East Kent BMX Club Report
28 Sept 2008
Report: Tony Knott
Photos by kind permission of www.stevehaleimages.com
On Sunday 28th September the East Kent BMX Club played host to the prestigious South Region BMX Championships event. A strong entry from the Club took part amongst the 201 riders in attendance. There were races put on especially for the local riders who were not eligible to take part in the main programme.
James Humphrey on his way to Cruiser 13-15 South Champion
In the first of these groups, for riders aged 7 years and under, the Hersden Club's under fives champion Ben Hodgson was victorious in the final ahead of Josh Werner of Herne Bay. These two were closely matched all afternoon with Ashford's Charlie Morse in third. The 8-10 years local class was won by Isaac Lennon who stormed to victory with Daniel Epps and Callum Tupper second and third. The local rider action was rounded off with the 11-13 year olds, which saw Sam Pile of Dover come out on top over Connor Paterson and Darren Hayes.
The South championship races kicked off with the 6 and Under group and Luc Baxter did the area proud with his seventh place in the Final. Broomfield?s Joel Lockhart's fine form in 2008 continued as he took second place in the 7 year old final, it was the same position filled by Ethan Godden in the 8 years final with Matt Pullen and Joseph Peal fourth and fifth in the B final.
The Expert 11 years final saw Owen Baxter grab third place, with Hersden champ Michael Brookes riding a superb race for fifth with twin brother James getting runner-up spot in the B final.
Darren Boughton in action
Dan Pullen defending champion on route to retaining his title
In the Expert 13 group the local favourite and defending champion Dan Pullen riding for Tibbs Cycles of Canterbury did not disappoint as he romped to victory in the A final while Hersden regular Daniel Sterling was fourth in the B final in the 14 year olds class. Ramsgate's Lewis Dackombe was seventh in the final for 15 year olds, while in the Expert 16's Sam Richardson was third.
In the Senior classes there was plenty of local interest as well with Canterbury Cycle Life's Simon Barnes getting runner-up spot in the Old Skool class with Dave Glendower sixth and Russell Cook eighth. In the tough group of 19+, Pete Lavender did well to finish in sixth place. The 30+ Masters class saw East Kent's second win of the afternoon go the way of Herne's Russ Parsons who swept all before him in an impressive display of riding with Whitstable's Roy Binks in 6th place.
The Cruiser classes saw Roy Binks do best in the 30-39 group with fourth place. A win in the B Final for James Humphrey meant that he took overall victory in his class and the coveted trophy. Runner up Mick Ridgway beat third placed Justin Esson with James Cornford fifth. Good results too for the Club in the 40+ Cruiser class, with Phil Beer third in the A final and Darren Boughton fifth. The fairer sex were not to be outdone as Lorna Pile mixed with the boys in the locals group and got a fifth. Ramsgate?s Bev Dackombe was fourth in the Ladies 25+ and Lauren Richardson was fourth in the 10-12 girls.
Altogether it was a fantastic afternoon's racing staged in perfect weather conditions, which rounded off a great opening season at the track in Broomfield and which promises to get even better in 2009. The Club?s evening sessions have finished for the year as it gets dark too early but riders interested in racing should watch the Club?s website at www.eastkentbmx.co.uk for details of sessions proposed for weekends through the winter.