BRITISH INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP

SENIOR INDIVIDUAL

NO DOUBTING THOMAS – posted 27 August 2013

 

Tom Reed is the new British cycle speedway champion.  The 20 year old apprentice plumber from Exeter won the title in front of a massive crowd at the sun-kissed Hearsall Common track in Coventry.

 

Reed hardly put a wheel wrong as his delivered a stellar performance befitting the glitz and glamour final.  Utilising his power and speed from the gate with some simply breath-taking over-taking skills, Reed was a deserved winner.

 

First to congratulate him (pictured below) was two-times champion Andy Angell who was full of praise for his successor saying “Reed so deserved to win.  Embrace him people.  He’s a special guy.”

 

Reed took the title on 18 points, one ahead of four-times champion Lee Aris who beat Birmingham flyer Chris Timms in a tie-break after both riders scored 17 points.

 

It was a bitter-sweet performance from the Wednesfield super-star.  Virtually written off by some, Aris turned in a wonderful display, coming so close to winning that elusive fifth title to establish him as the best rider of all time.

 

Reed set out his stall from the off, beating former champions Lee Aris and Mark Boaler in his opening ride (pictured above).  Reed’s only difficult moment came in a thrilling heat five when he locked horns with European junior champion Ricki Johnson.  Going wheel-to-wheel Reed executed a magnificent pass on Johnson, only for the Wednesfield rider to return the compliment a lap later (pictured below).  This was cycle speedway at its very best, fast, fearless, frightening.  No wonder it had the crowd on its feet.  The applause was deafening. 

Reed consolidated his lead in heat ten with another powerhouse start from grid two before repeating the performance in race 15 when he left rival Chris Timms trailing in his wake, this time from barrier three.  It was one of those explosive starts that left the huge gallery gasping.

 

As one by one his nearest rivals faulted and slipped out of contention, Reed knew a second in his final race would be good enough for the title.  Untroubled and cool as a cucumber, the Exeter star comfortably slipped in behind Paul Heard.  As the yellow flag glistened in the sunlight, a slight smile came modestly across Reed’s face.  In the crowd, mother Debbie discreetly wiped a tear from her eye.  Dad Mark, a hard-nosed competitor in his racing days, bit his bottom lip.  Their son had done it!  Thomas Reed – British champion!  It sounded good!

 

Meanwhile there was still some racing left – the run-off for the silver and bronze medal.  If the announcer had it right, Chris Timms won the toss and elected to start from grid four which, if true, was a strange decision, leaving Lee Aris on two.  Under enormous pressure from Timms, Aris just managed to hold the gate, exiting the bend in the lead.  Like a sheepdog coralling sheep, Aris kept Timms on his back wheel for the entire race to seal a tremendous day’s racing. 

 

Aris performance exceeded many people’s expectation.  Leaner, fitter and more focussed than twelve months ago he rode brilliantly, even managing to hold both his inside gates in races 12 and 13 keeping him in touching distance of Reed.  He needed to win his last race to have any hope of lifting the title.  Try as he might, he just couldn’t find a way past Adam Stephenson.

 

Timms too had a great match.  He won two of his scheduled five races, consolidating with three second places, including a great scrap with Ben Mould in race six.  With the pressure on, he had to win his last race to earn, at least, a rostrum place.  Making no mistake, he beat Steve Harris easily to the first turn to set up the tie-break with Aris. 

Defending champion Andy Angell made a superb start to the meeting, fighting his way through from last to second place pumping the air with his first as he crossed the line behind Mark Carmichael in heat three.  That was followed by a convincing win from the inside grid in race seven but Angell’s dream of a third back-to-back title was shattered when he moved at the start of his third race.  Clearly devastated, Angell took refuge in the woods behind the pits (pictured above), words of comfort from Ian Brown providing little consolation.  It was no way to end his reign as national champion.

 

Former number one Mark Boaler had a tough opening race against Reed and Aris, finishing third, so he needed something extra special from his second outing to keep the momentum going.  Going for broke, the Oxford rider crashed and fell on the starting gate (pictured below) as Adam Stephenson ploughed into him from behind.  Quickly to his feet, Boaler’s hopes of a second title were dashed when his rear tyre blew with a loud bang and he failed to finish the race.

 

For much of the match Ben Mould (pictured below) was well in contention.  After three outings he led the field alongside Reed on 11 points but all his hopes evaporated in an unlucky heat 13 when he fell after trying to salvage more than a point at the back of the field behind Newport duo Mark Carmichael and Jack Harrold.

 

After dominating the national scene all season, pre-match favourite Paul Heard suffered a momentarily lapse of concentration which proved costly.  In a hotly contested heat 12 involving Aris, Timms and Johnson, Heard was sitting what appeared to be comfortably in second place when he drifted slightly wide on the home straight second time round.  Quick to seize the opportunity, Chris Timms powered inside him.  As the two riders battle round the pits bend in breakneck speed, something had to give.  Unable to control the corner, Heard slid off, his bike catapulting into the air together with his aspirations (pictured below).

 

Mark Carmichael, Adam Stephenson, Ricki Johnson and Neil Hollebon all managed one win apiece, scant reward for their crowd-pleasing contribution.  Steve Harris, veteran of 23 finals found this his toughest one yet.  At the other from the end of the spectrum, rookie Zac Payne, making his first appearance in a national final, also struggled.  Still, like so many before him, he’ll benefit from the experience and come back better and stronger next time.

 

Cycle speedway is a tough, uncompromising sport.  Never was this better illustrated than heat three when three riders came down on the first turn (pictured above) leaving veteran Mark Griffiths prostate on the track.  After on-track assistance from the medical team, Griffiths, at 46 the oldest rider ever to appear in a national final, walked gingerly to the pits where he received further treatment for a cut on the face (pictured below).  After a ten minute delay, Griffiths bravely took his place in the re-run but the fall certainly appeared to take the wind out of his sails for the remainder of the meeting.

 

Referee Bob Prince had an extemporary match.  Never afraid to call the toughest decisions, Prince handled the meeting with his usual mix of fairness, authority and common sense.

 

After all the pre-match hype and publicity Joe McLaughlin and Coventry cycle speedway club delivered what they promised - a massive crowd and a wonderful spectacle on a track befitting the British final.
 

 

In truth the Coventry track surrounds, with its elevated edges and adverse camber makes it difficult for spectators to see.  Being six deep in some places, that didn’t detract from their obvious involvement and enthusiasm.  The add-ons – the pre-ordered weather, mobile grandstand, giant illuminated scoreboard, stunning presentation of the national anthem, start girls, cheerleaders, brass band – even a gentleman dressed in a patriotic Union Jack waistcoat, added to the sense of occasion.

 

After Coventry 2103, Bury or Hull 2014 will be a hard act to follow – just as Tom Reed was!!!

British Men's Individual at Coventry 

Tom Reed (Exeter) 18, Lee Aris (Wednesfield) 17, Chris Timms (Birmingham) 17, Paul Heard (Wednesfield) 16, Mark Carmichael (Newport) 14, Mark Boaler (Horspath) 13, Andy Angell (Hull) 13, Ben Mould (Wednesfield) 13, Neil Hollebon (Hellingly) 12, Adam Stephenson (Hull) 11, Aaron Morgan (Poole) 11, Jack Harrold (Newport) 10, Ricki Johnson (Wednesfield) 10, Steve Harris (Poole) 8, Zac Payne (Horspath) 7, Mark Griffiths (Wednesfield) 7

Referee: Bob Prince (West Midlands)

EXCITING DAY AT LEICESTER – posted 25 August 2013

 

If Saturday’s rounds at Birmingham were somewhat predictable, the repecharges at Leicester were dramatic in the extreme, providing some simply breath-taking cycle speedway for the good-sized crowd. 
















In the first repecharge, Ricki Johnson and Mark Carmichael (pictured above) headed the field with 18 points respectively but the real drama was reserved for the third place run-off between Wednesfield veteran Mark Griffiths and national rookie Zac Payne.  The Hellingly rider won the all-important toss for starting positions and elected to start from gate two.  With a debut final beckoning, the Sussex youngster inexplicably slipped his pedal at the gate gifting the advantage to the vastly experienced Griffiths.

 

Despite immediately surrendering several lengths, Payne mounted as seemingly impossible chase, closing the gap on Griffiths with every pedal revolution.  However wily Griffith, the veterans of seven finals, seized the moment to become the oldest ever national finalist at the ripe old age of 46 years and five months.

 

Payne had to wait several hours to see if his 17 point tally was good enough to get him into his first final.  It was worth the wait as he became the sixteenth and final qualifier later in the day.

 

Unbeaten in his opening two rides, Ashley Hill was the early leader but he saw his chances of a top three finish plummet when he finished last  in a difficult all-star heat 12 featuring Carmichael, Payne and Johnson.

 

After picking up two wins and a second from his first three outing, Ipswich’s Jamie Chittock was the surprise leader after twelve races but like Hill he finished last in his fourth race.  It was a heart-breaking moment for the popular Suffolk rider as he went on to win his fifth and final race, finishing on 16 points, tantalisingly close to making the cut.

 

If the racing in the first repecharge was good, the second was simply electric.  Fast gating Adam Stephenson gave a virtuoso performance notching 19 points from his five starts, including an unbelievable pass round the outside of Neil Hollebon in heat fourteen.

 

Pumped up and primed, Newport’s Jack Harrold and Hellingly’s Neil Hollebon joined Stephenson as the automatic qualifiers but not before one of the most dramatic finishes you will ever see.  With Harrold and Hollebon in the clubhouse, Chris Jewkes, with an inside gate to come could have tied on 17 points.

At the first time of asking, he led the race but came under enormous pressure from Lewis Roberts.  As the riders hurtled into the pits second time round turn they collided and fell.  Referee Doughty adjudged that no one was to blame and called a restart.  Expecting a similar challenge, Jewkes moved at the start and received his marching orders, leaving Stephenson, Harrold and Hollebon the clear qualifiers.

 

Roberts was desperately unlucky not to make the cut.  He carefully craftfed 15 points which included an exclusion when he appeared to hit the back wheel of Troy Allen and fell heavily.  Writhing in agony and clutching his manhood, Roberts was not impressed with referee Doughty’s decision as he stormed back to his pits, his weekend’s work, but thankfully not his under-carriage, in tatters.

 

Birmingham’s Mark Winwood again caught the eye with his aggressive, all-action style and East Park Jack Hibberd also had a good match.

 

The full list of scores appears on our Results page.

OPENING DAY BRINGS FEW SURPRISES – posted 24 August 2013

 

Day one of the British men’s championship at Birmingham provided little in the way of surprises as cycle speedway’s elite firmly re-established themselves in the top echelon.

 

In the opening qualifier, defending champion Andy Angell, former number one Lee Aris (both pictured above) and hugely talented Tom Reed made the cut.  Any doubts that Angell would be track-rusty after his lay-off were quickly dismissed as the Hull rider, racing in the colours of Sheffield, showed why he is the number one with a couple of glorious passes.

 

Aris was also was impressive.  With a favourable draw on Monday, he could well take his fifth title to establish himself in the record books as the greatest rider of all time.

 

Ricki Johnson was unlucky not to make the cut at the first attempt.  Leading the field with 12 points from his first three rides, he finished third behind all-action Jamie Ball in his fourth outing and could make little impression on Lee Aris in his final race, missing the automatic final place by just one point.

 

In the second qualifier, former finalist Lewis Roberts showed why qualifying is so difficult after he was excluded in his first race for the “being the cause of the stoppage”.  He suffered another exclusion to add to a miserable day but he will certainly be in the mix at Leicester,  so a second successive final appearance cannot be ruled out. 

Ben Mould (pictured above), returning from suspension, looked a class act as did former national champion Mark Boaler who finished joint winners on 19 points.  They will be joined in the final by the unbelievable Steve Harris who used all his skill and experience to carve out a place in his 23rd final at the expense of Mark Carmichael who be beat in a sudden-death run-off after both riders had tied on 17 points (pictured below).

 

For a time, it looked as if another seasoned-campaigner, Craig Marchant, would snatch one of the automatic qualifying spots after scoring 10 out of 12 in his opening races but he trailed in last in his two remaining outings.

 

Qualifier three illustrated just why the ‘top three’ method is so harsh.  With 17 points being the lowest qualifying score, you simply can’t afford an exclusion, so spare a thought for Hull’s Adam Stephenson who was disqualified for moving at the start of his opening race – and on grid one too!

 

As expected, the match was dominated by Paul Heard (pictured above).  Shouldering the mantle of tournament favourite, the Wednesfield super-star looked tense at the gate but once the tapes went up he was perfection personified.  Happy to sit a second in one of his races when for all the world it looked as if he could execute the pass if he really wanted to, he finished on 19 points.

 

Heard will be joined in the final by Chris Timms (18 points) and Aarron Morgan who rode a classic tie-break-match race against Chris Jewkes after both riders finished on 17 points (pictured below).

 

Despite missing the cut Jewkes rode well from the difficult number one draw.  Meanwhile Mark Winwood, nursing a badly swollen and broken finger and Dan Chambers were among the early pace-setters but drifted away in the second half.

 

Coventry’s hopes of having a home rider in Monday’s all-star final were dashed when local favourites Myke Grimes finished two points short of the qualification mark.

 

The nine finalists will be pleased to have a rest day but the remaining 35 travel to Leicester later today hoping to pick up one of the remaining seven places which are still up for grabs.

All the scorers appear on our Results page.

35 RIDERS FIGHT IT OUT FOR REMAINING SEVEN PLACES – posted 24 August 2013

 

Nine riders have already qualified for Monday’s showpiece final leaving 35 to fight it out tomorrow for the remaining seven places.  As a result, it will be necessary to hold a pre-qualifying round at Leicester tomorrow morning starting at 10am.

 

The 19 riders drawn in the pre-qualifier are:

1 Adam Stephenson (Hull), 2 Jake Read (Stockport), 3 Neil Hollebon (Hellingly), 4 Jamie Chittock (Ipswich), 5 Mikey Hewitson (Edinburgh), 6 Chris Jewkes (Wednesfield), 7 David Ball (East Park), 8 Mark Winwood (Birmingham), 9 Aaron Herbert (Exeter), 10 Jack Harrold (Newport), 11 Troy Allen (Wednesfield), 12 Andrew Yard (Exeter), 13 Jamie Ball (East Park), 14. Connor Simpson (Stockport), 15 Nicky Whitehead (Leicester), 16 Lewis Roberts (Ipswich), 17 Will Cartwright (East Park), 18 Craig Marchant (Leicester), 19 Ashley Hill (Ipswich)

 

The top 16 qualifiers from the pre-qualifier will join the remaining 16 riders in two semi finals with the top three from each semi and the highest scoring fourth placed rider will progress to Monday’s final.  The draws for the semi finals will be made tomorrow after the preliminaries have been completed.

 

The full programme for tomorrow, confirmed this evening by Competitions Secretary Pete Ward is as follows;

 

10.00am  Men’s Pre-Qualifying Round

11.00am Under-16s Semi Final One

12.30pm Under-16s Semi Final Two

2.00 pm Men’s Semi Final One

3.30 pm Under-16s Final

5.00 pm Men’s Semi Final Two

HEARD FAVOURITE TO LIFT NATIONAL TITLE – posted 23 August 2013

 

It’s that time of the year again - the weekend not a single person from the world of cycle speedway does not look forward to.  The 2013 British championships at Coventry look set to be the biggest to date in terms of promotion and razzamataz.  Let’s just hope they do not get the weather that Newport unfortunately received 12 months ago.  The track looks to be in the best shape it has ever been, so expect all the thrills and spills that a British final encompasses.

 

There have been many questions raised over the format for the Open championships, with the majority of the cycle speedway public not in favour but it’s not fair on the staging clubs, nor the riders who get to the final, to dwell on the pros and cons of the new format.  One thing is for certain, the riders who do make the final 16 will certainly have had to ride to their maximum to earn their place.  It’s a true test of ability and nerve.  One mistake and it looks a tall order to make one of the top three placings to progress.

 

It’s been a strange year for the defending champion Andy Angell (pictured above).  Certainly by the standards he has set over the last three seasons he has not been at the same level this season.  The month sabbatical that Andy took from racing would have done him the world of good to regroup in preparation for his second consecutive title defence.  Although some quarters have already written off his chances on Monday, those critics should remember - form is temporary and class is permanent.  Win or lose on Monday the sport needs Andy Angell to be racing with a smile on his face and enjoying himself again.  He has been a beacon for the sport and been an inspiration for numerous young riders. 

 

Favourite for the title coming into Monday’s final is Wednesfield’s Paul Heard (pictured above right), to be honest, rightfully so.  Paul was the most consistent rider since last season with silver medals in the European and British championships respectively.  Added to that Paul’s performances in the Elite League have been consistently brilliant from last season to date, epitomised by his dominance of the Elite League match race title.  The key for Paul is can he handle the pressure of being the favourite going into Monday’s final? If he can draw an extra few percent from the pressure and thrive off it then he will have a great chance.  In all fairness most riders would admit if they can outscore Paul in the final then they will more than likely be walking away with the white jersey come 5pm on Monday.

 

The 2011 champion Mark Boaler (pictured below) is a revitalised rider this season, hugely benefiting from World champion Lukasz Nowacki rejoining the Hammers and bringing with him his rigorous training regime. Boaler is leaner and faster than ever before and is a real threat to Andy Angell’s crown.  Mark is one of the sport’s real entertainers, one rider many of the public would pay to watch.  The Hammers’ talisman knows exactly what is required on Monday to take back the title after his victory in 2011, with five consistent rides the order of the day.  Added to this, Boaler will have the world champion in his corner, a pretty handy person to have in support should any advice be needed.

 

It’s been a tough couple of years on the British finals front for Wednesfield’s four times champion Lee Aris (pictured above).  In 2011 Lee put together arguably five of the toughest rides he has ever had to finish second after a rotten draw at Norwich, just missing out by a single point for a race off for the title.  Then last year he missed out on qualification for the final.  Rest assured, Lee is still smarting from this and will be desperate to right this wrong at Coventry on Monday.  Lee has been rock solid for Wednesfield this season in what has been an up and down season for the Aces on the Elite League front.  He will surely be there or thereabouts in Monday’s final. Lee is one of the sport’s all time greats who knows how to get his hands on that famous white jersey.
  

 

Wearing the colours of his home town club, Newport’s Mark Carmichael (pictured above) will be looking to make consecutive British finals at Coventry on Monday.  Last season Mark would have enjoyed the occasion of being in the final on his home track.  This time around the experience will be different as the flying Welshman will fancy his chances of success after a brilliant season to date.  Second place at the Poole Laurels was followed by a third place at the recent individual in Exeter.  If this form is anything to go by then Mark is a serious contender for the title as the fields in both events were of the highest calibre.  In addition Mark has been excellent all season for both Newport and Horspath.  It’s that sublime level of consistency that’s such a massive loss to Team GB ahead of the Ashes series in Australia.  It’s such a shame he is now unable to make the trip.  Dave Murphy will be really disappointed to lose such a key member of the team.

 

Chris Timms has had a really tough season in the colours of his beloved Birmingham so this weekend’s British championships will come as a nice break away from the domestic scene.  There has been a lot of pressure on Chris’s shoulders.  Mentally its tough riding in a team fighting at the bottom of the Elite League and losing heavily, but it will make Chris a stronger rider off the back of this season. In terms of this weekend Chris has the ability to beat the best riders in the final on the day.  He just needs to be able to string five consistent rides together to mount a title winning score.  The track will certainly suit Chris.  There’ll be lines everywhere for him to exploit.

 

It’s great to be able to see Ben Mould able to race in this weekend’s competition.  Ben will be relieved to be able to race too.  It’s going to be a really big ask for Ben to win this title off the back of no competitive racing for a few months but it’s not impossible.  Ben is a top rider, one of the sports very best, and if he can draw on his recent experience in a positive manner it could be a real asset come bank holiday Monday. Ben’s break could actually be a help for him come the World championships in Australia.  He certainly will be fresher than those riders making the trip who have completed a full domestic season.  Let’s just hope Ben has been putting the laps in on his time off.  We’ll find out this weekend.

 

One rider really hoping to make the final is Poole’s Steve Harris (pictured above).  Steve knows how to make a final.  He is the master of progressing through difficult qualification rounds.  Any junior riders present on bank holiday Monday, and actually on the qualification days too, should watch Steve construct a score together.  It’s a work of art.  It’s that ability to construct a score that always put Steve there or thereabouts in major competitions.  Steve will not necessarily be making big gates from the outside anymore, but he has world class ability to pass and take full advantage of other riders mistakes.  Will Steve finally get his hands on that white jersey…

 

Out of all the riders already mentioned, none have the technical ability of Exeter’s Thomas Reed.  The junior scene was dominated by Thomas and it’s now time for him to make the step up to dominate the senior scene.  It’s actually a surprise when you realise Thomas has just the one final appearance to his name - a crying shame given his immense ability.  Thomas is one of the sport’s real entertainers and loves taking a risk.  When they come off the passes he can make are breathtaking. The question is can Thomas Reed win the British championship?  He has every weapon in his arsenal that a champion would need, but he might need to win ugly, or more to the point win patiently, for which only time will tell.

JUST 42 RIDERS ENTER NATIONALS – posted 29 July 2013

 

British Cycling has today released details of the new style British individual championship qualifying rounds.  Just 42 riders have entered the open category, the lowest entry in the 63 year history of the competition.

 

Provision has been made in the draw for a maximum of 48 riders with six blanks included in the championship programme but instead of using the traditional aggregate scores over two days system, there will be sudden-death qualifying rounds on Saturday at Birmingham when the top three from each of the three qualifying rounds will progress direct to the final at Coventry on August Bank Holiday Monday.

 

The remaining riders who miss the cut on Saturday, move on to Leicester on Sunday where they will race a series of repercharges to fill the remaining seven places in Monday’s final.

 

Qualifying at the first attempt will be a challenge for the most accomplished of riders.  The first qualifying round brings together two of the biggest names in the game, defending two-time champion Andy Angell and four-times winner Lee Aris who interestingly is listed in the draw as competing for Wolverhamption Wheelers and not Wednesfield.  Whatever the outcome there are bound to be some high profile casualties with riders of the calibre of Thomas Reed, Ricki Johnson and multiple finalist Mark Griffiths in the field. 

 

Steve Harris, who holds the record for the most national finals appearances, will have to be on the top of his game to finish in the top three and win an automatic place in Monday’s final.  He faces a strong challenge from former champion Mark Boaler, international star Mark Carmichael, Ben Mould back from suspension and the talented Lewis Roberts.

 

The third qualifier looks equally as tough although Paul Heard must be fancied to go through at the first attempt.  Others to look out for include Chris Jewkes, Lewis Osborne, Chris Timms, Arron Morgan and local favourite Myke Grimes.

 

The full championship draw is:

 

Qualifying Round One at 12 noon

1 Leon Mower (Ipswich), 2 Lee Aris (Wolverhampton Wheelers), 3 Ashley Hill (Ipswich), 4 Aaron Herbert (Exeter), 5 Mark Griffiths (Wednesfield), 6 Thomas Reed (Exeter), 7 Ryan Hoyland (Sheffield), 8 Blank 5, 9 Ricki Johnson (Wednesfield), 10 Blank 2, 11 Andy Angell (Hull), 12 Zac Payne (Horspath), 13 Nathan Groves (Birmingham), 14 Joshua Hill (East Park), 15 Jamie Ball (East Park), 16 Oliver Buxton (Hethersett)

 

Qualifying Round Two at 1.45 pm

1 Mark Carmichael (Newport), 2 Richard Stevenson (Birmingham), 3 Jake Read (Stockport), 4 Jack Hibberd (East Park), 5 Neil Hollebon (Hellingly), 6 David Ball (East Park), 7 Blank 4, 8 Ben Mould (Wednesfield), 9 Blank 1, 10 Craig Marchant (Wednesfield), 11 Scott Doherty (Wednesfield), 12 Jamie Chittock (Ipswich), 13 Connor Simpson (Stockport), 14 Steve Harris (Poole), 15 Lewis Roberts (Ipswich), 16 Mark Boaler (Horspath)

 

Qualifying Round Three at 3.15 pm

1 Chris Jewkes (Wednesfield), 2 Blank 6, 3 Jordan Stant (Ipswich), 4 Blank 3, 5 Lewis Osborne (Ipswich), 6 Paul Heard (Wednesfield), 7 Jack Harrold (Newport), 8 Myke Grimes (Coventry), 9 Joe Kemp (East Park), 10 Adam Stephenson (Hull), 11 Chris Timms (Birmingham), 12 Mark Winwood (Birmingham), 13 Dan Chambers (Hethersett), 14 Nicky Whitehead (Leicester), 15 Arron Morgan (Poole), 16 Will Cartwright (East Park)

 

We’ll bring you news of the age-category and women’s events soon.