June 21, 2004 – The Ontario / Michigan Track Championships in Detroit,
turned out to be as exciting as advertised. Close to 50 riders contested
the Championship events during the three-day competition. (race results
will arrive shortly).

Canadians were on the podium in most events in the Elite “A” Division,
Taras Kelban (McMaster Cycling Club) turned in his best performance of
the year by winning the Kilo on Friday night, Ontario placed five riders
in the Top 8 positions during the first day of competition. In the “B”
Division, 15 year old Jeremy St. John from Windsor, turned some heads with
a scorching time of 37.0 seconds in the 500m. Ontario placed four riders
in the top six positions. Saturday & Sunday’s competition produced some
equally outstanding rides.

Elite Men’s Division
Todd Olynick from Cornwall put in his personal best in the 4k Pursuit. Jeff
Bakal (Multi-Laser) controlled the field placing very well in the Sprint,
Kilo & Points race.
Ontario’s top sprinter Brooks Rapley (Jet Fuel) covered the field, made it
to the finals, however he came up 3″ short in third heat to take second
overall in his specialty. Don Andrews (Waterloo Flying Dogs) & Ontario
Coach, put the hurt on everyone in the Points, Scratch races & had a
podium finish in the 4k Pursuit. Last but not least in the Elite Division,
Taylor Martin (Hummingbirds
Cycling Club) was in the hunt in every event. Martin a downhill skier,
sprinted & had the endurance to take the overall Omnium Award, & Ontario
Championship Jersey.

“B” Men’s Division
New rider Jim Henning from Guelph turned a great result in the Points Race
hanging on and gutting it out for a podium position (his best effort of
the weekend). A trio of Waterloo Flying Dogs were on the podium in all
events plus dominated the points & scratch races. Kurt Schreiter and Neil
Digman sacrificed themselves to allow first time track rider (18 year old
Junior) Eric Robertson to lap the field & go on to claim the overall
Omnium award &
Ontario championship jersey.

“Robertson & St. John, sure turned some heads today,” said Steve Karpik,
Ontario Track coach. Karpik went on to say “with a little more track time
both riders can go to Victoria for the Canadian Track Championships in
early August”. Should be an interesting summer for these two riders. The
future is looking up on the Ontario track racing scene.

Women’s Division
Three Ontario women battled it out for top honors up against some stiff
competition from the girls from Detroit.
Maogosha Pyjor (Animus Cycling Club), Amy Maher (London Centennial
Wheelers) & Julia Bradley (Animus Cycling Club) put on a great display in
all the events. the podium was a constant for the three Ontario Ladies.
Pyjor, Maher were 3rd & 2nd respectively in the Ominum competition. Bradley
took the top spot on the podium and earned herself the Ontario
championship jersey.

In closing, a special thanks to Steve Karpik, Peter McCaffery, Dale
Hughes, Christine Hughes, Tom (the electronic scoring guru), Bruce (the
holder), the Michigan riders who put us up for the weekend, all the folks
on
registration, and most of all (The Riders) who came out to make this
Championship one of the best in memory ( it took me back to the day of J
Lovell & G Singleton at the then New Delhi Track).

Yours in Sport,
Rob Good