Preview of Preston Park Scratch Championships

on 20 May 2009

by Gavin Smith

SENIORS

This championship event was inaugurated in 2006, which was the first season of separate championship evenings (previously, there was just one championship evening with races for points and sprint titles). Phil Bendall was the winner in 2006, then the following season it was Charlie Sayer, and in 2008 Felix English took the title.

There will be half-a-dozen or so riders in with a shout for the scratch title and they will all believe they can win it. The very strong favourite, however, is young Felix. Despite being still only 16, he has the endurance for the longer events (this will be 20 laps) and he packs the killer punch at the end with his demon sprint. As the reigning scratch and league champ, he has his reputation as well as the title to defend, and he is more than up to the task.

However, it might not be all that simple for the youngster. Terminator Team-mates Lee Povey and Mark Burgess may well have a few tricks up their sleeves. Lee has largely reigned supreme in sprints this season in his build-up to defending his Euro Masters title in July, while classy Mark will be up there with the best of them when the going gets tough. If both Terminators are in the front group in the last few laps, this could spell trouble for Felix.

Jean Spies will prove difficult to deal with. The 19-year-old keirin and Olympic sprint champion of South Africa has impressed us with his sheer speed and, like Felix, he will no doubt be heavily marked.

If, as in 2007, a small break stays away, it could well contain one of the following regular attackers: Driss Jones, Charlie Heffernan, Martyn Potter, Charlie Sayer and Andy Parle. If he is back from uni, Adam Gent will be a force to be reckoned with, and there are several others who might well “have a go” on the night.

Gavin’s guess for the title: Felix.

The latest odds from fixedbetting.com show:

Felix English 2-1, Jean Spies 3-1, Mark Burgess 4-1, Charlie Sayer & Martyn Potter & Lee Povey 6-1, Jason Salter & Josh Cunningham 10-1, Oliver Pepper, Sean McClelland, Driss Jones & Andrew Edwards 15-1, Andy Parle & Paul Barnard 20-1, Lance Armstrong 1,000-1.

U16/U14

Riders in these age-groups should note that their joint 8-lap race will in fact be two separate championships in one. Medals will go to the top three in each of the U16s and the U14s, and double points are up for grabs for the top 6 in each age-group as well (12 points to the winner, etc). So, there is a lot at stake!

Gavin’s guesses for the titles: U16 Elliot Tabraham-Dowers, U14 Ashley Dennis.

U12

No prizes for guessing the top two in this one! Amy Barnes and Spencer Thomas will both be up there at the front at the end of their 5-lap championship, but with Megan Lewis not far behind. The longer distance might just favour Amy – we’ll see!

Gavin’s guess for the title: Amy Barnes.

U10

Harder to predict, with several U10 candidates for the title including Harry Stacey, Douglas McCauley, Thomas Burnett and Cory Anderson.

Gavin’s guess for the title: Harry Stacey.

U8

Evelyn Parle has been present all season and is way ahead in the rankings, but Dominic Kazlauskas and Michael Wickens are both riding well. Then again, if the championship was decided on pure determination, it would go to 5-year-old Oscar Denman-Gould or 4-year-old Freddie Davies.

Gavin’s guess for the title: Evelyn Parle.