1. Lewis Atkins, 2. Tim Bedingfield, 3. Bryan Taylor
B Riders 1. Sam Serruya, 2. Steven Wrigley, 3. Robert King, BCF
20 kms AW Cycles Endurance:
A Riders 1. Bryan Taylor, 2. Rob Richardson, 3. Lewis Atkins,
B Riders 1. Robert King
Prime Winners Simon Lewis, Lewis Atkins
Youth Results
6 laps Scratch:
U16 1. Robert Clark, Palmer Park Velo,
U14 1. Robert Jackson, Agiskoviner.com, 2. Matt Gittings, PPV,
U12 1. Richard Barlow, PPV, 2. Frazier Carr, PPV, 3. Jamil Gaida, PPV
1 lap Time Trial:
U16 Robert Clark
U14 1. Matt Gittings, 2. Robert Jackson, 3. Holly Swarbrick, PPV.
U12 1. Richard Barlow, 2. Frazier Carr, 3. Jamil Gaida
4 laps Block Handicap:
U16 1. Robert Clarke
U14 1. Matt Gittings, 2. Robert Jackson, 3. Holly Swarbrick
10 laps Block Handicap:
U16 1. Robert Clarke,
U14 1. Matt Gittings, 2. Robert Jackson, 3. Oli Wakeman,
U12 1. Richard Barlow, 2. Frazier Carr, 3. Jamil Gaida