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MATCH REPORTS
27/28 APRIL
DEPLETED MONARCHS NO MATCH FOR HIGH FLYING
Birmingham probably had a stronger line-up of absentees from their numerically large Elite squad than actually took to the track at Harbourside Park, but full credit to them for battling away when the writing was on the wall at an early stage as far as the destiny of the league points was concerned.
Home skipper Greg Gluchowski comfortably outpaced Chris Timms in the opening race with Arron Morgan tucked in for third and when Steve Harris and Leyton Glover followed up with the first of two 7-3's in heat two, things were already beginning to look ominous. Tom Reed was uncharacteristically cast adrift at the back in heat three after a mix-up with his partner and the Midlanders shared heat four to keep the gap at six points.
The home grown Morgan/Smith pairing outpaced Mark Winwood and Kieren Jones who received an exclusion for excessive slowing in heat five. Three more heat wins to the hosts gave them a seemingly invincible 19 point lead but there was another glimmer of hope for Birmingham leading up to the break when Michel Nowak picked up a tapes exclusion giving Timms and his partner Nicky Evans a comfortable 7-2 over Wil Bristowe.
Having been pegged back to 51-37 at the interval, the Seaview boys banged in two quick 7-3's to ease back into their comfort zone before Gluchowski reeled off his fourth straight race win in heat 12. Thomas Reed executed an exquisite pass on Kieren Jones to join his partner for a 7-3 in heat 13 matched by a fine ride from Aaron Smith two heats later when he skillfully got ahead of Chris Timms and withstood a robust attempt at an inside pass to hold on to the four points.
Heat 18. Chris Timms leads moments before Thomas Reed burst through to take the race win.
Poole 106 Greg Gluchowski 16, Thomas Reed 15, Steve Harris 14, Arron Morgan 13, Leyton Glover 13, Michel Nowak 13, Aaron Smith 12, Wil Bristowe 7, Oli Sidwick 3 Birmingham 71 Nicky Evans 14, David Ball 13, Chris Timms 13, Kieren Jones 8, Mark Winwood 8, Joe Kemp 6, Paul Timms 5, Steve Hodgkinson 4 Referee: Robin Spicer (Dorset)
Combination Poole 80 Oli Sidwick 13, Hayden Chant 12, Kyran Yeatman 11, Dave Murphy 11, Chris Shylock 10, Niall Instone 9, Jay Briggs 8, Callum Albin 6 Birmingham 54 Joe Kemp 12, Lee Kemp 10, Steve Hodgkinson 8, Phil Widdas 7, Richard Stephenson 7, Ryan Winwood 5.
Well the Sheffield v Horspath Elite League match wasn't pretty at times but at the end of the day it was job done for the home side and a notable scalp taken. A strong wind blew throughout the match which turned the track surface into a dust bowl despite the continuous watering before the meeting began.
The match started well enough for the Stars, a Matt Smith/Jamie Ball 6-4 over Lewis Bates and Errol Thaw, then a shared heat with Ryan Hoyland taking the win but the impressive Jack Harrold and Mark Boaler relegating Andy Angell to the back.
When Horspath took a 6-4 in the next heat the alarm bells began to ring and the Sheffield side looked ill at ease and seemed to be making a series of basic errors. Heat five up pops the unflappable Jono Birks with the equally relaxed Jamie Ball who promptly stop the rot with 7-3 maximum, seemingly without breaking into a sweat. The euphoria was short lived though as Horspath hit back with maximum of their own in the very next heat and it was back to square one.
With the visitors now five points up, a tactical ride for Birks who was in the number eight position was called for and the resulting 6-4 from Ball and Birks over Nowacki and Carmichael narrowed the gap, a storming ride from Jamie Ball the only rider to beat World Champion Nowacki all day. Two more shared heats and the interval arrived with Horspath on 46 to Sheffield's 43.
What ever was said in the half time team talk obviously had the desired effect because suddenly Sheffield started to race like a team. A Ryan Hoyland tape exclusion although less then ideal was only a minor blip as Carmichael was excluded for a racing incident which left Angell sprawled on the track, The resulting rerun saw Nowacki execute a fine pass to take a 4-3 heat advantage.
Hopes of a Sheffield 7-3 suddenly looked unlikely as Birks missed his pedal at the start and trailed into the first bend in fourth place, Angell was away for the win and Birks passed Munden to set up a 6-4 which became a 6-3 as Munden was promptly excluded for a remark he made to referee Bob Prince. This seemed to be the catalyst for Horspath to self destruct as Thaw was excluded in the next heat which gave another heat advantage to Sheffield after the third rerun of heat 16.
A shared heat 17 with Zareeba coming in for an off colour Matt Smith meant Sheffield could not lose the match, A Horspath 7-3 in the final race would be a draw. Angell and Idsizorek for Sheffield, Bates and Nowacki for Horspath. Bates makes the gate followed by Angell with Nowacki in third, Idsizorek buzzing around Nowacki back wheel.
For the visitors Jack Harrold and Mark Boaler were in fine form and Lukasz Nowacki was a class act. Sheffield Jamie Ball was simply outstanding, Andy Angell reliable as ever and super sub Jono Birks was err...Jono Birks! The rest of the Sheffield lads pulled together when it mattered, as for Horspath they will be hoping for a swift return of their missing riders.
Sheffield 88 Jamie Ball 16, Andy Angell 15, Jono Birks 14, Adam Stephenson 11, Ryan Hoyland 11, Damien Zareeba 8, Pawel Idziorek 7, Matt Smith 6. Aiden Owen, Jake Read dnr Horspath 86 Lukas Nowacki 19, Jack Harrold 17, Mark Boaler 14, Lewis Bates 9, Mark Carmichael 8, Errol Thaw 8, Simon Munden 8, Richard Harrison 3, Zac Payne dnr, Jordan Richardson dnr
PENALTY POINTS PROVE COSTLY - posted 29 April 2013
With Horspath giving away 13 penalty points as Simon Munden and Richard Harrison doubled up it was always an uphill battle, Sheffield fielded a separate eight riders knowing that a share of the heats was all that was needed. Having said that, it was a very entertaining Combination fixture with some great battles between the riders.
For Sheffield Richard Hudson powered his way to a 16 point maximum, lowering the colours of both Harrison and Munden in the process. He received great support from Zach Smurthwaite who is becoming a very powerful gater. Jake Read, Aiden Owen and Matt Parrott all contributed to some fine racing and were always in the thick of the action.
Spare a thought for Kyle Holland whose all action style brought him little reward today. He featured in some great races but ended up on the deck or in the fence, sometimes being helped there by one of his opponents!
Simon Munden scored well and received solid support from Wayne Clarke, Richard Harrison and Zac Payne however as mentioned earlier those penalty points were the killer.
Sheffield 77 Richard Hudson 16, Jake Read 12, Zach Smurthwaite 12, Aiden Owen 9, Matt Parrott 7, Kyle Holland 5, Mick Knowles 2, Vicki Brown 1, plus 13 penalty points Horspath 66 Simon Munden 13, Zac Payne 13, Wayne Clarke 12, Jordan Richardson 11, Richard Harrison 11, George Horsley 6 EAST LONDON FIELD FULL STRENGTH SQUAD - posted 29 April 2013
East London. Back: Nick Gunkel, Kevin Smith, Denis Hubble, Steve Woodruff, Adam Burt, Steve Myhill. Front: Dave Hughes, Les Stevens.
Coventry. Back: Lee Marsh (manager), Rob McGuire, Mason Phillips, Dave Frith, Konrad Pietek, Joe McLaughlin, Liam McGuire. Front: Shaun Reynolds, Josh Marsh.
BIRMINGHAM WELL BEATEN AT POOLE - posted 29 April 2013
Birmingham Monarchs travelled to Poole looking to put points on the board whilst the home side looked to carry on the unbeaten home Elite record and also make it two from two this season. Monarchs were missing Millward due to injury and Parrish and Harper to other commitments. Poole had Steve Harris, Greg Gluchowski and Thomas Reed in their ranks as well as a full 1-10 of top class riders.
Heat five saw the two Aaron¡¯s of Smith and Morgan get a 7-3 as Jones was excluded at the tapes which then gave the Dorset side a 30-19 lead. Heat six saw great passing by Reed and Nowak to make a 6-4 as Nicky Evans slipped in between the Poole boys. Heat eight saw Steve Harris win his second race as it has to be re-started due to a tangle with Joe Kemp and Leyton Glover. Heat nine saw Nowak then excluded at the tapes for movement as Evans and Chris Timms did some great team riding to get their first 7-3 and make it 51-37 at the interval.
Heat 10 and 11 saw Poole stamp their authority on the meeting with 7-3¡äs as Dave Ball tried to find a way past as he tried every line on the Harbourside Park track. Birmingham could only share two more heats and took a advantage in the final as Poole turned the screw to win the meeting 106-71.
Poole 106 Greg Gluchowski 16, Thomas Reed 15, Steve Harris 14, Arron Morgan 13, Leyton Glover 13, Michel Nowak 13, Aaron Smith 12, Wil Bristowe 7, Oli Sidwick 3 Birmingham 71 Nicky Evans 14, David Ball 13, Chris Timms 13, Kieren Jones 8, Mark Winwood 8, Joe Kemp 6, Paul Timms 5, Steve Hodgkinson 4 Referee: Robin Spicer (Dorset)
In the Combination fixture Poole won as Birmingham gave penalty points away as Hodgkinson and Joe Kemp came in to make the numbers.The Kemp brothers finished top scorer for Birmingham with Steve Hodgkinson also picking up nine deserved points.
Combination Poole 80 Oli Sidwick 13, Hayden Chant 12, Kyran Yeatman 11, Dave Murphy 11, Chris Shylock 10, Niall Instone 9, Jay Briggs 8, Callum Albin 6 Birmingham 54 Joe Kemp 12, Lee Kemp 10, Steve Hodgkinson 8, Phil Widdas 7, Richard Stephenson 7, Ryan Winwood 5.
The Elite League fixture between Wednesfield and Ipswich started with a first heat 6-4 win for the home side under the watchful eye of official referee Mike Legge, the race win going to Lee Aris with Eagles¡¯ Adam Peck close behind in second.
The next heat the points were shared with a race win for Aces¡¯ Mark Griffiths holding off the attentions of Eagles¡¯ Peck and Mower. Heat five saw the first of three exclusions for the away team with Chris Osborne moving at the start giving Aces a 7-2 from Marchant and Aris.
The Aces moved further ahead in the next heat when Lee Aris held off the challenge of lively Josh Brooke but Brooke¡¯s partner Jamie Chittock was excluded for use of the leg giving Ricki Johnson the third place. The Aces now held a commanding 13 points lead.
After the interval Wednesfield chalked up another 6-4 from Mould and Marchant against the Osborne brothers. Paul Heard won the next heat holding off the challenge of Josh Brooke and Chittock with Haddock finding it hard to find a way past the Eagles¡¯ pairing
A ray of light for the Eagles in the next when Lewis Roberts gained his second race win of the day against the experienced Lee Aris with backing from Lewis Osborne giving the away team their second 6-4 of the meeting. But then the home team struck back with a killer 7-3 from Mould and Jewkes against Peck and Rumbold.
Heat 14 saw the visitors get another exclusion when Chris Osborne forced Griffiths off the outer boundary of the track with Paul Heard way ahead in the lead for the Aces Jamie Chittock picking up the second spot giving the Aces another 6-3 win.
Wednesfield 100 Ben Mould 20, Paul Heard 19, Lee Aris 15, Chris Jewkes 13, Craig Marchant 11, Mark Griffiths 10, Ricky Johnson 8, Tom Haddock 3, Troy Allen 1 Ipswich 75 Josh Brooke 16, Lewis Roberts 15, Adam Peck 12, Jamie Chittock 9, Lewis Osborne 7, Charlie Rumbold 7, Leon Mower 6, Chris Osborne 3, Richard Fellgett dnr, Knights dnr
Elite League Match Race ¨C Paul Heard (holder) beat Josh Brooke (challenger)
The Combination Match was won by the visitors 55-70 but the Aces youngsters, aided by a couple of vets Mick Aris and Dave Meanley, put up a strong challenge against a very useful looking Ipswich team brimming with their own grown talented youngsters. Dan Knight and Ashley Hill top scored for the Eagles with some great rides from the Wednesfield youngsters Troy Allen and Harry Everiss.
Wednesfield 55 Troy Allen 12, Dave Meanley 10, Harry Everiss 9, Mick Aris 6, Haydn Rowley 6, Tom Bewick 6, Sam Parr 4, Connor Dyke 2 Ipswich 70 Dan Knight 16, Ashley Hill 14, Will Clark 12, Richard Felgett 11, Matt Hill 8, Frazer Harris 3, Jordan Stant 3, Lauren Jacobs 3
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