BRITISH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
KESGRAVE RETAIN UNDER-10 TEAM IN STYLE posted 4 May 2013
Pre-match favourites and reigning title holders Kesgrave outpaced their opponents to win the first round of the British Club Championship at Harbourside Park this afternoon ahead of their Suffolk neighbours Ipswich. Three South West clubs completed the line-up after Astley & Tyldesley were forced to withdraw just 24 hours before the event.
With wins for Jake Vincent and Lewis Brinkhoff in the opening two heats, Kesgrave threw down an early gauntlet to the rest. Poole number five Nathan Goulden picked it up in heat three to get the better of Ollie Wright who took a tumble in an exciting neck and neck duel. After the first block of five races, there was just a point between the top three.
By the half way stage, the two East Anglian clubs had put some daylight in, but another Kesgrave tumble in heat eight by Oli Reynolds gave Ipswich the edge and an interval lead of just one point. Half-time: Ipswich 25 Kesgrave 24 Poole 19 Exeter 17 Underwood 15.
The next block of five races was key to the outcome as Kesgrave won each of their four starts from their talented quartet of Jake Vincent, Ollie Wright, Alfie Steward and captain Lewis Brinkhoff.
Meanwhile, Ipswich could only pick up nine points in the corresponding races, a total matched by Poole and Exeter for whom speedy Ben Stanbury notched his second race win of the match.
With a lead of seven points approaching the final block of heats, Kesgrave had one hand on the trophy and it seemed like a battle for third place between Poole and Exeter would be a close call with only two points separating them. Step up Nathan Goulden to celebrate his ninth birthday on his home track with his second win of the day to put his team six points ahead.
The Devon club had pulled most of that back coming into the last race and after another Ben Stanbury win they were now on 34, just a point behind their great South Coast rivals. While Charlie Johnson comfortably won the final race for Ipswich, Jasmin Oddie tucked in for a fine second place to ensure Poole got the 18 BCC points.
This was a fine advert for junior cycle speedway with keen young talent on parade, once again the two East Anglian clubs showing just how accomplished they are at this level with Kesgrave positively outstanding. Perhaps the long journey was a factor in the disappointing nil response from the MIdlands and North so maybe its
time for the thinking caps to go on to boost numbers.
British Under-10 Club Championship at Poole
Kesgrave 54
Lewis Brinkhoff 16, Jake Vincent 15, Ollie Wright 8, Alfie Steward 8, Oliver Reynolds 7
Ipswich 44
Charlie Johnson 13, Gemma Hill 12, Ben Clark 11, Liam Fleming 4, Kristian Mitchell 4
Poole 38
Nathan Goulden 13, Will Cavanagh 9, Danny Reeks 7, Scott Pierce 5, Jasmine Oddie 4
Exeter 35
Ben Stanbury 15, Harry Stanbury 11, Rosie Tidball 5, Fin Webb 4
Underhill 29
Dan Wright 12, Morgan Porter 7, Dafyyd Porter 5, Eistyn Lewis 5
Referee: Robin Spicer (Dorset)
