Mitchell on Form at Preston Park

A deluge of rain two-thirds of the way through another thrilling meet brought an immediate end to proceedings, but not before some brilliant racing had taken place. And, despite the clouds which had been threatening downpours all day, no fewer than 76 riders signed on (37 seniors and 39 youths).

SENIORS

Super Rupert Rivett attacked from the gun in the 8-lap scratch, with the bunch being policed early on by, among others, Lewis Earthrowl-Gould, Nigel Foskett, Christian Yates and Adam Gent. Rivett was caught after a couple of laps, when it was the chirpy B-cat Daniel Clark on the front. Pete Mitchell pocketed the fiver prime after lap 3, and with Yates for company there were suggestions that this might be the winning move.

At half-distance it was back to square one, though with Mitchell leading and Mark Burgess and Adam Gent surveying matters like hawks. With three to go, Lee Smith made a guest appearance at the head of affairs, closely followed by Jake Butler and a certain Charlie Sayer, reigning Preston Park scratch champ. Sayer signalled his intentions by leading next lap and also at the bell, while on his wheel and nearby Yates and Mitchell as well as Felix English, Martyn Potter and Lee Povey were all eyeing each other with suspicion. At the death, Sayer the stayer remained ahead, with Gent, English, Mitchell, Povey and Potter just behind.

With first blood to Sayer, it was down to the sprint heats, with the winners through to the final and runners-up to the minor final. This latter event was won by Brock “the Rocket” Duncumb-Rogers in front of Martyn Potter and Jake Butler, then we had the riders on the line for the top sprint race.

The cream of the crop were there for all to see in action, a half-dozen riders for whom no amount of superlatives could do justice. In no particular order, we had Adam Gent the In-Gear wunderkind, Phil Bendall the gentle giant, Mark Burgess the roller ace, Felix English the reigning Preston Park league champion, the legendary Lee Povey and world junior team sprint champ Pete Mitchell. After a cautious start, with 200 metres to go it looked like it would be mighty close, but in the end Mitchell took a fine win ahead of clubmate Povey, with Bendall, Gent, Burgess and English next over the line.

No sooner had we got our breath back after the sprints (and some intervening youth races), than it was time for the devil-take-the-hindmost events, which of course provided some wicked entertainment. Not surprisingly, we had the usual crop of close calls, and riders staying in when they should have pulled out, but – what the heck? – surely that’s all part of a good devil? The A-race was won in style by English, while the usual suspects in the forms of Mitchell, Povey, Yates, Duncumb-Rogers and Sayer were in his slipstream.

The sprint finish in the B-event was suitably hellish for the judges, but with the judicious use of Vern McClelland’s camera the result was proclaimed as a win for impressive Charlie Heffernan, with the youthful Graham Charlton claiming second and Daniel Clark third, with Rupert Rivett, Oliver Pepper and Anthony Rogers filling the next three positions.

The afore-mentioned downpour soon finished off the meet, allowing riders an early night, and conveniently giving us space here to preview next week’s league scratch championship. The title last year went to an unstoppable Charlie Sayer at the end of a near-race-long breakaway with runner-up George Higgs. The really impossible prediction will be exactly who will be lined up at the start: will, for example, Sean Yates be there, or will he still be on international duty? Sean’s cycling CV is well-documented, but only his real fans know that it contains a brilliant unknown distance win here at Preston Park. Then there is last year’s A-league winner Felix English, who is almost unbeatable when he gets going. Or how about Pete Mitchell, who will no doubt want to add the league scratch crown to his world junior team sprint title and his individual world bronze?

Of course, no-one can rule out Lee Povey who, if it all stays together and he is still up there, could just take the crown with his tactical nous and his remarkable sprint? Or what about superfast Adam Gent, currently using these races as a welcome break from his A-levels. Or Phil Bendall, winner of the scratch title two seasons ago. And no-one should bet against Christian Yates who has had a great start to the season. If present, John Scripps, George Higgs and Bryan Taylor would all be front runners. Those with an outside chance in the event of an opportunist breakaway could be Lewis Earthrowl-Gould, Mark Burgess, Brock Duncumb-Rogers, Martyn Potter, Jake Butler and Charlie Heffernan.

So, rendezvous 7pm next Wednesday for one of the real highlights of the Preston Park season: the senior scratch championship over 20 laps.

YOUTHS

Thirty-nine youngsters bursting with enthusiasm took to the track tonight, eager to gain league points and possibly to win the weekly £10 voucher donated by AD Cycles for the most meritorious youth.

And although the racing was curtailed at 8.20pm by that heavy rain, nine races did take place and attention will now focus on the scratch championship events next week for U16/U14 (joint), U12, U10 and U8.

U16/U14

With the top placings ever so tight in the U16 table, every race was going to count tonight. The 4-lap scratch was a cagey affair, and even the prime at the bell failed to split the pack, Nick Smith bagging the fiver for his efforts. At the finish, it was Tom Goldsmith who secured a great win ahead of Nick Smith, Sam Cheesman, Tom Jamieson, James McCarron and Matthew Wise. Ashley Dennis led home the U14s, beating Milo Burdeau to the line, and they were followed by first girl Amy Jacobs, Kim English, Jack Oliver-Blaney and Nathan Moore.

Nick Smith nicked victory in the U16 2-lap dash with an impressive sprint, though the gap at the finish over his rivals was small, to say the least. Next in line were Sam, Tom Goldsmith, Tom Jamieson and James, with Matthew Wise in sixth spot.

The parallel U14 race was a cracker, Milo Burdeau breaking away on lap one and gaining a useful lead. He didn’t get his way, though, as a determined and fast-moving Ashley Dennis made up the deficit for a fine win, also taking the £10 AD Cycles voucher. Milo easily secured second spot, and next over the line were Jack, Amy, Sara Gent and Kim.

U12

In-form Gabriel Parle took maximum league points in the 2-lap scratch, beating Jake Marley by not much more than a tyre’s-width at the end of a brilliant sprint. Next came Jack Barnett with a good ride for third, while the contest for fourth went to first girl Amy Barnes, followed by Spencer Thomas and Angus Goldsmith.

Megan Lewis won the handicap by a fairly large margin, followed by Katie Thomas, Mark Jacobs, Jake, Angus and Amy.

U10/U8

Cory Anderson predictably came home alone to bag maximum points in the 1-lap U8 race, and he was followed by first girl Bethany Lewis, Sian Carr, Tom Martin and Charlie Brooker, who have all shown marked improvements since the start of the season.

Ted O’Brien took a great victory in the equivalent U10 event, in front of Ben O’Brien, Douglas McCauley, Joe Hill, first girl Rosie Marley and Sam Barnes.

The U10s dominated the individual handicap race, with Douglas taking a well-deserved win ahead of Ted, Ben and Cory. Ferne Leonard came fifth and Charlie sixth.

Just after the start of joint block handicap event, the skies opened and the rain came down in earnest. By the time the race was over, the stands were full of riders and supporters, while the poor soaking judges had to stay at the finish. Their verdict: another win for Douglas, followed by Cory, Ted, Ben, Joe and Bethany

Report by Gavin Smith, Photos by Sally Page/Daniel Bunbar