The Definitive “A to Z” Guide to Preston Park

ANTHONY ROGERS – don’t we just love him?! Mr Brighton 1995 is a real work-horse for PPYCC. Look at those outfits he wears. A local teacher, you don’t have to call him “Sir” here at Preston Park, but it would probably help your marks if you did.

BELL – that thing they ring with one lap to go.

CHAMPIONSHIPS – the only important ones in the sport of cycling are the Preston Park championships. We have three: scratch, sprint and points. Not only are they important in themselves, but they carry double league points. You’d be mad to miss them.

DEVIL-TAKE-THE-HINDMOST – tying for the title of the cruellest of races with the infamous “win and out”. Just when you KNOW you’ve got the strength to overtake those losers in front of you and avoid elimination, there literally is no way past them! Then you hear your number called over the PA system, and the only thing you can do is pretend you didn’t hear it.

ENGLISHES – Good, aren’t they? Felix is too fast for a 15-year-old to be true, sister Kim is very classy herself and dad Bruce once won a stage of the Junior Tour of Ireland.

FRONT OF THE BUNCH – usually the safest place to be, but think about being placed second or third in line to use up less energy.

GENTS & GERREYS – What would we do without them? Ken Gent, Debbie Gent, Dave Gerrey and Daniel Gerrey are all working tirelessly for the league, and not forgetting Adam Gent, Sara Gent and Ben Gerrey who have all been part of the racing scene here for years.

HANDICAP – You’re glad when you’ve got a big handicap, then it’s good news when your handicap comes down. Work that one out!

IN-GEAR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SQUAD – Up-and-coming youth club with some very promising riders, many of whom are riding successfully here. They have a great website at ingeardevelopmentsquad.com.

JUBILEE (VC) – Another very successful youth club with a host of riders competing at a high level at PP and elsewhere. It is the youth section of Brighton Excelsior CC. It also has an interesting website, at vcjubilee.co.uk.

KEEN – Good word to describe those U10 and U8 riders as they go to the start-line. Just look at them!

LEE POVEY – In the Guinness Book of Records for the racing cyclist with the largest thigh muscles, Lee is the only regular rider at Preston Park with his own fan club. Lee’s cycling CV includes several overall PP league titles, countless PP sprint championships and the British Cycling Masters Sprint Title in 2006.

McCLELLANDS – Organiser and supremo Vern – indispensable. Caterer Andrea – amazing. Regular rider Neil – superb. Injured but recovering Sean – class. Former star Kathryn – words fail me!

NUMBER – The thing you must bring to PP every week. If you forget your number, you are given a different number for the night and this causes no end of problems for the judges. My advice if you forget your number: grovel to Debbie.

OFF THE BACK – don’t be here if you want to win anything.

PPYCC – Popular local youth club based at Preston Park, with several successful riders in our various youth leagues. Led by super-coach Anthony Rogers.

QUICK – What you need to be, on your bike, in order to have any chance of winning races here. If you’re not, consider going down the steps behind the stands and joining the tennis club.

RUPERT RIVETT – When on form, this rider goes like a bullet. He’s also got a lot of endurance. When not racing, you will usually find him taking photos at bike races.

SALLY & ROY PAGE – The great stalwarts of VC Jubilee, who work tirelessly for their club. Sally also takes some great photos of our racing and Roy works for British Cycling and was instrumental in getting the excellent fencing put round the track for riders’ safety.

Tom – Goldsmith, Jamieson, Garland & Martin – all outstanding young riders at Preston Park.

Uckfield – Town on a hill about 20 miles NE of PP and home of the In-Gear club.

Velodrome.org.uk – One of the websites which publishes our reports and photos.

Wheel – Useful to have one at the front and another one at the back.

Xylophone – It’s very difficult to race while playing one of these, but it’s worth trying.

Yates – Christian and Sean, who have both livened up the racing bigtime this season.

Zigzag – How not to ride in a sprint.

Compiled by Gavin Smith - who else?