Report: British Youth and Junior League Round 4
Saturday 25th September 2010, East Newport | Report and Images: Andy Whitehouse
Saturday 25th September saw the culmination of 2010 Wosskow Brown British Youth Junior league.Now in its twelve year,the league was formed to encourage youngsters to 'have a go' at cycle speedway and has grown year on year,resulting in a league that has proved so popular it sees racing start at twelve noon and continue well into the night,usually finishing around 10.30pm.Age categories start at under 8s through to under 18s and a separate competition for the girls.
Four regional(Midland,North,South East and South West) competitions are held over four Saturdays during the early part of the year before moving onto four national rounds, this year hosted by Astley and Tyldesley,Great Blakenham,Wednesfield and the fourth and final round at East Newport.
UNDER 8s
The under 8s were the first age group out on the shale opening up the day's events at midday.With close racing from the youngsters,the ever growing crowd were going to be in for a excellent days cycle speedway.Great Blakenham's Lewis Brinkoff took the 2010 Under 8 title with solid riding throughout both the regional and the national rounds finishing his campaign on 193 points,17 points ahead of Jack Currell of Horspath and 32 points to the good over third placed rider Max Evans of Astley and Tydesley.
UNDER 10s
Exeter's Will Tidball took the honours in the under 10 age group with 180 points,a sweet victory for the youngster who rode solidly all season holding off the British National Under 10 Champion George Horsley of Horspath into runner up spot 9 points adrift.Both riders have ridden shoulder to shoulder all year and given the crowds some of the tightest battles they have seen on the shale.Third and fourth positions were taken by Pierce Bacon and Ollie Knight respectively both up and coming Kesgrave riders who should give Tidball and Horsley a run for the top two steps of the podium in the 2011 season.
UNDER 12s
Exeter were in winning ways again in the Under 12s age group with James Robinson taking the honours with a season's tally of 172 points.Lee Kemp of Bretford and Ross Knight of Kesgrave both finished the 2010 campaign 8 points adrift on 166 points but in the run-off it was Kemp who took the heat win and the runner up spot.Astley and Tydesley youngster Adam Phillips came in fourth overall with 161 points,missing the first national round and probably a crack at the championship title.
UNDER 14s
East Newport's Louis Harvey took the Under 14s title with a commanding 2010 campaign finishing on 185 points and winning the title on his home track made the victory even more special for the youngster.Poole's Matt Mildon proved a worthy runner up with 167 points holding off East Park's Liam Johnson-Rich into third spot by 11 points.Matt Haddock of Sandwell took fourth spot with 135 points,his campaign trailing off towards the end of the season.
UNDER 16s
The Under 16s was a four way tussle between Matt Smith and Scott Millward of Sandwell and Poole pairing of Aaron Morgan and Leyton Glover,only twelve points separated the top four riders on the final standings with Matt Smith being the most consistent during the year and taking the top spot with 164 points from second place Scott Millward by a mere three points.Morgan and Glover finished their campaign in third and fourth place respectively.
UNDER 18s
Luke Draisey was far and away the most dominant rider in the under 18s category.With his title wrapped up in the previous round the Wednesfield rider just had to turn up and ride his races to lift the trophy.The runner up spot was to be a more interesting affair with both East Newport's Aaron Hughes and Hetherset's Dan Chambers both ending their campaigns on 133 points and resulting in the second championship run off of the 2010 championships.Hughes' knowledge of his home track was put to good use and he crossed the line to take the run-off and second place overall.
GIRLS
Girls racing has improved year on year and the 2010 championship was to prove an enthralling competition.Overall winner was Tiff Collins of Hetherset who rode consistently all season and barring any accidents was assured of the girls title going into the final round.Second and third place went to Wednesfield pairing Charlie Ellits and Reanna Brindley respectively who have improved dramatically over the 2010 season and both rode well to take home the silverware.Fourth place Laura Watson of Sheffield ended her year in fourth spot,two points adrift of the third step and could have been in with a shout at a podium place if she had not missed the second national round.
Related: 2010 BYJL Final Standings
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