With rain forecast and the day starting wet it was doubtful that the first Brooks Cycles Track League of the 2009 season would take place. However the rain stopped at 4pm and the track was dry enough for the racing to begin at 6.30pm for the Freewheelers League. Despite the weather, seventeen riders turned out and they produced some spirited racing in all three groups. The top points scorers from each group were as follows; Group 1 Joel Partington, Group 2 Sallie Birchall and Megan Wynn and in Group 3 Grace Houlton.
In the main league the turnout was a little short of last year?s average which was no doubt due to the weather forecast and it was noticeable that 90% of the riders were local. The highlight of the night was the first round of the Brooks Cycles Handicap League. There was a mass charge for the line with long marker Sarah Reynolds holding on for the win from a fast improving Joffie Houlton and the first A Class rider Declan Byrne. Declan proved to be the best rider on the night in the A Class events as he won the opening 8 Lap Scratch event and the final Five mile Scratch. Other wins came from Rob Lambton in the Devil and Steve Clayton win the Course de primes. Steve attacked from the gun in this event and held out until three laps to go.
The B Class events saw the wins spread across four different riders which is a good sign for close season in this competition. The top point?s scorer was Anthony Houlton who won the final 5 mile scratch and well as scoring a second place in the devil and a third in the course de primes.
The Youth league saw some great close racing with again the points spread over eight riders. After the four races there is tie overall in the league with Imogen Crooks and Paige Millward tied on four points. Paige won the Block handicap and was a member of the winning team sprint team along with Imogen, who also scored a second place in the block handicap and a third in the devil. Other wins in this league came from Joel Partington in the Devil and Joffie Houlton in the 200m time trial.
We are now all hoping for good day?s weather next week and a bumper turnout of riders.
Results
Freewheelers League
Group 1
Race 1
1st Joel Partington Eastlands Velo
2nd Archie Scott Lyme RC /Swinnerton Cycles
3rd Charlotte Houlton Newcastle RC 2001/ Poly Print/Modern Glass
Race 2
1st Charlotte Houlton
2nd George Edwards
3rd Joel Partington
Race 3
1st Joel Partington
2nd Archie Scott
3rd Charlotte Houlton
Group 2
Race 1
1st Sallie Birchall Lyme RC / Swinnerton Cycles
2nd Megan Wynn Lyme RC / Swinnerton Cycles
3rd Luke Mansfield Newcastle RC 2001/ Poly Print/Modern Glass
Race 2
1st Megan Wynn
2nd Sallie Birchall
3rd Elizabeth Deakin
Race 3
1st Georgina Clewlow Lyme RC / Swinnerton Cycles
2nd Luke Mansfield
3rd Joe Antinoro
Group 3
Race 1
1st Liam Zwetschinow Lyme RC / Swinnerton Cycles
2nd Aleshia Mellor
3rd Bradley Hill Lyme RC / Swinnerton Cycles
Race 2
1st Grace Houlton Newcastle RC 2001/ Poly Print/Modern Glass
2nd Harrison Barber NTCA
3rd Oscar Crooks Lyme RC /Swinnerton Cycles
Race 3
1st Oscar Crooks
2nd Grace Houlton
3rd Liam Zwetschnikow
MAIN LEAGUE
Youth 200m TT
1st Joffie Houlton ( 13.84) Newcastle RC 2001/ Poly Print/Modern Glass
2nd Jacob James ( 14.17) Newcastle RC 2001/ Poly Print/Modern Glass
3rd Alex Taylor ( 14.80) Eastlands Velo
A Class 8 lap scratch
1st Declan Byrne Brooks Cycles
2nd Sassan Emadi Tunstall Wheelers/Brian Rourke Cycles
3rd Steve Clayton Lichfield CCC
B Class 8 lap scratch
1st Phil Houlton Newcastle RC 2001/ Poly Print/Modern Glass
2nd Jacob James Newcastle RC 2001/ Poly Print/Modern Glass
3rd Martyn Shaw Lyme RC / Swinnerton Cycles
Youth Block H?cap
1st Paige Millward Lyme RC / Swinnerton Cycles
2nd Imogen Crooks Lyme RC/ Swinnerton Cycles
3rd Alex Webb Lyme RC/ Swinnerton Cycles
Brooks Cycles H?Cap League
1st Sarah Reynolds Team CHH Racing Club
2nd Joffie Houlton
3rd Declan Byrne
4th Luke Boulton Sportcity Velo
5th Rob Lambton Brooks Cycles
B Class Devil
1st Martyn Shaw
2nd Anthony Houlton Newcastle RC 2001/ Poly Print/Modern Glass
3rd Paul Jennings Stone Wheelers
A Class Course de Primes
1st Steve Clayton
2nd Declan Byrne
3rd Rob Lambton
Youth Team Sprint
1st Paige Millward
Imogen Crooks
Sam Birchall
B Class Course de Primes
1st Paul Jennings
2nd Jacob James
3rd Phil Houlton
A Class Devil
1st Rob Lambton
2nd Declan Byrne
3rd Sassan Emadi
Youth Devil
1st Joel Partington
2nd Sam Birchall
3rd Imogen Crooks
5 Mile Scratch
A Class 1st Declan Byrne
2nd Rob Lambton
3rd Steve Clayton
B Class 1st Anthony Houlton
2nd Jacob James
3rd Matt Webb Lyme RC / Swinnerton Cycles