Horspath’s Zac Payne became the British Cycle Speedway champion at just 20 years old, after calm and measured performance saw him stand out in a tough field in difficult conditions at Ipswich on Sunday.

Chris Timms, Myke Grimes and Charlie Rumbold all featured and were all in with a shout of a podium.

Mould got away from one with Timms, Grimes and Rumbold fighting behind. Grimes slipped inside Rumbold behind Timms, only for the Ipswich rider to put in a strong challenge up the inside of Grimes, taking the Coventry rider out in the process.

The referee waved the decision on, leaving Rumbold to finish third and claim the silver medal and giving Zac Payne a well deserved first British title.

With Grimes out of contention, Timms’ second place meant there was a run off for third with Lee Aris and Adam Peck, which turned out to be every bit as exciting and controversial as the rest of the meeting.

Peck gated over Timms but was passed by Aris, with Timms then coming underneath both. After leading for two laps, Peck challenged Timms up the inside, when the Birmingham rider was adjudged to have legged the Ipswich rider and was given his matching orders by referee Terry Ashford, with the result being awarded, Adam Peck claimed the final rostrum place, concluding a very entertaining match despite the awful conditions.

Women and under-16 girls

Vicky Brown was untouchable in the women’s final, as she raced away to a 20 point maximum, like she did three weeks ago in the world final.

Looking quicker on the gate and making light work of the heavy conditions, Brown left her fellow competitors in her wake to claim her first British outdoor title.

One of Brown’s main threats, Lauren Hookway pulled out of the meeting with injury after just two rides and on a healthy seven points. Lauren Jacobs was second after dropping her only points to Brown, meanwhile Leicester’s Michelle Whitehead grabbed another podium finish with 17 points.

In the under-16 girls category, it took a run off to decide the title between Ipswich’s Lily Gedge and Leicester’s Lizzie Rigley.

An alarming crash, which saw both girls fly over their handlebars and hit the deck hard saw a re-run after a few minutes delay. In the restart it was Gedge who was able to hold off Rigley’s challenge to secure back to back U16 titles. Poole’s Macie Schmidt claimed the final podium place, one point behind Gedge and Rigley.

Under-10 boys

It was a home winner for Kesgrave in the under-10 boys final, as the impressive Oliver Reynolds raced to a 20 points maximum.

Oliver Saunders of Poole and Birmingham’s Connor Steel battled it out for the runners up spot in a run off, after both finishing on 18 points. Saunders was the victor, with Steel having to settle for a well-earned third placed finish on the podium.

Under-10 girls

Eight girls battled it out in the opening event of the 2015 British Individual Championships at Kesgrave.

It was Rosie Tidball of Exeter who raced to a fine 16-point maximum and retained her British title.

Ipswich had more podium joy, with Isabel Farrell claiming the second spot, only losing out to Tidball. Home hero Daisy Steward claimed Kesgrave’s first podium of the weekend, winning her last three rides to secure the bronze medal.

Under-13 boys

Stockport’s Michael Preston powered to victory with a 20 point maximum in the under 13 boys category. Exeter’s Owen Tidball came close with 19, only losing out to Preston, with Max Evans of Astley and Tyldesley, who was in contention until meeting Tidball and Preston later on in the meeting.

Under-13 girls

In the under-13 girls category at Great Blakenham, it was Swindon’s Alice Neighbour who went through the card unbeaten.

Coventry’s Bailie Phillips finished second on 19 points, losing out only to Neighbour in heat two. Local girl Gemma Hill of Ipswich claimed the last podium spot with 18 points.

Under-16 boys

Brandon Whetton dominated the under-16 boys final, racing away to a 20 point maximum.

The Wednesfield rider, who finished second in the under-19s the day before, had too much fire power for his competitors as he defended his title.

Ipswich’s Pierce Bacon secured second spot with an impressive display, while Carl Parfitt of Wednesfield held off the challenge from Ipswich’s Ben Harvey to take third in a run off.

Under-19 boys

Charlie Rumbold was in fine form at Great Blakenham on Sunday night, as he fought his way to victory to claim the gold for the first time.

It looked like Rumbold’s chance may have gone after a third in his second ride, but he made no mistake in his remaining three to take the title on 18 points.

It was a thrilling fixture, with Brandon Whetton coming close but eventually finishing on 17 in second. Ipswich’s Matt Hill suffered a bad injury after a high speed tangle down the back straight, which required a trip to hospital with stitches, ruling him out for the remainder of the meeting.

The evening was brought to a close in scintillating style, with a super close run off between Adam Watson and Lee Kemp. Kemp threw the kitchen sink at the Sheffield rider, but Watson held firm to take the final rostrum place.

Over 40s

Northumbria and Sheffield’s Gavin Parr finally got on the top spot of the rostrum after a few years of just missing out.

Parr needed a second place in his final ride and having found himself at the back, battled his way forwards, sitting behind Mark Whitehead to secure the title. World vets champion Craig Marchant was second, losing out only to Parr and Steve Harris. The latter secured third place after a run off with Mark Whitehead.

Over 50s

Having won his first four rides, Lee Lawrence knew all he needed was a second place to secure the title in his final race and he got just that behind Bob Prince, giving him a final score of 19 and the title.

Second place was up for grabs with Steve Hodgkinson and Paul Timms both tied on 14 points going into their final ride. Dave Murphy headed home Timms and Hodgkinson made no mistake to win against Steve Woodroof and Gary Lawrence to claim the second spot.

Timms had to get revenge on Murphy in a third place run off, which he duly did from the inside grids, however Murphy will still be pleased with his performance having only just come back from a long injury lay off.

Over 60s

East London’s Les Stevens beat Birmingham’s Bob Prince off grid for in a run off for the Over 60s title at Great Blakenham on Saturday night. Exeter’s Andrew Collett was able to hold off Wednesfield’s Mick Aris in a run off for third. Sadly, with only six riders in the competition, all but two races involved only two riders.