Glorious sunshine greeted the 72 riders who signed on for the first Sussex League meeting of the season at Preston Park, Brighton. And what a feast of racing was on the menu! The top A-league senior ranks were swelled by the promotion of the best Bs from last year, making for fascinating racing in all senior events. A total of 41 youngsters took part in the youth racing, with the U12s on fixed-wheel for the first time at this seaside venue and visibly thriving on the experience.

Young Felix English was present and correct tonight to begin his quest to notch up his hat-trick of league wins. Since 2007, when he (prematurely) joined the senior ranks, he has been the man to beat. Over the past two seasons, we have seen some of the most exciting racing in the history of the Sussex League, as rider after rider has tried to beat English – and usually failed.

There was – unusually – a cagey start to the 8-lap scratch opener. Were riders just waiting for English to make a move? Charlie Sayer, Anthony Rogers and Brock Duncumb-Rogers were the first three through after the first lap, then one circuit later an attack by John Powell came to nothing as George Higgs among others reeled him in. Nigel Foskett was lurking near the front at this stage, then at half-distance it was the big guns who clustered at the head of proceedings. Lee Povey was up there, as was Sayer, also Martyn Potter, Driss Jones, Mark Burgess and – you guessed it! – Felix English. While these aces were busy watching each other, Brighton Mitre’s Mark Mergler attacked at Dressing Room Corner with just over three to go. Bruce English and Tim Hill tried to reach him with a brave effort, but Mergler was gone and was steadily gaining ground on his two chasers and more importantly on the hesitant bunch. At the bell, Mergler still had a comfortable 70-metre lead on his immediate chasers and the bunch was further adrift. One lap later, Mergler took an impressive win then Felix English won the sprint for second, followed by Povey, Sayer, last year’s B winner Charlie Heffernan and Burgess. Alas, Bruce English and Tim Hill saw their brave efforts come to nothing as they were swallowed whole by the bunch on that last hectic lap.

There followed two separate 3-lap dash events, with the B riders first to the line. The pace rose throughout the race but, with no serious breakaway attempts, it was all down to a sprint won by Andy Parle ahead of Richard Bailey, Mark Mergler, Anthony Rogers, Nick Smith and John Powell. In the parallel A race, former top roadman Driss Jones was the early attacker and he was immediately joined by Phil Smith. The breakaway duo – alias Smith and Jones - worked well and stayed ahead for nearly two laps, but inevitably Felix English had detached himself from the bunch and flew past the duo with 300 metres left. Just when you might have thought the race was well and truly over, European Masters sprint champion Lee Povey set off from the bunch in hot pursuit of the young flyer. English had a good 10 metres advantage at the 200-metres-to-go mark, but Povey was turbo-charged and his determination was evident for all to see. Spectators were treated to the finest 2-up sprint for ages at Preston Park, as Povey appeared to be catching his prey as they approached the finish. Super English had the resistance, however, and just held off the lightning Povey by a-quarter-of-a-wheel at the line. Sayer was third and was followed by Burgess, Duncumb-Rogers and Heffernan.

The 6-lap points race for B seniors began with a fine sprint from the rider wearing no. 99 for the first maximum. A quick inspection of the signing-on sheets revealed that no such rider should have been in the peloton, and that the impostor was none other than no. 66 Andy Parle. Bruce English took the next maximum, then Neil McClelland was first over the line at the finish. Parle’s first, second and third placings at the end of each lap secured him a fine win, with Bruce English runner-up, then McClelland, Mergler, Powell and Bailey in that order.

Felix English made no mistake in the A points race, as his two first placings and one second spot took him to victory, with last year’s B league winner Charlie Heffernan second. They were followed by Sean McClelland, Charlie Sayer, Brock Duncumb-Rogers and Mark Burgess.

With light about to fade, chief commissaire Rob Fuller decided to limit the final scratch race to 10 laps. Classy Sean McClelland broke away early on and pocketed a well-earned £5 prime. Nick Smith was prominent on the front as McClelland was brought back, then Sam Cheesman went off at just the right time to earn himself a £5 prize. As the race began to gain pace, Felix English grabbed the final fiver and a mad last lap was set up. Another great elbow-to-elbow between English and Povey finished with the verdict going yet again to the unstoppable youngster, while Driss Jones took third ahead of Mark Burgess, Andy Parle and Charlie Sayer.

The runaway winner on the night was of course Felix English. But he has several more-than-competent rivals and, perhaps more importantly, his Talent Team commitments are likely to mean he will have to miss some crucial meets. In the B league, Andy Parle has already secured two of the five wins required for overall victory and automatic promotion to the top flight, but will the others just let him get those victories or will they put up a fight?

The youths’ races are far more than a sideshow to the seniors’ competition. As always, some of the most fascinating battles took place tonight in the youngsters’ contests. Riders represented several clubs, but VC Jubilee in particular, as no fewer than 19 of the riders were wearing their distinctive blue-and-yellow jerseys.

A compact bunch of 18 riders contested this category of racing tonight. The uneventful 4-lap scratch race was surprisingly dominated by the U14s. U14 Ashley Dennis sprinted home ahead of U16 Elliot Tabraham-Dowers, and they were followed by U14 Emily Barnes with a great ride for third, then U14 Amy Jacobs, U14 Sara Gent and U16 Milo Burdeau.

Elliot took no prisoners in the U16 dash, sprinting to the line in front of fast-improving Jack Oliver-Blaney, with Milo Burdeau and Sam Maloney next in line.

Visitor from Palmer Park Velo, reconnoitring Preston Park for this Saturday’s regional omnium, David Barnes took the U12 racing by storm with two wins and a third place, and also the weekly £5 prize to the most deserving youth. In both the scratch race and the dash he was followed to the line by Amy Barnes and Spencer Thomas. The block handicap was won by Luke Stacey, while newcomer Will Paine put up a great ride for second and David was third.

Unusually for Preston Park, there was only one U8 rider, Evelyn Parle, so the U10s and the U8 were amalgamated. Douglas made no mistake to win the scratch race sprint ahead of Harry Stacey and Joe Hill. In the individual handicap race, Thomas Burnett took the honours in front of Cory Anderson and Lois Parle. Evelyn made excellent use of her allowance in the block handicap race to win, with Douglas and Harry just behind.