02.06.10
We are currently working to set the website so that riders can input their own race results, also we hope to have a members only forum.
Go Ride
Ian is working with Leeds City Council to identify a safe venue in North Leeds for GO RIDE activities.
04.02.10
Saturday mornings for kids
For almost 2 months the bad weather has led to the cancellation of these rides but we are hoping for good conditions this coming Saturday, 6th February.
Meeting point will be Eccup Moor Road, Eccup, 10am. Ride type and duration will be decided on the day, bring off road bikes because even if the session is done on road, it will be muddy!
In the past we have varied the meeting point of the Saturday kids club, taking in Yeadon BMX track and Temple Newsam Park. Eccup/Harewood we'll consider as our "usual" location. We like a Mum or Dad to accompany their child and we usually stick to cycle tracks, bridal paths and quiet roads. Please email the secretary patrick dot douglas at ntlworld dot com to be put on our weekly email list that gives details of meeting time and locations. Usual meet time is 10am.
9th December - Monday Night Track League - Keirin Specialist Pullan
Young David Pullan seems to have been our sole representative at the ACT league through the Autumn and into the winter. He loves the track and his results have been getting better and better. October saw a string of second and third places in the keirin, but as the season has progressed, David's got faster and faster. November has seen him take two fabulous wins in the keirin on successive weeks. Not satisfied with that, he's also come second in the Devil and fourth in the scratch race.
23.09.09
Manchester velodrome club sessions confirmed
Alan Edmondson has, once again, arranged a fantastic series of track sessions, details below.
The following four dates are our confirmed Velodrome bookings for the Winter season.
1. Sunday 18 October 2009 9-00 a.m. until 12-00 a.m.
2. Sunday 13 December 2009 9-00 a.m. until 12-00 a.m.
3. Sunday 10 January 2010 9-00 a.m. until 12-00 a.m.
4. Sunday 21 February 2010 9-00 a.m. until 12-00 a.m.
You will notice that we do not have a date in November. This is because there was no open date available. Samantha Kelly, the Velodrome booking secretary, has fitted our requirements as closely as other, prior, commitments allow. Track time, at the Velodrome, is at a premium, particularly for weekend morning and afternoon sessions, and I am most appreciative of the consideration she gives us.
Riders needing to hire a track bike should contact the Velodrome direct on 0161 223 2244.
Each of these sessions will have three coaches in attendance, Mike Farthing, Phil Norfolk and myself. We will be at the Velodrome at 8-00 a.m. and signing-on will start at 8-30 a.m.
Despite increasing costs the prices remain at £5 for 16 yrs. and under, £10 for 16+. Although I intent to limit entry to non-Mercury riders I shall work, primarily, on a first-come, first-served basis. Mike, Phil and myself have always regarded these sessions as an opportunity for our club to demonstrate that we are seeking to develop young cycling interest and also give the "mature" novice an opportunity to "ride the boards".
The first session is a little over three weeks away so make your booking early on either my e-mail address alanedmonson@btinternet.com or by telephone on 0113 2587194.
Alan Edmondson
22.07.09. Club clothing has arrived!!!
A separate email will be sent to all club members to advise, so get ready to pick up your brand new Mercury kit. All items sold at cost price. We have ordered plenty of spare jerseys across the range from age 6/7, upwards to the biggest adult.
13.07.09 Ailsa Stainthorpe wins U16 Regional Track Championship
Perhaps inspired by David's recent championship win, Ailsa Stainthorpe produced an outstanding performance to win the Yorkshire regional grass track championships. The event, decided in an omnium format, got off to a great start for the Selby based Mercury lass when she won the time trial in 20.76s. She followed this up with a second place in both the pursuit and scratch race, winning the event on countback to her fabulous TT time. Congratulations to Ailsa from us all.
David Pullan wins U12 championship
In a thrilling race held at the Richard Dunn circuit, David Pullan broke away with 9 laps to go in the British Schools Cycling Association Yorkshire and Northern region U12 circuit racing championships. He managed to hold off the field to take a fabulous, well deserved win. Congratulations David, we love having champions in the club!!
25.06.09 Mercury youngsters in dominant form at Roundhay
Some fabulous results from all of our young under 16 riders at Rounday Park grass track, monday nights, have put Leeds Mercury in the driving seat for these fun filled evenings. All the young Mercury riders have produced some great rides and have helped us to surpass last year's total wins for the club. Well done all.
Meanwhile, former track and league Yorkshire Champion, Neil Stainthorpe, has made a great return to competition, after an absence of around 20 years. He's had some good placings but is still searching for that first win.
More details on the great West Riding revival at http://www.cycleroundhay.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1
17.05.09. Assistance needed for Yorkshire Road Championships
The Regional Board is promoting the Regional Road Race Championships on 31 May 2009 on the Denby Dale course with the race HQ at Penistone Grammar School. An additional 15 marshals are needed to assist on the day between 9am and 2.30pm. Please consider whether you can volunteer. Please contact Jason Metcalfe: telephone 01484 432043
mobile 07912 221092
email Jason@hanson-cs.co.uk for further details or with offers of help. Your assistance is much appreciated.
11.05.09 West Riding (Roundhay) Track league opens on a high for young Mercury racers
A fabulous night of racing and a hatful of wins and placings for the Mercury saw a successful start to the WRTL for 2009. For a full write up please click here http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/tra/EventReports2009/20090511_Roundhay_Grass_Track.asp
10.05.09 David Pullan takes first national medal
After many years of trying, David Pullan gained his first national medal when he came a brilliant second in the BSCA National Circuit race championships. Very many congratulations to David and here's hoping it will be the first of many national medals.
10.05.09. Mercury duo complete Lands End Epic
Paddy & Graeme both sucessfully completed the ride and have helped to raise over £100k for the Help for Heroes Charity. The ride was extremely tough with many 12-14 hour days. Fortunately there was a following wind nearly all the way that made life a bit easier! People were extremely generous giving both money, food and hospitality. More details at www.helpforheroesride.co.uk where donations can still be made. Some fabulous pictures of the ride by our professional photographer, Ian, one of the support crew at www.nowpix.co.uk
Mercury men in Lands End to John O'Groats Epic
Paddy Douglas and Graeme Collin are two of eight riders about to ride the End to End. Starting on Sunday 3rd May they will ride around 150 miles per day and take a week to cover the 1020 miles. Sticking mainly to lanes and country roads, they are hoping that the weather gods will be with them. The ride will raise money for the Help for Heroes charity. For further information and to make a donation please click on www.helpforheroesride.co.uk Any sponsorship will be greatly appreciated.
MRTL 03.04.09 A brace for the Mercury
After a bit of a disappointing night last week for the club, young Ned Richards took the group 1 devil race apart to make a convincing victory. Saving his energy until the crucial moment the Leeds lad, having ridden a great tactical race, accelerated away with 2 laps to go to convincingly beat the opposition. In the very next race, the group 2 devil, Paddy Douglas tried to emulate his young clubmate and, despite falling short, managed to take a very good second place. In the group 2 course des primes Iona Sewell showed that she had lost none of her speed after last week's great road ride, by taking one of the laps. Meanwhile, Paddy bided his time, and came round a tiring opposition to take the penultimate and final lap, giving him enough points to take the overall victory, the race having been run off at 28.5mph. Finally, Ned showed that he had plenty of racing still in him as he rode a tireless points race and took a great second.
Iona Sewell third overall in Women's Tour of Malta 27-30 March 2009
Iona delighted her Yorkshire based fan club when she rode to a superb 3rd overall in the Tour of Malta over the weekend. Fifth in the prologue time trial and two solid thirds in the subsequent road stages led her to consolidate her overall position. The event was dominated by the North Holland girls but Iona was denied the opportunity to challenge them as the final road stage was neutralised. Great riding from Iona meant that she also held off the challenge from a well organised Ulster squad. Riding for womens team, Squadra Donne, Iona led the team filling three of the top ten places and taking second in the team competition. A great ride by Iona and many congratulations from us all!!
MRTL 27.03.09 - Leeds lads ride great but nothing for the Mercury!
A very quiet night tonight for the lads in red and white stripes, but try as they might, both Ned and Paddy failed to get in the placings. Meanwhile there was a great win for Dave Stevens in the group 3 points race and a superb win for Luke Simpson when he broke away in the group 2 devil. Ian Shapiro, our mate from Stockport, took a greta win in the group 2 points race.
MRTL 20.03.09 - Ned Richards blasts the Devil, Douglas takes the Kilo, Leeds contingent in the crowd!
There must be something about the Mercury and the devil race, because we nearly always do well in it. This time, young Ned Richards, coming back to form after a rib injury rode a great group 1 devil to take a fabulous win. The race stayed together for a while as each unfortunate victim was eliminated out of the back. With about 9 riders remaining, new Chevin Cycles rider, Phil Thompson, made a massive attack and opened a very useful 80 yard gap which he held for a couple of laps. It seemed that the Ned was the only one who had the legs to react as he jumped away from the disintegrating bunch, with the big gap ahead of him to close. Committed to his task it took the Mercury lad a couple of laps but he made it up to Thompson's wheel. Very sensibly, Ned decided to take some shelter on Thompson's wheel after making his big effort, but this only lasted for half a lap as the bell sounded for the final lap. Ned jumped round the tiring Thompson, pulled a great gap and comfortably cruised over the line for a fabulous victory.
Big Damion Clark easily took the heat in the 500m sprint, rising to the top of the track and blasting off with a lap and a half to go, averaging a very fast 30.331mph for the 500m. In the final he tried a repeat of the tactic but the other lads were wise to it and a well fought battle resulted in a solid second place for the big fella.
After missing a week, Paddy Douglas was back, but every time he tried to get a sprint in the group 2 points race, he was found to be lacking speed. Coming into the 1 kilometer bunch race he positioned himself near the front for the first lap. Soon after, the young Luke Simpson put in an attack and Douglas was able to get on his wheel, running second in line, with the bunch strung out behind. Luke held the lead until a lap and a half to go when Douglas accelerated past. Coming into the final lap Douglas tried to keep his pace going but was almost sure that he would be swamped by the faster riders down the back straight. No one went past him before the final bend and, to his utter surprise, he managed to hold everyone off, taking a totally unexpected victory.
Iona Sewell had been moved up a group and seemed to slot right in group 2 with no problems, in fact other than for a slight error she surely would have made the top 3 in the Devil. She will miss next week as she will be racing the women's tour of Malta.
MRTL 13.03.09 - IONA MOVES UP TO 3rd OVERALL
On Friday 13th, a day which some find unlucky, if definitely wasn’t for Iona as she moved up to 3rd overall. She took 2 great victories and a second placing in group 1, taking the 16 lap points race, the scratch race and second in the devil. As well as that Iona raced the next day in Milton Keynes in a national womens circuit race and came 11th, some fabulously consistent riding by the Mercury lass.
Phil Norfolk battled his way to a deserved 3rd in the devil and Toby Mountain got a 3rd in the points race. Former Mercury man Seb Horner won the 500 metres scratch and got 2 second placings, but one of them was taken off him as he undertook some on the cote d’azur and got disqualified! Overall it was a great night for the Mercury crew!
MRTL 06.03.09. More success for the Mercury
A first and a second for Iona and Toby in the group 1 points and a second and third for Iona and Phil in the Devil. Toby 1 lap in the course des primes, Douglas draws a blank and drops to 9th overall. - Full report to follow