PRESTON PARK NEWS JUNE 2009 EVERYTHING TO RIDE FOR IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS It’s very hard to believe we are just over halfway through the season already. With two rained-off meetings, it was beginning to become a little “bitty”, but this has not prevented the highest consistent attendance figures in living memory, with a minimum of 70 riders every evening. And just when it was beginning to look as if Felix English had the senior “A” league completely sewn up, his national championship aspirations have now caught up with him and he has missed a crucial meeting and is likely to miss more. So, lo and behold, we have a thrilling league on our hands with South African ace Jean Spies vying for top place! There is a similar picture in the senior “B” league. Handy Andy Parle was sailing to the league win under the new rule of “5 wins and you’ve won”. Andy has a tally of 4 wins so far, so he simply needs one more victory to take the title. Then along came Richard Bailey and spoilt the party for Andy, depriving him of that crucial fifth victory by half-a-wheel on 17 June, increasing his own total of wins to 2 and moving up the points tables in the process. The way things stand at the moment, both senior leagues could go to the wire, and may end up being decided in the final meet, and – why not? – even in the final race of the year! CHARLIE HEFFERNAN WINS NATIONAL YOUTH RACE, KIM ENGLISH TAKES A BRONZE MEDAL AND SEVERAL OTHER PP REGULARS ARE WELL-PLACED! Charlie Heffernan pulled off a masterly performance in the National Youth Circuit Race in Solihull, West Midlands, to win the U16 Boys race in real style on Sunday 14 June. Competing in a field of 45 of the country’s top youth riders on the new purpose-built circuit in Tudor Grange Park, Charlie was part of a mid-race breakaway which was Charlie crosses the line alone eventually pulled back. However, Charlie later went away on his own and stayed away for a great lone win. ”There were a few attacks, but nothing really developed that much”, he told Preston Park News. “It was a very quick race, averaging nearly 30mph. I was in a few attacks myself, then I got away on my own with about 3½ laps to go and pulled away with a reasonable lead. I was able to ease off before the finish line to take the win. My main aims this year are the track nationals in mid- August and the circuit nationals at the end of July.” Charlie is coached by VC Jubilee’s supremos Sally and Roy Page. Sally was full of praise for Charlie when PP News caught up with her: “That was a fantastic result for Charlie. He has shown commitment to continuing his training to prove his ability at the highest level. ” Kim (right) on the podium On the same day, Kim English also put up a great display of racing, finishing in third place in the U14 Girls race. And two more of our top PP girl racers Amy Jacobs and Emily Barnes achieved fine results, notching sixth and ninth spots respectively. WHAT’S THE POINT? – Overall scores updated to 17 June A SENIORS B SENIORS NOTES YOUTHS A YOUTHS D Felix English 110 Andy Parle 51 (4 wins) For a full Elliot Tabraham-D 117 Douglas McCauley 77 Jean Spies 95 Richard Bailey 43 (2) Jack Oliver-Blaney 77 Harry Stacey 65 Lee Povey 77 Mark Mergler 28 (1) description of Milo Burdeau 56 Cory Anderson 58 Mark Burgess 61 Ben Miller 17 how the Senior Michael Dixon 30 Thomas Burnett 55 Charlie Heffernan 37 Paul Barnard 14 (1) Sam Maloney 12 Joe Hill 55 Brock Duncumb-R 25 B league will be Bethany Lewis 27 Ant Rogers 13 (1) Martyn Potter 25 decided, please Sam Barnes 24 Oliver Pepper 18 Nick Smith 12 YOUTHS B Stanley Earthrowl-G 22 Charlie Sayer 18 Neil McClelland 10 see PP News Ashley Dennis 101 Isaac Wright 18 Driss Jones 17 Sam Cheesman 8 May 2009 (on Amy Jacobs 77 Lois Parle 16 Bryan Taylor 17 Rob Dean 7 the website). Emily Barnes 63 Sam Booth 14 Sean McClelland 12 Bruce English 7 Kim English 55 Charlie Brooker 12 Jason Salter 12 Nigel Burrows 6 The Top Sara Gent 47 Ferne Leonard 8 Jack Hoyle 45 Paul Gosling 10 Frazer Clifford 6 Richard Hoyle 5 Veteran award Matthew Hill 38 Adam Gent 8 Paul Davidoff 6 Nicholas Wickens 4 Andrew Edwards 7 is decided by Jake Marley 27 Tim Hill 6 Sean Yates 5 the committee. Thomas Evans 16 Phil Smith 1 Charlie Booth 5 Laura Cheesman 13 YOUTHS E Philip Burnett 5 There are also Gabriel Parle 12 Evelyn Parle 84 Matt Davies 5 awards for the Tom Paine 9 Dominic Kazlauskas 79 TOP 12 Imogen Farlie 7 Oliver Brooker 39 John Powell 5 Most Combative VETERANS James McCarron 4 Thomas Myers 4 Miranda Wright 37 Martin O’Brien 4 Senior, the Best Lucas Percy 1 Oscar Denman-G 32 Andy Parle (B) 51 Michael Wickens 21 Oliver Tuckley 4 Driss Jones (A) 17 U18 in the Freddie Davies 19 Ant Rogers (B) 13 George Webster 4 Senior Leagues, YOUTHS C Jason Salter (A) 12 Matthew Wise 4 Amy Barnes 92 Paul Gosling (A) 10 Nigel Foskett 3 the Most Spencer Thomas 80 Rob Dean (B) 7 Ben Gerrey 3 Deserving Megan Lewis 64 Bruce English (B) 7 Sean Brasington 2 Youth and also David Barnes 61 Nigel Burrows (B) 6 Ian Craig 2 Harris Redgrove 50 Tim Hill (B) 6 Ben O’Brien 36 Lea Denison 2 the Best Charlie Booth (B) 5 Luke Stacey 31 Philip Burnett (B) 5 Paul McCarthy 1 U16/U14 in the Drew Miller-H 26 Sean Yates (A) 5 handicap races Amy Smith 24 (the Back-to- Will Paine 19 Ted O’Brien 18 front Trophy). Mark Jacobs 17 Celia Jenkins 17 WHAT’S ON – Some suggestions of events to ride and watch SUSSEX CYCLE RACING LEAGUE – Meets every Wednesday starting at 7.00pm, including Points Championships Meet on Wed 15 July. Last meet of the season is on Wed 12 August. Fast Track Coaching pre-Masters and Youth/Junior training session - 28 June between 1pm and 5pm - Newport Velodrome. Pre youth/junior nationals Fast Track Coaching Camp at Newport Velodrome on 7 & 8 August , 4½ hours of track time and 1½ hours video debrief, also on 15 August we have 2 hours track time. See Lee Povey for details. Eastbourne Rovers 100km Randonnee “A Rove Around East Sussex” - Saturday 11 July 2009 . Starting at 9am from Hailsham Freedom Leisure Centre BN27 1BA - Entry Fee £2 IN ADVANCE ONLY. Entries close Saturday 4 July - Contact Dave Dunbar, 32, Lynholm Rd, Polegate, BN26 6JR - 01323 486814 – Email: [email protected]. DON’T FORGET THE FRIDAY EVENING TRAINING SESSIONS AT PRESTON PARK ON FIXED-WHEEL, OPEN TO ALL AGE-GROUPS FROM U12 YOUTH RACE AGE CATEGORY UP (i.e. those who are riding fixed-wheel in the League), UP TO AND INCLUDING ADULT. COST IS £1. STARTING AT 6.30PM. Parental consent for U18s required if not members of VCJ or PPYCC (forms available on the night, so bring your parents). VC JUBILEE JUNIOR & YOUTH RACES IN HOVE PARK on Fridays 26 June, 24 July & 4 September (this last evening is a Go-Ride interclub event) – races start at 7pm. SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS ROLL OF HONOUR – 17 JUNE 2009 Seniors U16 U14 1st LEE POVEY 1st ELLIOT TABRAHAM-DOWERS 1st JACK HOYLE nd 2nd Mark Burgess 2 Brock Duncumb-Rogers 2nd Amy Jacobs rd 3rd Jean Spies 3 Jack Oliver-Blaney 3rd Emily Barnes U12 U10 U8 1st AMY BARNES 1st DOUGLAS McCAULEY 1st DOMINIC KAZLAUSKAS 2nd David Barnes 2nd Joe Hill 2nd Miranda Wright 3rd Megan Lewis 3rd Isaac Wright 3rd Evelyn Parle All medals will be given out at the annual awards ceremony on Saturday 17 October 2009 A TRIP TO THE MARKET by Gavin Smith On Saturday 6 June, I took the train and red double-decker bus to see the Smithfield Nocturne in London. It was a great event with full-on entertainment from 6pm to 10pm with an interesting selection of races to wow the crowds. The 1.1km circuit was fast and exciting, with good vantage points, both at the finish area and also at a point where you could see riders twice per lap. Preston Park organiser Vern McClelland was commissairing at this event. Although I went there on my own, it’s never long before you’re chatting to people you know, who this time included Preston Park celebrities Sean and Kathryn McClelland, Mark Burgess, Rupert Rivett, Nigel Foskett (see below) and (hanging precariously from a lamp-post) Martyn Potter. It was also interesting to look out for other famous people before and during the races. I spotted Rob Hayles and Ed Clancy (both racing later), Geraint Thomas and the famous fashion designer Paul Smith (no relation!). There were 3 folding-bike races (two heats and a final) with Le Mans-style running starts and the competitors dressed in jackets and ties having to assemble their machines before riding their races. A wonderful spectacle! It was good to see two PP regulars taking part with success. Richard Bailey and Nigel Foskett (riding Rob Fuller’s bike) both got through to the final, where they were placed 5 th and 12 th respectively.