Race Report - Preston - 21.06.08
Round four of the CDNW Youth League visited Preston Arena for the latest race in the seven race series. Unfortunately the conditions were not the best however the 99 young riders that took to the start made the best of the conditions.
The first under 8 race began with the distance being one mile or racing it was fast and furious from the start taking the win was Kim Baptista (Eastlands Velo) followed by Solomon Kerfoot Robson (Rhos on Sea) and coming in third place was Thomas Bostock (Team Scottish Provident).
The second race of the day was a 5 lap circuit race, 5 miles for these little legs are a long way but they certainly went out there to race. The first two coming across in the same order as the first race and crossing the line in third was Xavier Brennan (Salt Ayre Cog Set). This meant that the overall finished with Kim Baptista taking another victory over Solomon Kerfoot Robson with Thomas Bostock on count back coming in third place.
The under 10s competed in the same races as the under 8’s with the judges splitting the results at the end. The first race was once again fast from the drop of the flag and after one mile of racing Leighton Sharman (Liverpool Century) came across the line first, closely followed by Matthew Walls (Eastlands Velo) taking third place was Matthew Braybrooke (Eastlands Velo). The 5 mile race finished with exactly the same result across the top three meaning there was no change to the overall either.
Three laps was the first race that the under 12s had to compete in and a fantastic three laps of racing that was, taking a very narrow sprint victory in the first race was Dylan Kerfoot Robson (Rhos On Sea) with Sam Turton (Ribble Valley Juniors) coming across the line in 2nd. Third place went to Leon Mazzone (Team Scottish Provident). The first two riders were reversed in the 9mile circuit race that followed with Sam Turton just edging out Dylan in the sprint for the line, punching the air with delight. Third place went to another Team Scottish Provident rider Matthew Bostock and with Leon only taking 7th place in the second stage it meant that the top 3 were Dylan Kerfoot Robson, Sam Turton and Matthew Bostock.
Twenty Two riders took to the start line in the under 14’s race which started with a four mile crit. Taking the honours in this first race was Chris Latham (Sportcity Velo) with Josh Penrice 2nd and Jake Ragan 3rd (both Eastlands Velo). Race 2 for these riders was a 15mile circuit race, there was plenty of attacks through-out the race that were brought back, this being one of the more tactical races of the day it was impossible to call who was going to win but come the end of the race it was Jake Ragan who crossed the line first followed by Chris Latham and Josh Penrice.
This meant that the overall result was Chris Latham first by a point of Jake Ragan and then one more point separated Jake and Josh Penrice, so certainly a close day of racing in the under 14 category.
There was an entry of 35 riders in the under 16s event, race one for these riders was 5 miles and the judges expected it to be a big bunch sprint with it being so short a tactical race was expected. However the riders had other ideas and mixed it up right from the drop of the flag. There was a several small bunches on the road come the end of the race but first honours went to Simon Yates (Sportcity Velo) with Rob Lampton (Newport Salop) 2nd and Simons twin brother Adam 3rd.
The second race was a 25mile circuit race which was sure to stretch the legs of the riders in some very tough conditions. The race started fairly steady and after about 8 laps an attack was launched by Martin Woffindin (Sportcity Velo) who had unfortunately crashed during the first race, he built up a big lead by himself, but after about four laps he was given some company in the form of the Yates twins. These three riders then worked together to build up over half a mile lead on the main bunch. With one lap to go the twins worked over Martin leaving him to cruise over the line third, but the photo finish was defiantly needed to split the brothers as Simon on the blue bike took a very narrow victory over Adam on the red bike. The bunch then came in over a minute later and leading the bunch sprint across the line was Ben Kellett (Holme Valley Wheelers).
First overall on the day went to Simon Yates from Adam Yates and finished third overall was Ben Kellett.
The next race in the series is on the 19th July at the Litherland Sports Park.
A big thanks also to the officials and the marshals who were all parents of the riders for going out on a very cold and wet day.
