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The field comes together in the
Senior Hare and Hounds |
David Jack reports - Bring out the Derny, strap on the driver and line up for
some action.
The third night of the AW Cycles sponsored Palmer Park track league got under
way in cool but clear and blustery conditions. Most felt that there seemed to
be a headwind everywhere and no sign of a tailwind anywhere. Sounds familiar.
The Youths got the action started with a 6 lap Scratch race and starting with
the Girls, it was Rosie Serruya who pipped Emily Hogge and Georgie Hardy for
the win. Daniel Maslin continued his good form to take out the Under 12’s
whilst Stephen Bradbury won the Under 14’s and Matt Gittings the Under
16’s.
The next event was supposed to be a Youth Sprint competition but some quick
changes to the program and theYouths were first up behind the Derny for their
own Keirin competition.
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Janet Birkmyre wins the Ladies Keirin |
Keirins originated in Japan (where they bet on the riders as much , if not
more, than horse racing) and the format involves a Derny (special track motorbike)
that sets a steady pace until the last lap where they swing off setting the
riders on their way to the line in a mass charge of between 6 and 8 riders.
The results, although more exciting and fun, had Daniel Maslin (U12/10’s),
Stephen Bradbury(U14’s) and Matt Gittings (U16’s) all winning their
respective age categories, whilst Emily Hogge showed some good leg speed to
take the Girls race.
Bradbury , Maslin and Gittings would later win their Block handicap events
with Rosie Serruya winning the girls event.
The first Senior event of the night was the 10 lap Hare & Hounds, and the
largest field so far this season with over 40 riders, blasted round at pace
only to regroup on the bell, except for one lone rider, seasoned campaigner
Sean Bannister who held a 50 metre lead only to be caught down the home straight
by the fast finishing Ian Greentstreet. Greenstreet would also go on to win
his second race of the night, the Unknown Distance event.
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The field strings out during the 20K Endurance race |
The senior Keirin event had three Senior A heats , two Senior B heats and two
Senior Womens heats, which gave us 6 riders in each final.
The A Final was won by about 5 inches, with Sam Serruya pipping Roger Woodford
with Sam Sturgeon a close 3rd.
The B Final has not quite as close but still hard fought but it was Eddy Sobieralski
taking the victory followed by John Hobbs and Ricky Pankhurst.
Womens final was dominated by Janet Birkmyre, who rode from the front and turned
up the gas to win by a comfortable margin. Carrie Bedingfield and Charley Docker
led in the chasers.
The next event is everyones favourite, The Devil, and it was the brothers Wilmot,
Marc and Michael, who claimed first and second, with Chris Legg 3rd but it was
the final event of the night which, as always, is the most enduring and nonetheless
painful, the AW Cycles 20km Endurance race. 44 laps of Palmer Park, in blustery
conditions and with several new riders to the league, it was a closely fought
affair.
First attack was a subtle one, with Richard Prince riding away steadily, gaining
half a lap and then being joined by four riders including 13 year old Stephen
Bradbury. These five stayed out front for 26 laps before the relentless pace
of some senior riders bought them back into the fold. Other small attacks from
Martin McCrossan and David Jack were eventually nullified and it was down to
a final lap dash with 25 riders still in the mix.
Usually at this point someone takes a flyer, gains 50 metres and hangs on for
dear life, but no, it was a steady increase down the back straight and with
riders five wide on the final bend, it was a drag race down the home straight
and winning by half a wheel it was Lee Smith, who stole the victory from Richard
Prince with Michael Wilmot taking third. A blanket could have covered the first
6 riders it was that close.
Next weeks Bank Holiday Monday event is a special Bordeaux-Paris Special Track
event, which starts at 12 noon and includes a round of the National Endurance
Series. Riders can enter on the line for most events and there is £1000
of prize money by kind sponsors AW Cycles and the Elgar Society.
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A close finish to the Endurance race – Lee Smith
victorious |
Event 1 – Youth Scratch 6 laps
Cat A
1st 104 Matt Gittings, Palmer Park Velo
2nd 103 Martin Dawkins, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
3rd 101 James Hobbs, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
Cat B
1st 2 Stephen Bradbury, Palmer Park Velo
2nd 6 John Paul, Palmer Park Velo
3rd 5 Ben Bailey , Team MK
Cat C
1st 30 Daniel Maslin, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
2nd 34 George Withers, Palmer Park Velo
3rd 32 Jason Pitt, Palmer Park Velo
Girls
1st 7 Rosie Serruya, Palmer Park Velo
2nd 127 Emily Hogge, Palmer Park Velo
3rd 122 Georgie Hardy, Palmer Park Velo
Event 2 – Youth Keirin
Cat A
1st 104 Matt Gittings, Palmer Park Velo
2nd 103 Martin Dawkins, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
3rd 101 James Hobbs, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
Cat B
1st 2 Stephen Bradbury, Palmer Park Velo
2nd 6 John Paul, Palmer Park Velo
3rd 5 Ben Bailey , Team MK
Cat C
1st 30 Daniel Maslin, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
2nd 34 George Withers, Palmer Park Velo
3rd 32 Jason Pitt, Palmer Park Velo
Girls
1st 127 Emily Hogge, Palmer Park Velo
2nd 7 Rosie Serruya, Palmer Park Velo
3rd 122 Georgie Hardy, Palmer Park Velo
Event 3 Senior A & B Hare and Hounds 10 Laps
Cat A
1st 3 Ian Greenstreet, Newbury RC
2nd 18 Sean Bannister, Glade CC
3rd 5 Michael Wilmot, Team Quest
CAT B
1st 62 Rob Drinkwater
2nd 53 Rob King , Reading CC
3rd 60 Trevor Bradbury ,Reading CC
Ladies
1st 130 Carrie Bedingfield, AW Cycles
2nd 125 Emma Patterson, Agisko
3rd 126 Charley Docker, Agisko
Event 4 Youth Block Handicap 4 Laps
Cat A
1st 104 Matt Gittings, Palmer Park Velo
2nd 103 Martin Dawkins, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
3rd 101 James Hobbs, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
Cat B
1st 2 Stephen Bradbury, Palmer Park Velo
2nd 6 John Paul, Palmer Park Velo
3rd 5 Ben Bailey , Team MK
Cat C
1st 30 Daniel Maslin, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
2nd 34 George Withers, Palmer Park Velo
3rd 32 Jason Pitt, Palmer Park Velo
Girls
1st 7 Rosie Serruya, Palmer Park Velo
2nd 127 Emily Hogge, Palmer Park Velo
3rd 122 Georgie Hardy, Palmer Park Velo
Event 5 & 6 Senior Keirin Finals
Cat A
1st 8 Sam Serruya , AW Cycles
2nd 11 Roger Woodford, AW Cycles
3rd 2 Sam Sturgeon, Team Terminator
Cat B
1st 47 Eddy Soberialski, Sports-coaching.com
2nd 51 John Hobbs, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
3rd 54 Ricky Pankhurst, AW Cycles
Ladies
1st 123 Janet Birkmyre, Planet X-SheCycles.com
2nd 130 Carrie Bedingfield, Team Luciano
3rd 126 Charley Docker , Agisko
Event 7 Devil take the hindmost
Cat A
1st 14 Marc Wilmot , team Quest
2nd 5 Michael Wilmot , Team Quest
3rd 7 Chris Legg, Palmer Park velo
Cat B
1st 52 Alan Parkinson, South Western CC
Ladies
1st 130 Carrie Bedingfield, Team Luciano
Event 8 Senior A & B Unknown Distance
1st 3 Ian Greenstreet, Newbury RC
2nd 2 Sam Sturgeon, Team terminator
3rd 4 Tristan Natolie, AW Cycles
Event 9 AW Cycles Endurance 20k
Cat A
1st 19 Lee Smith, Agisko
2nd 13 Richard Prince , VC St Raphael
3rd 5 Michael Wilmot, Team Quest
Cat B
1st 53 Robert King, Reading CC
2nd 51 John Hobbs, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
3rd 60 Trevor Bradbury, Reading CC
