Cycle Speedway Round-Up
Week-ending 4 Oct 2009
Images: Great Blakenham v Norwich
Brian Barnett has kindly sent us in a selection of shots from the Great Blakenham v Norwich clash. For more of Brian's shots, visit www.cyclespeedwayphotos.co.uk
Horspath v Birmingham
Premier League - Report 1: John Heard
To quote the Horspath programme "the fact that Birmingham have a very powerful line-up Team manager Robyn (Carter) has decided to throw everything plus the kitchen sink into getting the right result this afternoon". This meant making peace with Mike Morgans and also swelling the coffers of EasyJet by flying in a couple of World Class Poles for the afternoon!
Birmingham started well with a win for Chris Timms off the inside grid over Dulinski and with Gary Pearce riding a tactical race for 3rd place the Monarchs led 6-4. Then Horspath put all of their home track advantage to gain 2 7-3's and a 6-4 in the next 3 heats to establish an early 24-16 lead. Chris Timms won his 2nd race for a drawn heat and then Birmingham had the opportunity to pull some points back when Mike Morgans moved off the inside grid but Mark Boaler made a terrific start in the re-run to limit the damage to a 4-5.. Marcus Wadhams became the 2nd Birmingham winner in heat 5 but with Nathan Groves at the back it was another drawn heat .
Heat 8 was a very interesting start - Chris Timms off two hit the bend first only to be overtaken by Binkowskis front wheel and forks - unfortunately for the Horspath rider the rest of his bike (and him) was still at the start - 6-4 Birmingham, running score 41-37. 3 draw heats followed until heat 12 whe Dulinski off one moved at the start leaving Dave Carmichael sandwiched between Lewis Bates and reserve replacement Paul Heard. Paul flew from the start, Lewis kept Dave back and all of a sudden from coasting to vistory Horspath were behind by a point.
They reversed that advantage in the next heat when Chris Timms fell when challenging Boaler for the lead - this was then extended when Nathan Groves moved at the start in heat 14 leaving Russ Evans marooned on grid 4 and the inevitable 7-2 occurred - was the match slipping away from Birmingham? Unbelieveably the 7-2 was reversed in the next race when Steve Harris snapped his chain as the gates rose and Paul Heard and Marcus Wadhams raced away from Szmczak to make the score 73-72 to the home side.
Heat 16 was drawn with Dulinski winning from Pearce and Bates although Morgans was very lucky to get his point for last place as the ram on Bates entering the last bend was seen by all apart from referee Pete Dalley. Heat 17 was just as entertaining with Dulinski this time excluded for ramming Dominic Rycharski and Birmingham gaining a 6-4 for a two point lead into the last race. Horspath had top two Boaler and Harris off the ins and Birmingham replaced Nathan Groves with Paul Heard to partner Chris Timms. The first turn was crucial and the experience of the home riders shone through as Boaler rode an excellent first turn to outfox the two young Monarchs and join Steve Harris at the front for an amazing 7-3 and victory by two points.
Horspath 88: Mark Boaler 18+2, Mark Carmichael 14, Steve Harris 13+1, Dulinski 13, Binkowski 9+2, Mike Morgans 9+1, Dave Carmichael 7+1, Matty Szmczak5+1
Birmingham 86.: Marcus Wadhams 16+1, Chris Timms 15, Paul Heard 14, Gary Pearce 13, Lewis Bates 10+4, Dominic Rychardski 8, Russ Evans 6, Nathan Groves 4
Premier Combination - With Horspath being such an unusual track this was never going to be an easy victory for the more experienced Birmingham side - especially as Horspath tracked home track expert Wayne Hutt at number 1. He duely went out and won the first heat however Monarchs took the minor places for a drawn heat - Paul Timms fell when leading heat two and another drawn heat followed. Birmingham edged ahead in heat 3 when Mark Winwood got ahead of the Clarke brothers and Phil Widdas rode a good first lap to gain the third place. Heat 4 never looked like it was going to end. There were 4 or 5 re-starts with Matty Coulter of Horspath seeming to hit the deck more often than most - although Mark Fletcher was running him close! After all of that it eventually ended up 5-5 with Tom Sensicall riding an excellent race to keep Hutt behind him.Over the next few heats Birmingham extended thier lead with good race wins from Andy James, Mark Winwood and Mark Fletcher. Winwood & Widdas gained a 7-3 in heat 9 to virtually sew up the match and then team manager Widdas decided to give rides to reserves Adam Lamb and debutant Pete Bourgeois. Petes first ride was going OK until he got out of shape on the first turn and ended up being excluded from his first ever race for ramming - he didn't even know the rule existed!! However in trues spirit he got up, dusted himself down and went out in the next race to gain his first ever race win - well done Pete.
Horspath 58: Wayne Hutt 13+1, Wayne Clarke 11, Lee Clarke 9+1, Matty Coulter 7+2, Rachel Edge 6, Jack Smith 5, Zac Payne 4, Jordan Richardson 3+1
Birmingham 71: Mark Winwood 14+1, Tom Sensicall 13+2, Andy James 11+1, Paul Timms 10, Phil Widdas 8+1, Mark Fletcher 8, Pete Bourgeois 4, Adam Lamb 3
Report 2: Geoff Gamage
When the British Premier League was envisaged in whatever project with its secondary licences and international stars showcasing the sport this was the type of match they were thinking of two powerful teams going tyremark to tyremark in a thriller of Hitchcock proportions with the local super heroes coming good in the end! Yes another heartstopper at The Village a fantastic match well refereed by Pete Dalley.
Both teams at top strength, Hammers paying the powerful Monarchs line up utmost respect with both Rafal Dulinski and Premek Binkowski on duty, first blood to the visitors as Chris Timms took the flag with Garry Pearce third a 6-4, Hammers hit back as Steve Harris / Binkowski notched a 7-3, a brilliant gate from Mike Morgans saw him and Mark Boaler clear Marcus Wadhams for another 7-3, Mark and Dave Carmichael combined for a 6-4 Hammers eight up, gate exclusion for grid 1 Morgans in the next with Boaler taking the re-run 5-4 to Monarchs, heat 7 Wadhams who was to go unbeaten in his remaining heats took a drawn heat.
Disaster struck Binkowski off one with his handlebars, frame and forks and front wheel all coming adrift resulting in a 6-3 as the Polish Ace was left at the start! Paul heard took a drawn heat 9 interval score Hammers 46 Monarchs 42, Boaler took the drawn heat 10, with Wadhams likewise heat 11, Dulinski was excluded off one with a resultant 7-2 giving the Second City outfit a one point lead, Hammers struck back with a Boaler / Morgans 6-4, next heat a gate exclusion for Nathan Groves with Horspath taking a 7-2 via Mark Carmichael / Binkowski, another Hammers disaster as Harris shed a chain on gate 2 with Wadhams / Heard banging in a 7-2.
Dulinski took a drawn heat 16 though Morgans was left on the track after a clash with Bates,the penultimate heat Binkowski was excluded for crossing inside line resulting in a 6-3 to Birmingham who now led 83-81, yes another last heat decider for the Hammers, cue the dynamic duo, cue another remarkable 7-3 match winning ride from Harris / Boaler the latter pulling of a magical pass on the first bend having taken out Timms before turning back under Heard to join Harris and start more Hammer celebrations, they now need to win at Great Blakenham for the BPL title.
Two observations from this match Birmingham without doubt top contenders and twelve months on it could well be everyone chasing them for honours, the second is come the next blockbuster Gotham City Hollywood movie don't be surprised if certain cape crusaders are replaced by the Hammers last heat wonders!
Leicester v Wednesfield
Report: Tim Jarvis
Matches between these two clubs are normally hard fought affairs, and despite the final score line this meeting was no exception.
The Monarchs opened with a maximum form Newey and Nowacki over Jewkes and Cox but the Aces hit back in the next two heats to enter heat four all square. Another Maximum from Newey and Whitehead then put the home team into a lead they never looked like surrendering. Heat twelve saw Nowacki drop his only points to Terry Norman after the fast starting Griffiths held the Polish star at the back for nearly three laps, quite some feat around Slater Street!
Despite opening the second half with a 6-3 from Griffiths and Bentley over Marchant, after Stephenson was excluded by referee Bob Prince for crossing the white line (who had an excellent day in the middle) and claiming the inside grids, the Aces just couldn't muster enough heat winners to trouble the Monarchs.
Leicester 96 (L Nowacki 18, M Newey 16+1, D Pike 14, C Marchant 12, L Yelland 12, K Burns 11+1, M Whitehead 9, A Stephenson 4+1)
Wednesfield 82 (L Aris 16+1, T Norman 15, C Jewkes 14, M Griffiths 12, S Doherty 11, R Cox 8, S Bentley 4, D Peace 2)
Combination
Machine failures for Nick Whitehead (twice) and Mick Skinner could have cost the home side dearly, the match going down to a last heat decider. The aforementioned riders making amends for their mechanical gremlins by keeping Stu Bentley at the back for a share of the points and victory on the day.
Leicester 66+7 (73) (C Jarvis 16, M Skinner 14, S Whitehead 13+1)
Wednesfield 63 (D Peace 14, S Bentley 13, M Aris 11+Premier League
Sheffield v Poole
Report: Martin Gamble
Poole arrived at title chasing Sheffield missing several key riders but you would have never have guessed as the match unfolded. Whilst Sheffield were also misisng the likes of Jono Birks and suspended Pawel Kozlowski, Poole rattled the Stars with some determined racing.
As ever, the Graves' track and the Premier League produced much entertainment in a hard-ridden but very sporting fixture. Referee, Pete Ward, had a good match, sensibly allowing advantage to develop and rarely using his whistle. Indeed, apart from Andy Angell shedding a chain and getting lapped, there were no DQs.
A sensational Premier League debut from Poole youngster, Leyton Glover, who looked as if he'd been racing in the top tier for years, easily won him the "Man of the Match". Glover was able to out-gate and outwit most of the Sheffield team as Poole frustrated their hosts time and time again.
It wasn't until the final heat that the Stars sealed victory with a 1-2 from Dariusz Pilas and Andy Angell, but much credit must go to Poole and particularly Glover, for putting on a really good show. On another day, they might have won the fixture.
The win still keeps the Stars in the title hunt and guarantees at least runners-up spot in the 2009 Premier League but with Horspath travelling to Great Blakenham and Sheffield visiting Norwich, the Oxford side must be heavily odds-on to record the win that will guarantee them the title for the second time in three years.
SHEFFIELD 94: Lee Smith 15 (+ 1 assist), Piotr Jamrosczyk 10, Dariusz Pilas 17 (+1), Jamie Brown 6, Remi Burchardt 15 (+2), Andy Angell 14 (+1), Ryan Hoyland 13 (+2), Simon Gamble 4.
POOLE 85: Dave Murphy 3, Tom Collinge 15 (+1), Sam Hearn 12 (+1), Ben Mould 12 (+3), Ben Donahue 8, Tom Reed 16 (+1), Jake Williams 5 (+1), Leyton Glover 16 (+1)
Premier League Combination (subject to confirmation of penalty points)
SHEFFIELD (40+36 penalty points) = 76: Jamie Langton 9, Aiden Owen 3, Sandra Tamborska 7, Karolina Olczak 3, Kyle Brough 4, Jordan Gabbtas 5, Chris Bingham 6, William Gamble 3.
POOLE 90: Leyton Glover 15 (+1), Jake Williams 13 (+3), Sam Hearn 14, Matt Elston 17 (+3), Dave Murphy 12 (+4), Aaron Morgan 16.
Gt. Blakenham v Norwich
Premier League
Gt. Blakenham 86: M Szyszlyk 12, L Mower 13+1, A Peck 15+1, W Page 11+1, J Brooke 15+1, D Osborne 10, R Pyke 3, J Day 7,
Norwich 91: I Grange 16, J Wakefield 7+1, L Grange 16, G Solomon 12+1, R Hunt 4+1, D Solomon 14, B Copping 12+1, R Williamson 10+2
Combination
Gt. Blakenham 75 (67+8): W. Page 12, R Pyke 10, K Grimmer 6, D. Osborne 17+2, T Ashford 3+1, M Szyszlyk 11, J Day 8+1
Norwich 106 (62 + 44): L Conner 12, L Parker 10+1, J Colby 10, J Wakefield 14+1, D Johnson 11, A Barrett 5+1
Astley & Tyldesley Club Individual Championships
Report: Mike Hack
Astley & Tyldesley staged the 2009 Club Individual Championships at Gin Pit. Despite a heavy shower that interrupted the racing midway through the meeting, plenty of keen racing took place on a grippy race surface and an otherwise pleasant afternoon.
First up was the U-8s and U-10s event, raced as one match, but with scores counting separately. Adam Watson raced unbeaten to take the U-10s title, with Stefan Whitelegg runner-up and Jamie Sinclair third. Adam Turnbull lost only to Watson and Whitelegg, to take the U-8s title, one point ahead of Max Evans, with Kian Crane third and Tyler Koch fourth.
After a short break, the second match took place, featuring the U-13s, U-16s, U-19s and Open categories. Ben Dickenson raced unbeaten in this match, to take both the U-19s and Open categories. Luke Jamson lost only once, to finish runner-up in both categories, with Matthew Turnbull taking third place in the U-19s category. Laura Watson was the winner of the U-16s category. Joel Partington lost only to Dickenson and Jamson, to win the U-13s category and take third place in the Open category. Adam Watson finished runner-up in the U-13s category, with Max Evans third.
A pleasing feature was the large number of families present to witness a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, ridden in a great atmosphere.
Astley & Tyldesley Club Individual Championship results
U-8s: Adam Turnbull 14, Max Evans 13, Kian Crane 12, Tyler Koch 11.
U-10s: Adam Watson 16, Stefan Whitelegg 15, Jamie Sinclair 10.
U-13s: Joel Partington 14, Adam Watson 12, Max Evans 10, Tyler Koch 9, Jamie Sinclair 8.
U-16s: Laura Watson 13.
U-19s: Ben Dickenson 16, Luke Jamson 15, Matthew Turnbull 11.
Open: Ben Dickenson 16, Luke Jamson 15, Joel Partington 14, Laura Watson 13, Adam Watson 12, Matthew Turnbull 11, Max Evans 10, Tyler Koch 9, Jamie Sinclair 8.
Referee - Gary Nuttall.
Other Results
29/9 Hethersett U10 Club Championship
1 Oliver Forder-Wilcox 24
2 Olivia Nicholas 18
3 William Forder-Wilcox 12
