Spalding Cycling Club’s 2017 Grass Track event was once again a resounding success in brilliant sunshine.
Organiser Shane Norton and his team put together an attractive programme of racing which brought a number of new competitors, especially in the seniors.
That included David Bolland, the national 8km champion. It was a busy day for him, as he was also asked to present prizes and posed for numerous photos.
As part of the Go Green Series, this event featured Go Ride racing too with a great turn out from local clubs. Teams from further afield also got involved, including Chesterfield Coureurs, Stockton Wheelers, Ferryhill Wheelers, Team Terminator and Colchester Rovers.
A new star in the making for Spalding in the Go Ride group, Nathan Hayden rode confidently and classily in his events. His efforts earned him a top step on the podium.
After being so close at Heckington and Mildenhall, Velvet Bowser made home track advantage work in her favour with a fine win to top the podium in the under-12 girls’ half-lap dash and followed it up with third place in the same category’s handicap race.
The under-12 boys events had a similar outcome as Jack Bowser was also first in the half-lap dash and then second placed in the sprint.
The increasingly dominant Bourne Wheelers, present in depth in both girls and boys events, made it tough for Tom Wright and Ed Gurney. So, unlike in 2016, there were no podium places for them.
Brave and determined efforts throughout the day from the pair nevertheless earnt them good results, especially in the Devil Take the Hindmost where working together to avoid the cut they finished sixth and seventh overall.
The senior racing was, as usual, exciting throughout – although it was disappointing that only one lady, Stockton Wheelers’ Caroline Heighton, took part.
In his first ride on this track and fresh from a fantastic win in the Omnium at Mildenhall, Bush HealthCare Stuart Hall Cycling’s John McClelland wasted no time in taking first in the handicap and second places in the Devil and 8km.
A regular guest now, Laurence Lisher (Green Arrow CRT) made four visits to Podium. Two of those were to the second step and a further two to the third step.
For Martin Smith (Chesterfield Coureurs), his trip to the event was rewarded with a win in the Devil and a third place finish in the sprint.
With the National Champion at 8km in the field, it was inevitable that the race would present a nail-biting conclusion to the day.
Having already won the sprint – the polar opposite of the 8km in terms of physical demand – ahead of Laurence Lisher and Martin Smith, all eyes were on Bolland.
From the gun and with everyone fighting for a wheel to hang on to, it was not long into the 26-lap race that cracks began to appear.
Riding up from his age category, Bourne Wheeler’s Bryn Richards attacked hard to chase down the lead group and put some of the seniors under pressure.
Ultimately, though, Bolland was a clear winner with McClelland and Lisher making up the podium.
