Final track night news
Our update for the final night of the track is located on our website as the Timing website does not support imagery in its messaging system.
The forecast is anything but kind in relation to committing either way to running the last track night. This has a few implications, not least for our potential League Champions, a couple of which could have changed on the last night. A much neglected group (apologies for this) are our racing women. I believe we have only had three women race this year and Megan Costello has not attended for a few weeks now. The remainder of these three include the ever-present Sharon Spicer and the regular Michelle Kimbler. It caught my eye last week that these two are separated by only 20 points in the League and so our title of top Woman could go either way tonight. This is made more (un)certain by the weather. We already know that ‘ever-present’ Sharon Spice will be present but not racing due to family commitments. We don’t know if Michelle will be present and we don’t know what the weather will do. Thus, the outcome of the Women’s title is very much in the balance. There is a connected interest in this competition from the Senior Open competition, as it is only in the last two weeks that Michelle’s partner, Nathan Cozens,’ took the lead in in that. Hence, there is the prospect of a paired success for the two. However, in a further twist, if tonight’s racing is rained off Nathan is assured of the title and, in contrast, Michelle is guaranteed not to come out on top.
A word on Sharon Spicer, our most coveted volunteer; Sharon is our main judge, races the League and, with Clive Spicer (and others) sets up the track for racing each week. I am tempted to say that just one of these roles is plenty, but don’t want Sharon to know that as we are very dependent upon her efforts. As such, it is worth saying that a fun role at track league is judging and we both need and encourage people to step forward to help with judging. Judging is low stress, great fun and is the best view of the racing in the arena. Send a message to ‘promoter@scrl.co.uk’ if you are interested in getting further involved (for our September Omnium, or next season).
It is the final night tonight but, looking to the future, the numbers of women riding the roads in Sussex is surely more than for many decades. It is our firm commitment in the Sussex Cycle Racing League to support women’s racing, and it would only need a regular turnout, of about half a dozen women, to feature women’s only racing as part of our Track League. This would be a great boon to the League.
Finally, on the final night, it is not our final track racing of the season. Please do attend as a competitor, helper or spectator, our Omnium on Sunday 13th September, enties are already open. There will be a goodie bag for all pre-entered riders and, we hope to award our trophies and recognise our competitors at this meeting. The racing is loosely modelled on a recently found programme from 1938 (see images). One 5 mile scratch race (15.17 laps) was won in 12 minutes and 11 seconds; we can see how we compare at our Omnium.
Given the period in our history following the 1938 ‘All Cycling Sports Meeting” we might wonder what became of the young men who made the racing field. Perhaps current racers at the track know the families or even are related to some of them. (See image for more idea of who these people were.)
N.B. If you are in possession of one of our trophies please contact Anthony Rogers at ‘promoter@scrl.co.uk’ or message on O7942 292 292 to arrange its collection.
