Scottie Gives Birkmyre a Scare

The seventeen entrants in the first round of the British Cycling Womens Omnium League contested five events in the space of three and a half hours and  as the riders lined up for the final points race Helen Scott (9pts) led Janet Birkmyre (11) by a narrow margin with all to play for.

Prior to the this Jess Varnish won the opening 500m Time Trial from Scott and Birkmyre but punctured  in the 16 lap scratch  within the last 3 laps and having to count 17 points for last place as rejoining the race was not possible. However undeterred she was 8^th in the Pursuit won by Corrine Hall with Birkmyre and Scott second and third. Varnish beat Scott in the two up Sprint Final with Birkmyre third and Daisy Sherwood fourth.

The Points race was fiercely contested with inches between the top contenders in each of the 5 sprints. Hariett Owen won with Birkmyre using her experience and sprinting power to take second place with Jess Varnish third. Helen Scott was unable to break into the top places and Janet Birkmyre took the overall victory from Helen Scott, Harriett Owen and consistent Siobham Mullan with Jess Varnish despite the disaster of the scratch race pulling herself up to 5^th place.

A fine afternoons racing with the seven Junior riders giving their senior counterparts a really hard time.

The second Welwyn based Women’s Omnium in July will hopefully see a larger entry and a chance to renew rivalry among the top contenders.     

The Senior mens racing had an excellent attendance with almost 60 contenders split into A and B groups with three races each before all riders competing in the final 10 mile event – a counting event in the BC Endurance League.

The A events were fast and furious with Tony Gibb taking two of the main events while Bryan Taylor won the opening 10 lap showing good form despite claiming this was his first open event of the season.

Steve Bradbury won all three B events with Steve Clayton getting in the places as well as acting as team manager and mechanic for wife and daughter in the Women’s Omnium.

The 50+ riders in the 10 mile race contained all the big hitters and escapees were reeled in with little difficulty until with 5 laps to go Tony Gibb took off and quickly established a useful lead which he held to the line for a well earned victory. The battle for the ‘bunch sprint’ went to Bryan Taylor.  

Results

Womens Omnium

1 Janet Birkmyre (XRT Elmy Cycles)   13pts

2 Helen Scott (CC Giro)                    17

3 Harriett Owen (Bicester Millenium)    26

4 Siobhan Mullan (Team Chance)          28

5 Jess Varnish (Halesowen C&AC)        30

6 Helen Clayton (CC Giro)                  34

Top Juniors – Helen Scott, Jess Varnish, Helen Clayton

Senior A

10 lap scr –

Bryan Taylor (VC Londres,

George Olive (VC St Raphael)

Felix English (Corridori)

15 lap Points –

Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven)

Chris Legg (AW Cycles)

Bryan Taylor (VC Londres)

Devil –

Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven)

Simon Lewis (VC Londres)

Chris Legg (AW Cycles)

Senior B

10 lap scr –

Steven Bradbury (Palmer Park)

Steve Clayton (Lichfield RC)

Tom Gallacher (Welwyn Whs)

12 lap Points –

Steven Bradbury (Palmer Park) 

Steve Clayton (Lichfield)

Jim Varnish (Halesowen)

Devil –

Steven Bradbury (Palmer Park)

Steve Hayward (Welwyn Whs)

Johannes Roux (Climb on bikes)

10 mile (BC Endurance League) –

Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven),

Bryan Taylor (VC Londres)

John McClelland (Agiskoviner)

Richard Prince (VC St Raphael)