Cycling: Clancy shines at Velodrome

Dec 3 2003 By Andrew Flynn, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A NEAR full house at the Manchester Velodrome created an electric atmosphere for the first of this winter's Revolution track series - with two local riders in the thick of the action.

Holme Valley's Eddie Clancy (Wheelspin Cycles) was among the ranks of the elite riders, taking a sixth in the 15k scratch race won by Cofidis professional Rob Hayles, a sixth in the final of the handicap kilometre (this after winning his heat) and a third in the keirin, again after powering to victory winning his heat.

Lindley teenager Tom Murray (VS Cycles) competed in the Stars Of The Future support races, taking a fifth in the 8k scratch and sixth in the 10k scratch race.

But the Greenhead College student's best performance came in his favourite event - the `Devil take the hindmost', the showdown in which the last rider is eliminated at the end of each lap.

Murray was ideally placed as the race came down to the last four riders, only to lose his chance of victory in a crash with Team Luciano's Ian Stannard as they came into the home straight.

The win went to Peter Williams (Ellan Vannin CC) with Murray and Stannard awarded third equal, although neither was able to cross the line, Murray suffering bad grazes and track burns.

It was some consolation that on the strength of his performances Murray has already been invited back to the next in the Revolution series on January 24, 2004.

Such was the appeal of the first in the series that the start of racing was delayed for 15 minutes to allow more than 2,800 spectators to take their seats.

The major attraction was the chance to see two world champions from Great Britain - David Millar and Bradley Wiggins.

Although they attracted the biggest cheers - introduced by commentator Hugh Porter, husband of Huddersfield's Olympic gold swimmer Anita Lonsbrough - Malcolm Elliot, Milk Race winner and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, in his first track meeting for 18 years, also had the crowd increasing the decibels as he joined the start line.

Millar and Wiggins got the racing off to a flying start, taking first and second in the 10k motor scratch race, paced to within six laps of the finish, at which point the pacing motorbike pulled off and the riders were free to race.

* Huddersfield Star Wheeler Danny Bedford was pipped in a sprint by Keighley's Danny Connolly (Foxes Cycles) to take seventh in the fifth round of the season-long Try Cycling Yorkshire points cyclo-cross series at Myrtle Park, Bingley.

The 28-strong field in the seniors was led home by Lancashire visitor Paul Oldham (Giant RT), who finished 11 seconds ahead of Noel Clough (Caygill Frames RT), with Keith Murray (Science in Sport.com) third, 51 seconds ahead of defending champion Chris Young (Team Marie Curie).

Andy Whitworth (Huddersfield Road Club) was 15th, while in the support race for juniors, women and veterans, won by junior Tom Hooper (Regal RT), Tim Beachill (HRC) was ninth and fifth vet. Colin Smith (HSW) was 12th and first senior vet, Andy Blanshard (HSW) 29th and third grand vet and Sharon Whitworth (HRC), 34th and fourth woman.

In the Under 12s, Shelley's Katy Burnham (Condor RC) was ninth and third girl.

The series ends on January 4 at Temple Newsam Park, Leeds.