Preston Park Kicks Off in Style

Despite the unkind wind-chill factor, a record number of 77 riders signed on for the first skirmishes of the season and a total of 23 races took place covering all age-groups and categories.

SENIORS

The traditional 8-lap starter was slow to ignite, as the 35 senior riders warmed up over the opening laps. At half-distance, former Tour de France stage winner and yellow-jersey holder Sean Yates put in an impressive acceleration which immediately ejected a few riders from the back. Young Lewis Earthrowl-Gould reacted swiftly to Yates’s move, but a lap later it was John Scripps who took the first £5 prime of the night with a super sprint. This trio looked dead set on getting clean away, but certain elements in the bunch - notably Lee Povey and Adam Gent - had other ideas and began playing locomotive, dragging the peloton to within striking distance of the escapers. With just two laps to go, last year’s league champion Felix English showed his inimitable turn of speed to join the three out front, but it was soon all back together and it looked as if a judges’ nightmare finish was on the cards. Christian Yates made a determined move at the bell, chased hard by Scott Bugden, but at the end of a frantic final lap it was a delighted Adam Gent who led home, followed by Felix English and Christian Yates. Lee Povey and Paul Thatcher took fourth and fifth respectively, while Scott Bugden managed to hang on for sixth.

In view of the exceptionally high turnout, riders were asked to opt in or out of the sprint competition, and around 20 took up the challenge. The heats threw up no real surprises, and it was Felix English, Lee Povey and Mark Burgess who lined up for the final. This was a more-than-cagey affair for the first 200 metres, but inevitably the speed increased as the three jostled for position into the finishing straight. Finally, spectators were treated to a winning Poveyesque sprint as he led home English and Burgess in that order.

Two devil-take-the-hindmost events took place, separating the As from the Bs. English scored his first Preston Park win of the season in the elite race in front of Gent and Scripps, with Earthrowl-Gould and Povey next in line followed by speedy youngster Brock Duncumb-Rogers. Among the Bs, Andy Parle showed he is worth his salt, beating Oliver Pepper to the line in a tight finish, with fast-improving Charlie Heffernan in their slipstream. Daniel Clark, Ben Miller and Lee Smith were the other riders to score league points in this race.

In spite of fading light, there was just time for two final senior events, 6-lap scratch races for Bs then As. Nick Haskoll and Rupert Rivett were the early animators in the B event, though after their brief stay out front it was fast youth Charlie Heffernan who took a flyer, followed by Oliver Pepper. Heffernan deservedly took the £5 prime for his efforts, but the bunch were not minded to let him stay ahead. At the bell Rivett attacked, with the wily Anthony Rogers shadowing him and an alert Nigel Foskett in attendance. At the finish, Rogers triumphed ahead of Rivett, who was tailed in by Andy Parle, Ben Miller, Lee Smith and Nigel Foskett.

The A riders were in no mood to hang about in the increasingly wintry conditions. Christian Yates sped away from the rest at the start and had gained a useful 40-metre advantage after one lap. Next time round, his brother Sean had taken control with the audacious youngster Brock Duncumb-Rogers chasing hard. At mid-race, it was all back together, with Duncumb-Rogers, Christian Yates and Lewis Earthrowl-Gould prominent at the head of affairs. Sean Yates easily took the £5 prime with two to go, creating twilight between himself and the chasing duo of Earthrowl-Gould and Scripps. With the final win of the night hanging in the balance the bunch regrouped, Christian Yates trying his luck at the bell with a more-than-promising attack. However, it was English who took command by the finish-line for his second win on the night, ahead of Scripps and Gent, while Christian Yates salvaged fourth, Charlie Sayer was fifth and Scott Bugden sixth.

So, what did 48-year-old cycling legend Sean Yates make of his night of Preston Park racing? “Christian raced here last season and he suggested I should come along to give it a try. I’ve never actually done track leagues before, but I really enjoyed it here. It was great fun and there was some great racing. I just can’t give up the racing completely, once you’ve got the bug you can’t lose it. I’ll get down here to race as often as I can this season.”

Full results and more details of Sussex Cycle League Racing at Preston Park including race calendar, photo galleries and league registration form can be found at scrl.co.uk.

YOUTHS

With no fewer than forty-two youths signed on and an exceptionally hectic evening in store for the officials, Preston Park supremo Vern McClelland decided against running the scheduled individual handicap races. Nonetheless, as usual each youth category enjoyed three separate events, with a mixture of scratch races and block handicaps depending on age-groups. Not only were vital league points on offer for the top six in each race, but also the first £10 voucher donated by AD Cycles was destined to go to the most deserving youth.

For the first time, the U16 and U14 riders were on fixed-wheel at Preston Park and this venture proved to be a great success. Sam Cheesman attacked at mid-race in the joint 4-lap scratch, but at the bell he had been overhauled by Louis Brasington and Nick Smith. Tom Jamieson, who has recently been racing in Belgium, was seemingly poised to pounce. At the end of a fabulous sprint, however, Louis got the better of Nick with Tom third, closely followed home by Sam Cheesman and Tom Goldsmith. In sixth spot, and first U14, was Milo Burdeau.

The U14 two-lap dash was dominated by Milo Burdeau, who tried his luck from the outset with a speedy move. Sara Gent was swift to react, and at the bell Milo was leading and appeared to have the race under control. And so it turned out, with Milo coming home first in front of Ashley Dennis and Sara, while Amy Jacobs, Nathan Moore and Kim English were next in line.

In the equivalent U16 event, Callum Cooper went away from the start and gained a useful 40-metre advantage as the rest hesitated. This adventurous move set the race alight and it was anyone’s guess if his initiative would pay off. So, well done to Callum. Although he was in fact caught before the bell, his audacity earned him the AD Cycles £10 voucher. At the head of affairs by now was Louis Brasington, keen on another win after his earlier victory. Louis stayed ahead to the finish, with – again – Nick Smith second. Tom Goldsmith, Tom Jamieson, Matthew Wise and Sam Cheesman were the others who took points in this race.

The final combined U16/U14 race of the evening featured an early move by Tom Jamieson and Sam Cheesman. By the bell, though, Nick Smith powered through first with the vigilant Louis Brasington on his wheel. At the end, Louis came home ahead for an excellent hat-trick of wins on the night. Sam Cheesman and Tom Goldsmith were next over the line, while top U14 Milo Burdeau this time managed a fine fourth place. Next up were Nick Smith and Ben Gerrey, with U14 Ashley Dennis putting up a good display for sixth.

Halfway through the opening 2-lap race, the fast trio of Gabriel Parle, Jake Marley and Jack Barnett had taken control of the contest. They crossed the finish-line in that order, with first girl Amy Barnes, Angus Goldsmith and Spencer Thomas taking the other placings.

Gabriel, Jake and Jack, together with Harris Redgrove, led through at the bell in the dash race, but this time it was Jake who took the win in front of Gabriel and Jack. Amy again came fourth, while Spencer was fifth and Harris sixth.

In the final event, Gabriel was back to his winning ways, coming in ahead of Jake, Jack, Spencer, Harris and Angus.

With so many riders on the start-line – some completely new to Preston Park – handicapper Vern McClelland did an amazing job setting up some interesting U10/U8 races, varying the allowances given to each group as he saw fit. Joe Hill came first in the opening event in front of Ted O’Brien and Matthew Duffin with top U8 Cory Anderson in fourth. Douglas McCauley and Rosie Marley were next over the line.

In the handicapped dash race, Douglas McCauley triumphed ahead of Rosie Marley and Sam Barnes. Stanley Earthrowl-Gould, Joe Hill and Ben O’Brien filled the next places.

Cory Anderson made a very bold attack at the start of the final race, but by the finish it was Douglas McCauley in charge with his second win, leading home Ted O’Brien and Joe Hill. Top U8 Cory was fourth, followed by Ben O’Brien and Bethany Lewis.

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