TW grass track video

As filmed by Simon Daw who partnered Phil Lisher in the madison at TW's grass track meeting in August.

Team Welwyn riders in Spalding Grass Track Action

Following his brilliant weekend at Mildenhall, Phil Lisher was back in action at the Spalding Grass Track last weekend, along with club-mate Simon Layfield. With Simon now coming back to form and Phil absolutely flying, they looked forward to a good day’s racing at this excellent promotion. Phil opened the day with a win in the 400M Scratch, winning a superb track frame, kindly donated by www.webbline.co.uk, one of the meeting sponsors. In the Devil take the Hindmost that followed Phil was second, pipped at the line by Lewis Meadows, York Cycle Works, while Simon finished in fifth place.

In the 3km+ Unknown Distance, for riders not qualifying for the 400M Final, Simon finished in fourth place behind local star Alex Avery, of the promoting club while the 3km Scratch was a win for Phil with Simon in sixth place. In the ‘Win and Out’ event, similar to a Course de Primes, both Simon and Phil succeeded in reaching the Final sixth riders and Phil won the event, however a bad crash involving two of the Spalding CC riders gave Simon a scare as the race entered the second lap and he was duly cautious in the re-run for second to sixth places, finishing fifth.

In the 8KM Scratch that concluded the weekend, Phil covered an early move by Alex Avery, which also took Lewis Meadows clear of the field. With the gap swiftly widening to half a lap it was soon clear that the race was over for much of the field and as Phil and Meadows dropped Avery it turned into a two horse race. As the flying twosome started to lap the field in the final two kilometres of the race, Phil began to pull clear of a tiring Meadows and finished the race alone, another convincing win, while Simon came in behind the chasing group but took a solid ninth place.

Sunday saw Team Welwyn members in enjoyable and sociable club run action, stopping at the ever-popular Emily’s Tea Room in Whitwell. Next weekend Phil has a mini-break before starting preparation for the National Hill Climb Championship in late October, while Simon takes on pacing duties at the Reading Dernyfest.

Brilliant Mildenhall Results for Phil - Soph's Rally Report

The Bank Holiday weekend saw Phil Lisher and Simon Layfield in action for Team Welwyn at the famous Mildenhall Cycling Rally in Suffolk. With Phil having already secured the overall win in the season-long National 800M Grass Track Series and lying second in the National 8km Grass Track Series, Mildenhall hosted the last rounds of each and gave an opportunity for Phil to cement podium finishes in his first successes at National level.

The Sunday events commenced with a Keirin race for senior Group B riders, in which Layfield, now coming back to form after a year of below par performances following a back injury, won his heat with ease. Lisher followed with a heat win, executed with the same aplomb in the A Keirin. The finals proved to be a somewhat tougher nut to crack with Simon finishing fifth and Phil going one better with fourth in their respective events.

In the Senior B Devil take the Hindmost Simon was a good sixth, while Phil crossed the line in fourth place in the Senior A Points Devil but with the overall result rather unclear. The Senior B 3KM Scratch followed after some rain breaks and into the teeth of a strong and cold wind, which was making going tough in the back-straight, riding strongly Simon finished in seventh place after an attack by Alex Avery, Spalding CC, split the field.

In the final round of the 8KM Scratch Series Phil was up against the strong Cottingham Coureurs duo of Richard Lambert and Matthew Fenton. Lambert had already secured the Series win and could not be overtaken, however Phil, lying second overall, was potentially vulnerable with Fenton capable of overtaking him for the silver medal position if he could put a few places between the two contenders, taking maximum points and finishing at least three places above Phil.

Aware of the danger Phil rode towards the front of the race from the start and cannily covered an excellent early move by Simon Daw, CC Sudbury, knowing Daw’s strength from previous encounters throughout the season. Followed up by Fenton there was soon a good move going smoothly away from the bunch and as the pace piled on at the front Daw dropped back toward the bunch, leaving Philo and Matthew Fenton at the head of affairs. As the gap lengthened and they started to lap some of the back-markers, Lambert realised the danger and took off in pursuit but could make little impression on the flying duo, in spite of riding the remainder of the bunch off his wheel.

As Phil and Matthew lapped the flagging field, Phil attacked and opened a gap on his rival which gradually widened as the race progressed. Lambert also made contact with the bunch and picked up and dropped his team mate to take second place behind a very dominant, tactically astute and stylish ride from Phil. Second place in the 8km National Series secure Phil could relish a job well done and look forward to Monday’s final round of the 800M Series.

With Monday proving to be somewhat warmer and drier than Sunday, the track was in top form for the shorter, faster effort required in the 800M Series. With Simon Layfield having other commitments for the Bank Holiday, Phil was Team Welwyn’s sole representative but he certainly made his mark.

Starting with heats Phil took the front from the start and completely dominated to take a good solid win and make his intentions clear. The semi-final was a similarly dominant performance in spite of the fact that the seeding for the event put the Series second placed rider and former World Speedway Champion, Tim Snook of Ipswich BC in the same semi-final as Phil. Going into the Final there was a superb field of Grass Track experts assembled, including 2010 National 400M Champion Rowan Elliott, VC St. Raphael, a daunting line-up and with the Series already in the bag, would Phil rise to the challenge? Not really a question that needed asking as it turned out, after seeing off an early challenge from Rowan Elliott Phil took the front and dominated the final, in complete control as he took a superb win.

Thanks are due to expert volunteer pusher Ian Clarke of Fenland Clarion, who ably assisted Phil through all the 800M rounds.

Editor's note: check some photos from the Mildenhal Rally on Flickr here.

TW's Austrian Chipper in Action

After a summer of limited cycling training following the birth of our son, I had intended just to cruise round the only race of the year that I had entered.

The Eddy Merckx Classic Radmarathon runs through 155km of beautiful countryside, with the final 60km taking in some fairly tough climbs. A friend from New Zealand was visiting and a gentle potter would have been a fun way to spend the day.

However, after 20km, I couldn't find my friend in the bunch and a red mist had filled my head: I was going to race this MF as hard as I could. It made no sense, I didn't need to and beforehand I hadn't even wanted to. But what the hell, I wanted to make my legs hurt.




For the next 100km, things went well. The climbs were not proving difficult and I was sitting comfortably in the main peloton. We hammered through Oberösterreich, past Mondsee and back into Salzburgerland and the village of Thalgau. Then, as expected, everything split on Thalgauegg and I was riding with a little group, not too far down on the leaders.

Dropping into Fuschl, where my family and friends cheered us through, was a marvelous feeling - I was a proper racing cyclist again.


Reality struck 5km later as I was promptly dropped on the Perfelleck, a short sharp ascent out of Fuschl. It was here I realized that motivation and experience couldn't account for a lack of longer distance endurance training.

There was about 30km to the finish and a shedload of climbing in the way. My thighs felt fatigued and despite eating four bananas and two energy bars, I thought I was on the verge of bonking.

Over the Gaisberg, the penultimate mountain and longest climb, was awful. There weren't enough gears on my bike and more and more people passed me. "Well," I thought, "I wanted to hurt my legs, so I better get on with it."



The descent was long enough to recover slightly and I caught one rider up before the bottom. But the final hill dragged and I was dropped again, left to my own thoughts about why on earth I was doing this and how much I was looking forward to a radler.

After 4hr 46min I rolled through the finish, in 70th place out of 350 and 25min down on the winner. An OK result. Could have done better if I was fitter. But I guess that despite however much I want to be, I'm not a proper racing cyclist anymore. I'm just an old chipper who still likes trying to beat people and making his legs hurt.

Props to the Trotts

Team Welwyn supremo Sophie wishes to congratulate the Trott sisters on their ongoing successes.

"Laura Trott was coached by us from age 8-14. She's now 18, just won world track junior gold and two silver medals, and also came fourth in the road TT. She has been picked for the Commonwealth Games track team.

"Her older sister Emma was coached by us from age 10-15 and is now 20, rides for a pro-team in Belgium has occasional outings for Great Britain on the road. She has been picked for the CG road team - a huge congratulations from TW to the both of them!"

Emma Trott

Laura Trott

Mildenhall Grass Track Photos

The team were in action at Mildenhall's legendary grass track weekend a couple of weekends ago, picking up some choice results. Here's a few shots of Phil and Simon in action courtesy of Rollapaluza's Flickr feed. The full gallery can be found here.

Grass Track Meeting in Pictures

A few photos from last week's TW grass track meeting in Hertford, photos courtesy "a spectator".

Top Class Track Racing comes to Hertford

For full results, click here.

The season long British Cycling National Short Distance and Endurance Grass Track Series both featured in the Team Welwyn Open Grass Track Meeting at Hertford on Sunday and attracted a top class field, producing some stunningly fast racing over an afternoon that saw riders working hard to consolidate Series positions, with only one round of each now remaining.

First up was the Short Distance Series 800M Scratch Race, led at the start of racing by Phil Lisher of the promoting club, after convincing wins in the Ipswich BC and Brentwood rounds of the Series. Phil was on storming form again, enjoying the extremely fast conditions on the superb Sele Track and securing a win over evergreen John McClelland (Agiskoviner), Tim Snook (Ipswich BC) and Gavin Daley (VCD Lincoln). Phil Lisher now appears to have an unassailable lead in the season long competition with only the Mildenhall Rally round in late August yet to be decided.

In the 8km Endurance Series event, Series leader Richard Lambert (Chesterfield Coureurs) was not present and second placed in the leaders table, Bryan Taylor (VC Londres) was entered but unable to take part on the day. However this gave an ideal opportunity for third and fourth placed in the Series, Matthew Fenton, Chesterfield Coureurs and Phil Lisher, Team Welwyn, to try and move up the rankings. The event was run at a phenomenally fast pace, taking only 13.11 to complete with a break of six forming after about seven laps were completed. The break, consisting of Fenton, Lisher, McClelland, Daley, Andrew Ballentyne (Easterley CC) and Simon Daw (Sudbury CC) quickly established a commanding lead although they were being chased hard by a group of a further six riders. As the race drew towards the final stages the pace proved too much for Simon Daw and he dropped from the leading group, with the remaining five locked together and working well until an attack from Lisher at the bell saw him force a small gap with McClelland on his wheel. Into the home straight Lisher paid for the effort as McClelland glided by to take the win, Lisher second from fast finishing Matthew Fenton and Gavin Daley.

In the Women’s 8km run in conjunction with the Men’s event Susan Wood, Maldon & District, was a clear winner from Karen Lifford (Team VC Nottingham) and Amy Willoughby (Chesterfield Coureurs).

The Men’s Madison proved an interesting race with McClelland extending his winning streak as he and his partner Richard Jackson (Colchester Rovers) took a clear points lead from the Lisher and Daw pairing, while Simon Layfield (Team Welwyn) and Gavin Daley were a worthy third. Unfortunately broken spokes created a problem for one pairing with Spalding CC’s Graham McAndrew falling heavily and requiring first aid for some cuts and abrasions; we wish him a speedy recovery. In the Senior Devil John McClelland again took first place ahead of Phil Lisher and Matthew Fenton.

The Men’s Unknown Distance held over 3,200M proved to be just the thing for Simon Layfield of the promoting team. Recovering from a back injury that decimated his 2009 season, Simon looked to be regaining his former Grass Track form as he stormed home for the win ahead of Gary Wood (Maldon & District) and Peter Lifford (Becontree Wheelers). While the Women’s Unknown Distance saw Susan Wood take the honours ahead of Karen Lifford and Amy Willoughby.

Well supported Youth Racing provided some exciting events with the opening Time Trial over 400M won by Andrew Leveton (Ashwell CC) from Keiran Brady (Ely & District CC) and Ben Bailey (Welwyn Wheelers), while the Under 12 Race was taken by James Jackson (Colchester Rovers). Translating the TT results into an 800M Handicap resulted in a fast and furious race with a select group of the Youth Under 16 riders just overhauling the long markers in the final straight the win going to Keiran Brady ahead of Edd Goater (Ashwell CC) and Ben Bailey.

Freewheeler Racing joined the Team Welwyn Open Grass Track Meeting programme for the first time, with a super fast seven year old, Colin Mantle of Mildenhall CC dominating the racing throughout and showing a clean paid of wheels to Laurence Lisher and Phoebe Lisher (both Team Welwyn) in all the events, excepting the bike pushing skills test where Laurence came through for the win ahead of Phoebe.

The Finale of the day was the Musical Hoops Extravaganza featuring three world hoop racing champions, all of whom were, regrettably, knocked out in the relatively early stages of the contest. Fighting out the finish, after John McClelland had been booed to the rafters for trying to eliminate seven year old Colin Mantle from the race, were Phil Lisher, George Wood and Laurence Lisher with Laurence running out the winner by inches from George after a tussle for the final hoop.

A superb afternoon’s racing with great sportsmanship and good spirits shown by all the riders, the clement weather and super fast track conditions adding to the enjoyment of the day.

Grass Track racing this Sunday (August 1) in Hertford

Head down to the Sele School, Hertford SG14 2DG, at 1pm for an afternoon of grass track racing starts 1pm.

There's a great field of riders expected to race on Sele School's, err, great field. The meet is the last but one round of the BC season-long Grass Track Short Distance and Endurance Series and including TW's Phil Lisher who is leading the British Cycling 800m series and Bryan Taylor who tops the 8km table.

There will be supporting events for senior riders, such as a devil and unknown distance race, plus events for women and youth riders as well as freewheeler races for our Go Ride squad.

"Should be fun!" Says organiser Sophie Bruton. For more information, contact Sophie. Details here.

Stories wanted!

Hey TW members, we need your content!

Send any results, stories, happenings and photos to
teamwelwyn@gmail.com and I'll put them online as soon as possible.

It would be great to make this blog interactive and informative, so feel free to comment on the posts, email me with your feedback or post anything on your facebook and social networking sites.

Cheers, Nick

Thanks Andy!

Thank you to Andy Fenn, currently based with the BC Under 23 Academy in Italy, for his kind name check of long time Team Welwyn member and Coach, Simon Layfield, in a recent Cycling Weekly 'Off the Back' interview.

Andy recalled how, early in his cycling career, contact with Coach Simon Layfield and Team Welwyn members such as the late Peter Bissell, had been an inspiration. Andy started his cycling career with Welwyn Wheelers (then linked to Team Welwyn) and was coached by Simon Layfield and Sophie Bruton (both now Team Welwyn), achieving several National Youth Championships and track records.

Andy's subsequent career has been watched with interest, some highlights being winning the Junior Paris Roubaix and more recently winning the 2010 BC National Under 23 RR Championship on the testing and very hilly Pendle Circuit.

TW welcomes new members

Team Welwyn welcomes new members Kieren, Andy, Joanne and Jack who have all joined recently. Kieren is a Go Ride regular while Andy, Joanne and Jack are occasional club runners and in Andy's case a winter training regular.

If you're interested about joining the club, check out the details and what we can offer you here.

Great results for the Team

Plomesgate July 3, Colchester July 4

A full weekend of Grass Track Racing in fantastic cycling weather was something to relish for Team Welwyn members last weekend. Starting with the excellent Plomesgate event, this year combined with the added attractions of a village fete and concluding with the new event on the calendar at Colchester, there were superb results throughout.

In the Plomesgate event Team Welwyn youth rider George Bateman was in attacking form and took the win in two of the four events on offer, second in two more and in each case was directly up against Maldon CC flyer, George Wood - which made life easier for the supporters of the two riders. The Omnium result rested on the one lap TT and George Bateman had just lost out, finishing second overall by the narrowest of margins.

George Bateman
In the senior events Phil Lisher opened the day with a win in the Devil and followed it with a smooth passage through to the semi-final of the Short Distance Series event over 800M, this time being fortunate to completely miss a crash that took place behind him. Progress was similarly smooth through the semi-final but in the final Phil uncharacteristically allowed his rivals to get a lead in the early stages and could manage only third place.

Phil Lisher
In the Senior Unknown Distance event, Simon Layfield, finding form after starting to recover from the back injury that bedevilled last season, came a strong third behind returning roadman Simon Daw of Sudbury CC.

Simon Layfield back in action
Final event of the day was the National Endurance Series 8km Scratch with an early break forming and splitting the field, leaving Phil to take the win ahead of Dave Langlands, Fenland Clarion.

On Sunday the Team were at Colchester with freewheeler Jaimie Rowe replacing George Bateman, who was attending a National School of Racing at Hog Hill. Jaimie rode strongly to finish first in two of her races and second in the third, while also enjoying the opportunity to try out speedway, cyclo-cross (at which she has considerable experience) and skills activities, an excellent idea on the part of the Colchester Rovers.

In the Senior events Phil took the win in the Men's 2-Lap TT and followed this with a win in the Points Race. He was then second in the Men's Devil behind Richard Lambert (Chesterfield Coureurs) and unfortunately also finished in this position in the National Endurance Series 8km that concluded the meeting and which Simon Layfield took 10th spot.

Phil's all in a whirl!

Brentwood Grass Track 27 June 2010

With his sights firmly set on both the National Grass Track Short Distance and Endurance Competitions Phil Lisher has been concentrating on this discipline during the middle section of the season. His weekend got off to a bad start when a sudden concertina effect in the bunch during the 10 Mile Scratch at Welwyn Track on the Friday evening, saw a member of Cambridge CC hit the deck rather hard, with Phil catching his bike and somersaulting to a halt on the tarmac, with multiple abrasions resulting.

Fortunately he had a full 24 hours to recover before the Brentwood round of the Short Distance and Endurance Series - luxury!

Taking the chance to enter some Freewheeler Races Phil's sister and fellow Team Welwyn member Phoebe Lisher showed a fine turn of speed but found the variable and strong wind hard going on her mountain bike but still finished in second place in three out of the four events on offer.

Phoebe Lisher in action at Brentwood
George Bateman was in action in the Youth Omnium but had to give best to Alan Trolove, who rides for West Suffolk Wheelers but is a second claim member of Team Welwyn and has coaching assistance from the team. Alan was in superb form and in spite of having to tape his feet to the pedals due to a cleat failure was unstoppable throughout.

In the senior racing the first event to be contested was a Devil with Phil in second spot behind John McClelland. In the Short Distance (500M) event Phil went smoothly through the heats to take the line in the semi-final, at this stage events became decidedly bizarre with an attack by Tim Snook closely covered by Phil with the rest of the field some distance off the back after the bell and the two places in the final therefore looking like a foregone conclusion. The weather had other ideas - a mini-whirlwind approached the track as the riders exited turn two, picked up Tim and Phil, whirled them round a bit and unceremoniously dumped them on the ground before heading off to break through the safety tape at turn three. Fortunately new injuries were minimal but coming on top of Phil's Friday abrasions the crash was far from ideal.

A re-run saw Phil and Tim both safely through to the final where the adrenaline generated by hitting the deck twice in three days saw Phil take a convincing win ahead of McClelland.

In the subsequent 8km the adrenaline was clearly running a bit lower and Phil could manage only fourth place behind Bryan Taylor, winner of the Endurance Series in 2009.

Tour Podcasts

If five hours of coverage a day on Eurosport is not enough, check out these podcasts to supplement your Tour craving:

Velocast - two Scottish guys rant, but in an intelligent and humourous way:
www.velocast.co.uk

Cyclingnews - the world's most popular website's podcast features hardcore cycling geeks rounding up the day's action:
www.cyclingnews.com

The Real Peloton - Author and respected cycling journalist Matt Rendell gives his views on Le Grand Boucle:
www.realpeloton.com

ITV's Tour de France Podcast - Gary Imlach presents this daily show with Chris Boardman providing the punditry:
www.itv.com

All are available via itunes.

Bella Italia

By Team Welwyn's roving European reporter, Nick Warren. Note, my TW kit was in the wash the day we took these photos!

It's worth traveling to Italy for the coffee alone. It still amazes me how a crappy service station on the Austostrada serves a better espresso than every cafe in Salzburg.

But in addition to kick-ass coffee, the country has some great roads for cycling especially the Chianti region of Tuscany where I enjoyed a few days of riding with my friend Mark in between baby duties, eating amazing food and lying by the pool.






Without wishing to gush to much, the cycling was some of the most pleasant I have ever experienced. Smooth roads, winding hills with steady gradients and plenty of views made the rides extremely memorable.

Feeling inspired by stage seven of this year's Giro d'Italia when the peloton blasted across filthy dirt tracks - known locally as Strade Bianche - we included some of these back roads in our routes. To be honest, they weren't that bad. A bit rutted in places it was tricky going up steeper hills when the back wheel occasionally slipped, and dodgy on the descents where skinny tyres offer minimal grip.


And obviously the coffee stops were perfect - you just can't beat an Italian 1€ espresso.



Here are the routes we took:

Team Welwyn Go Riders kitted out

Team Welwyn's Go Ride sessions are underway and the kids have been kitted out in their new gear.

The sessions are for youth riders aged 5 years upwards and take place every Thursday evening at The Sele School, Welwyn Road, Hertford from 7.00 - 8.00pm.

Cost is £1.00 per rider, per week and you don't have to be a Team Welwyn member to take part, although we welcome new members of all ages and at very reasonable prices! Riders need a mountain bike or BMX in good working order and a hard shell helmet.

Phil mows down the field at Ispwich grass track

Phil Lisher picked up a couple of tidy results at the Ipswich grass track meet on June 12, winning the 800m and coming second in the 8km.

A few extra pictures courtesy East Anglia Daily Times:

St. Andrew's Summer Fete Grass Track Meeting Cancelled

The organiser of the St. Andrew's Summer Fete has been taken ill and this has forced the cancellation of both the Fete and the popular Team Welwyn Grass Track promotion that has formed part of the Fete activities for the past several years. We wish the Fete organiser a speedy recovery.

Grass Track aficionados who particularly love a short, tight, track that requires really good bike handling skills, can rest assured - we'll be back!

Team Welwyn Go Ride

Back for the third great year, Team Welwyn Go Ride sessions for youth riders aged 5 years upwards take place every Thursday evening at The Sele School, Welwyn Road, Hertford from 7.00 - 8.00pm.

Cost is £1.00 per rider, per week and you don't have to be a Team Welwyn member to take part, although we welcome new members of all ages and at very reasonable prices! Riders need a mountain bike or BMX in good working order and a hard shell helmet.

Other than that, turn up and ride, no need to book, parent or carer sign on needed at your first session. Great for fun, great for fitness and great for bike riding skills, we look forward to welcoming you to your first Go Ride session.

Summer Club Runs

Although they don't take place every weekend, we love cycling so much that we just can't resist and Team Welwyn's superb club runs therefore take place on an ad hoc basis whenever the summer race programme allows. If you would like to join us, either for the whole run or at the cafe stop, get in touch to be added to our summer club run alert list - you know it makes sense.

Switching to track

Thanks to all the hardy cyclists who braved the cold to take part in Team Welwyn's road bikes on the track sessions throughout some bitterly cold Tuesday evenings.

From Tuesday 13 April we move to track bikes, so of course we expect warm sunny weather and mild evenings - the track season is always like that - but should it happen to rain hard enough to make the track slippery we may not be able to go ahead! Sessions run every week from 8.00 to 9.30pm and the track is floodlit when required. There is a fee for training - pay the coach on the day.

These sessions are fixed wheel only but are suitable for riders of all abilities and experience. Sessions are coached, if you have specific goals please talk with the coach about how the sessions can help you to achieve your aims.

Sessions are fully open, all welcome. If you'd like any more details please contact Sophie or Simon.

Lisher 10th in Welwyn Hilly

Phil Lisher took 10th place in the prestigious Welwyn Wheelers Hilly Time Trial held on Good Friday (April 2).

Winner was Luke Clarke (Team Milton Keynes) with 1hr 3min 51sec. Other TW members competing were Richard Webster, 26th, Simon Layfield, 41st and George Bateman, 56th.

Full results sheet here.

TW in two-up action!

Team Welwyn's new look website

Hey Nick,

Thanks from Team Welwyn for your work on the new look to our website - very impressed.

Also, speaking of new things - the baby looks pretty cool.

Sophie.

New Website online!

We have a new blog and website!

Check out the new look homepage at www.team-welwyn.co.uk and stay posted to this blog for all TW news and happenings.