On Tuesday 27th January, young cyclists assembled once again for Round 2 of the Friary Grange leisure Centre Wattbike Youth League. A full contingent of 6 riders in each group would ensure an evening of competitive racing.
The first victory of the night went to Paige Millward who completed the 750m time trial in a time of 1.04.86. Sophie Capewell was 2nd less than 1 second behind her. In Group 2, Jacob Kelly completed the distance in 57.36 seconds with Sam Birchall 2nd in 57.43 seconds. The shouts of encouragement were deafening for both riders and no one really knew the outcome of this race until the finishing times were displayed.
A 3 up team Sprint was the next event, each rider completing 250m and the cumulative time of the team to count. The 750m race was won by Sallie Birchall, Isabelle Clarke and Paige Milward. In group 2 the trio of Kelly, Hannah Tonks and Imogen Crooks emerged victorious.
The 3rd event was a 1500m scratch race for group 1 for which Paige Millward took her 3rd victory of the evening, completing the distance in 2.22.92 minutes. A plucky and determined ride by Sophie Capewell, 2 years Milward's junior, saw her finish 2nd just 8 seconds later. A further 6 seconds later, family honour was upheld as Emily Capewell finished in 3rd place. Group 2 raced over the longer 2km distance. Kelly was clearly on form and completed the race in 3.02.19 mins, a clear 6 seconds ahead of Sam Birchall.
In the 500m handicap the riders are set off at different intervals based on their results in the 750m time trial. Emily Capewell won Group 1 followed by Milward and Sophie Capewell. Kelly was clearly on a roll in Group 2 and just pipped Hannah Tonks to the line by 1 second.
The Keirin then followed, this is the event in which a motorcyclist paces the cyclists round the velodrome, and peels off the track at a determined distance leaving the cyclists to sprint to the line. An extra Wattbike ridden by Centre Manager Phil Kelly fulfilled the role of the motor bike. Group 1 rode over an 800m distance with the “motorcyclist” peeling off at 600m. Milward won but was hotly pursued by Emily Capewell in 2nd and sister Sophie in 3rd place.
Group 2 faced the longer distance of 1000m and Kelly timing his sprint to perfection took his 5th win of the evening over Imogen Crooks and Sam Birchall
The next Youth League event is on 10th February, at the Friary Grange Leisure Centre. For more information please contact Phil Kelly at the leisure centre on: 01543 308842 or Nigel Capewell on: 07768 560 932
