The Club open day on Saturday was a great success with an estimated 250 people coming to the stadium across the 4 hour event. The club road bike fleet was in constant demand, the Pedal Revolution MTBs were all used up and ActivatingCIC’s Rollerdrome racing had a brilliant first test event with lots and energy and enthusiasm going into a 4-up head-2-head sprint!
Many thanks to all the volunteers that made the event successful and to Nigel at the stadium who as ever welcomed the club into his fantastic facility. We welcome you back in 2 weeks time for our regular coaching and training session at 9.30am.
What a morning. Around 30 riders signed on to contest the club inaugural hard track championships at Great Yarmouth Stadium on a bright and cheerful morning after a week of grey and damp conditions. The track, which is used by the club 26 Saturdays of the year to offer the only traffic-free coaching this side of a four hour car journey, was in tip top condition and its smooth tarmac surface provided some close and exciting racing thanks to the continued generousity and community spirit of the Stadium management – thank you Nigel and team!
The championships were split into 3 categories: under 12′s, under 14′s and the seniors. The championships were run as an omnium (aggregate of the finishing positions) of three qualifying events. A flying one lap time trial, the keirin, and the elimination race; all Olympic track events. The Championships demanded individual event skills, techniques and the ability to be consistent.
The time trial was the first event to test the riders. The key to this event is to hit the start line at full racing speed, hold that speed through the first bend and then squeeze a little more speed on the back straight before a final push through the final corner and straight to deliver a full-out exhaustive effort. All in around 30 seconds! Whatever the Haslam family had for breakfast seemed to be working as father Cliff (25.7secs) and son Christopher (29.7 secs) broke their respective course records on the way to victory. They were very popular winners against stiff opposition. Patrick Manning won the highly competitive U14 race by over half a second, delivering an U14 course record with his hugely impressive, smooth pedalling technique. Over the last six months his potential has shone through almost as much as his desire and will to win. The club now has many female riders and Grace Hockold looked to have enjoyed herself as she gave the lads a good run for their money. Grace is a true competitor and is closing in on the lads each week as she learns and improves.
The second event was the kierin. This event is fast and furious and the signature event of Olympic hero and World Champion Sir Chris Hoy. The first 2 laps are controlled by a pace rider who gently lifts the pace before pulling off with around one and a half laps remaining. Riders are forced to choose their strategy of going immediately or holding back and following a rivals attack. With up to 12 riders in each race it’s a hectic race and very exciting for the spectators. The Senior race was taken by Track regular Clive Bond with only inches separating Cliff Haslam and the fast finishing Steve Baker. The U14 race was again a close affair with Zak Coleman just getting the better of Patrick Manning the hard way – from the front! Patrick just could not come around Zak who proved too strong and tactically experienced. Dan Swindells beat Matthew Baker in another close shave which needed a video replay for 3rd. In the U12′s Joe Drake confidently won from Seth Houlgate and Rowan Baker in a ferocious last straight battle.
The podium places for each age group were too close to call, coming into the last and deciding event – the Elimination race. This race is a challenge of endurance, tactical skill, raw power and speed. Each lap the riders have to sprint for the finishing line with the last rider over the line being eliminated from the race. The key tactic is to save your energy in the early sprints and use all your reserves in the final stages. With such a close field though we saw some surprising early eliminations as experienced riders misjudged their competitors ability. “I just misread the sprint and have blown the whole championship” said a frustrated Ben Turner who was unusually eliminated first in the U14 race while challenging for 3rd overall. Zak Coleman displayed no such misgivings though as he again beat Patrick Manning, Matthew Baker, Josh Tedstone and Dan Swindells. The U12′s saw Joe Drake again outsprint Seth Houlgate, Rowan Baker and Christopher Haslam. Haslam senior, Cliff, just failed to beat the experienced road racer Ian Sandall who proved too strong tactically and physically for the senior racers bunch.
With the points totalled from the three events, it was very close in all the categories but there has to be a winner. Joe Drake (U12), Zak Coleman (U14) and Cliff Haslam were crowned the club champions for 2012 after a fantastic morning of racing. The excitement, passion and skill of the riders was evident to all to witness and the dedication the regular riders have put into a winter of training was equally clear to see. Well done to all the riders and a big thank you to the organising team and volunteers. Roll on the British Schools Cycling Association championships in a couple of months time!
The final word has to go to Trudie Coleman and her enthusiastic band of young U10 riders. After a morning of technical coaching, which Trudie always delivers in an engaging, exciting and challenging style, the young guns finished the racing programme with an exhilarating race which saw Elle Turner, Emily Haslam, Edward and Oliver Leary, Sam Sutcliffe and the amazing 6 year old Honeysuckle show what they are capable of. All gave everything they had! Watch out U12′s; you have the next generation chasing you hard!
This Saturday is your chance to emulate Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton and aim to become a club champion!
From 9.30 at GY Stadium we will be holding the first ever (we believe) club track championships for u12, u14 and allcomers. Each championship will be run as a omnium of three events:
- one lap flying time trial (approx 300m)
- 1KM kieran race (paced for 2.5 laps and then sprint for 1.5 laps)
- Elimination race (last rider drops out until just two riders remain).
For each event, riders score 1 point for the respective place in that event (so 10 points if you are 10th, 1 point if you are 1st etc) and the overall winners will be the rider in each category who scores the LOWEST number of points – just like the Olympic event! As a club championship we will have new club trophies and certificates for the podium winners. What is there not to like about the Track Championships – come and have a go on Saturday!!!
This Saturday is your chance to emulate Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton and aim to become a club champion!
From 9.30 at GY Stadium we will be holding the first ever (we believe) club track championships for u12, u14 and allcomers. Each championship will be run as a omnium of three events:
- one lap flying time trial (approx 300m)
- 1KM kieran race (paced for 2.5 laps and then sprint for 1.5 laps)
- Elimination race (last rider drops out until just two riders remain).
For each event, riders score 1 point for the respective place in that event (so 10 points if you are 10th, 1 point if you are 1st etc) and the overall winners will be the rider in each category who scores the LOWEST number of points – just like the Olympic event! As a club championship we will have new club trophies and certificates for the podium winners. What is there not to like about the Track Championships – come and have a go on Saturday!!!
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