Welwyn Track League

By Peter Waghorn

WELWYN TRACK LEAGUE Round 1 2ND MAY 2014

The first meeting of this years Welwyn Track League was run on very cold Friday evening but despite the conditions the racing was keenly competitive and a very good level of attendance especially in the three youth categories.

 
The Senior A Leagues included a number of strong Youth A riders who were promoted to the senior ranks to swell the numbers and enlivene the proceedings. They were well placed in all of the senior events. Frank Longstaff opened his account by winning the opening 10 lap scratch race out pacing last years champion John McClelland in the home straight. Four events and four different winners with Joe Gorman completing the programme taking the final 20 lap Scratch race.
 

Welwyns Julio Davis won the opening Senior Group B 10 lap event – he attacked with a lap to go and was almost reeled in by the chasers in the final dash for the line. Lea Valley Youth rider James Parrish was on good form winning the Devil and the Odds and Evens Block Pursuit – another promising promoted youth A rider.
 
Charles Page (Hillingdon) dominated the four Youth A events and will now be promoted up the Senior Group B series. He was chased home by Mitch Powell and Josh Roberts. The high number of entries for Youth A group promises to provide an excellent series this year
 
Ethan Vernon notched up three victories in the Youth B series with his Wheelers clubmates all in the action. Christian Manzi made full use of his handicap in the closing 6 lap events to take his first win in the B group.
 
The young riders in the third youth CDE group had a competitive evening with four different winners. Ollie Stockwell won the opening scratch race and became the scratchman in the three handicap events. He worked hard to make up his deficit to battle through to the minor places against some keen and spirited competitors from various local clubs.
 

A good evenings racing and hopefully warmer conditions will be around for the weeks to come.
 

Senior A
10 lap scratch –1 Frank Longstaff (Team Terminator) 2 John McClelland (Bush Healthcare) Jack Plumley (Welwyn)
10 lap points – 1 Andrew Hastings (Richardson Trek) 2 Jack Plumley (Welwyn) 3 Cameron Gutteridge (Welwyn)
Devil – John McClelland (Bush Healthcare) 2 Frank Longstaff (Team Terminator) 3 Cameron Gutteridge (Welwyn)
20 lap – Joe Gorman (Stevenage) Andrew Hastings (Richardson Trek) Frank Longstaff (Team Terminator)
 
Senior B
10 lap scratch – Julio Davis (Welwyn) Tom Boulton (Finsbury Park) Connor Woodford (Willesden)
10 lap Block Pursuit – James Parrish (Lea Valley Yth) Mostyn Crockett (Lea valley Yth) Roger Woodford (Willesden)
Devil – James Parrish (Lea Valley Yth) Simon Howes (Team Buttachia) Sophie Lankford (Team WNT)
 
Youth A
8 lap scratch – Charles Page (Hillingdon) Glen Dossett (Welwyn) Cai Davies (Welwyn)
Devil – Charles Page (Hillingdon) Mitch Powell (Team Terminator) Josh Roberts (Welwyn)
8lap Points – Charles Page (Hillingdon) Mitch Powell (Team Terminator) Josh Roberts (Welwyn)
8 lap Handicap – Charles Page (Hillingdon) Mitch Powell (Team Terminator) Bradley Clarke (Green Arrow)
 
Youth B
6 lap scratch – Ethan Vernon , Nathan Blackmore , Christian Manzi (all Welwyn)
Devil – Ethan Vernon (Welwyn) Alexi Edwards (Welwyn) Louis Bilyard (Lea Valley)
6 lap Points – Ethan Vernon (Welwyn) Alexi Edwards (Welwyn) Sophie Holmes (Team Terminator)
6 lap Handicap – Christian Manzi (Welwyn) Gareth Lewis (CC Ashwell) Reece Pollen (CC Hackney)
 
Youth CDE
3 lap Scratch – Ollie Stockwell , Joe Latham , Joe Kiely (all Welwyn)
3 lap handicap A – Euan Woodliffe (Welwyn) Sophie Lewis (CC Ashwell) Jenna Miles (Welwyn)
3 lap Handicap B – Max Jackson, Ted Brett, Ollie Stockwell (All Welwyn)
4 lap Handicap – Sophie Lewis (CC Ashwell) Harley Bell (CC Ashwell) Ollie Stockwell (Welwyn)
 

More information on the Track League is available here on the Welwyn Wheelers website