CYCLING

Burkes Cycles Speed League: Hunkin, Warren Lead After Successful Spring Series

By Nick Warren

Gorgeous weather came to the seventh round of the Burkes Cycles Speed League Spring Series held at the Wellington Velodrome on Sunday December 13, and so did 36 track cyclists keen for action before the Christmas break. The series has been a huge success so far this season, with an average of over 40 riders attending each week including a huge youth contingent.

Lisa Hunkin will finish up 2015 with a 17 point lead over Ele Pepperell in the Coffee Supreme women’s competition, however she can’t rest on her laurels as Pepperell has twice scooped overall Speed League victory at the last gasp. Hunkin also heads the women’s The Lanes Sprint Ace over Pepperell, who won this week’s ride-off, and with Grace Saywell in the mix as well it’s turning into an enthralling competition.

In the fight for the junior Champion System winners’ jerseys, Bridget Olphert overtakes Amelia Taylor in the under 15 girls competition after consistent placing, while Ben Buyck retains his lead ahead of Boston Bright in the under 15 boys. Josh Turnbull and Ben Leslie are tied in the under 13 boys and look set to battle it out throughout the summer. It’s a similar story in the under 11 category with Jake Leslie just a few points ahead of Jake Leslie.


Photo © PNP Track, Ricoh Riot Photography

Meanwhile, Nick Warren holds onto a slender lead in the Coffee Supreme men’s overall ahead of powerhouse Dan Waluszewski who narrowed the gap to Warren with wins in the A grade Scratch and As versus Bs Hare and Hounds. Grant Perry won the tricky Devilish Point-a-Lap where the first across the line gets a point but the last is eliminated.

Despite claiming he can’t track stand, Louis Higgison won the A grade Longest Lap after a number of riders came unstuck before the Race Manager blew the whistle. The race requires riders to balance in the home straight for an unsepcified amount of time until the Race Manager gives the signal to sprint for a lap. Grant Perry just pipped Regan Bang for second which earned him a ride off in The Lanes Sprint Ace against Higgison. Perry lead out however he couldn’t match Higgison’s moves and power, with one spectator describing as “like a lion chasing down a gazelle.”


Photo © PNP Track, Ricoh Riot Photography

Matt Disney won three events in the C grade and may well find himself permanently promoted to the B grade when Speed League returns in the new year on January 17. He came from way behind on the Longest Lap to nudge past Ruby Straugheir right on the line. However, Disney, Ian Cooper and Lawrie Farrington missed out to the all female team of Ele Pepperell, Grace Saywell and Lisa Hunkin in the Emma’s Pursuit.

Gideon Burke was a clear winner ahead of Leonard Smith and Chris Muir in the B grade 8 Lap Scratch and Devilish Point-a-Lap but couldn’t match the skills and speed of Regan Wood in the Longest Lap.

In the closing 15 Lap As versus Bs Hare and Hounds, Leonard Smith was the last of the Bs to hold off the chasing A graders, racking up a 10 points in the process. A crash involving Holly Blakely split the pack and it was left to Waluszewski to sprint to the win followed by Nick Warren, Matt Sharland and Gideon Burke. Blakely was later confirmed to have suffered grazing and bruises but thankfully no breaks.


Photo © PNP Track, Ricoh Riot Photography

Dog Town’s Elliot Robertson, Jake Leslie and Josh Turnbull comfortably top the Zeal Commercial Interiors teams prize with a 90 point lead over THT and Rivet Racing back in third.

Earlier, a team pursuit quartest of Dan Waluszewski, Pat Crowe-Rishworth, Regan Bang and Nick Warren established a new 4000m track record of 5:04.09, with a smooth display of team riding.

Burkes Cycles Speed League returns on January 17, 2016 with the Summer Series which runs through to the end of March.

Burkes Cycles Speed League 2015-16 OVERALL Category Leaders:
Senior/ Under 19: Nick Warren
Female: Lisa Hunkin
Under 17 girls: Grace Saywell
Under 17 boys: Sam Tillotson
Under 15 girls: Bridget Olphert
Under 15 boys: Ben Buyck
Under 13 girls: Zoe Perry
Under 13 boys: Josh Turnbull, Ben Leslie (tied)
Under 11 girls: Mikaela Perry
Under 11 boys: Jake Leslie
The Lanes Sprint Ace (men): George Jackson, Louis Higgison (tied)
The Lanes Sprint Ace (women): Lisa Hunkin
Zeal Commercial Interiors Teams Prize: Dog Town
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