Preston Park Track League 16

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August 5, 2009; Report by Gavin Smith
Preston Park Track League 16Phew! After two rained-off weeks, sunny conditions finally prevailed at Preston Park and 58 riders were keen to get down to the serious business of racing. With just two meetings in the season remaining including the one report on here, there were vital league points up for grabs.
SENIORS
In the absence of league leader Felix English and third-placed Charlie Heffernan, Mark Burgess raced intelligently tonight and created for himself a useful 12-point lead in advance of next week’s final meet. This is the first time in three years, that English has not headed the senior points table. Burgess didn’t have everything his own way, though, as South African champion Jean Spies was back at Preston Park after several weeks’ absence, and Tour de France legend Sean Yates made his first appearance of 2009. In addition, several other riders were keen to notch up league points as the overall contest is hotting up and these included Adam Gent, Martyn Potter, Andy Edwards, Charlie Sayer and Brock Duncumb-Rogers. Notably, the seniors were joined by all the U16 riders tonight and also U14 Ashley Dennis, who certainly made his presence felt.The first stab at freedom in the 8-lap opener came from Spies and Yates, but their slender lead quickly evaporated and next it was Gent who took his turn off the front with a strong burst. Two laps later, he was joined by Nick Smith, then they too were brought to heel. At the bell there were still a dozen or so riders in with a shout, but on the line Spies took the win, followed by Potter, Burgess, Duncumb-Rogers, Yates and Sayer.Commendable handicapping by Dave Gerrey ensured tight finishes in the handicap heats, with three riders each time going through to the final. Then, Mark Burgess negotiated his way through traffic and won the final by the narrowest of margins in front of Nigel Burrows, Matt Davies, Phil Smith, Nick Smith and Paul Barnard. The 10-lap points race for Bs involved no early breaks with the first maximum being taken by Nick Smith and the next two by Under 14 Ashley Dennis. In a classic move with just under four laps to go, Matt Davies rode away from the bunch and stayed away for the final two maximums. However, the young Dennis had proved enough of a menace to the others and he had notched up enough points for overall victory, with Nick Smith, Davies, Anthony Rogers, Andy Parle and Nigel Foskett next in line. The A-riders Points race was a more animated affair with a rapid pace from the gun. Duncumb-Rogers signalled his intentions early on with the first max, then two laps later it was Potter who was first over the line with Spies and Edwards on his wheel. This trio was well and truly away and the others had missed the boat. Spies had accumulated most points by the bell and he underlined his class with the final sprint win into the bargain to take the race, followed by Edwards, Potter, Duncumb-Rogers, Sayer and Gent. The 3-lap dash races provided a lot of entertainment for spectators. The As maintained a fast tempo throughout, Adam Gent sprinting home the winner ahead of Burgess, Spies, Sayer, Yates and this season’s recently-promoted B-league winner Richard Bailey. In the B1 event, Nick Smith had a slight gap at the bell, but in the end the race went to Dennis in front of Parle, Burrows, Ben Miller, Nick Smith and Foskett. Bruce English won the B2 contest, Mark Turner was second and next came George Webster and Ben Gerrey.Jean Spies lined his pockets in the unknown distance race, winning all three £5 primes in a thrilling fast-run race in which riders were regularly shelled out the back of the bunch. At the end of a lightning last lap, Adam Gent came home the winner, followed by Dennis, Yates, Sayer, Edwards and Spies.
One to go!
With just one meeting to go, Mark Burgess leads the A-league with 125 points, and he is followed by Felix English (113), Jean Spies (112) and Charlie Heffernan (103). While Burgess does have a useful cushion, he could still be overhauled if any of the other three is on top form next week. Watch out for fireworks in Brighton next Wednesday in the final battle for the 2009 senior A-league title!Meanwhile, the B-league winner has already been decided, since Richard Bailey has achieved five wins, and the runner-up is destined to be Andy Parle. However, no fewer than six riders are within just seven points of each other in the race for third place and the tussle for that final podium place will be fascinating next week.
Under 14
With the Under 16s “riding up” among the seniors, it was pride of place to the Under 14s in the youth racing tonight. Kim English rode away near the finish of the 4-lap Scratch race to claim the win, Jake Marley was runner-up and Thomas Evans came third. Kim also won the 2-lap dash and Jake again claimed second spot, this time Imogen Farlie taking third, and there was exactly the same top-3 result in the Devil-take-the-hindmost.
Under 12
Predictably, Amy Barnes won the 2-lap Scratch race ahead of Spencer Thomas and Harris Redgrove. The handicap event was won by Spencer with Amy second and Drew Miller-Hyndman third. Spencer also won the Devil-take-the-hindmost, while Amy Smith was second and Amy Barnes came third.
Under 10/Under 8
The Under 8 one-lapper was won by Dominic Kazlauskas from Evelyn Parle and Miranda Wright, while Douglas McCauley, Isaac Wright and Joe Hill took the first three placings in the equivalent Under 10 race. Isaac won the joint handicap race in front of Harry Stacey and Lois Parle. Douglas won the U10 200-metre TT with 22.52, second was Joe in 22.89 and third was Isaac with 23.05. Dominic posted a time of 24.70 to win the U8 race, Evelyn recorded 26.17 and Miranda finished in 26.33.

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