Povey's Double Delight

There were three regular riders absent from the start-line with excellent excuses this week. Firstly, Pete Mitchell, who just three days earlier had won the world junior team sprint championship in Mexico with GB team-mates Dave Daniell and Chris Lyte. Not content with a gold medal, Pete had followed up with a brilliant bronze in the sprint. Next, Preston Park stalwart and league chairman Rob Fuller, who on 3^rd August had become the proud father of Erin Marianne. Despite also celebrating his birthday, Rob was on trackside helping out, before departing early for a much busier – dare we say fuller? – evening than he has previously been used to. And finally, senior league leader – nay dominator - Felix English was also missing, on a BC Talent Team camp.

So, while the cat was away, the mice did play, with vital league points available in his absence. In the 8-lap opener, Anthony Rogers attacked after two circuits, and a lull from the bunch allowed him some freedom. Martyn Potter, Lee Povey and Ben Miller were soon to be seen stirring at the front of the peloton. As Rogers’s fate was soon to be sealed, his son Brock leapt from the bunch and soon overhauled him, but Brock in turn was eventually brought to heel. At the bell, it was anyone’s race, and with a lightning sprint Sean McClelland took a great victory ahead of Mark Burgess and Martyn Potter.

One of this season’s successful innovations at Preston Park has been the weekly division of the B-league seniors into two bands, giving every senior the chance of a race win. Sometimes this occurs in the 3-lap event, sometimes in one of the other races. This week saw the so-called B2 riders have their chance in the keirin. Mike Leonard stormed home for a well-deserved victory ahead of Bruce English and Richard Potter, with new riders Kevin Brooker and John Shotter next in line. Youth triumphed in the equivalent B1 event, Brock Duncumb-Rogers showing who was boss, while Rupert Rivett came second and Anthony Rogers was third. In the A-league keirin, Lee Povey did very well to hold off a strong challenge from second-placed Phil Bendall, while Mark Burgess, enjoying a great evening, was next across the line.

Brock again produced some fireworks in the 3-lap dash for B riders, coming home in front of Phil Smith and Rupert Rivett. Lee Povey surprised himself by taking his second win of the meet in the A-class 3-lapper. “I don’t know how I managed to win those two events tonight, I’m so worn out”, he admitted later as he sat out the final senior event. Martyn Potter was his runner-up and Mark Burgess came third.

As the fading light showed signs of wanting to send everyone home, a touch of mystery was added to the last race. The devil-take-the-hindmost was run as an unknown distance, with the simple explanation to the riders: “Last rider out every lap, the bell could be rung at any time.” The usual jostling for position took place, especially towards the back of the pack, and the aforementioned bell sounded with around eight riders still in with a shout. Mark Burgess suitably rounded off a very successful night for him – and his last of the season – with an outstanding sprint, beating Brock Duncumb-Rogers and Phil Bendall to the line.

Several riders deserve special mention tonight, in no particular order. Young Brock Duncumb-Rogers, for winning two B-category senior races. Lee Povey, for his two victories in the A-league events. Mark Burgess, for one win, one second place and two thirds. Sean McClelland, for his classy triumph in the first race. Finally, Bruce Samuel for his two fifth placings and one sixth in-A races, in his first full-on season.

Amazingly, the season ends next Wednesday. A glance at the rankings shows the winners of the A and B leagues are safe, in the forms of Felix English and Martyn Potter. However, with several riders in with a chance, who will occupy the other two steps of both podiums?

RANKINGS

A: Felix English 148, Lee Povey 97, Adam Gent 77, Sean McClelland 69, Mark Burgess 58, Phil Bendall 56, John Scripps 43, Pete Mitchell 41, Robin Thompson 30, Driss Jones 24.

B: Martyn Potter 98, Rupert Rivett 61, Phil Smith 57, George Higgs 48, Brock Duncumb-Rogers & Christian Yates 39, Charlie Sayer 38, Bruce Samuel 36, Andy Parle 30, Anthony Rogers 25.

YOUTHS

The weekly £10 bike-shop voucher was won by under-12 Ashley Dennis for his fine attacking riding in the scratch race.

U16s fight it out, Copyright: Sally Page

U16/U14

U16 league leader Charlie Beeny increased his overall lead over his rivals with two more sparkling wins in the scratch races. Fast-improving Henry James scored a second and a third, while Louis Hudson managed a runner-up placing and Tom Goldsmith took a third spot. Tom Jamieson won the handicap, followed by Jack Oliver-Blaney and Nick Smith.

RANKINGS: U16: Charlie Beeny 141, Jake Anderson 102, Becky Gosling 81, Sam Cheesman 77, Imogen Cain 76, Henry James 71, Tom Goldsmith 41, Ben Gerrey 33, James McCarron 23. U14: Charlie Heffernan 138, Milo Burdeau 119, Louis Hudson 104, Nick Smith 84, Tom Jamieson 77, Jack Oliver-Blaney 35, Callum Cooper 22, Matthew Rawbin 12, Patrick Hough 11.

U12

Ashley Dennis and Kim English each took a win and a second placing in the scratch events, with Jake Marley coming third each time. Jodie Mustin rode well to win the handicap event, ahead of Theodora Duncumb-Rogers and Iain Carr.

RANKINGS: Gabriel Parle 153, Ashley Dennis 124, Jake Marley 117, Kim English 108, Iain Carr 72, Sara Gent 50, Ryan Gosling 44, Nathan Moore 42, Jack Barnett 41, Theodora Duncumb-Rogers 29.

U10/U8

Douglas McCauley dominated the U8 scratch race, though behind him both Lex Wills (second) and Zachary Mustin (third) impressed. Spencer Thomas took a fine win in the U10 race ahead of Amy Barnes and Ted O’Brien. Lex Wills won both the individual and the block handicap events, followed first by Zachary Mustin and Stanley Earthrowl-Gould, then by Ted O’Brien and Sam Barnes.

RANKINGS: U10: Amy Barnes 133, Spencer Thomas 90, Louis Mustin 77, Ted O’Brien 71, Francesca Wade 47. U8: Douglas McCauley 141, Joe Hill 117, Lois Parle 93, Sam Barnes 77, Stanley Earthrowl-Gould 61, Charlie Brooker 44, Matthew Duffin 38, Zachary Mustin 29, Ferne Leonard 24, Cory Anderson 20, Lex Wills 18.

RESULTS

EVENT 1 – SENIORS 8-LAP SCRATCH

1^st Sean McClelland

2^nd Mark Burgess

3^rd Martyn Potter

4^th Lee Povey

5^th Rupert Rivett

6^th Phil Smith

EVENT 2 – U8 1-LAP SCRATCH

1^st Douglas McCauley

2^nd Lex Wills

3^rd Zachary Mustin

4^th Ferne Leonard

5^th Stanley Earthrowl-Gould

6^th Sam Barnes

EVENT 3 – U10 1-LAP SCRATCH

1st Spencer Thomas

2^nd Amy Barnes

3^rd Ted O’Brien

4^th Francesca Wade

5^th Louis Mustin

EVENT 4 – U12 2-LAP SCRATCH

1^st Ashley Dennis

2^nd Kim English

3rd Jake Marley

4^th Iain Carr

5^th Theodora Duncumb-Rogers

6^th Daniele d’Ademo

EVENT 5 – B2 SENIORS KEIRIN

1^st Mike Leonard

2^nd Bruce English

3^rd Richard Potter

4^th Kevin Brooker

5^th John Shotter

EVENT 6 – B1 SENIORS KEIRIN

1^st Brock Duncumb-Rogers

2^nd Rupert Rivett

3^rd Anthony Rogers

4^th Ben Miller

5^th Phil Smith

6^th Nigel Foskett

EVENT 7 – U16/U14 4-LAP SCRATCH

1^st Charlie Beeny

2^nd Louis Hudson

3^rd Henry James

4^th Tom Goldsmith

5^th Charlie Heffernan

6^th Nick Smith

EVENT 8 – A SENIORS KEIRIN

1^st Lee Povey

2^nd Phil Bendall

3^rd Mark Burgess

4^th George Higgs

5^th Bruce Samuel

6^th Martyn Potter

EVENT 9 – U10/U8 HANDICAP

1^st Lex Wills

2^nd Zachary Mustin

3^rd Stanley Earthrowl-Gould

4^th Charlie Brooker

5^th Louis Mustin

6^th Ted O’Brien

EVENT 10 – U12 HANDICAP

1^st Jodie Mustin

2^nd Theodora Duncumb-Rogers

3^rd Iain Carr

4^th Ashley Dennis

5^th Jake Marley

6^th Kim English

EVENT 11 – U16/U14 HANDICAP

1^st Tom Jamieson

2^nd Jack Oliver-Blaney

3^rd Nick Smith

4^th Callum Cooper

5^th Louis Brasington

6^th Louis Hudson

EVENT 12- B SENIORS 3-LAP DASH

1^st Brock Duncumb-Rogers

2^nd Phil Smith

3^rd Rupert Rivett

4^th Mike Leonard

5^th Ben Miller

6^th Neil McClelland

EVENT 13 – A SENIORS 3-LAP DASH

1^st Lee Povey

2^nd Martyn Potter

3^rd Mark Burgess

4th Sean McClelland

5th Phil Bendall

6^th Bruce Samuel

EVENT 14 – U10/U8 2-LAP BLOCK HANDICAP

1^st Lex Wills

2^nd Ted O’Brien

3^rd Sam Barnes

4^th Douglas McCauley

5^th Francesca Wade

6^th Stanley Earthrowl-Gould

EVENT 15 – U12 3-LAP POINTS

1^st Kim English – 13

2^nd Ashley Dennis - 10

3^rd Jake Marley - 5

4^th Iain Carr - 5

5^th Theodora Duncumb-Rogers – 0

6^th Daniele d’Ademo

EVENT 16 – U16/U14 DEVIL-TAKE-THE-HINDMOST

1^st Charlie Beeny

2^nd Henry James

3^rd Tom Goldsmith

4^th Milo Burdeau

5^th Nick Smith

6^th Louis Hudson

EVENT 17 – SENIORS UNKNOWN DISTANCE DEVIL

1^st Mark Burgess

2^nd Brock Duncumb-Rogers

3^rd Phil Bendall

4^th George Higgs

5^th Bruce Samuel

6^th Richard Potter

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Gavin Smith, Photos by Sally Page and Daniel Dunbar