Despite an unfavourable weather forecast the combined Welwyn Dernyfest and BC Women’s Omnium series event was completed with just one minor interruption from rain.

Although the numbers for the Women’s Omnium were disappointingly low the battles within the field were keenly fought out. Janet Birkmyre won all five events but was pushed hard all the way by Harriet Owen. Local rider Claire Newland rode way to win the scratch race, finished second in the Pursuit and tied on points overall after five events with Marianne Britten but Marianne won the tie-break by virtue of her higher position in the Points race.

The 28 riders in the Dernyfest were split into three heats with the top three in each heat going through to the Final, the next three to a Minor Final and the remaining riders to a Minor Minor Final.

Heat winners were Karl Freeman, Lewis Atkins and Simon Gaywood

Simon Gaywood paced by Graham Bristowe went into the lead at the start of the 50 lap (23kms) final and set a cracking pace which by half distance had split the field. The leading group of Simon Gaywood and the Agiskoviner trio of Lewis Atkins, John McClelland and Chris Richardson led the second group of Karl Freeman, Sam Sturgeon and Robert Cox by 200m. With 10 laps to go Atkins lost contact with the leading trio and with 5 laps to go Richardson attacked for the lead but Gaywood just increased the pace and led by 20 metres into the final lap. John McClelland  made a last desperate attempt to get on terms with the leader but Simon Gaywood was not to be denied and ran out a worthy winner in a time of 26.33 from John McClelland and Chris Richardson.

The equally competitive minor finals were won by Jason Streather (VC St Raphael) and David Scott (Welwyn Wheelers)   


Women’s Omnium
1 Janet Birkmyre – XRT Elmy Cycles – 5 pts
2 Harriet Owen – Bicester Millenium – 13 pts
3 Marianne Britten – VC St Raphael – 17 pts
4 Claire Newland – Welwyn Wheelers – 17 pts
5 Caroline Gammell – XRT Elmy Cyles – 24 pts
6 Rohan Battison – Agiskoviner – 30 pts

BC Womens Omnium - Results

Dernyfest
1 Simon Gaywood – Plowman Craven RT
2 John McClelland – Agiskoviner
3 Chris Richardson – Agiskoviner
4 Lewis Atkins – Agiskoviner
5 Sam Sturgeon – Team Terminator
6 Karl Freeman – Team Corley Cycles