CLUB NEWS: Monarchs veterans take British Club silver in Manchester

The Birmingham Monarchs Veterans riders raced to second spot on Saturday in Manchester, in the British Cycling British Club Over 40s team Championships, having to play 2nd best to a magnificent Leicester team, with the home club taking third.

The recently resurfaced circuit of the Astley and Tyldesley club gave a super quick race track and a fantastic product for the sport. All riders able to give it full pedal power on the pacy circuit.

In the early stages very little separated the sides with overwhelming favourites Leicester two points ahead of the chasing pack. At the halfway stage Birmingham had lost a little ground as Leicester powered away, dropping a single point in the second block of races. It proved to be the omen everyone expected as they dropped just a single point in the second half of the meeting storming to victory.

Birmingham with a 2 point lead in second place had now one job to defend the silver. The 3rd block of races proved decisive for the Midland club with a 7 point cushion going into the last 4 heats, the job done with one race remaining.

Mark Winwood top scored and starred on the day with 15 points featuring in some of the best action of the day. He took one defeat all day with former World champion Dave Hemsley stopping his maximum. Carl Winwood raced to four 2nd places.

Leicester 59

Birmingham 43 – Mark Winwood 15, Carl Winwood 12, Steve Hodgkinson 9, Paul Timms 7

Astley and Tyldsley 36

On Sunday Birmingham hosted the Battle of Britain competition between the Midlands and the South/SouthWest & South Wales. The visiting region won both the Junior and Senior matches but both matches were fiercely contested with some outstanding racing from both sides, including last race drama to decide the winners, on what was a dust bowl of a surface.

Birmingham had representation in both matches. Jake Steel took two second places to score 6 for the juniors, whilst both Ricki Johnson and Mark Winwood represented the Seniors scoring 7 and 4 respectively.

Sunday 1 July sees a crunch league match against reigning champions Wednesfield at Perry Hall Playing Fields, a match Birmingham simply have to win. Seniors on track at 2pm, but before that Monarch juniors travel to Bury on Saturday for the first National round of the BYJL competition.