National Sprinters League Newcastle Under-Lyme
John Paul | Monday 21st June, 2010
John Paul |   |
In the first round I made a school boy error and misjudged the laps for the race, I had been watching some of the B sprint rounds which were over 1&1/2 laps and thought our race was the same over 1&1/2 laps and I sat up after crossing the finish line thinking I’d won through to the next round only to find out that they were ringing the bell for the last lap. The A sprint races were being run over 2&1/2 laps and one of the lads in my heat Tom Gregory had already started to go for home and we couldn’t catch him by the finish, so I found myself as the quickest qualifier being relegated to the Repechage.
I was kicking myself for being so silly, but I learnt a great lesson from it, ask if you are not sure! Anyway, I rode well in the rep and progressed to the semi final where unfortunately I was up against my team mate Callum and another rider Tom Powell, I rode this well and covered the early attack by Tom and managed to get round Callum who was leading out the sprint and progress through to the final where I’d meet an ODP team mate in Lewis Olivia.
Lewis led out and I followed closely and tried to push him on early in the race, after taking the bell I spotted my opportunity to jump to the front and head for the finish at full gas to win my first senior sprinters league race, albeit the hard way by coming through the reps. Callum won the minor final to make it two City of Edinburgh riders on the podium, myself 1st and Callum 3rd.
Next up for me and Callum is an ODP training camp in Newport on the 26th & 27th, then another sprinters league meeting in July at Halesowen, I will keep you posted as to my progress.
Cheers, JP
