Star of the racing and of the future, Tom White, VC Londres

Steve Peat (World Cup Downhill Champion), James Williamson (Under 23 National Series WInner) and Chris Newton (World Points Champion).

One of many champions in action on the track was Jon Norfolk from the promoting club.

Bryan Taylor leads Evan Oliphant in one of the many Endurance Omnium events.

VC St Raphael/Waite Contract teammates Storey and Heald go elbow to elbow to the sprint final.

The gun goes off and one of the derny events is underway with GB Assistant National track coach Marshal Thomas.

British Cycling’s innovative awards evening proved to be an excellent change from the usual hotel bound affair with a program of racing arranged by the Yasumitsu-Schlapp club, providing an excellent evening of entertainment for the prize winners and their guests alike. The evening kicked off at 7.00 pm in the Track centre with the renowned Hugh Porter as master of ceremonies and a number of world beating personalities presenting the many many awards.

As per the program, the awards were presented by a number of people at the top of the sport. Kicking the proceedings off was double world champion Chris Hoy who was followed by World Points Champion Chris Newton and World Cup Downhill champion Steve Peat. The final set of awards was presented by renowned velodrome designer, Ron Webb, designer of the Manchester track and the Sydney Olympic velodrome to name but two.

While guests tucked into a very posh selection of dinners along with the drinks on offer in the bar, riders who have achieved great things both domestically and overseas were honoured in time honoured fashion. The presenting of awards was broken up into three sections and between each section there was some fast and furious racing with world champions past and present taking part along with many up and coming youngsters.

The top rider was undoubtedly youngster Tom White (VC Londres) who won everything he rode and completely dominated the endurance omnium. In the final 45 lap scratch race, Tom rode a good deal of the event off the front of the bunch while his team-mate Bryan Taylor watched for unwelcome bursts from upstarts who might have spoiled Mr White’s fun. Scottish grass track star Evan Oliphant (Velo Club Ecosse) found Manchester’s relatively balmy conditions to his liking taking third in the omnium – despite being rather put off by the lack of astro-turfed bankings. Local rider Kevin Taylor [Horwich CC] looked the best of the rest in fourth and is sure to be a star of the future.

In the sprinter’s omnium, Barney Storey & Dave Heald both VC St Raphael, dominated the cut-throat racing, Heald coming out on top after the final devil. In third place was Junior sprint star Mathew Haynes [City of Edinburgh] who would have been higher placed but for an uncharacteristically poor sprint heat, consequently going straight to the loser’s 6 laps which he promptly won. Triple national Champion Jon Norfolk [Yasumitsu-Schlapp] paid for his attempts to ride both omniums fading to fifth after looking sharp early on in the evening. All in all, another excellent evening at the Manchester Velodrome – with more open meetings to come in the New Year.

We will have a full gallery of images from the night shortly ...

RESULTS

SPRINT OMNIUM

Sprint heats
1.Jon Norfolk - Yasumitsu-Schlapp
2. Dave Heald - VC St Raphael
3. Barney Storey -VC St Raphael
4. Mathew Crompton - Sport City Velo

Round 2.
Heat 1. 
Barney Storey -VC St Raphael bt Jon Norfolk - Yasumitsu-Schlapp

Heat 2. 
Dave Heald - VC St Raphael bt Mathew Crompton - Sport City Velo

Final
Barney Storey -VC St Raphael  bt Dave Heald - VC St Raphael 

Minor final
Jon Norfolk - Yasumitsu-Schlapp bt Mathew Crompton - Sport City Velo

1st rd losers 6 lap
1st Mathew Haynes - City of Edinbugh

Keirin
heat 1. Jon Norfolk - Yasumitsu-Schlapp 
heat 2. Barney Storey -VC St Raphael  
heat 3. Mathew Haynes - City of Edinburgh

Devil
1st. Dave Heald - VC St Raphael 
2nd. Mathew Haynes - City of Edinburgh
3rd. Mathew Crampton - Sport City Velo

FINAL OVERALL
1st. Dave Heald - VC St Raphael 
2nd. Barney Storey -VC St Raphael  
3rd. Mathew Haynes - City of Edinburgh

ENDURANCE OMNIUM

Points
1st Tom White VC Londres
2nd. Bryan Taylor VC Londres
3rd. Kevin Taylor Horwich CC

Win & Out
1st Tom White VC Londres
2nd. Jason Benham Scunthorpe Poly
3rd. Bryan Taylor VC Londres

8 lap Dash
even numbers 
1st. Evan Oliphant - Velo Club Ecosse

odd numbers
1st. Tom White VC Londres

45 lap scratch
1st Tom White VC Londres
2nd. Bryan Taylor VC Londres
3rd. Kevin Taylor Horwich CC

FINAL OVERALL
1st Tom White VC Londres
2nd. Bryan Taylor VC Londres
3rd. Evan Oliphant - Velo Club Ecosse