EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012

EUROPEAN NATIONS JUNIOR CUP

IMPRESSIVE POLAND EASE TO JUNIOR GOLD – posted 7 August 2012

 

Poland has traditionally dominated the European Nations junior team championships.  Since the tournament was inaugurated in 1996, Poland have won seven of the eight stagings. Their only hiccup came ten years ago, virtually to the day, when England’s Darren Slater beat Krystof Kowalski in a tie-break at Sandwell after both country’s had finished level on 80 points.

 

So it was with some trepidation that the home countries lined-up against the physically stronger Poles in this year’s version at Great Blakenham.  England’s hopes of causing an upset soared in the opening heat when Ricki Johnson caught Lukasz Marchlewski ‘showboating’.  As the Polish number one lifted his wheel going over the start line third time round, Johnson powered under the surprised Marchlewski to take the chequered flag and noisy appreciation from the crowd.

 

Unfortunately the early jubilation was short-lived.  Polish riders won six of the first eight heats but surprisingly the scores at the interval stood at Poole 26, England 26, Wales 16 and Ireland 7.  In any fours event, exclusions can prove costly. After a shocking lack of concentration in his opening race, Marchlewski was disqualified in race five after he turned virtually through 90 degrees to block Jack Harrold's path..  The Polish management team were least pleased.  Marchlewski wasn’t either – he was substituted in his remaining two rides.

 

An exclusion to Scott Millward cost England points in the third quarter but the home nation hung on to the Poles like determined leaches.  With the final set of four races remaining, the scores stood at Poland 35, England 34, Wales 29 and Ireland 15.  Poland finished with inside games, so the result looked academic – and so it proved.  Poland won all four races, easing to victory on 51 points ahead of England (44), Wales (38) and Ireland (19).

 

Poland’s three-pronged attack of Bartosz Grabowski, Patryk Piechota and Adam Bozejewicz proved too strong for the opposition although Aaron Morgan did manage to lower the colours of Grabowski in race 12, the Pole’s only defeat of the afternoon.

 

Johnson and Morgan rode well for Young England, winning four races between them but they lacked any real support, at least support strong enough to prise the junior cup from Poland.  All too often the English youngsters were bullied out of the first turn as the physically stronger Poles muscled their way to the front.

 

After a slow start, Wales came into their own after the break.  They quickly closed the gap on the front-runners by winning three of their four inside grids but couldn’t sustain the momentum, finally finishing six points shy of England, a creditable performance from the boys from the valleys and one that will please manager Nicky Evans. 
















The Red Dragons contested every race to the bitter end and featured in some close finishes (pictured above).  In Jack Harrold, Wales have not only have a popular crowd-pleaser but also a real prospect for the future.  

 

In contrast, Irish manager Gary Colby will be disappointed with his team’s performance.  Ireland only managed to field three riders.  If that wasn’t bad enough,  Ipswich-based riders Charlie Roberts and Charlie Rumbold were running lukewarm, managing just two seconds from their ten starts. Ireland finished on 19 points, a modest return even from three riders.

 

Poland’s perpetual success in this competition is their ability to piece together a team with lots of quality and few weaknesses. Poland has an enormous wealth of talent coming through their ranks.  In contrast the home nations are rebuilding after the glory days of Heard, Mould and Reed.  Winning the Euro Junior in the next few years still looks a challenging prospect.   

Junior European Nations Cup

Poland 51

Bartosz Grabowski 15, Patryk Piechota 14, Adam Bozejewicz 13, Arkadiusk Szymanski 6, Lukasz Marchlewski 3

England 44

Aaron Morgan 14, Ricki Johnson 13, Scott Millward 9, Leyton Glover 5, Ashley Hill 3

Wales 38

Jack Harrold 13, Joe Lewis 10, Dan Bock 8, Dean Bonici 7

Ireland 19

Charlie Rumbold 7, Lewis Roberts 6, Patrick Kruger 6

Referee: Michal Bazelak (Poland)