Published at 19:26, Thursday, 25 June 2009

IN SPITE of heavy rain almost all day long, the sun and wind came out just in time to dry out the new track at Rowrah Karting Stadium for Lakeland Sprinters’ weekly coaching and race meeting.

In division four Sam Johnston continued his domination when he took eight seconds off his best time to complete the 500m time trial in one minute 52 seconds.

His nearest rival, Scott Keenan, also took time off his previous fastest time to finish in 2.37 while third fastest was Molly Rankin (2.41) closely followed by Poppy Watson (2.45 pb), new rider Rebecca Amor (3.35), Matty Keenan (4.56 pb) and Poppy Rankin (5.22).

In division three the 500m time trial was a dead heat between James Amor and Leo Sanczuk.

Both were riding for only their second time at the track and both recorded personal bests of 1.34.

The vastly improving Alex Bewley was only two seconds off his pb with 1.46 while Jack McDonagh achieved another pb of 2.02.

Ben Frankland came home in 2.08 with Finn O’Reilly – also on his second time at Rowrah – taking a new pb with 2.22.

Division three riders also competed in an 80m hillclimb. Taking the best times from two runs the final positions were James Amor (17.26), Ben Frankland (19.26), Leo Sanczuk (19.49), Alex Bewley (23.38) and Jack McDonagh (30.18).

In the division two 1km time trial there were several pbs. Matthew Last won with a new best time of 2.35.

He was followed by David Thomas (2.36 pb), Charlie Frankland and Daniel Rooney (both 3.00 both pbs) and Sam Drake (3.05 equal pb).

Brad Parke returned to Rowrah and put in a very respectable 3.07 as did William Shield – who has just moved up from division three – followed by Heather Thomas (3.12), George Hodgson (3.19 pb) and Adam Watson (3.26) completed the field.

Division one continues to draw out the best in these increasingly competitive riders. The 1km time trial saw a number of personal bests achieved.

Fastest rider on the night was Daniel Baron with 2,09. Joint second were David Houghton and Fletcher Hodgson, both with pbs of 2.11.

They were followed by William Hughes (2.13), Alex Hargreaves (2.15 equal pb), Stephen Gascoigne (2.22 equal pb) Calum Young (2.24), Kristain Cook (2.26 equal pb), George Bennett (2.27), Thomas Lennox (2.34 pb) and rider Jake Critchley (2.46 equal pb).

In the handicap devil race, Baron won a fiercely contested seven-lap race from David Houghton, followed by Hughes, Bennett, Hargreaves and Gascoigne. All the other riders were taken by the devil.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk