Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Grass Track Meeting in Pictures
A few photos from last week's TW grass track meeting in Hertford, photos courtesy "a spectator".
Thursday, August 5, 2010
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.
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.
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