Cycle Speedway Round Up
Weekending 31 August 2008
Northern League - Edinburgh v Astley & Tyldesley & Bury
The Falcons made the long trip to Greater Manchester on Sunday (31st Aug) for a double header of away fixtures in the Northern League. First up at 12 noon the Falcons faced Bury CSC at the Goshen Sports centre. Bury, who have struggled of late with the number of riders available, were able to track a strong team which included Edinburgh based Mikey Hewitson.
The Falcons fell behind by 6 points after Heat 4 but redeemed themselves almost immediately taking the lead by two points after Heat 7. An advantage of 11 points was built up after Heat 15 which Bury pulled back to one point going into the last Heat.
With a share of the points being required to run out victors the Falcons pairing of Newsome and Smith fell behind to the Bury pair of Howarth and Dyson after the first bend only for Smith to power up the inside down the back straight and take the lead. With Newsome puting Howarth under all kinds of pressure at the back the victory by one point was assured.
On to Astley & Tyldesley at 4pm. With three Polish internationalists in the Astley Team this fixture was always going to be tough. However, the home side were never ahead by more than six points and were only one ahead going into the last heat (the Falcons 2nd last heat decider of the day). However, with a 1st and 2nd place required for victory things were over by the apex of the first bend as Darek Kurkowski raced off into the distance for the home side leaving the Falcons pairing of Newsome and Smith to pick up the minor places.
Full Scores
Bury 88: Ben Scranage 17, Tom Doyle 10, Neil Howarth 15, Leo Grindlay 15, Mikey Hewitson 11, Chris Dyson 11, Scott Jarman 6, Kelly Burke 3.
Edinburgh 89: Jake Slight 11, Alan Smith 17, lee Lawrence 12, Neil McPherson 14, Craig Newsome 16, Gav Kennedy 10, Tommy Lee 5, Dave Baxter 4.
Referee - Paul Dyson
Astley & Tyldesley 90: Remi Burchardt 20, Dariusz Pilas 20, Darek Kurkowski 16, Joe Allen 11, Mick Knowles 8 (1), Luke Jamson 7, Ben Dickenson 6, Ben Keen 2.
Edinburgh 87: Alan Smith 14 (3), Gavin Kennedy 13 (2), Jake Slight 13 (1), Craig Newsome 13 (1), Lee Lawrence 12, Tommy Lee 10 (2), Neil McPherson 9 (2), Dave Baxter 3.
Referee - Gary Nuttall
Photos can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57243403@N00/
Next Edinburgh home fixture at Redbraes 7th September 2008 - Round 2 of the Edinburgh Fours, 1pm start
Northern League - Astley & Tyldesley v Edinburgh
Astley & Tyldesley took on Edinburgh in a Northern League match at Gin Pit on Sunday. A very close, competitive and sporting match took place, with never more than four points separating the two teams. A & T held a slender lead for most of the match and held on to win 90 - 87.
A & T's Polish international riders were in great form, with both Remi Burchardt and Dariusz Pilas winning all their races. Darek Kurkowski won four races, with a machine failure stopping him in his other race, whilst leading. Edinburgh fielded a solid experienced line-up that regularly frustrated the efforts of A & T's youngsters (four juniors including three first year riders), who give it plenty of effort, but were often outmanoeuvred from scoring positions. However, they eventually provided sufficient support to the top three to ensure a win. Joe Allen's tally of 11 points included three third places in heat wins and that proved to be decisive in A & T's win. A & T provided 15 of the 18 race winners, but Edinburgh's tally of 11 bonus points tells the story of the match.
Northern League match result
Astley & Tyldesley 90 Edinburgh 87
A & T: Remi Burchardt 20, Dariusz Pilas 20, Darek Kurkowski 16, Joe Allen 11, Mick Knowles 8 (1), Luke Jamson 7, Ben Dickenson 6, Ben Keen 2.
Edinburgh: Alan Smith 14 (3), Gavin Kennedy 13 (2), Jake Slight 13 (1), Craig Newsome 13 (1), Lee Lawrence 12, Tommy Lee 10 (2), Neil McPherson 9 (2), Dave Baxter 3.
Referee - Gary Nuttall.
A & T staged a Junior Individual meeting afterwards, which was won by Joe Allen.
Junior Individual match scorers
Joe Allen 14, Josh Gore 13, Luke Jamson 13, Joel Partington 12, Laura Watson 12, Ben Keen 11, Ben Dickenson 10, Brandon Carter 10, Colin Farn 8, Libby Browne 7, Jake Pickstock 6.
Referee - Gary Nuttall.
Midland League - Sandwell v Leicester
The star of this show was undoubatably the man in the middle. Amongst a whole raft of decisions/indecisions the home team were allowed to constantly ride at a snails pace when in front, for example, I ask anyone to seriously believe that Jack Hibberd could be put under pressure from Lucy Whitehead (no disrespect meant). Even well respected Norman Venson lost his cool, picking up a yellow card.
The racing itself was often very good, however Sandwell were simply too good for the Monarchs and certainly didn't need help from any quarters. Lee Smith and tactical reserves Russ Evans and Jack Hibberd were a constant thorn in the Monarchs side and scored freely.
The Monarchs were well served by youngsters Carl Jarvis, who, apart from a trip over the fence which resulted in his exclusion, dropped just a single point, and ever improving Robbie Venson whose hard riding saw him net thirteen points - plus of course an exclusion!
Sandwell 106 (L Smith 18+1, R Evans 17+3, J Hibberd 13+1)
Leicester Monarchs (C Jarvis 15, R Venson 13, N Whitehead 11)
Manchester League Junior Individual Championship Finals
Astley & Tyldesley hosted the Manchester League Junior Individual Championship Finals at Gin Pit on Wednesday evening. There was a record turn-out of riders for the four categories, to continue the upturn this season in junior racing in the Manchester League. The youngsters put on a great show of enthusiasm and determination, matched by no little quality, as rain fell heavily throughout the evening. Despite the weather, the Gin Pit track held up superbly all night, with Gary Nuttall doing a sterling job in refereeing all four matches.
Adam Phillips raced to a comfortable 16 points maximum to win the U-10 event, with Jack Sweeney taking 2nd place, ahead of Adam Watson.
Manchester League U-10 Individual Final
1st - Adam Phillips (A & T) 16; 2nd - Jack Sweeney (Stockport) 15; 3rd - Adam Watson (A & T) 14; Stefan Whitelegg (A & T) 13, Hollie Barnes (A & T) 12, Adam Turnbull (A & T) 11, Stephen McKeown (Bury) 10.
Stockport made it a clean sweep of riders in the U-13 event. Jack Lush's win from the back over twin brother Mat in heat 14 proved to be the decisive factor. Ali Lam took 3rd place, whilst U-10 rider Adam Phillips impressed in this category, as did Joshua Gore in his first ever match.
Manchester League U-13 Individual Final
1st - Jack Lush (Stockport) 20; 2nd - Mat Lush (Stockport) 19; 3rd - Ali Lam (Stockport) 18; Adam Phillips (A & T) 17, Liam Burke (Bury) 16, Joel Partington (A & T) 15, Jake Read (Stockport) 14, Joshua Gore (A & T) 13, Joe Pickford (Stockport) 12, Chris South (Bury) 10, Georgina Healey (Stockport) 10, Adam South (Bury) 9, Sophie Pickford (Stockport) 8, Philip Atherton (A & T) 7, Brandon Carter (A & T) 7.
Dylan Radcliffe was a convincing winner of the U-16 category, racing to a 20 points maximum on his former home track. There was a run-off for 2nd place, which was won by impressive first year rider Ben Dickenson, who made a superb start from the outside grid, ahead of Ben Higham and Jack Lush.
Manchester League U-16 Individual Final
1st - Dylan Radcliffe (Stockport) 20; 2nd - Ben Dickenson (A & T) 18; 3rd - Ben Higham (Stockport) 18; Jack Lush (Stockport) 18, Chris Dyson (Bury) 15, Ben Keen (A & T) 14, Luke Jamson (A & T) 13, Mat Lush (Stockport) 12, Joe Pickford (Stockport) 12, Laura Watson (A & T) 11, Elliott Barnes (A & T) 6.
Dylan Radcliffe made it a double win, by heading home Ben Higham to take the U-19 title, with Chris Dyson third.
Manchester League U-19 Individual Final
1st - Dylan Radcliffe (Stockport) 15; 2nd - Ben Higham (Stockport) 13; 3rd - Chris Dyson (Bury) 7; Matt Bailey (Bury) 5.
Trophies were also presented on the night to the four Grand Prix series winners - Adam Watson (U-10), Ali Lam (U-13), Dylan Radcliffe (U-16), Matt Bailey (U-19) and to the Stockport team, winners of the Manchester League 2nd Division.
3/9 Norfolk Grand Prix series
Round 6 at Hethersett
A Final Results
U13/Novice - 1 R.Warmnger NOR 2 S.Grimes HET 3 J.Abbott HET 4 T.Wakefield NOR
U16 - 1 D.Chambers HET 2 B.Collins HET 3 P.Adams HET 4 H.Hamill HET
Sen/Vet/U19 - 1 L.Cossey NOR 2 D.Martin HET 3 T.Grimes HET 4 A.Barrett NOR
21 riders present
Referee Mel Perkins
31/8 South East League Division 1
GT BLAKENHAM 114 - L.Osborne 19+1 A.Peck 19+1 J.Ashford 17+3 C.Osborne 17+3
HETHERSETT 66 - D.Martin 13+1 J.Abbott 11 B.Collins 10+1
31/8 South East League Division 2
GT BLAKENHAM B 84 - D.Osborne 20 J.Ashford 14+2 P.Brinkhoff 13 J.Day 13
HETHERSETT B (75+15) 90 - B.Collins 15+3 D.Adams 13+1 Dan Chambers 12+2
2/9 Hethersett U10 Club Championship
1 Oliver.Forder-Wilcox 16
2 Katie Adams 12
3 Norton Hamill 7
East Newport Cycle Speedway Club
Last Sunday 31st August East Newport Cycle Speedway Team lost their second South West Division one league match of the season away to Oxford based team Horspath.
Missing several leading riders the understrength Eastenders struggled on the narrow Village circuit.
As expected every rider gave it one hundred percent effort with the 98 - 81 scoreline not reflecting the level of commitment shown
by the team.
Mike Rice, Kieran Jones & Nicky Evans all featured in some close races with Nicky in particular not scoring the points his efforts deserved.
The defeat leaves the side equal on points at the top of the table with only race points difference separating them from their closest rivals Poole.
Score Horspath 98 East Newport 81
Horspath
W. Clark 3 (3), D. Carmichael 16+1 (5)
M. Boaler 12 (4), R. Edge 9+1 (5)
J. Wyatt 9 (5), W. Hutt 17+1 (5)
S. Harris 14+2 (4) M. Carmichael 17 (5)
East Newport
Mike Rice 15 (6), Rob Absalom 5+2 (3)
Matt Davis 8+1 (4), Neil Power 11+2 (5)
Louis Harvey 4+1 (3), Nicky Evans 13 (5)
Nigel Clark 9+1 (4), Kieran Jones 16 (6)