LVRC Track Champs - 31st Oct/1st Nov 09
Tue 03 Nov 2009
Rod Kelson travelled to Newport, Gwent, to ride in the A category (40 - 45) LVRC track championships.
On the Saturday, Rod qualified 4th fastest in the sprint qualifiers and then proceeded to win his heat, going through to the semi finals. He lost his semi, thereby going into a 4 up ride off for 3rd to 6th. In this one off race, Andy Elderfield (VC Revolution) took a flier 2 1/2 laps out and stayed away from the fast finishing Rod to prove that fortune favours the bold. The overall winner was Tony Brooks (Brooks Cycles) from Phil Houlton (NCRC 2001).
The 15km points score was run off between the sprint heats at a blistering pace, with most of the sprinters electing not to ride or withdrawing after about 20 of the 60 laps, Rod included.
Rod also partnered a C cat rider, Paul Austin (Retford) in the 500m team sprint (combined age to be above 95) without success.
The Sunday started with pursuit heats and finals, and also the individual time trials. Rod was second last to ride in the A cat 750m TT, and had a very quick time of 54.48 to beat set by Phil Houlton. He rode without the benefit of tri-bars (never being one for time trials so having had little experience using them) but still recorded a silver medal winning time of 55.08. Third was claimed by Paul Askey (Lichfield City CC) 55.84.
The final A cat event was the 15km scratch race which saw the field of 20 reduced to nearly half by the continued attacking pace. Five riders finally escaped and contested the sprint, with Rod finishing 7th overall as part of the chasing group. The race was won by Paul Wain (Team Endura), from Ian Cooper (Planet X) and Adrian Adgar (Go Sports Spex RT) in a fast 20:07
Further details, results and additional pics will be available here soon. http://lvrc.org/track_events.asp and http://lvrc.org/race_results.asp
On the Saturday, Rod qualified 4th fastest in the sprint qualifiers and then proceeded to win his heat, going through to the semi finals. He lost his semi, thereby going into a 4 up ride off for 3rd to 6th. In this one off race, Andy Elderfield (VC Revolution) took a flier 2 1/2 laps out and stayed away from the fast finishing Rod to prove that fortune favours the bold. The overall winner was Tony Brooks (Brooks Cycles) from Phil Houlton (NCRC 2001).
The 15km points score was run off between the sprint heats at a blistering pace, with most of the sprinters electing not to ride or withdrawing after about 20 of the 60 laps, Rod included.
Rod also partnered a C cat rider, Paul Austin (Retford) in the 500m team sprint (combined age to be above 95) without success.
The Sunday started with pursuit heats and finals, and also the individual time trials. Rod was second last to ride in the A cat 750m TT, and had a very quick time of 54.48 to beat set by Phil Houlton. He rode without the benefit of tri-bars (never being one for time trials so having had little experience using them) but still recorded a silver medal winning time of 55.08. Third was claimed by Paul Askey (Lichfield City CC) 55.84.
The final A cat event was the 15km scratch race which saw the field of 20 reduced to nearly half by the continued attacking pace. Five riders finally escaped and contested the sprint, with Rod finishing 7th overall as part of the chasing group. The race was won by Paul Wain (Team Endura), from Ian Cooper (Planet X) and Adrian Adgar (Go Sports Spex RT) in a fast 20:07
Further details, results and additional pics will be available here soon. http://lvrc.org/track_events.asp and http://lvrc.org/race_results.asp