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Gin Pit was the venue for the 2011 British Cycle Speedway Team
Championship Finals on Sunday. Hard work by Astley & Tyldesley club
members in the weeks leading up produced an excellent racing track and
venue for the top domestic team event of the season. J. Fisher & Sons,
Heavy Haulage, of Atherton were the meeting sponsors.
The holders Leicester were in action in the first semi-final against
surprise qualifiers, East Newport. Any thoughts Leicester may have had
of an easy passage to the final were jolted as East Newport raced into a
7 points lead after just two races. However, Leicester moved into the
lead in heat 5 and were never headed after that. Full credit though to
the Welsh underdogs, who gave it their all and restricted Leicester to a
93-83 win.
British Team Championship 1st Semi-Final result
East Newport 83 Leicester 93
East Newport: Dan Bock 16 (1), Aaron Herbert 15, Aaron Hughes 14 (1),
Correy Burnell-Jones 13, Chris Davies 9 (1), Matt Davis 7 (1), Neil
Power 6, Nicky Evans 3.
Leicester: Kevin Burns 15 (1), Phil Howells 15, Craig Marchant 14 (1),
Norman Venson 14, Leon Yelland 12, Nicky Whitehead 10, Jason Ashford 8
(3), Ashley Doughty 5.
Referee - Bob Prince (West Midlands).
The second semi-final between Poole and Wednesfield, the two most
successful teams in the history of this competition, proved to be a real
hard fought encounter. The lead changed hands several times before Poole
took a 7-3 in heat 14 to move into a 5 points lead. They kept the
pressure on in the last four races to run out 92-83 winners.
British Team Championship 2nd Semi-Final result
Wednesfield 83 Poole 92
Wednesfield: Chris Jewkes 19, Mark Griffiths 18, Lee Aris 14 (1), Nick
Perry 10, Luke Draisey 8, Tom Haddock 7, Tony De-Leon 5, Matt Haddock 2.
Poole: Tom Colling 18, Chris Roberts 14 (1), Pete Young 14 (1), Sam
Hearn 13, Leyton Glover 11 (1), Aaron Morgan 9 (2), Tom Reed 9 (2), Matt
Mildon 4 (1).
Referee - Mark Winwood (West Midlands).
Leicester lined up for the final with three veteran (over 40 riders) in
their team, whilst five of Poole's octet were teenagers. The opening
races were cagey and tactical, as the lead changed hands several times,
before Leicester recorded two successive heat wins to go into the
interval with a 46-41 lead. Heat 12 proved to be the turning point of
the match, as both Leicester riders received race exclusions for
different offences. This gifted Poole a 7-0 heat win and they moved into
a 6 points lead. The match was effectively won for Poole when they took
a 7-3 in heat 14, to move into a 10 points lead. As in the semi-final,
the superior fitness of Poole's youngsters was decisive and they turned
the screw as Leicester tired, to run out winners by 93.5 points to 79.5
points (there was a dead heat for 2nd place in heat 16, hence the half
points awarded). A tremendous second half performance by Poole saw them
outscore Leicester by 20 points in the second half of the match.
The young Poole team thoroughly deserved their victory on the day and
extended their record of British Team Championship victories to a new
record of 13. Poole skipper Pete Young, ironically the only veteran on
their team despite his name, received the magnificent cup from Leigh M.P.
Andy Burnham.
British Team Championship Final result
Leicester 79.5 Poole 93.5
Leicester: Craig Marchant 14.5, Leon Yelland 14, Phil Howells 13 (1),
Mark Newey 13 (1), Kevin Burns 9, Jason Ashford 7 (2), Norman Venson 5,
Nicky Whitehead 4 (1).
Poole: Tom Reed 17 (2), Pete Young 15 (1), Tom Colling 15, Aaron Morgan
13.5 (3), Chris Roberts 13, Sam Hearn 9 (1), Matt Mildon 6, Leyton
Glover 5 (1).
Referee - Bob Prince (West Midlands).
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