Preston Park Track Week #13
15 July 2009; Report by Gavin Smith, pictures by Dan Dunbar and Sally Page
The threatened rain held off and a fantastic evening of racing took place at Brighton’s track, featuring the league points championship races for all categories, a full supporting programme of events and – after weeks of suspense! - a result in the overall senior "B" league competition. Championship medals were presented by British Cycling Regional Development Manager Roy Page.
SENIORS
The senior points championship over 25 laps had 25 riders on the start-line and sprints every five laps. For Preston Park, this was to be the longest event of the year with approximately nine miles of full-on racing action. Martin O'Brien, Tim Hill, Nigel Foskett, Matthew Wise, Felix English and Adam Gent were visible at the head of affairs early on, but by the first points whistle, Trace Harris had broken away and he succeeded in staying in front to grab the first maximum, Charlie Heffernan, English and Gent taking the other points on offer. The A-cats were well to the fore in the next few laps, with English, Brock Duncumb-Rogers, Charlie Sayer, Heffernan and Gent policing the bunch. Heffernan, Gent, Sayer and Martyn Potter crossed the line in that order at the next distribution, giving the young Heffernan a distinct lead.
With 14 laps to go, though, English made a strong move and got free from the peloton. Ian Craig, Phil Burnett and Nick Smith showed their twitchiness with fast bursts at the front of the bunch, so much so that by the next payout English was back in the fold and the maximum went once more to Heffernan, who was enjoying a great evening. Sayer, Duncumb-Rogers and joint B-league leader Richard Bailey also scored points. As the race livened up even more, English and Gent moved ahead up the track in a short-lived move, then Matt Davies courageously had a go on a lone break which lasted two laps. He was eventually joined by the dynamic black-clad Andy Edwards, then as the lap-board showed '5', Edwards took 5 points and he was followed over the line by Sayer, Nick Smith and Harris.
With Heffernan for once a non-scorer, this left an intriguing finale, as Sayer could win the title if he took the sprint finish and his rival failed to score. However, it was not to be. English made yet another move with two to go, but by the finish Heffernan was first across the line, followed in by Gent, Mark Burgess and Sayer. Heffernan's great display gave him a well-deserved title, Sayer took the silver and Gent won bronze, and next in line were Harris, Edwards and Burgess.
Straight after the medal ceremonies, it was again down to business with the all-up senior 8-lap Scratch race. Youngsters Nick Smith and Matt Wise were active upfront at first, but at half-distance it was Phil Burnett who was out on his own. His adventure lasted for three laps, but at the bell he was back in the bunch and English led over the line. However, positions were overturned on the final lap, and Heffernan charged home first ahead of Potter, Gent, English, Sayer and Burgess.
Three separate 3-lap dash races were on offer tonight, for B2s, B1s and As. Only four riders took the start for the first of these. It all stayed together throughout, and George Webster used his strong sprint to take victory ahead of Ian Craig, new rider Mark Turner and Ben Gerrey. When the B1s came to the start, everyone knew that a win for either Andy Parle or Richard Bailey would signal their triumph in the season-long B league, thereby ending the saga which has been going on for weeks. Like the B2 event, the bunch stayed united and it was all down to a final sprint between - yes! - Parle and Bailey. Parle put up a great fight, but he was outsprinted by a wheel by Bailey who took the win and the title. Paul Barnard was third, just in front of Martin O'Brien, then came Neil McClelland and Nick Smith. The A-dash also stayed together, Heffernan winning ahead of Gent, Burgess, Sayer, Potter and Edwards.
The final senior race of the evening was the traditional unknown distance event, also featuring the top riders from the U16/U14 age-group, Elliot Tabraham-Dowers and Ashley Dennis – though these two were ruled out of any primes and league points. Elliot went away early on, while Trace Harris, Brock Duncumb-Rogers, Matt Davies, Phil Smith and Martin O’Brien were prominent at the front of the bunch. As Elliot was brought back, it was Heffernan who took two consecutive primes to find himself £10 richer. Matt Wise tried his luck with a lone breakaway, but at the next prime it was Edwards who crossed the line first. At the end of a hectic race, Edwards took the win ahead of Harris and Gent, while Bailey, Parle and O’Brien filled the next points-scoring placings.
With the points championship win and two other victories, this was Heffernan’s night. But the other big winner was Richard Bailey, who won the “B” league in style and will feature among the “A” riders from next week. The overall “A” league is now finely poised, with English in front on 113 points, Mark Burgess second on 109 and last year’s “B” winner Heffernan rising tonight to 103. The “B” league is no less fascinating: with Andy Parle very likely to finish second overall, next in line there are now no fewer than six riders spanning only ten points.
YOUTH
The enthusiasm of the youths was there for all to see tonight in their quest to get on to the podium. A total of 39 young riders signed on for the championship events and the supporting races.
Under 16/Under 14
This age-group were really on the ball tonight, with pre-race queries about how the points would be distributed (jointly or separately by age-group). After explanations by Chief Commissaire Daniel Gerrey, all was clear and the bunch of 13 riders were away for 8 laps and 4 point-scoring sprints. Predictably, Under 16 Elliot Tabraham-Dowers dominated overall and he took the Under 16 title. He was followed by Jack Oliver-Blaney who won the Under 16 silver medal and Milo Burdeau who notched up the bronze. Elliot will no doubt benefit from senior competition next season. However, he was pushed hard in this points race by Under 14 Ashley Dennis, who matched his pace generally but was just outpaced in the actual sprints. Ashley won the Under 14 title and he was followed by three fast-improving girls Kim English, Amy Jacobs and Sara Gent, with Jack Hoyle fifth and Jake Marley sixth.
Ashley showed he meant business in the 4-lap scratch, taking the race by the scruff of the neck and leading throughout the first two laps. However, by the bell Elliot was in evidence near the front, and sure enough he won the final sprint in front of Ashley, with Amy Jacobs again up there for a fine third place. Imogen Farlie put up an outstanding performance to win the handicap race, while Amy Jacobs was second and Ashley came third.
Under 12
Amy Barnes well and truly took control of the Under 12 points championship, taking all the maximums with an outstanding display. Harris Redgrove rode very well for runner-up spot and the bronze went to Amy Smith. Amy Barnes again showed her good form with a win in the 2-lap scratch ahead of Amy Smith and Luke Stacey. Mark Jacobs, fresh from his win at Guildford a week earlier, won the handicap race, with Amy Barnes second and Ted O'Brien third.
Under 10/Under 8
The Under 8 points championship over two laps was dominated by Dominic Kazlauskas, who took all the maximums and a commendable win overall. He was followed by Evelyn Parle, with Miranda Wright taking the bronze medal. Oliver Brooker did well to achieve fourth spot and 4-year-old Freddie Davies came fifth. Douglas McCauley lived up to his reputation in the 3-lap Under 10 title-race, taking the first and third maximums and the title itself. Thomas Burnett was first over the line on the second lap and this helped him towards the silver medal, while new rider Noah Ridgway-Brown bagged bronze. Douglas McCauley also won the Under 10 1-lap scratch race, in front of Isaac Wright and Harry Stacey. The result of the equivalent Under 8 event was as above, Dominic leading home Evelyn and Miranda. The joint handicap race was won by Sam Barnes with a great lap, followed by Lois Parle and Bethany Lewis.
