WITH THE summer cycling season pretty much coming to an end the previous week, riders have moved indoors.

The Calshot Velodrome, near Southampton, is the venue for a thriving winter track league. The short 150-metre track mirrors the mini track in Gent, Belgium and the racing is just as exciting.

This fantastic centre is one of only three indoor velodromes in the UK and is set to become even more popular as track cycling is tipped to become the next big spectator sport in the UK. It takes place on steeply banked tracks on bikes with no brakes.

Hythe's Nick O'Hara (Hampshire Road Club) finished Calshot's packed programme with second place in the points race and ten-kilometre scratch race. O'Hara was also third in the 28-lap scratch event.

Showing that he has lost none of his talent for spotting promising young cyclists, VC St Raphael sponsor Mick Waite has a new precocious talent on his books with 17-year-old Matt Coates (Swanmore).

Coates has ridden for the Portsmouth-based squad since moving up to the junior ranks on 2003.

Coates not only took the junior prize in the mixed category veteran, junior and ladies' unknown distance, but powered away to take the overall prize as well.

The unknown distance race is just as it sounds. Riders race never knowing whether the race is going to be one, ten or 100 laps. The youngster also came away with third overall and the junior points in the two kilometre scratch race.

New Milton's Jon Dibben of the Chapel Stars Tri Club was second five times in the under-12 category. He has moved up to fifth overall in the season-long competition.

Portsmouth's Rob Hayles raced out in front of a capacity crowed at the Manchester Velodrome in the hugely successful REVOLUTION Track Series.

Double Olympic Medallist Hayles (Team Persil) came away with a hard-fought victory in the 10km points race, pushing former world champion Chris Newton into second place.

Hayles also finished second, one place behind Bradley Wiggins (Credit Agricole) in the scratch race.

l Basking in the glorious sunshine that Sunday presented, veteran Andrew MacDonald (GA Cycles) stormed around the fast and much improved showground course to finish third in the Bill Higson Memorial Cyclo Cross in Newbury.

MacDonald was only three minutes and nine seconds behind the winner. GA Cycles teammates Robin Wilmot and Antony Green were eighth and ninth respectively.

Making it a family affair for the Portswood Cycles team, Phillip Gough outdid his two young sons by rounding out the top ten while Andrew and Phillip came in 17th and 18th in the same event.

CALSHOT WINTER LEAGUE:

Senior A League 28-lap Scr

1 Paul Evans (BC PM - South), 2 John Marriner (Bournemouth Jubilee Whlrs), 3 Nick O'Hara (Hampshire Road Club).

Senior A League points race

1 Paul Evans (BC PM - South) 2 Nick O'Hara (Hampshire Road Club).

Senior A distance race

1 Rob Jefferies (Brixton CC), 2 Nick O'Hara (Hants RC).

Junior/Women & Veterans 2km Scr

1 Adrian Clode (Sid Valley CC), 2 Trevor Bradbury (Reading CC / T3 / Mar / Hale Partnership), 3 Matt Coates (VC St Raphal / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles)

Junior/women & Veterans unknown distance

1 Matt Coates VC (St Raphal/Waite Contracts/Hewitt Cycles), 2 Adrian Clode (Sid Valley CC), 3 Alex Aldham-Breary (PCA Ciclos Uno).