Good Friday Track Meeting

Navigation:

Good Friday Track Meeting

Herne Hill | 9 April 2009
Report by Nick Rosenthal nick@fatnick.com

The start of a sprint heat at Herne Hill

The Good Friday track meet at Herne Hill in south London is a big tradition, with the first edition run in 1903. It is an international track meeting that always attracts top-notch riders from several countries, and this year's event was no exception. The weather forecast in the days leading up to the event had predicted rain, but the morning's qualifying sessions were run off with no problems.

First up was the flying 200 meters qualifying event for the Johnnie Dennis White Hope Sprint. Aimed at up-and-coming younger riders, the White Hope sprint is an event with a long history, and past winners include Steve Heffernan, Trevor Gadd, Maurice Burton, Russ Snowdon, Paul Swinnerton, Chris Pyatt, Gary Coltman, Jamie Staff, Matt Crampton, Chris Lyte and Luc Jones a real Who's Who of British sprinting talent! The event is named after Johnnie Dennis, the first winner of the race way back in 1948. Riders are timed in a flying 200m, and then move through to six heats with six riders in each heat.

White Hope Sprint 200m TT results:
116 Kevin STEWART City of Edinburgh RC 11.6
31 Jody CUNDY Tredz CC 11.704
23 Jordan CHRISTIE CC Cardiff 11.704
86 Lewis OLIVA Bristol Cycling Development Squad 11.779
39 Kian EMADI Tunstall Wheelers 11.79
89 John PAUL Team Terminator 11.835
108 Callum SKINNER City of Edinburgh RC 11.988
14 Jamie BREMNER City of Edinburgh RC 12.038
60 Jack HIBBERD MJS Racing 12.154
57 Thomas GREGORY Halesowen C & AC 12.158
40 Felix ENGLISH Team Corridori 12.171
104 Federico SALA GS Fiorin 12.178
128 Jess VARNISH Halesowen C & AC 12.36
80 Michael MULCAHY Cycling Pursuits 12.438
4 Thomas BAKER Halesowen C & AC 12.488
8 Edward BIRD East London Velo 12.605
66 Rebecca JAMES Abergavenny RC 12.706
37 David DENTUS Team Quest 12.719
65 James JACKSON PCA Ciclos Uno 12.775
32 Joshua CUNNINGHAM In Gear Development Squad 12.828

18 Mark BURGESS Lewes Wanderers 12.833
107 Helen SCOTT Halesowen C & AC 12.912
13 Stephen BRADBURY Palmer Park Velo 12.918
82 Scott NELSON Brixton Cycles 12.919
99 Oliver ROSSI Glendene CC 12.929
52 Matt GITTINGS A W Cycles.co.uk 12.985
137 Charlene Joiner 13.01
59 Charlie HEFFERNAN V C Jubilee 13.07
127 Alberto VANZO SC Albonese Mapei 13.09
5 Simon BATESON East London Velo 13.093
2 Fabio ALBERTI SC Albonese Mapei 13.241
119 Cameron SWARBRICK RN & RM CA 13.44
76 Jake MARTIN Rapha 13.533
113 Daniel SNOW Welwyn Wheelers 13.603
34 Elliot DAVIS GB Fire Service CC 13.822
105 Claudio SCABBIA Kia Motors CT 14.268
22 Samuel CHEESMAN In Gear Development Squad 14.55
55 Joshua GREEN Glendene CC 15.177

Matt Crampton digs deep

The second event was the 200m time trial for the Neovite International Sprint. This race is for top-flight international sprinters, with past winners including the legendary Daniel Morelon of France, Canada's Gordon Singleton and Marty Nothstein of the USA. This year's pre-race favourite Ross Edgar was suffering on the day, and Matt Crampton set the fastest qualifying time ahead of Pete Mitchell. Patrick Bos of Holland was the fastest overseas visitor, whilst Lee Povey showed the Masters riders how to do it.

135 Matthew CRAMPTON Science in Sport 10.904
78 Peter MITCHELL GREAT BRITAIN 11.282
38 Ross EDGAR Sky+HD 11.328
73 Christian LYTE GREAT BRITAIN 11.338

61 Steven HILL GREAT BRITAIN 11.576
12 Patrick BOS AlcmariaHOLLAND11.858
91 Lee POVEY Team Terminator 11.866
67 Luc JONES New Tredegar Nomads CC 11.877
10 Jelger BISSCHOP AlcmariaHOLLAND11.898
92 Andrea PRATI GS Fiorin ITALY 11.947
98 Michal ROHON SLOVAKIA 12.294
7 Cristian BETTINELLI Kia Motors CT ITALY 12.475
120 Morgan TAMIAZZO Kia Motors CT ITALY 12.645
45 Stefano FIORIN GS Fiorin ITALY 12.686
44 Dario FINATTI Kia Motors CT ITALY 12.992
35 Moises De GRACIA BC PM 13.759

A first round of 1-lap sprints for the Adept Handicap race led up to a 45 minute lunch break.

Heat 1
1 107 Helen SCOTT Halesowen C & AC
2 67 Luc JONES New Tredegar Nomads CC

Heat 2
1 91 Lee POVEY Team Terminator
2 31 Jody CUNDY Tredz CC

Heat 3
1 78 78 Peter MITCHELL GREAT BRITAIN
2 61 Steven HILL GREAT BRITAIn

Heat 4
1 128 Jess VARNISH Halesowen C & AC
2 104 Federico SALA GS Fiorin - ITALY

Heat 5
1 116 Kevin STEWART City of Edinburgh RC
2 86 Lewis OLIVA Bristol Cycling Development Squad

Heat 6
1 66 Rebecca JAMES Abergavenny RC
2 89 John PAUL Team Terminator

The weather chose the lunch break for a first rainfall, but the rain moved away before the afternoon racing session began. First order of business was the final for the Adept Handicap race, which saw John Paul win the event from Lee Povey, with Luc Jones in third spot.

Chris Newton celebrates victory in the Ed Taylor points race

The Ed Taylor points race was an opportunity for the distance merchants to show what they are made of, and points race specialist Chris Newton was soon in the thick of the action to stamp his authority on the race. Newton was part of a break that established itself mid-race, along with Spain?s Tony Tauler, Czech rider Josef Zabka (who was unfortunate to puncture in the closing laps of the race), Ed Clancy and Andrew Tennant. The break could have lapped the field, but wisely chose to hang back in order to pick up more points, and then fought out the final sprint amongst themselves, with Newton winning the final sprint.

The first round of the White Hope sprint, with six riders in each heat, gave us the following heat winners:

Heat 1
1 116 Kevin STEWART City of Edinburgh RC

Heat 2
1 31 Jody CUNDY Tredz CC

Heat 3
1 86 Lewis OLIVA Bristol Cycling Development Squad

Heat 4
1 39 Kian EMADI Tunstall Wheelers

Heat 5
1 John Paul Team Terminator

Heat 6
1 Callum Skinner City of Edinburgh RC

Sadly, rain would bring the race meeting to a premature end before the White Hope sprint could progress further, but the winner would have been one of these six riders. The heats for the Neovite International sprint were also progressing, with some very exciting racing from the international field.

Heat 1
1 135 Matthew CRAMPTON Science in Sport
2 7 Cristian BETTINELLI Kia Motors CT - ITALY

Heat 2
31 78 Peter MITCHELL GREAT BRITAIN
2 98 Michal ROHON SLOVAKIA

Heat 3
1 38 Ross EDGAR Sky+HD
2 92 Andrea PRATI GS Fiorin - ITALY

Heat 4
1 73 Christian LYTE GREAT BRITAIN
2 10 Jelger BISSCHOP Alcmaria-Victrix - HOLLAND
3 44 44 Dario FINATTI Kia Motors CT - ITALY

Heat 5
1 61 Steven HILL GREAT BRITAIN
2 67 Luc JONES New Tredegar Nomads CC
3 45 Stefano FIORIN GS Fiorin - ITALY

Heat 6
1 91 Lee POVEY Team Terminator
2 12 Patrick BOS Alcmaria-Victrix - HOLLAND
320 Andrew CARNALL Agiskoviner.com

Again, the Neovite Sprint should have progressed to the repechage round and then to semi finals, but this was as far as the weather let us get! By the time the Catford CC Devil-Take-The-Hindmost started, the odd speck of rain was already falling. This was an exciting bunch race, with fast racing and the crowd urging on their favourites as the race progressed. In the end, Tom Gregory won it ahead of Felix English:

1 57 Thomas GREGORY Halesowen C & AC
2 40 Felix ENGLISH Team Corridori
3 76 Jake MARTIN Rapha-Condor

At this stage, the rain made the track surface wet, and racing was suspended. Chief Commissaire Willi Tarran waited until 4 pm before reluctantly announcing that with the rain still falling, there would be no further racing today.

It was good to see such a well-organised track meeting, and to see a good crowd of spectators turn out to support the event. As well as exciting racing, spectators could also enjoy a trackside bar, trade stands selling cycle clothing and equipment, the ever-popular Rollapaluza races (which Andrew Magnier won!), catering, and a very popular Vespa-powered coffee bar!

Photo Report

Bunch race action at Herne Hill

The riders in the break during the Ed Taylor points race led here by Andy Tennant, Chris Newton and Simon Gaywood