Preston Park Reports - 2009
PRESTON PARK IS ON TRACK FOR ANOTHER BUMPER SEASON
Gavin Smith previews the 2009 Brighton track competition
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After three warm-up evenings of Try the Track (1, 8 & 15 April starting at 6.00pm), racing begins in earnest at Brighton’s Preston Park on Wednesday 22 April at 6.45pm.
Last season saw record numbers taking part at Brighton, and some fascinating battles between the top seniors who included former Tour de France star Sean Yates.
This year, the hot favourite to win the senior A league for the third time in a row is young Felix English. The “Boy Wonder” flashed on to the senior scene bigtime in 2007 with a devastating season-long performance which saw him take the title, and he repeated the feat last year. Felix has already ridden for GB as a junior and raced a lot in Belgium and Holland, but the thought of notching up that Preston Park hat-trick entices him and he has promised to attend whenever his schedule permits.
Several riders are firmly in the mix to give Felix a serious run for his money, however. Last year’s runner-up neo-senior Adam Gent will be up there, as will Mark Burgess who achieved third spot in 2008. Sure to be there or thereabouts are two of the longer race specialists Christian Yates and Charlie Sayer (4th and 6th respectively last year), Preston Park legend and reigning European Masters sprint champion Lee Povey and last year’s B-league winner Charlie Heffernan. Former junior team sprint world champion Pete Mitchell and zippy young Brock Duncumb-Rogers can also be guaranteed to feature among the top seniors.
Thanks to a decision by chief commissaire Vern McClelland, the A ranks will be swelled in 2009 by the promotion of several of last season’s best B riders. This should lead to even more exciting and open racing for both the As and the Bs.
Another rule change has been enacted for 2009. As soon as a B rider secures five race wins, he is automatically promoted to “A” status and wins the B league. The second rider promoted is second in the B league, etc.
In the circumstances, predicting the winner of both leagues is more than difficult, but my money is on young star Felix English to win the A competition and stylish Lee Smith to take the B title. Remember, you heard it here first – unless, of course, it doesn’t happen!
The ever-popular youth racing should continue to attract upwards of 35 riders every Wednesday, with every competitor in each age-group getting three races per meet. Half the riders will have moved up a category since last August, so it is impossible to forecast the winners. What is certain, however, is that competition will be as tight and friendly as usual in all categories.
Dubbed “the friendliest track league in the country”, the Sussex Cycle Racing League at Preston Park offers at least five races per meet for seniors, three championship meets for all, primes, a weekly prize for the best youth, a generous overall prize-list, nationally-acclaimed refreshments, race commentary and its own monthly newsletter.
And if you don’t fancy racing, by all means come along and enjoy the atmosphere. Entry to the track is free of charge.
Further details, including the 2009 programme of meets, can be checked out on the calendar pages.
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