PREVIEW: British Youth and Junior League National Round 3 from Bury

It’s the turn of the North to hold the third National Round tomorrow, with the action taking place at Bury, starting at 10am.

An A final win in the wet at Hethersett for Exeter’s JJ Wildman means he and Poole’s Oliver Saunders are tied with 45 points in the Under 8’s, with Kesgrave’s Tommy Rope in third on 36 points.

There is a clear leader in the U10’s where a second win for Olly Reynolds put him on to 50 points, whilst John White’s second place took him to 40 points. Behind the top two there is a battle for third spot between Rosie Tidball (32 points), Jack Brownell (31 points) and Connor Steele (27 points).

Without doubt the best race of the second round came in the final of the U12’s. A slip at the start saw Lewis Brinkhoff well behind the others after the first lap, but he gradually reeled them in, passing each rider in turn, finally catching Tom Whitwam on the last bend. He now leads the group with 50 points, followed by Tom Whitwam on 40 points and Jake Vincent on 36 points. After that performance it is difficult to see how he can be beaten.

In the Under 14’s it was same again as James Bunting beat Harrison Bacon to open up a 10 point lead. Improved performances from the Poole duo of Callum Smith and Ben Tinsdale moved them into joint third place.

After a low key first round Haydn Rowley’s win at Hethersett moved him up to third place in the U17’s on 33 points, whilst a second place was enough for Callum Albin to extend his lead to 7 points over Brandon Whetton, who unluckily drew the outside grid for a second time. They can expect a challenge from Reece Pollitt on a track he will know well.

World number two Lauren Hookway made it two wins in a row to extend her lead over Kristina Mines to 10 points. Kristina is also 10 points clear of the chasing pack, with Lily Gedge and Sammi Marsh tied on 30 points, just one ahead of Elizabeth Rigley.

In the overall Club competition Poole have a commanding lead with 21.5 points, but behind them it is very tight for the other places with Exeter on 50 points and Ipswich and Kesgrave both on 52 points.

Anyone attending tomorrow should be aware that particularly early on parking will be busy as there will be a lot of football matches on the sports fields, but the Bury club have arranged an overspill car park nearby.