June 21/04 9:46 am - BC Provincial Track Cycling Championships

Posted by Editoress on 06/21/04
 

BC Provincial Track Cycling Championships
Gordon Ross, VP Burnaby Velodrome

The Burnaby Velodrome played host to the BC Provincial Track Cycling Championships this weekend, June 18-20, 2004. Riders from Vancouver and Victoria made their way to the covered velodrome to escape some of the weekend's 30+ degree sunshine and test their legs against each across Jr, Senior, Masters, and Vets categories. Two tandem pairings with blind sport athletes also took part in the time trial events, with Brian Cowie and pilot Murray Solem and Shawn Marsolais and pilot Lisa Sweeney preparing for the Paralympic Games in Athens Sept 17-18, 2004.

In the Senior Men's events, the dominant force throughout the weekend was Matt Chater (Schwalbe Cycling). Chater took gold in the Men's Kilo (1:09.6), Keirin, as well as being part of the winning Team Sprint and Team Pursuit gold medal teams. Chater's teammate Scott Laliberte won the men's Points Race and Scratch race. John Tolkamp (Escape Velocity) won gold in the Individual Pursuit (4:59.9).

The Senior Women's events were split between endurance athlete and road rider Stephanie Hannos (Team Basis) winning the 3000m Individual Pursuit (4:00.8), Scratch Race, and Points Race, and Breanna Loster (Dr Walker) winning the 500m TT (40.168), Keirin, and Sprints.

The Masters Men saw an epic battle in every race between hometown boy Andy George and Victoria-but-soon-to-be-Vancouver resident, Mark Butschler (Dr Walker). George swept the podium with 5 gold medals, letting Luis Bernhardt get the better of him for the 6th in the Points Race, where he claimed silver.

BC athletes are looking forward to the upcoming track schedule on the west coast which includes the GVVA's AVC Challenge with a $10,000 prize purse held in Victoria on July 9-11 and the Canadian National Track Cycling Championships, also held in Victoria August 5-8.