Published: 6 September 2005
From John Dennis
As the sun rises and gains in intensity so does the speed in the newly devised sunshine Keirin race introduced at Palmer Park Velodrome on Monday. Brainchild of top rider, Rob Richardson, the speed of the pacemaking Derny motor which starts the 10 lap race at a modest 40 kph increases to 55 kph by the time that the pace is withdrawn with ¾ of a lap to go and the bike riders fight it out for the finish line.
The experiment was a complete success, but the inventor was blown off the back in the A race as Lewis Atkins hammered his way to another victory, beating two AW Cycles teamsters Alex Peterson and Tim Bedingfield. The B race developed into a scrap between young and not so young with one of Reading?s future hopes, under 16 years old Sam Serruya (Palmer Park Velo) getting the better of another under 16 year old Simon Lewis (VC Londres) as they both outspeeded veteran Ian Greenstreet (Newbury R.C.) in the dash for the finish line.
Greenstreet, just returned from a two week cycling holiday in Majorca with legs brown, but lacking their usual sprint speed due to a surfeit of mountain climbing, took solace from the fact that he has emerged, in the closing stages of the season, as undisputed Champion of the Endurance B class series.
Undisputed leader of the season?s 20 kilometre AW Cycles Endurance series, Bryan Taylor who one week ago won the National 50 kms Derny motor paced Championship, finished off the series with another resounding win in the 20 kms event. The final run up to the line carried a trace of symbolism for it was last year?s League Champion young Lewis Atkins who was challenging this year?s clear League Champion Bryan Taylor after the fastest 20 kms race of the year. Evidence of the speed which came from repeated efforts to establish breakaway moves, none of which succeeded, as escapees were reeled in time after time, frequently by Taylor, came when timekeepers clocked the race in an under 27 minutes total ? 26 mins 56 secs.
Reading?s other National Champion and British record holder, Lara Wann who still has not reached her 16th birthday and sporting new colours in the blue jersey of Agiskoviner.com was on her very best form and made comfortable work of winning every lady?s race on the night. She showed every confidence that a National title gives a rider, to overcome Carrie Bedingfield AW Cycles. This young lady shows immense promise and versatility, for this year she has won National titles on the road and track and her British record over 200 metres is the shortest distance on the books.
Next Monday at Palmer Park Velodrome will see the last of the season?s race meetings with AW Cycles providing all the awards, just to wrap up a very satisfactory 2005 race programme. It will also see the revival of the West London Cycling Association?s 500 metres sprint Championship for the Bill Hinds (remember the chain of jewellers shops W.Hinds?) and the Memorial race over 20 kilometres which carries the John Ralph name.
Photos
Photographs of the events are available courtesy of DGS Cycling Photography.
Results
Senior
10 laps Scratch:
A Riders 1. Bryan Taylor, VC Londres, 2. Lewis Atkins, Glendene CC/BikeTrax, 3. Steve Legg, Twickenham CC
B Riders 1. Ed Allen, Twickenham CC, 2. Ben Lowe, Twickenham CC, 3. Sam Serruya, Palmer Park Velo
Ladies 1. Lara Wann, Agiskoviner.com, 2. Carrie Bedingfield, Team AW Cycles
10 laps Sunrise Keirin:
A Riders 1. Lewis Atkins, 2. Alex Peterson, Team AWCycles, 3. Tim Bedingfield, Team AW Cycles
B Riders 1. Sam Serruya, 2. Simon Lewis, VC Londres, 3. Ian Greenstreet, Newbury RC
Ladies 1. Lara Wann, 2. Carrie Bedingfield
Unknown Distance:
1. Bryan Taylor, 2. Rob Richardson, Hounslow & Dist. 3. Alex Peterson.
20 kilometres AW Cycles Endurance:
A riders 1. Bryan Taylor, 2. Lewis Atkins, 3. Joe Bayfield, Team AW Cycles
B Riders 1. Ian Greenstreet, 2. Paul Williams, Bath Road Club, 3. Sam Serruya
Ladies 1. Lara Wann, 2. Carrie Bedingfield
Prime Winners Lewis Atkins (3) Simon Lewis (1) Lara Wann (1)
Youths
6 laps Devil:
U16 1. Tom Withers, Palmer Park Velo, 2. Charlie Taylor, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 3. Eli Lyons, PPV
U14 1. Robert Jackson Agiskoviner.com, 2. Samuel Grant, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, 3. Chris Legg, PPV
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, PPV, 2. Jamil Gaida, 3. Rosie Serruya, PPV
1 lap Time Trial:
U16 U16 1. Tom Withers, 2. Eli Lyons, 3. Charlie Taylor
U14 1. Matt Gittings, PPV, 2. Mark Baxter,PPV, 3. Robert Jackson
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Cameron Swarbrick, 3. Rosie Serruya.
4 laps Hare & Hounds:
U16 1. Tom Withers, 2. Charlie Taylor, 3. Eli Lyons
U14 1. Matt Gittings, 2. Mark Baxter, 3. Robert Jackson
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Frazier Carr, PPV, 3. Jamil Gaida.
10 laps Scratch:
U16 1. Tom Withers, 2. Charlie Taylor, 3. Eli Lyons
U14 1. Chris Legg, PPV, 2. Robert Jackson, 3. Matt Gittings
U12 1. Stephen Bradbury, 2. Jamil Gaida, 3. Frazier Carr.