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The Summer Track Leagues

Although much of the international Track racing takes place in covered velodromes during the winter months, there's a thriving outdoor Track racing season in the UK during the summer months, based mainly on Track Leagues - i.e. a series of events with similar race programmes/schedules, usually on the same day every week.

Bikes are often available for hire and in many cases there are training sessions and evenings connected with the Track Leagues. Here are some of the main Track Leagues.

Sussex Track League
This years track league is on Wednesday evenings starting on April 13th and running until August 10th. The events in April and August start at 18:45 and the events in May through July start at 19:00. The league programme consists of a mixture of events including Sprints, Handicaps, Devils, Scratch and Points races. The organisers generally operate a three week programme covering all the events.

Seniors and Juniors usually get five events to ride per evening, Under 16 and Under 14 get four events and the other youth categories get three events per evening. Also, during the season, three evenings are set aside to include league championship events.

The first weeks championship is the Scratch race and this is held in May, the second championship week is the Sprint in June and finally in July we have the Points race championship. There is also a championship for all the youth categories as well as for the seniors.

The venue is Preston Park track, Preston Drove, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 6LA. The track is just off the A23 road into Brighton. Approaching from the A23 junction with the A27 proceed towards Brighton and at the first set of traffic lights turn left up Preston Drove and the track is on the right hand side in Preston Park.

The track is tarmac and the length is 580 metres. The track runs on the outside of a cricket pitch. There is no special accreditation required to race, but novices are strongly advised to attend training sessions which will be run on Friday evenings starting on April 1st at 17:00 until 18:00 and will run until the end of the track season at Preston Park.

There are a limited number of bikes available to hire at the track. All categories of rider are catered for with a minimum age of 6. The two youngest categories of youth riders (Youth D and E), ride on freewheel bikes all others ride on fixed wheel. Contact Vern McClelland, 31 Downland Road, Upper Beeding, West Sussex, BN44 3JS, macbike2@googlemail.com, 01903 814351

Friday night training sessions will run from April 1st until August 19th. For novices 17:00 until 18:00
For experienced track riders from 18:00 till dusk Cost is £2 youth and £3 adults with bike hire at £2

DHL/Meadowbank National Track Series (Edinburgh, Scotland)

The Meadowbank National Track League is on a Tuesday evening starting 19th April and running to the 6th of September. Signing on is at 6.45pm - 7.10pm with racing from 7.15pm - 9.15pm. The programme of events includes racing for similar ability riders, racing for seniors, veterans, masters, juniors and youth riders.

Racing is held at the Meadowbank velodrome which is at the Meadowbank Stadium, London Road, Edinburgh. The track is an outdoor wooden velodrome, 250 metres round. Riders who would like to race the track league must have track accreditation and British cycling membership/licence. There are bikes for hire at the venue from the East of Scotland Cycling Association.

Contact for the league is Audrey Walker. Riders are advised to check the weather forcast prior to travel as the velodrome is outdoors.

Reading Velodrome Racing

The Track League is on Monday evenings from 11th April to 26th September except Bank Holiday Mondays. Racing starts at 7pm and finishes 9.30pm. There are also other events to look out for including a special Track League meeting Sunday 1st May from 1pm to 5pm that includes Bordeaux-Paris events. DernyFest and National Women's Omnium meeting is Saturday 13th August from 1pm to 5pm.

The race programme varies each week but includes 500metre sprints, Two lap Keirins, 10 lap Scratch, Derny racing, Devil, Unknown distance and 20k endurance.

The venue is Reading Palmer Park Sports Centre, exit M4 Junction 10 then A329 to Reading. The cycle track is outside the athletic track and is tarmac and 459 metres.

New riders must attend Thursday evening training sessions to gain experience. Starts at 8.15pm. Youth would need to train with Palmer Park Velo club on a Saturday  morning. Website: www.palmerparkvelo.com 

Training session costs £3.75 and six track bikes are available to hire at £5 per session.

Monday track league caters for youth (Under 8 to Under 16) and senior caters for Elite,1,2,3,4, Junior and women

Riders with queries should contact: Gordon Sherratt - email: gordon.sherratt@readingvelodromeracing.co.uk or
Chief coach, Dick Poole email R.Poole@btinternet.com

Website for the track league is www.readingvelodromeracing.co.uk

Herne Hill (London) Track League

Racing is on Wednesdays (7pm) 20th April - 31st August. There are usually around six races each group - a mix of bunch racing every week and usually one specialist event to have a go at. Venue is Herne Hill Stadium, Burbage Road, London, SE24 9HE. The track is 450 metre tarmac.

Riders will need to have completed an induction during our Saturday morning or Monday evening training sessions. For people wishing to race, bikes are available to hire for the whole season for around £40 (check website for details). Entry fees are seniors £8, juniors £5, youth £3.

There are separate races for youth categories "A" seniors and "B" seniors, as well as over 50s and women.

Contact: Email: info@hernehillvelodrome.com, Website: www.hernehillvelodrome.com/trackleague

Riders are encouraged to try one of the many weekly training sessions at Herne Hill to get a feel of track riding before racing. The Monday night race training, and Sunday morning SQT (Structured Quality Training) sessions are especially suited to those intending to race.

Wolverhampton Wheelers - Fred Williams Cycles Track League

Racing is on Wednesday Evenings from 7pm to around 9.30pm. League starts May 4th through to September 7th. The racing programme varies and is split each week between Endurance and Sprint events. They include Kierin, Devil, Sprint, Handicap, Italian Pursuit, Australian pursuit.  All disciplines apart from Maddison are covered.

The venue for the Fred Williams Track League is a tarmac banked Velodrome that is 458 meters long situated at Aldersley Leisure Village, Wolverhampton. It is approximately three miles north east of Wolverhampton city centre, Aldersley Road, Wolverhampton, WV6 9NW. Contact for further information is e-mail: aldersley.leisurevillage@wolverhampton.gov.uk or phone: 01902 556 200

The riders to compete in the league are of mixed ability groups and all riders new to the track or track racing are asked to attend the Monday training sessions starting early April. All Riders must have a British Cycling racing licence. Entry forms can be downloaded and printed from the British Cycling website or the Wolverhampton Wheelers website http://www.wolverhamptonwheelers.co.uk/. Parental consent forms for under 18 will need to be completed; also  downloadable from the above web sites.

Loan bikes are available but priority is given to Wolverhampton Wheelers members. All abilities are welcome and training will be offered. Freewheeler sessions throughout the evening.

Riders catered for include Regional C (1,2,3,4 and Elite), Youth (A,B,C,D and E) and Freewheelers sessions

Contact for riders with queries: John Ireson, john.ireson@mamilcycling.co.uk, 07772 267 767

Forest Town Aces & Sherwood Pines (www.sherwoodpines.co.uk) Track League 

The league begins on Monday 18th April, 7pm to around 9.30pm. Meetings are not held on on Bank holidays and the leagues runs until Sept. 12th. The racing programme varies and includes sprint nights. The schedule includes events for Freewheelers, Youth (under 16) and Seniors (E/1/2/3/4). The organisers do mix the events up to give the riders variety each week.

The track which is 103 years old and based on an old cinder one, is part of a multi-purpose venue. The tarmac track is 440 yards long with four bends and four straights. The venue has a bar, indoor viewing  area, mini grandstand and showers. Postcode for the event is NG19 0BT, Forest Town Welfare, 115
Clipstone Road West (corner of Pump Hollow Road), Forest Town (Near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire).

Novice and intermediate level riders can attend a coaching night and there are also drop in nights where you can ride the track without coaching. Contact the organiser for details. Some bikes have been purchased for hire but riders are advised to contact the organiser first to secure one of an evening. Other Info: Entry £6.50 seniors, £2.50 for Youth (under 16s)

Contact: Graeme Waters, 07910 307 284, email: muddygraeme@btinternet.com Website: http://www.foresttowntrack.co.uk/

Welwyn Track League

The league runs from April 29th to September 9th on Friday evenings starting at 7-15pm. The racing programme includes for Senior riders, two ability groups who each get four races per meeting, 10 lap Scratch +and the blue ribbon 10 mile race each week. Two other races are selected from these; 10 lap Points, Block Handicap, Devil, Block Pursuit. The Youth riders are divided into three three  age/ability groups with each getting four races per meeting selected from; 5 lap Scratch, 500m Handicap, 4 lap Points, Devil, and a 2 or 4 lap Handicap.
 
The venue is Gosling Sports Park, Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6XE (1 mile from A1M). The track is a 460m tarmac banked velodrome with maximum banking of 24 degrees. Required to race is a British Cycling racing licence plus verifiable track experience. Bikes are for hire at £3 per meeting.

Categories catered for are Senior, Junior, Women and all Youth categories. Contact is Peter Waghorn 01707-327 011, peter.waghorn@grafham.org

Other information. Open track training sessions 7-00pm to 9-00pm every Monday from April 4th (except Bank Holidays). Novice sessions Saturday mornings 9-00am to 11-00am. Booking required. Winter activities include 'road-bikes-on-the track sessions Wednesday evenings October to March. Saturday morning Go-Ride youth sessions all year.

Dave Marsh/www.universalcyclecentre.co.uk Scunthorpe Track League

The league runs from 29th of April to 23rd of September on Friday evenings. The racing programme includes short Scratch race, Points race, Devil, Block Handicap, 10 mile. Events are mostly distance races with occasional Sprint events & Derny races. Venue is Brumby Wood Lane, Scunthorpe DN17 1ST. The track is a 485 metre tarmac.

Entries are taken on the line. Bike hire is available for £5 per night or per season, £35 Youth and £50 Senior. Categories catered for iclude Youth (A,B,C,D,E), Seniors (Elite,1,2,3,4) and Ladies ability & category groups.

Riders note that there are Wednesday evening training sessions (6 to 8pm) with bike hire available. All riders catered for experienced & novices. Also training for volunteers wanting to become judges & Commissaires.

Contact Steve or Susan Parsons at scunthorpe.poly@ntlworld.com tel 01724 343 862

North East of Scotland Open Track League (Dundee, Scotland)

The league is held on Thursday nights from 6.30 - 9.00pm (May until July). The prgramme includes a mixture of Sprint and Endurance races for different ages and abilities. The venue is Caird Park Velodrome, Dundee, Mains Loan, DD4 9BX. The track is a 400 metre tarmac velodrome.

There are no bikes for hire but there are a few available for loan by prior arrangement. All categories are catered for. The organiser says "This is a friendly introduction into track cycling but also beneficial to experienced cyclists."

Contact is email: info@discovery.co.uk

West Riding (Yorkshire) Grass Track League

The league is held on Mondays running weekly from the 2nd Monday in May to the second Monday in August excluding Bank Holidays each year. The programme includes a mixture of Scratch races, Sprints, Devils, Points races and Handicaps.

The venue is the Cricket Oval, Roundhay Park, Mansion Lane, Leeds LS8 2JL. It is a 400 metre banked grass track oval situated between the Mansion House and the Lakeside Cafe. Access is from Princes Avenue, one hundred yards north of the junction between Wetherby Road/Oakwood Lane and Princes Avenue. Access via the Leeds Ring Road A6120(Moortown) or the A58 Wetherby Road/Easterley Road.

What will riders need to compete? Riders in the British Cycling Under 12 category can ride any bike as long as it is in full working order and has brakes. Riders in the Under 14 category and over (including adults)  need to use fixed wheel track bikes with no brakes and suitable grass track tyres. Helmets must be worn at all times.

There are a limited number of track bikes to borrow. Riders catered for include Under 8/U10/U12/U14/U16/Junior/Senior/Veterans/Women.

Contact for riders with queries is Mandy Parker; Tel: 07917 860 292; Email: mandyparker2@ntlworld.com or Website: http://www.cycleroundhay.co.uk

Other info: The League is rapidly expanding with numbers attending at the highest for years. As a result they can offer competitive racing that suits all abilities. There is a rapid increase in young riders taking part, including beginners to racing, as it is a safe environment with races suited to the ages and ability of the children( and adults) taking part. Also, they now have an expanding number of seniors and vets enjoying this growing sport.

Brooks Cycles Track League, Newcastle under Lyme

The league is on every Thursday night from the 28th April to 1st September 2011. Freewheelers start 6.20pm and the main league, 7.15pm A typical programme of races for riders includes mixed events from Sprints to Endurance. Evening always ends with a 10 mile Scratch. The venue is the Lyme Valley Stadium, Lillishall Road, Clayton, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffs, ST5 3BX. Directions on website www.newcastle-track.co.uk Track is 400 metre tarmac with 31 per cent bankings.

No accreditation needed although riders need to have a British Cycling licence. The league however will not accept complete novices to track riding until they attend a Monday training session at the track. They will then be assessed as to whether they can ride the league.

Bikes for hire at the venue are available for hire at £2. Categories of riders catered for include Freewheelers to Elite riders. The organiser says "We are a very friendly track league who will give a good welcome to any new riders. With it being outdoors and the bankings not as steep as Manchester, it is a great way to get introduced to track racing."

Contact is Chris Pyatt on 0788 2152 922

Don't Forget Winter Track Leagues

Riders can also get involved in track racing by going to a Winter Track League in Newport (Wales), Manchester and Calshot (Southampton. To find out more, go to the British Cycling Online Racing Calendar.