English is Preston Park's Scratch Star

Double league points were on offer tonight for the scratch championship events, and with several more races on the programme there was a lot at stake. When the racing started at 7 o’clock, there were clear blue skies, but things became cold later on when the sun set behind the stand. Thirty-six seniors and forty-one youths lined up at the start.

SENIORS

With 25 laps (9 miles) to cover in the league scratch championship and so many riders on the start-line, the race began at - let’s say - a manageable pace. Martin O’Brien made efforts to get away early on and just about created daylight between himself and the bunch, but he was caught with 21 to go. One lap later Anthony Rogers, Ben Miller and Neil McClelland were the next to show. With 19 laps remaining, wily Rogers pocketed the £5 prime with Miller on his wheel and Toby Meadows making his first significant appearance. After seven laps, Felix English was on the front with Meadows, with Jake Butler, Ben Miller and Pete Mitchell all lurking in their wake.

During the eighth lap, Meadows and English detached themselves from the front of the peloton and immediately gelled. Locally, English is well-known as the 2007 A-league winner when aged only 14. Meadows, on the other hand, is new to Preston Park, but he is a highly successful junior not averse to winning races against elite-category seniors. This was potentially a formidable partnership, but how far could it go?

Fireman Mick Bell made a determined effort to ignite a significant chase, as upfront the dynamic duo had gained around 150 metres with 14 laps to go. Several riders also tried their luck in an attempt to bridge the gap, including Brock Duncumb-Rogers, Lewis Earthrowl-Gould, Adam Gent, Oliver Pepper, Pete Mitchell and Charlie Sayer. Meadows and English were working extremely well together ahead, and the former took the £5 prime at 12 to go. Two laps later, the leaders’ advantage was beginning to reduce slightly, as some significant top riders in the bunch were starting to turn the screw. As the lapboard read 7, five riders moved away from the bunch to begin a determinedly serious chase. These were Adam Gent, Lewis Earthrowl-Gould, Martyn Potter, Pete Mitchell and Jake Butler.

While this quick quintet had undoubted talent and determination, this was matched by Meadows and English ahead, and these two still held the trump card in the form of a 120-metre lead. With the number of remaining laps continuing to fall, Meadows and English held their nerve and strength, while behind Potter fell back from the chasers with three to go. As it turned out, the English/Meadows train was unstoppable and they held their pursuers at bay to the end. Little was going to separate them at the finish, and after a very tight sprint it was reigning Preston Park league champion English who took the title ahead of Meadows. Mitchell bagged the bronze medal, followed by Butler, Gent, Earthrowl-Gould and Potter. First from the remains of the bunch – and first B-cat – was Oliver Pepper.

The 3-lap dashes produced no surprises. Felix English, Lee Povey and Pete Mitchell were the top three in the A race, Lee Smith, Corrine Hall and Oliver Pepper filled the first three placings in the B1 event, and the B2 contest was won by John Powell with Bruce English and Mike Brampton next in line.

The “win and out” event is not for the faint-hearted. For those who don’t know this race, it is also known as the reverse devil because after one lap, the first over the line has won the race and pulls out. After the second lap, the first over the line has come second and pulls out. And so on, down to the sprint for sixth spot. The worst scenario for an aspiring winner is to put a lot of energy into trying to win the race but to be pipped on the line after the first lap with nothing in reserve for the next lap or later. This often leads to early retirement from the race, no league points, deep frustration and worse. A tactic used by some of the “lesser lights” is to know your limitations, sit in for the first sprint or three then really go for it to secure one of the minor placings.

In the B event, Oliver Pepper took a good win after one lap, then in turn it was Charlie Heffernan, Corrine Hall, Bruce English, John Powell and Lee Smith who took the next sprints and placings.

The equivalent A contest was certainly one of the races of the night, with spectators being treated to six classy sprints for each placing. On the first lap, Lee Povey took up the pace from the second bend and seemed to have caught the rest napping. However, with 200 metres to go, Pete Mitchell stepped up a gear and overtook Povey on the run-in to take a great win. Povey was, alas, caught in the no-man’s-land situation described above, and it was Felix English who took second. Adam Gent, Jake Butler, Lewis Earthrowl-Gould and Toby Meadows each took the next sprints and their respective placings.

To end tonight’s proceedings, there was an unknown distance race, which was fast from the outset. Toby Meadows, Brock Duncumb-Rogers and Pete Mitchell all featured prominently early on, but after just four laps the bell was rung and the usual turmoil ensued. Pete Mitchell won, and he was followed home by Felix English, Toby Meadows, Lewis Earthrowl-Gould, Jake Butler and the powerful Corrine Hall.

YOUTHS

For some youngsters, tonight’s championships were their first taste of title action. Whatever the level of experience and ability, all youth riders performed very well and deserve a lot of praise.

U16/U14

A bunch of 16 riders lined up at the start of the 8-lap championship race, consisting of 9 U16s and 7 U14s. Ben Gerrey led through after one lap, then it was the turn of James McCarron to show his jersey at the front with six to go. With just over 5 laps to cover, Sam Cheesman made a bold move and broke away. He opened up a potentially useful 40-metre gap, but two laps later it was “as you were”, with all riders together. With no further moves before the bell, it looked like it was heading for a bunch sprint. And so it turned out, Nick Smith taking the U16 title ahead of his podium pals Tom Goldsmith and Tom Jamieson. Next U16s over the line were Ben Gerrey, Sam Cheesman and Matthew Wise. Sara Gent rode an outstanding race for top U14 spot and also won the AD Cycles £10 voucher for most meritorious youth, and she was followed by Ashley Dennis, Milo Burdeau, Kim English, Nathan Moore and Amy Jacobs.

Individual then block handicap races completed the U16/U14 line-up. Matthew Wise used suitably intelligent tactics (go all the way) to win the former ahead of Tom Goldsmith, Sara, Sam, Nick and Amy. In the 3-lap latter event, the U14s did well to stay ahead of their U16 chasers, Ashley storming home to win in front of Sara, Amy, Kim, Jack Oliver-Blaney and Milo.

U12

The 5-lap title race was a fast affair, with the 13-up bunch strung out from the off. Spencer Thomas, Amy Barnes and Jack Barnett were all visible at the front early on, but the race favourites were always on hand to monitor proceedings. At the end of a fabulous last lap, Gabriel Parle just got the verdict from Jake Marley, while not far behind it was Amy who took the bronze, ahead of Jack, Spencer and Harris Redgrove.

Megan Lewis rode well to win the handicap event, followed home by Katie Thomas, Gabriel, Jake, Angus and Jack, then all U12 riders had to face the timekeeper for a 1-lap individual TT.

In the end, little more than a second separated the top three. Jake broke the minute barrier to post an excellent time of 59.61, and Gabriel recorded 1.00.86 to beat Jack’s 1.00.89 result by a whisker. Next in line were Spencer, Amy and Angus.

U10/U8

Cory Anderson broke away on the first of two laps in the U8 championship and gained a large gap by the finish for a worthy win. He was trailed in by Bethany Lewis, Charlie Brooker, Tom Martin and Sian Carr.

Initially a 4-rider break formed in the U10 3-lap title-race, consisting of Douglas McCauley, Ben O’Brien, Ted O’Brien and Matthew Duffin. Due to the sheer speed, Matthew dropped back, but he was trying hard to bridge the gap. At the finish, Douglas triumphed ahead of Ted and Ben, while Matthew rode well to hang on for fourth, Sam Barnes was fifth and Rosie Marley came sixth.

Rosie Marley performed very well to take the individual handicap race, with Charlie, Ted, Matthew, Cory and Sam next over the line. Cory won the block handicap event on his own with a great ride, Bethany was second and Ted came third.

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