Preston Park AGM & Prize Presentation
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Report by Gavin Smith, pictures by Dan Dunbar
Around 130 riders, supporters, parents and officials packed the church hall opposite the Preston Park track for the annual Sussex League AGM and prize presentation. Chairman Rob Fuller gave a brief welcome and thanked several league stalwarts for their hard work this season, and this was followed by the AGM.
In the absence of promoter Vern McClelland due to work commitments, his report was read out. “Once again, rider numbers were good with quite a few new riders" it said. "This year the Youth C riders progressed to riding fixed-wheel, so we now have the top three age-groups all riding on fixed. I think we should be very satisfied with the numbers of youth riders we have in the league. It was good to see the number of girls riding in the youth categories and finishing well in the overall standings.”
McClelland went on to describe the success of the new rule for winning the B league, where five wins automatically means victory and promotion to the As. He went on to thank all the volunteers for their help throughout the season and said he looked forward to a bumper season in 2010. Aided by a Powerpoint demonstration, treasurer Dave Gerrey gave a detailed annual report which showed the healthy state of the league’s finances. After the typically short AGM, gifts were presented to league helpers, then it was time for a brief break for award-winning refreshments supplied by “the Queen of Baking” Andrea McClelland.
As an innovation this year, a raffle took place, ably organised by Andrea herself with help from her daughter Kathryn, with no fewer than 35 prizes being given out. Then it was down to the main business of the evening, the distribution of awards to the riders. Prizes were presented in turn by League President Frank Blake, European Masters Team Sprint Champion Lee Povey, the 2009 Senior League Champion Mark Burgess and League Chairman Rob Fuller. Photos were taken by Daniel Dunbar and Sally Page, while Dave Gerrey’s Powerpoint display showed the names of riders as they came up to collect their awards.
Before announcing the prize-winners, Preston Park commentator Gavin Smith thanked various people for their help during the season. There was a bonus to the advertised prize-list in the form of 24 souvenir league programme booklets signed by various members of the GB track squad including Sir Chris Hoy. These booklets were given to the first four riders in each youth league and other deserving youth riders and helpers. Virtually all the youth prize-winners were present with their proud parents, and all award recipients were warmly applauded for their successes.
The senior A league was won by Mark Burgess. A very popular rider, he has been racing at Preston Park for many years, having previously taken both the youth and the junior titles. Richard Bailey won the most hotly-contested B league contest for years. The Roy Humphrey trophy for the most meritorious youth went to Jack Oliver-Blaney and the cup for the most combative rider was won by Felix English. Felix also bagged the Junior trophy, Charlie Heffernan won the award for the best youth in the senior leagues and Driss Jones was awarded the Veterans’ trophy. The Back-to-front trophy for the most successful U16 rider in handicap races went to Ashley Dennis.
The other principal prize-winners were:
Senior A league: 1st Mark Burgess, 2nd Charlie Heffernan, 3rd Felix English, 4th Jean Spies, 5th Lee Povey, 6th Adam Gent.
Senior B league: 1st Richard Bailey, 2nd Andy Parle, 3rd Martin O’Brien, 4th Nick Smith, 5th Ben Miller, 6th Paul Barnard.
U16: 1st Elliot Tabraham-Dowers, 2nd Jack Oliver-Blaney, 3rd Milo Burdeau, 4th Michael Dixon.
U14: 1st Ashley Dennis, 2nd Amy Jacobs, 3rd Kimberley English, 4th Sara Gent, 5th Emily Barnes, 6th Jack Hoyle.
U12: 1st Amy Barnes, 2nd Spencer Thomas, 3rd Harris Redgrove, 4th Megan Lewis, 5th Luke Stacey, 6th Ben O’Brien.
U10: 1st Douglas McCauley, 2nd Harry Stacey, 3rd Joe Hill, 4th Thomas Burnett, 5th Cory Anderson, 6th Isaac Wright.
U8: 1st Dominic Kazlauskas, 2nd Evelyn Parle, 3rd Miranda Wright, 4th Oliver Brooker, 5th Freddie Davies, 6th Oscar Denman-Gould.
Sprint champions: Seniors: Lee Povey. U16 Elliot Tabraham-Dowers. U14 Jack Hoyle. U12 Amy Barnes. U10 Douglas McCauley. U8: Dominic Kazlauskas.
Points champions: Seniors: Charlie Heffernan. U16 Elliot Tabraham-Dowers. U14 Ashley Dennis. U12 Amy Barnes. U10 Douglas McCauley. U8: Dominic Kazlauskas.
Scratch champions: Seniors: Jean Spies. U16 Elliot Tabraham-Dowers. U14 Ashley Dennis. U12 David Barnes. U10 Douglas McCauley. U8: Evelyn Parle.
Looking ahead to the 2010 season, in view of the fact that all three top youth age-groups are now well established on fixed-wheel, there will be no pre-season “Try the Track” evenings. League meetings will therefore begin earlier than usual on Wednesday 14 April and will continue until 11 August, giving a total of 18 weeks’ racing – weather permitting.
The main focus of excitement will be on who will win the top senior title. Now that Mark Burgess has tasted overall senior success, he will be determined to defend his crown. But there will be others who will want to take it from him, including this year’s runner-up Charlie Heffernan and also Felix English, winner in 2007 and 2008.
For more details of the Sussex Cycle Racing League, see www.scrl.co.uk
