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CYCLE SHORTS - updated 5 June 2013
Cycle Shorts is devoted to those snippets of news and one liners
that other web-site don't carry. Small, sharp and very skimpy - Cycle Shorts will take it down!
Hundreds Try Cycle Speedway for First Time
the city centre.
The red mist doesn't always fade with age. A combined age of over 200 in this South East GP Vets race, and still giving it 100%. Gary Brown, Paddy Wenn, Graham Long and Mel Perkins battle it out in this afternoon’s South-East Grand Prix, captured by the camera of Phil Clarke.
Tuesday evening Wednesfield Aces Talent Team usually train. However only the hardest of riders turned out on this occasion in torrential rain and despite storm warnings.
Will and Ellie Defend National Titles
Did You Spot Our Mystery Track?
One reader who solved the mystery is former Poole Comet John Carry who recognised himself in the photo.
“I reckon Poole circa November 1979 as I recognise myself being the one relaxing on the pickaxe” smile John. “The others are Graham Sutton and the late Derek Knight. These are a guess - Andy Lake with the big hair, Nigel Leahy on the far right and I don't recognise the backside but will try Nick Dayman” said John.
Another reader who came close is Wednesfield supremo Paul Bodley. “I think this is the Poole track, possibly the old Fleetsbridge site with Graham Sutton directing efforts. Nothing much changes there then. Hard work is synonymous with the Poole club who have set the standards we all seek to follow” Paul told Spokesman. Mystery Track
A multiple British champion was at the Oasis at Swindon’s match against Horspath on Sunday. None other than Darren Slater, now living with wife and kids in Devizes near Swindon, was watching his first match for many years.
Itching to get back on a bike by all accounts! Watch this space.... Colourful Hull Following on from our article about clubs having More colourful racing kit, reader Andy Moody sent us this photo of the Hull team pictured in 1980. Certainly they look like a team in every sense of the word.
“I’d have been in the picture too if I hadn’t taken it!” smiled Andy who was just 16-years-old when he took the picture. Wednesfield’s Paul Heard successfully retained the Elite League match race title defeating Horspath’s Shaun Rudman in the opening match of the season.
Myhill In Tweed
The charity ride brings together vintage bikes and fashions and takes a leisurely tour around the City and West End.
"It is certainly more genteel than what we are used to," said Steve, "but speedway elbows come in useful in the queue for the tea tent."
The Life of Grimes
C-C-C-Clubnight!
Coventry cycle speedway club have been instructed not to show action-replays of racing incidents on the giant screen at Nationals final day to avoid “trial by video”. The decision was taken by British Cycling’s Cycle Speedway Commission at its meeting on 2 March. Following on from our clip about Christine and Andy Amos-Adams (see below) one reader has pointed out that Leicester’s Steph Whitehead has ridden with sons, daughters and grandson which must also be something of a record.
Following on from having a grandfather and grandson in the same team, Newcastle now has a married couple in their ranks. Christine and Andy Amos-Adams came with their children for a taster session a few weeks ago, and have shown great promise. So much so they have been named in Newcastle's Division Two team at Hull this Sunday. An on-going medical condition has stopped Hethersett stalwart Mel Perkins MBE from driving. Mel made the announcement at the Hawks’ recent annual general meeting saying “I can no longer drive due to a slight worsening of my rare genetic eye disorder. This has obviously had a big impact on my life but also the commitment I can give to the club.”
Hethersett Grant Hethersett cycle speedway club has recently been awarded a grant of £590 from South Norfolk Council Northern River Valleys community grants towards a new public address system. An order for equipment is now being processed to be ready for the new season.
on-line cycle speedway business. Verdict? The smile says it all.
Could we soon see a cycle speedway revolution – a hard-standing infield replacing the traditionally coiffured turf? Not only would it save on grass maintenance but a suitably coloured bright red, dark blue or even grass-green all-weather surface could be further brightened up by advertising, similar to that seen on velodromes. A solid surface would also allow other opportunities such as Japanese style kiddies ‘Strider’ races, model car racing or roller-skating.
The idea may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. Rumours are already reaching Spokesman’s editorial office, suggesting that at least one high profile club is seriously considering the possibility of incorporating a hard-standing centre ‘green’.
In future all British Championships entries will be on line rather than by post or by phone. British Cycling confirmed the new arrangements in a widely distributed email to club secretaries and key officials.
Instant Success Within minutes of appearing on Spokesman, a local business in Coventry responded to the club’s sponsorship prospectus by booking £250 worth of perimeter advertising. The power of the internet!
British Cycling has sent a memoire to all cycle speedway clubs reminding them that they must keep competitor’s clubs informed when inviting riders to individual events.
“Clubs are reminded that when inviting riders to participate in their matches that they are required, at the very least, to copy that rider's club contact with that invitation” said Cycle Speedway’s Events Development Officer. Kesgrave kingpin Peter Ingram ran a cyclo-cross coaching session at Foxhall Stadium yesterday – and used the old Foxhall Panthers cycle speedway track as part of the warm-up session.
Birmingham and Sandwell club members have been braving the winter weather by refreshing the track and facilities at Lower City Road where Birmingham will be racing their home Elite League matches this season.
Despite not being used on a regular basis, the track was in remarkably good condition, thanks to the efforts of Sandwell stalwart Brian Buck who has been maintaining the track in the interim. Concerns about drainage were allayed following an inspection which found the system was working satisfactorily. All that remains to be done is for the terracing, pits and safety fence to have a lick of paint.
Ipswich Being Framed Cycle speedway featured on last night’s popular Saturday night programme “You’ve Been Framed”. It briefly showed an old clip filmed at Ipswich cycle speedway club about 12 years ago when a father and son were cycling around the track when the son stops on the line and his dad goes over the handlebars. It's about the fourth time it's been on!
Newport CSC are back in training, using a large tarmac car park for the use of sitting and standing sprints to shake off the holiday period cob webs. A good turn out of riders old and new enjoyed the session under the watchful eyes of British Cycling coaches Stuart Raven and Tony Bennett. The Poole Laurels, originally scheduled for two days will now be restricted to one day, 26 May. Sheffield made use of this unseasonably fine weather with the club’s first outdoor training session on Saturday. Fourteen, mainly junior, riders attended, those that could completing over 100 laps each. |
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