Astley & Tyldesley hosted their Club Individual Championships at Gin Pit on a glorious sunny day. With a range of age groups to cater for, riders were split into two groups, junior and senior, with all riders starting from the grid.

Heat 1 proved to be a key race in the Junior event, as the eventual top four riders all met in that race. Max Evans took the race win, ahead of Alex Semtyshin, with Matt Snell coming through to take 3rd place from Ben Dickinson. Evans was surprsisingly beaten by John White next time out. Alex Semtyshin then reeled off race wins in each of her remaining four rides to total 19 points. Max Evans won his last three races to also finish on 19 and force a run-off for 1st place. Max won the run-off to win the Junior event and take 1st place in the u-13 category, with Alex runner-up. Matt Snell won his last four races, to finish in 3rd place overall, with a total of 18 points and take 1st place in the u-10 category. Ben Dickinson and newcomer C.J. Darby both rode hard for their 16 points, with John White putting in a terrific performance to score 15 points and take 1st place in the u-8 category.

There was disappointment for Mark Graham in the Senior event, as he was forced to pull out with a back injury. The match quickly turned into a battle between the defending champion Reece Pollitt and Danny Hughes. With each rider meeting each opponent three times, it was Hughes who took 1st blood, by beating Pollitt. The positions were reversed next time out, so the Club Individual title all hinged on a decisive last race. Pollitt started off the unfavourable outside position, but he pulled out a superb start to clear the field going into the first bend and he pulled away to take a crucial race win and retain his title, with Hughes runner-up. Three veterans enjoyed a keen tussle for 3rd place overall and the prestige of finishing 1st in the Veterans category. In the end, it was George Hughes who finished with 8 points, one ahead of runner-up Roy Heslop, with Ron Makin third.

Astley & Tyldesley Club Individual Championships

Junior Event result

Max Evans (u-13) 19, Alex Semtyshin (u-13) 19, Matt Snell (u-10) 18, Ben Dickinson (u-10) 16, C.J. Darby (u-13) 16, John White (u-8) 15, Jessica Burgess (u-13) 15, Lewis Burgess (u-10) 13, Ashton Semtyshin (u-10) 12, Charlie Burgess (u-8) 11, Joe Quarmby (u-8) 10, Emily Burgess (u-10) 3.

Senior Event result

Reece Pollitt (u-16) 15, Danny Hughes (senior) 14, George Hughes (veteran) 8, Roy Heslop (veteran) 7, Ron Makin (veteran) 6.

Referee - Mike Hack.