Sportcity and Eastland riders did us proud at the National Omnium and each and everyone of the riders should take a positive experience from the day! I did........ I've not been a riders whip before and it was good fun and gave me a chance to see the racing from a slightly different angle.

Across the age groups we got 3 podium spots, 1 very unlucky not to be a podium place (Jess Anderson) and I think in the individual events we got lots of top 3 placings from our riders.

From the 100 qualifiers through the regional rounds there were 17 Sportcity/Eastlands riders at sign on. Thats impressive given that the qualification was from all over the British Isles.

Please click the read more bit (it is really very long....)

Quick update on the results from Assen, Holland and Kerry, Ireland from the last few days, which a few of the Sportcity boys have been involved in.

Assen- 6 stage race:

Simon came 3^rd overall.  Many of the stages featured the cobblestones which some of the European races seem famous for!   Little Kim Baptista from Eastlands Velo also went but I don’t know how she got on.  She would have done the same stages just not as many laps.

Kerry- 4 stage race:

Adam came 1^st overall, Jack Penrice came 2^nd  and Martin came 7^th.   Adam and Jack got a break going in the first race and finished more than 1min 30 seconds in front of the next rider and they managed to keep most of this time lead for the rest of the 3 races over the weekend including the hill stages.

I wasn’t there for either of the tours so I can’t give anymore details. 

Adam and Jack flew over to Kerry while Len and Martin went by ferry and road so Len might be able to give a few more details on how those races actually went. 

(I haven’t spoken to Adam yet as he has gone straight on to Talent team camp so I won’t see him until Saturday)

Cheers

Susan Yates

Lens later email

Martin went as a single entry rider, but when we got there decided to team up with Team Scottish Provident from the IofM – along with Adam Johnson and Jack Wolstenholme. Martin effectively rode on his own in the end still in his Sports City jersey.

In the time trial, AdamY pulled a great time out of the bag, only to be beaten by a time trial specialist from Belgium, who also apparently broke the course record. Adam took control from day 1, held it and rode each stage very tactfully to the point that he made winning look too easy. On stage 3, Adam and Jack were in a leading beak on lap 4, and Martin attacked on lap 5 from the main peleton, only to be caught after 4 miles out in front in the last 300meters just before the final climb to the finish. On the final stage, the shorter 2 mile course with the steep main street climb, Adam again held back, then as if from nowhere sprung out of the Peloton, caught the leading group then went onto win in a very decisive way.

So it well done to our 3 riders, excellent performances.

Kerry has hosted the tour for the last 10 years, but not be there next year. The Killorglin organisers have decided to call it a day to concentrate on building up their own club again. I got this directly from the organiser. The plan is for another region to take it on, as it has always been hosted on behalf of the Irish cycling federation.

LenW

I have heard on the grapevine that James Layland as followed his sister and joined SCV ranks, James as made steady progress overthe last couple of years and as a good future in cycling, watch this space for James

welcome to SCV

I think most  people around the velodrome know my youngest lad Jack, he been involved down there along time now initially comming down with me when he was around six year old when Alan and I helped doing the mon evening sessions in the D,

Jacks had ago at time trialling, road racing and even guested with Geoff Cooke on his training camps as a 12yr old, Jack a large guy for his age and potentially a very good sprint prospect, but Jack was more focused to outdoor stuff rather than riding around in circles, so he progressed in developing his rugby and mountainbiking, this year he as spent a great deal of time away pursueing MTB which as taken him to the Marin Trail, several trips to the lakes and wales and he as jst returned from several days in Scotland, most weekends and evening in the week he is out on the local trails.

if anyone is interested in doing MTB if you contact me I will pass on Jacks details then you could organise some rides out. 

Sportcity riders filled up their tills again at blackburn, taking a large chunk of the excellent cash prizes, Simon Yates was 1st, 3nd Adam, 8th Martin,

Sam Pedder GS Surosa took 5th,

well done guys donations to me can be put in a sealed brown envelope and left at the velodrome reception!