Race Reports by Charles Durrant
AVC Ron Marat Memorial – BC Track Cycling Championships
Three days of racing in the sun. The 2005 edition of the American Velodrome Challenge – Ron Marat Memorial – BC Track Cycling Championships was held August 19th to 21st at the Juan de Fuca Velodrome in Colwood. This event attracted over fifty BC athletes along with competitors from Alberta and the United States.
On Friday afternoon, the first day of racing, athletes competed in individual pursuits and time trials. I qualified 4th in the 3000m individual pursuit, therefore I would ride for the bronze medal later in the evening. Next up was 1000m time trial. Jeremy Sheppard of Dr. Walker’s/Traveller’s Inn Team set the standard with a quick time of 1:12:66. I was last to compete with a personnel best time of 1:11:11. This was the third fastest kilo time of the weekend. The bronze ride for the 3000m individual pursuit was held later in the evening. Andy George of Vancouver and I squared off in a hard fought battle. We both set personnel best time with me edging him by 1/5 of a second. The gold ride was even more exciting with Chad Godfried of Dr. Walker’s/Traveller’s Inn Team winning by 1/1000 of a second over John Perkins of Vancouver.
The next day saw master athletes competing in a 15km scratch, Keirin and a miss and out races. The field of 16 riders kept the pace high for the 15km scratch race. Many small breaks were quickly closed and the race came down to a 2 lap sprint for the finish. With a lap and a half to go I jumped creating sufficient gap to win the gold. Later that morning was the qualifying rides for the Keirin final. I drew number one spot and got the position behind the motorcycle which I held to the finish, therefore qualifying for the final. The fast paced final saw Louis Bernard, Andy George and myself take bronze, silver and gold respectively. Later that afternoon, master competed in the miss and out race. For the most of the race I played the devil at the back of pack eliminating riders until I was taken out with five riders to go. The final race of Saturday night was the open team sprint event. Our team composed of Jeremy Sheppard, Chad Godfried and myself set a time of 1:12:401 putting us in forth position overall.
Sunday, the final day, saw master athletes competing in match sprint and a 60 lap points race. I qualified as top seed for the match sprints with a 200 metre time of 0:12:004. Six to seven riders were within a half second of each other, therefore setting up for a very competitive round of match sprints. I quickly sprinted my way through the ¼ finals to face Marcus Hadley of Dr. Walker’s/Traveller’s Inn Team in the semi-finals and took him in two straight rides. In the gold medal ride I faced Michael Cooper of Penticton. In the first ride, he got a jump on me early and won the first of the best of three. On the second ride I went long with a lap and a half and tying up the match one to one. In the final and last ride I kept the pace high and again jumping early to take the gold in the match sprint finals. The final event of the weekend’s competition was the flying lap record attempt. I set a personnel best time of 0:19:902 placing 4th overall. This time was eclipsed by Keith Bruneau, 0:19:658; Matt Barlee, 0:19:273; and the track record set by Stephen Alfred of the United States with a blistering time of 0:19:082.
Overall the sun filled weekend was full of fast paced excitement on two wheels from all the categories competing at the 2005 American Velodrome Challenge – Ron Marat Memorial – BC Track Cycling Championships. The hope is that continued support of this event will attract more new riders to the sport of track racing and riding. This sport is enjoyable for the athletes and spectators alike.
Results from 2005 AVC Ron Marat Memorial – BC Track Cycling Championships
Victoria British Columbia – August 19 - 21
Master men category:
1st place – 1000m Time Trial – 1:11:11
3rd place – 3000m Individual Pursuit – 3:57:191
1st place – 15km Scratch Race
1st place – Keirin
4th place – Team Sprint – Open – 1:12:401
5th place – Miss and Out
1st place – Match Sprints
Flying lap record attempt – Open - 19:902 – 4th overall