Bang
on cue, the rain began to fall at around 6.30pm at Preston Park
on 25 July, just as riders began to warm up and officials started setting up.
Only seven Sussex League meets have gone ahead as planned this season, while
four have now been completely rained off and two more have been curtailed by
rain in the worst weather-affected season on record.
Despite
the doubtful weather, dozens of riders turned up hoping for action. Many got in
some training on the damp track, while others sought refuge in the stands to
read the year’s penultimate issue of the league newsletter. Still more drowned
their sorrows over a cup of tea and a cake served by the legendary Andrea
McClelland and her helpers Ann and Mandy Burgess and Kathryn McClelland.
No
doubt like elsewhere throughout the country, this track season seems to be on
the way out almost as soon as it began. Nevertheless, we still hope to have
three more meets – weather permitting – and competition will be very hot in all
categories. While Felix English has (surely?) sewn up victory in the top senior
league, a tense tussle is looming between last year’s champ Lee Povey and
up-and-coming junior Adam Gent for the runner-up spot. In the senior B
competition, Martyn Potter is more or less sure to take the title, but there is
likely to be a massive scrap for second and third places. Just three points
separate George Higgs, Charlie Sayer, Rupert Rivett and Phil Smith, and who
could rule out a last-ditch comeback from Christian Yates or Bruce Samuel to
step up on to the B podium at the end of the season?
Among
the youths, Charlie Heffernan (U14), Gabriel Parle (U12), Amy Barnes (U10) and
Douglas McCauley (U8) all look likely to win their age-groups, but we have a
battle royal on our hands between Jake Anderson and Charlie Beeny in the U16
group.
So,
with vital league points up for grabs in all categories and over £1,200 in
prize money to be distributed at the end of the season, we can expect fireworks
over the final three weeks of racing, unless of course they turn out to be a
damp squib.
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Gavin
Smith, Photos by Sally Page and Daniel Dunbar
