Report: Vets Individual Champs
22nd August 2009, Ipswich
Images: Andy Whitehouse
Report: Ivan Pyke
Above: Steve Harris (Horspath) gave a masterful display to retain the Paul Fryatt Builders' sponsored British Veterans Title.
Steve Harris (Horspath) gave a masterful display to retain the Paul Fryatt Builders' sponsored British Veterans Title. Scoring a faultless 20 point maximum Harris a master tactician knew two inside grids in his first two races would set him up nicely but a potential banana skin was heat 12 and an outside grid with three competent riders inside of him. A great gate and perfect first and second bend and Harris again hit the front and you could see as he punched his handle bars as he crossed the line what that win meant. Another fantastic gate in heat 14 saw win number four.
On what was a very well prepared tack with numerous passing manoeuvres in many of the heats the host club can fell very proud of the presentation of the meeting as they continue to be at the forefront of top British Competition promotions.
Mark Newey (Leicester) and Mark Griffiths (Wednesfield) were keeping the pressure on with Newey dropping his only point to Harris in his opening ride and Griffiths dropping points only to the two leading scorers both finishing their days racing with heat wins. So Harris knew a win in heat 19 and he would retain his title and this he did with ease to can a superlative performance.
Dennis Hubble (East London) got off to a perfect start but the one and only fall of the day cost him a rostrum place. Hubble made a blistering gate in heat one but things were fast and furious behind as Ian Lawrence (Filton) took 2nd place but referee Steve Copping could split Hethersett's Tim Grimes and Heckmondwike's Darren Kent for 3rd and 4th so 1½ awarded to both.
Local riders Gary Brown from Somersham gave a very good account of himself always in the thick of the action and scoring a credible 15 points. Dave Solomon (Ipswich) who went through knee surgery only months ago gave his all as always and scoring 14 points will definitely be back for more and hopefully fully fit. Great Blakenhams Paul Brinkhoff cut short his holiday to take part and finishing with nine points doesn't reflect the effort he put in.
Scorers:
S. Harris 20, M. Newey 19, M. Griffiths 18, D. Hubble 16, G Brown 15, D Solomon 14, Errol Thaw (Stoke) 14, Norman Venson (Filton) 13, D Kent 12½, I. Lawrence 12, Les Stevens (East London) 10, P Brinkhoff 9, Rob Haywood Poole) 9, Dave Chambers (Hethersett) 7, T. Grimes 6½, Mel Perkins (Hethersett) 5.
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