News & Results from 13 September 2004

News from Reading Track Cycling League

Final League Race Meeting Sept. 13th 2004 from John Dennis

With daylight dwindling as summer ebbs away Palmer Park?s Stadium floodlights give the cycle racing season longer life for it is the only outdoor Velodrome in the country to enjoy that luxury. Although it was final night for Reading Track Cycling League?s 2004 Season it nevertheless attracted a number of guest riders to take advantage of floodlit racing, despite weather that made no particular promises of guaranteed racing. In fact the track, wet from a heavy shower one hour before the start time, rapidly dried out and the racing programme was in business.

Londoner Bryan Taylor, King of track racing at the capital?s Herne Hill Velodrome, brought his strength and talents westwards and won three of the four senior events. He elected not to ride the 500 metres sprint race, ?I?m not as sprinter? he declared when he signed in, but he certainly demonstrated a lively turn of finishing speed in the 10 laps, Devil and Endurance races that he dominated.

It was newcomers Robin Thompson, just returned from racing in Australia, and Lee Povey, Dataphonics and Chris Tune, Prestige VC, who made claim to high finishing places and added sparkle to the programme. Reading regulars Neil Cooper, Rob Richardson and Angus McInnes upheld the local?s reputation particularly in the John ?Ralph Memorial 20 kilometres points score Endurance. While Bryan Taylor was in unbeatable form, Richardson in the early stages, then later Cooper and McInnes took more than a fair share of the sprint points that were contested every five laps.

Apart from the strong men in the Endurance event the one rider who stood out was a lady rider, Leda Cox, Anglia Sport. She not only stayed the distance, but took her share of the work at the front of the bunch, and more than once led the chase to reel in breakaways. A strong rider on the road and therefore at home in Endurance races she nevertheless had to give in to young Bridie Hindle and Thames Velo?s Carrie Bedingfield in the shorter distance races.

Fresh from his success as Race Director of the newly revived Tour of Britain, Tony Doyle, multi World Champion and ace 6 day rider will be at |Palmer Park next Monday, September 20th at 7.30 p.m. to add an international flavour to the season?s prize presentation ceremony. Tony will be forever remembered for his victories in the 5,000 metres professional pursuit Championships of the world in 111980 and 1986 and his title challenges which gained him the silver medals in the years 1984, 85, 87 and 88 and his pedalling talents which took him to the very crest of the Winter 6 day series in Continental Europe. To finish one of these demanding Endurance super marathons is an achievement, the fact that Tony completed, many times in the winning position, no less than 24 of these long distance challenges is testimony to his outstanding ability as a rider. He will b e warmly greeted at the Track League occasion next week.

Results

Seniors