// Race report: spring in the park #02
Spring in the Park Round Two. Yes SITP was back, and after a drizzly cold Saturday morning for Round One, this felt like REAL spring in the park had started.
The sun was out, the A2 only closed to those who wanted to leave Gravesend on a Friday night (losers) and the Green Machine were ganging up on the gear check.
A shorter circuit was the theme for this round, although the Under 8’s were riding the same circuit as previously (any shorter for them and they’d have been playing shrinking circles).
//UNDER 8s
So, U8 boys started us off for the night and we had one of the Rackleys, Kasper with a K, and the youngest of the team, Woody (with an erm, W). One of Kasper’s better starts saw him settle into 2nd position before long, with out-and-out favourite Harrison Northover taking another early flyer.
Meanwhile Woody was flying down the hill behind the BMX track, constantly looking over his shoulder at the Under 8’s trying to pass him and gamely trying to hold them off for as long as he could! With another rider on the track, also technically Under 6, he also had a direct rival to race against and he came out on top in style.
With Harrison unreachable as he took the flag, it was all setup for a showdown sprint between Kasper and Caue from Lee Valley, but Kasper couldn’t match his first round result of 2nd, with Caue coming out on top this time.
U8 Girls we had three LEC riders and one Woolwich. Last time around Olive had an untimely crash which left her out of the podium places, but this time she kept it steady and moved into 3rd in the overall after two races. Bouncebackability on two wheels.
The other of the Rackleys, Enyo, continued her upward trend, buoyed by her Go Ride TT win she managed to complete her five laps 51 seconds faster than she did the same distance in Round One. Fantastic racing!
That left Lola to take her second first place of the series, and go one better than Round One by completing the same number of laps as the U8 boys winner. Another cracking result and all three girls with clear improvements made.
“Last time around Olive had an untimely crash which left her out of the podium places, but this time she kept it steady and moved into 3rd in the overall after two races.”
“Chapeau young man!”
//UNDER 10s
U10’s took to the track for their shorter course with Tejus and Kien representing Eltham’s finest.
Kien kept up the theme of improvement as he managed to stay with the favourites bunch for the whole first lap, no mean feat considering some of the riders in there. Unfortunately for him, while he couldn’t match the leaders, the remainder of the racers couldn’t match him, so it was Time Trial mode in between the two groups for the rest of his ride.
Meanwhile, at the pointy end, Tejus was looking strong and the extra Zwift sessions he’s been putting in were starting to pay dividends. Without having to burn too many matches to get back into the group like in Round 1, he was able to be part of the final sprint and finished with a cracking 5th place in a very talented field.
Chapeau young man!
No U10 girls at all, so no report.
//UNDER 12S
The races were coming thick and fast now and U12’s were next.
Round One saw Floyd and Lucas represent LEC, with Floyd coming home the best of the duo. This race had a blistering start and both were up against it from the off. As things settled down, they found themselves making up two thirds of a three man group.
Rumours of a training ground spat with teammate Lola, which left his bike needing emergency repairs were off the mark, but regardless the last-minute repairs on the day of the race maybe unsettled Floyd as he began to lose the wheel and the Lucamotive chugged along to even up the scores between the two LEC riders.
After an emotional first SITP outing for Sofia, she came back with a great attitude and raced her own race in the U12 girls. Its another field of very experienced riders, but Sofia rightly focused on her own pace and technique and got some more points on the board.
“Sofia rightly focused on her own pace and technique and got some more points on the board.”
“EDIE! EDIE! EDIE!”
//UNDER 14S
U14 and U16 were a combined category due to a reduced field and it was Green Machine fan favourite Edie flying the flag in the final race of the evening.
After losing out in a sprint to a Wigmore boy in the previous round, there was a tactical review in the Wright household, leading into Round Two. Sticking close to the wheel of 4T U16 rider, Rhianna Mahoney, it looked like an alliance had been made. It wasn’t lost on some observers that Mahoney started her career at LEC…
Regardless of the origins of this move, the end result was a pace that blew the Wigmore rider away long before there was any chance of a sprint finish.
A great way to round things off for Round Two of Seven.
The team showed their great spirit as usual, sticking round to cheer on every LEC rider, and having an impromptu game of football together as the sun set on Gravesend.
Round Three is another Friday evening slot. Will the Sun return? Will everyone on the A2 manage to drive in a straight line? Will Woody be there warming up from lunchtime onwards? All these questions and more will be answered. See you at the Cyclopark!
Coach G