POOLE WIN UNDER-19 AFTER DRAMATIC TIE-BREAK - posted 25 April 2010

There was a dramatic finish to the British under-19 club championship at Ipswich.  After 16 thrilling races, defending champions Birmingham and Poole were tied at the top of the leaderboard with 45 points apiece, bringing the tie-break into play.  And what a short but memorable race of it proved to be.

Birmingham nominated Paul Heard and Poole picked Thomas Reed to contest the winner-takes-all race.  Reed won the toss for gate positions and elected to start from  grid two with Heard lining up in grid four.  Reed comfortably held the gate but Heard crowded him going into the first turn.  Then with a simply amazing manouvre, Heard switched lines and swept inside Reed going down the back straight.  As the riders powered in the third bend at breakneck speed, Heard took Reed into mid track and slammed his left foot down hard to hold position.  At that precise moment Reed tried to switch under Heard on the pits turn, clipped the Birmingham rider's back wheel and fell in a crumpled heap on the track.

Referee Dave Hunting had no hesitation in blowing his whistle, disqualifying Heard for obstruction.  It was a good call but one that clearly displeased the Birmingham rider who stormed from the track and then the pits.  To his credit, disappointed Heard returned minutes later to reappear on the track to shake Hunting's hand.  Meanwhile Poole were celebrating a deserved victory, their first in the under-19 team for six years.

Defending champions Birmingham made a near perfect start, taking three wins from the opening four races off the inside grid to quickly open up a five point lead.  Poole, now themselves off gate one, also won three of their four insides, leaving the scores at the interval Birmingham 24, Poole 23, Leicester 17 and Sandwell 15.

Poole's challenge suffered a bodyblow in heat nine when Thomas Reed, racing at tactical reserve, came in for Jake Williams but sensationally moved at the start was was promptly excluded.  But Poole would not be denied and inspired by a brilliant win by Leyton Glover and an equally important four points from Sam Hearn, managed a miraculous damage-limitation exercise to reduce the deficit to one point with four races remaining.

The smart money was still on Birmingham, especially as they were inside Poole in the final four races. With the tension at fever-pitch referee Hunting was forced to stop heat 14 before calling together Paul Heard and Jack Williams to give them a stiff talking to.  Just as Birmingham looked set to retain their title, Robbie Venson fell in the penultimate race when in second position, a critical error that gifted Poole the overall lead for the first time - Poole on 42 Birmingham 41.

Dependable Ben Mould had little trouble in seeing off the challenge on Thomas Reed in the final race to square the match and set up that dramatic tie-break (pictured above).

Poole and Birmingham were well matched throughout.  All five Poole riders won races, including Leyton Glover who win the Rider of the Tournament Award.  In the final analysis, the slip by Robbie Venson when well placed two races from the end proved crucial.  While never really challenging for top honours, Sandwell and Leicester contributed to an absorbing final.  Lee Smith provided one of the highlights of the day when he brilliantly passed Ben Mould in heat nine, an all-star race also featuring the winner Carl Jarvis and Thomas Reed. 

Leicester's hopes were dashed before a wheel was turned in competition.  In the pre-match parade, Amy Crouch crashed into an opponent's back wheel on the start grid and suffered a nasty looking fall that all but ruled her out of the final.

British Under-19 Club Championship Final
Poole 45
Sam Hearn 13, Thomas Reed 10, Aaron Morgan 8, Jake Williams 8, Leyton Glover 6
Birmingham 45
Paul Heard 13, Ben Mould 12, Nathan Groves 12, Robbie Venson 8
Sandwell 37
Lee Smith 12, Matt Smith 11, Scott Millward 10, Tom Haddock 4, Jim Perker dnr
Leicester 31
Carl Jarvis 13, Adam Stephenson 9, Matt Hartshorn 5, Charlie Cooper 3, Amy Crouch 1
Referee: Dave Hunting (Suffolk)

Semi Final A
Sandwell 50
Scott Millward 14, Lee Smith 14, Matt Smith 9, Jim Palmer 7, Tom Haddock 6
Leicester 42
Adam Stephenson 16, Carl Jarvis 14, Matt Hartson 8, Charlie Cooper 2, Amy Crouch 2
Norwich 40
Dan Osborne 12, George Solomon 11, Laim Parker 9, Josh Colby 8
Horspath 33
Mark Carmichael 12, Matt Coulter 6, Jack Smith 6, Wayne Clarke 5, Lee Clarke 4
Sheffield 32
Jamie Brown 10, Ben Dickenson 8, Luke Jamson 6, Jamie Langton 5, Aiden Owen 2
Referee: Dave Hunting (Suffolk)

Semi Final B
Poole 51
Sam Hearn 13, Thomas Reed 11, Leyton Glover 10, Aaron Morgan 9, Jake Williams 8
Birmingham 47
Hethersett 41
Leon Wilde 11, Ben Collins 10, Dan Chambers 9, Phil Adams 9, Scott Grimes 2
Ipswich 33
Jamie Chittock 12, Jordan Stant 7, Marcus Szyszlyk 7, Ashley Hill 5, Lewis Roberts 2
Wednesfield 25
Luke Draisley 11, Matt Turley 7, Charlie Ellitts 4, John Russell 3
Referee: Steve Copping (Suffolk)

UNDER-19 TEAMS HEAD FOR IPSWICH - posted 21 April 2010

This weekend will see cycle speedway's best young talent converge on Whitton Sports Centre, Ipswich for the Wosskow Brown British under-19’s club championships.  Ipswich cycle speedway club will be hosting the event on Saturday 24 April, in conjunction with Team Ipswich and British Cycling.  Ten teams will contest two semi-finals, the first starting at 11am and the second at 1pm.

The first semi-final looks the slightly easier round but it is still difficult to predict who will make it through to the final. Norwich will fancy their chances as their riders have ridden the Whitton track quite often and with local riders George Solomon and Daniel Osborne heading their team.  Along with in form Josh Colby and academy stars Kieran Parr and Liam Parker, they have a strong line-up.

Also looking to make the top two are Horspath, with Mark Carmichael current Welsh senior champion and member of the Hammers' Premier League team, Wayne and Lee Clarke, both regular regional league team members. Jack Smith is another local junior and regular first team regional league rider. Completing their line up will be 16-year-old Matt Coulter who races for the regional first team.

Sheffield expect to see both new signings, from Astley & Tyldesley  Luke Jamson and Ben Dickenson, in the side. Jamie Brown (pictured ), a regular in the Stars' Premier League, has matured into one of England's brightest prospects with a debut international call up for his country in 2009 coupled with a debut British Final appearance last August. Joel Elson has made a whirlwind start to his Stars' career.  The squad will be made up with Jamie Langton, Aiden Owen and Liam Webster who are all currently holding down heat leader status for the Sheffield Rockets Northern League squad.

Sandwell, will fancy their chances of taking the title and have a powerful spearhead with Tom Haddock who joined from Wednesfield late last year and Lee Smith, elder son of former Sandwell rider John Smith and the outstanding Sandwell discovery of recent seasons who has already been capped by England at junior level. Matt Smith, Lee’s younger brother, was outstanding in 2009 and has being promoted to the ranks of the first team this season. Scott Millward is very enthusiastic this season and continues to make steady progress. Jim Palmer has also made rapid progress and is learning fast and looks to have a good future ahead of him.

Finally in this semi are Leicester and we should expect to see  Adam Stephenson who had his first taste of Premier League racing last season and notched some high scores. Matt Hartshorn has improved considerably during the last twelve months. Matt is never to be under estimated and will enjoy the pacey Ipswich circuit. Multi British junior champion Carl Jarvis has struggled with fitness since an illness a couple of years ago, however he has shown signs of getting back to near his best since spending the winter racing in Australia.

The second semi final looks very tough starting with Birmingham fielding the current British under-19’s and under-16’s individual champions Paul Heard and Ben Mould respectively. Add to that British finalist Nathan Groves  and an addition to the squad, ex Leicester star Robbie Venson, means Birmingham will be fielding a very powerful top four. Likely to be riding at the reserve spot will be Adam Lamb.

In the same semi will be Poole with teenage sensation Aaron Morgan, along with Leyton Glover, Sam Hearn and Jake Williams who all gained valuable experience during the 2009 World Championship event in Australia. Spearheading the team will be dynamo Thomas Read and they too will fancy their chances of taking gold.

Hethersett with high-flying Dan Chambers has recently raced for Young England and Ben Collins current Norfolk U19 Champion with fast gater Phil Adams, an entertaining rider who has recently signed Premier League forms for Norwich.  Joining the squad will be Leon Wild, who also rode for Young England and toured Australia, following his transfer from Sheffield, and fast-improving youngster Scott Grimes. Wednesfield, with academy star Matt Turley, will as always give their best and will look to start off well to retain the overall Club Championship title. 

Ipswich will be hoping with local support and home track advantage they will be able to finish in the top two and make it through to the final. Academy riders Jamie Chittock and Jordan Stant have both shown good form from the start of the season and being regulars in Ipswich’s first team have benefited from the extra experience and will hopefully make it count on Saturday and leading the charge.  New signing Marcus Szyszlyk has been in tremendous early season form and will be boosted by his inclusion in the squad of Great British riders going to Poland later in the year. Completing the quintet are John Mason whose racing has been curtailed so far this season due to work commitments and young star Ashley Hill who will be taking the experience from last year's competition forward for a better result this season.