TRACK RESULTS 2003

• Plomesgate Grasstrack - 30th Aug

• Welwyn Track League - 29th August

• Welwyn Track League - 1st August

• Eastern Region Grass Track Championships - 20th July

• Ely & District Grass Track - 13th July

• Biggleswade Sport Grass Track meeting - 12th July

• Welwyn Track League - 11th July

• Welwyn Track League - 4th July

• Welwyn Open Meeting - 28th June

• Birmingham Bonanza Grass Track - Sun 9th June

• St Thomas School Grass Track, Hertford - Sun 9th June

• North Road Grass Track results - Sunday 18th May

• Welwyn Track League - 30th May

PLOMESGATE CC GRASSTRACK MEETING - SAT AUG 30

Neil Lewis gained his Elite category British Cycling licence by scoring more points in the Plomesgate CC Grass Track Meeting. Some entertaining racing was witnessed at the first ever track meet at St. Mary’s School, Woodbridge in Suffolk. The school field provided a short but fast track of 220 metres, with a slight off-camber on two corners and a finishing straight which was slightly uphill, favouring the more powerful riders. Ipswich BC rider David James won several of the events for the top riders. Neil did well winning the 600 metre handicap event and coming in second in the10-lap points and 8 kilometre scratch and in third place in the eight-lap scratch.

WELWYN TRACK LEAGUE - Fri 29th Aug

In the last counting event for 2003 there were some good performances by four North Roaders- Richard Somerset, Andy Lancaster, Tony Bradford and Nigel Cameron.

Nigel came fifth in the B 10-lap scratch.

In the B odds and evens handicap race both teams were very evenly matched until the last lap when a rider attacked from the 'evens' group to gain some ground. Richard followed and finished in second place.

In the first lap of the B group points race Nigel and Andy achieved a second and third place. On the last lap Nigel took third place.

All four North Roaders took part in the 10 mile race. Richard managed 11th place less than half a lap behind the leaders, with Tony just behind.

WELWYN TRACK LEAGUE - GOSLING STADIUM - FRIDAY 1st August

North Road’s Richard Somerset and Tony Bradford rode in the Welwyn Track League on Friday in the B and A groups respectively. The first event for Richard was the 10 lap scratch where he achieved third place in the sprint for the line. 

In a small but high quality field for the A's, which included David Baker, Bryan Taylor and Simon Gaywood, Tony rode extremely well to take 8th place in the opening scratch race.

The next race for Richard was the block handicap;, two groups on opposite sides of the track each riding 10 laps. Five riders including Richard managed to break away from the main group and made ground on the other riders. With one lap to go Richard attacked his compatriots and held on to take second place.

In the block handicap for the A's Tony attacked with half a lap to go but unfortunately he was overtaken in the home straight and came 9th.

Richard rode well in the points race taking one second and three thirds, but just missed out on 4th place overall.

EASTERN REGION GRASSTRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS- SELE SCHOOL, HERTFORD - SUN 20TH JULY 2003

The 2003 edition of the championship was held in hot, dry conditions on a large 400m track in contrast to the tight track and wet conditions experienced in 2002. Neil Lewis was the sole representative from the North Road. Neil started the day off well with a win in the opening 10 lap event followed by a second place in the elimination event behind junior Peter Bissell (Team Welwyn). In the final of the 400m scratch, Neil could only finish fourth with the win going to Paul Allett (Easterly RC). There were better prospects in the 800m, with Neil finishing in the silver medal position behind winner Chris Burley (Easterley RC). This year Neil managed to stay upright in the individual pursuit to claim the Bronze behind winner Martin Kemp (Mildenhall CC) and Burley.

Joining up with Andrew and Sarra Whelan (Eastern Region Velo) the trio managed to win both the team pursuit and the team sprint for composite clubs.

ELY & DISTRICT GRASS TRACK - -Sun 13th July

Both Neil Lewis and Nigel Cameron made the journey to Ely to compete. Neil unfortunately being unable to compete in the national series event as he entered on the line. Nigel rode well to win his heat in the National 800m event and rode to a well-deserved 6^th in the final. Both riders made it through to the final of the 800m handicap with Neil just losing out to Guy Cook for 3^rd place with Nigel in fourth. In the 8km event Nigel finished 11^th in an event dominated by Leigh Haigh (Race Scene) who attacked early on and went on to lap the field to take the win.

In the closing consolation elimination event, Neil led from the front until the final lap but could only finish 2^nd behind winner Jason Streather (VC St Raphael).

BIGGLESWADE SPORTS GRASS TRACK MEETING - 12th July

Neil Lewis and Nigel Cameron competed in the 2003 edition of the Biggleswade Sports Cycling & Athletic meeting that was run off under clear skies and hot sun. The recent dry spell led to the track riding hard and fast with riders battling to see through clouds of dust. The event incorporated rounds of the season long National 800m and 8km series.

In the opening 1 mile event the bunch was kept together by a steady pace set by Nigel until the final lap where the pace picked up considerably with Neil finishing 2^nd in the sprint behind winner Jason Benham (Scunthorpe Poly). Unfortunately the event was marred by a touch of wheels that led to Pete Whelan (Plomsgate CC) falling heavily and needing to be taken to hospital with a shoulder injury. 

Neil won both his heats in the 800m scratch and went on to finish 3^rd in the final behind series leader and National Champion, Richard Kennedy (Chesterfield Couriers) with Benham in 2^nd. Nigel finished 2^nd in the minor final and finished 8^th overall on the day.

The National series 8km event was dominated by a break begun by Neil with 10 laps to go, five laps later he was joined by Ian Clarke (Fenland Clarion) and Leigh Haigh (Race Scene). The break never gained more than ½ lap but remained away until the final lap when Benham bridged the gap to take the win by less than a wheel from Neil with Haigh in 3^rd.

The elimination race saw Neil fight hard to stay in until the bell with four riders remaining, but paid for his efforts by only being able to finish fourth behind winner Guy Cook (Chesterfield Couriers), Kennedy and Haigh.

In the final event of the afternoon, the 500m handicap, both Neil and Nigel won through to the final. Neil paid for his effort in the heat but no being able to bridge the gap but Nigel hung on to finish 6^th.

WELWYN TRACK LEAGUE - Fri 11th July

Despite a cooler evening than the last few weeks, there was still a good turnout for the evening’s racing. The club was represented by Tony Bradford, Nigel Cameron and Neil Lewis. Riding strongly in the ‘B’ events, Nigel Cameron finished 4^th in the 10 lap scratch and 3^rd in the elimination event. Tony and Neil rode well in the ‘A’ races with Neil taking it easy in anticipation of his forthcoming weekend of grass track racing. All three finished well in the final 10 mile event of the evening.

WELWYN TRACK LEAGUE - GOSLING STADIUM - FRIDAY 4TH JULY

North Road’s Andy Lancaster rode his second Hard Track event ever at Gosling Park Velodrome, Welwyn Garden City, taking third position in the points race. He managed a first in one lap; and a second in another lap. He was followed by Nigel Cameron in fourth position overall.

Stevenage Open Meet inc WCRA Track Championships - 28th June 2003

Tony Bradford        4th        Pursuit

                           6th        Points race

BIRMINGHAM BONANZA GRASS TRACK - Sun 9th June

On the same afternoon as the Hertford event Nigel Cameron competed in the Birmingham event incorporating the National Clarion Championship. Nigel, riding for the Teeside Clarion finished 3^rd behind winner and defending champion Ian Clarke and Dave Langlands (both Fenland Clarion)

ST THOMAS SCHOOL HERTFORD GRASS TRACK MEETING - Sun June 9th

Neil Lewis competed in the event promoted by the Welwyn Wheelers in conjunction with St. Thomas’s school fete. On a tight and bumpy track, Neil rode out winner in all events except for the elimination event when placed 2^nd behind winner Chris Last (JE James RT). The predicted storms held off until the final event when a thunderstorm brought a premature end to the 47 lap 8km event after just 12 laps

SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2003
NORTH ROAD CYCLING CLUB GRASS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS

HARTHAM COMMON, HERTFORD

FALKLAND PRESS 3-LAP WOMEN’S SCRATCH RACE: 1. Sara. Whelan (Eastern Region Velo – Bianchi UK), 2. Noelle James (Ipswich Bicycle Club), 3. Jayne Bevitt (Fenland Clarion).

BLUE SKY CYCLES 2-LAP SCRATCH RACE FOR YOUTH RIDERS: 1. Tom Gosbee (Welwyn Wheelers), 2. Matthew Cook (Mildenhall CC).

HIGHWAYS CYCLES UNKNOWN DISTANCE RACE: 1. Simon Layfield (Team Welwyn), 2. Max Pendleton (Mildenhall CC), 3. Ian Clarke (Fenland Clarion), 4. Andrew Whelan (Eastern Velo Region – Bianchi UK), 5. Andrew Ballentyne (Easterley Road Club), 6. Andrej Bojarski (Hemel Hempstead CC).

J. D. WHISKER RACING CYCLES 3-LAP SCRATCH FINAL: 1. Jamie Streather (VC St. Raphael/Waite Contractors), 2. Dave James (Ipswich Bicycle Club), 3. Neil Lewis (North Road CC); 4. Keith Richardson (Mildenhall CC), 5. Jason Streather (VC St. Raphael/Waite Contractors), 6. Chris Burley (Easterley Road Club).

MARSHALL’S CYCLES 1-LAP SCRATCH RACE FOR YOUTH RIDERS: 1. Tom Gosbee, 2. Matthew Cook.

FALKLAND PRESS DEVIL TAKE THE HINDMOST: 1 Dave James, Jason Streather, 3. Leigh Haigh (Race Scene CC/Van Tuyl Design), 4. Simon Layfield, 5. Chris Burley, 6. Keith Richardson (Mildenhall CC).

J. D. WHISKER RACING CYCLES 500 M HANDICAP FINAL: 1. Jamie Streather, 2. Sara Whelan, 3. Neil Lewis, 4. Noelle James, 5. Jayne Bevitt, 6. Paul Allet (Easterly Road Club).  

MARSHALL’S CYCLES 2-LAP RACE FOR YOUTH RIDERS: 1. Matthew Cook, 2. Tom Gosbee.

FALKLAND PRESS WOMEN’S UNKNOWN DISTANCE RACE: 1. Sara Whelan, 2. Noelle James, 3. Jayne Bevitt.

BLUE SKY CYCLES ONE MILE SCRATCH RACE FINAL: Jamie Streather,
2. Dave James, 3. Jason Streather, 4. Neil Lewis, 5. Chris Burley, 6. Leigh Haigh.

BLUE SKY CYCLES 1-LAP RACE FOR YOUTH RIDERS: 1. Tom Gosbee, 2. Matthew Cook.

J. D. WHISKER RACING CYCLES/MCMULLEN 20-LAP SCRATCH RACE:
1. Leigh Haigh, 2. Jason Streather, 3. Ian Clarke (Fenland Clarion), 4. Keith Richardson, 5. Max Pendleton, 6. Simon Layfield. First Lady: Sara Whelan.  

WELWYN TRACK LEAGUE - GOSLING STADIUM - FRIDAY 30TH MAY

Three North Road members competed in the Friday evening track league at Gosling stadium, Welwyn Garden City. Experienced campaigners Richard Somerset and Nigel Cameron were joined by new boy, none other than club president Andy Lancaster riding his first hard track meeting. Andy is no stranger to fixed wheel however, riding fixed for training last winter and he also competed in the recent North Road grass track meeting at Hertford.

The first event was the 10 lap scratch where all three members were well placed in the main group. The second event was the block handicap with Nigel, Andy and Richard starting in the same group. By half distance the opposite group were leading the race. Richard had a go with two laps remaining to close the gap but to no avail. With half a lap remaining Andy gave full gas and finished in 4th place in the group although this was to no effect as the other group finished the 10 lap distance first.

There was some success in the next event the 10 lap points race. After two laps Richard attacked and gained a small gap on the field in the company of another rider. He managed to pick up two seconds and a third place before being caught by the main bunch. Unfortunately his effort was no enough to claim a top four placing. Andy and Nigel finished in the main group.

The last event for the evening was the 10 mile race for both A and B

Andy performed extremely well for a relative novice and he thoroughly enjoyed his first experience of track racing and will be back for more. Richard and Nigel were pleased to be racing at last after so many rained off meetings.