Reports

Louis Higgison edged one step closer to the overall Burkes Cycles Speed League Spring Series leader Grant Perry, winning two races at the track cycling series at Wellington Velodrome on Sunday November 30. The under 19 rider is now just five points behind Perry on the table who has lead the series since round two.

Grant Perry achieved a clean sweep of all A grade races plus the mixed grade Team Scratch at the Burkes Cycles Speed League track racing meeting at Wellington Velodrome in Hataitai on Sunday November 9, 2014 to take the lead overall. 

With all weather forecasters predicting that Palmer Park would be bathed in rain showers for the second meeting of the Reading Track League, many riders would have undoubtedly started the day thinking racing would be called off. And, as if to tease riders even further, a heavy rain shower at 6pm meant some riders made a (sadly premature) decision to stay at home. However, those who did make it to Palmer Park were treated to a night of exceptional – and, mostly importantly, dry – racing.

Pictures by Guy Swarbrick

The early events of the year are normally dogged by cold weather. However, the new season of the track league was welcomed with blue skies and sunshine. The new season meant a new league format, with a “C” league being introduced for newly accredited riders, ladies and U16 and U14 boys. With chip timing also being rolled out on the same evening, it led to a rather fraught start to the night – particularly as many riders were delayed arriving due to severe traffic congestion.

September may have arrived at Palmer Park but the riders were greeted with beautifully warm conditions for the Round 18 of this season’s Reading Track League. These fine conditions, coupled with many riders’ lives returning to normality after summer breaks, led to one of Palmer Park’s highest attendances of the season - the last event of the evening, the AW Cycles 20k saw 30 riders start the event.

With the sun already setting on the track as the evening started and riders faced with a stiff south westerly wind on the back straight, there was a distinct autumnal feeling in the air for the 17th Reading Track League Event.

It may have been the hottest day of the year, but a strong blustery wind and the ever increasing threat of thunderstorms meant riders were not blessed with perfect riding conditions. However, whilst the weather may not have been the most impressive, the riding certainly was.

With temperatures still in the high twenties at the beginning of the evening, it was clear that riders were in for a glorious evening of racing. Indeed, the warm temperatures were enough to cause a distraction in themselves. However, thoughts of weekend barbeques accompanied by a certain epic tennis performance were soon put aside as racing got underway.

Photos: Jun Aishima

Round 8 of the Reading Track League ended under an incredible sunset at Palmer Park, but it started with the trackcycling 10 lap Scratch...