BRITISH WEEKEND: 20 year old Payne takes British Open title & full report

Horspath’s Zac Payne is the new British Cycle Speedway champion at just 20 years old, after a calm and measured performance saw him stand out in a tough field in difficult conditions at Ipswich yesterday afternoon.

Heavy rain saturated the track and there were lengthly delays as the Ipswich track team did their best to clear the surface water. The crowd were not left disappointed with plenty of action and more than a fair share of crashes throughout the meeting.

Pre match favourites Paul Heard, Mark Boaler and Chris Timms all had difficult starts to the match in an action packed opening four heats. Boaler and Timms ran a last, whilst Heard secured a third place behind Mould and Adam Peck, who took the win off grid one.

Myke Grimes was the early leader after two rides, with a strong win from grid 4 in heat three, after being a touch fortunate to remain in the rerun after a coming together with Lewis Osbourne, and a convincing win from grid one in heat seven. Meanwhile Mark Boaler found himself surprisingly out of contention after two rides, running a second last place, unable to find a way past Bury’s Chris Parish.

Zac Payne made good use of his opening grid four with an excellently crafted second place, leaving him just one point behind after two rides, along with Charlie Rumbold and Adam Peck joining him with a race win and a second.

Ben Mould’s chances of the title faded in heat 12 after a coming together with Andy Angell as both riders challenged for the lead. The referee, Terry Ashford deemed it to be a racing incident, leaving Mould disgruntled.

Charlie Rumbold led the way after three rides, dropping just one point, with Lee Aris close behind on 10, along with Payne and Grimes. The latter met in heat 14, which ended up having 4 restarts. After a couple of unsatisfactory starts, Angell was excluded for a ram on Grimes coming out of the second bend on the second lap. It was an unfortunate incident for Angell, which effectively ended his title defence, despite a resilient performance from the triple champion.

Paul Heard then moved at the tapes in the re-run and was sent back to the pits, taking his title challenge with him. This meant Payne and Grimes were left to battle it out for the crucial points. Grimes nearly got round Payne on lap 3, but the Horspath rider rode a solid race and kept the Coventry rider behind.

Aris suffered an unlucky wheel spin off the gate in his fourth ride, relegating the multiple champion to the back of the pack. After a strong battle with Jamie Chittock, he forced his way past but had to settle for third and all but out of the running for another British title.

Going into the last set of rides, Rumbold and Payne led the way with Grimes one point behind. Payne needed a win to guarantee at least a run off for the title. After a great gate off three, Payne powered around the outside of Lewis Osbourne to take the first place he needed, leaving the title hinging on the final heat, with only Rumbold able to force a run off with Payne, provided he took the 4 points.

Chris Timms, Myke Grimes and Charlie Rumbold all featured and were all in with a shout of a podium. Mould got away from one with Timms, Grimes and Rumbold fighting behind. Grimes slipped inside Rumbold behind Timms, only for the Ipswich rider to put in a strong challenge up the inside of Grimes, taking the Coventry rider out in the process. The referee waved the decision on, leaving Rumbold to finish third and claim the silver medal and giving Zac Payne a well deserved first British title.

With Grimes out of contention, Timms’ second place meant there was a run off for third with Lee Aris and Adam Peck, which turned out to be every bit as exciting and controversial as the rest of the meeting.

Peck gated over Timms but was passed by Aris, with Timms then coming underneath both. After leading for two laps, Peck challenged Timms up the inside, when the Birmingham rider was adjudged to have legged the Ipswich rider and was given his matching orders by referee Terry Ashford, with the result being awarded, Adam Peck claimed the final rostrum place, concluding a very entertaining match despite the awful conditions.

Zac Payne (Horspath) 18, Charlie Rumbold (Ipswich) 16, Adam Peck (Ipswich) 15, Lee Aris (Wednesfield) 15, Chris Timms (Birmingham) 15, Ben Mould (Wednesfield) 14, Myke Grimes (Coventry) 14, Paul Heard (Wednesfield) 13, Chris Parish (Bury) 13, Andy Angell (Hull) 13, Lewis Osbourne (Horspath) 10, Ben Scranage (Bury) 8, Chris Jewkes (Wednesfield) 8, Jamie Chittock (Ipswich) 8, Nicky Evans (Newport) 8, Mark Boaler (Horspath) 3, Craig Marchant (Leicester) RES 1, Jake Read (Stockport) RES.

Women and U16 Girls

Vicky Brown was untouchable in the Women’s final, as she raced away to a 20 point maximum, like she did three weeks ago in the world final. Looking quicker our the gate and make light work of the heavy conditions, Brown left her fellow competitors in her wake to claim her first British outdoor title.

One of Brown’s main threats, Lauren Hookway pulled out of the meeting with injury after just two rides and on a healthy 7 points. Lauren Jacobs was second after dropping her only points to Brown, meanwhile Leicester’s Michelle Whitehead grabbed another podium finish with 17 points.

In the Under 16 girls category, it took a run off to decide the title between Ipswich’s Lily Gedge and Leicester’s Lizzie Rigley. An alarming crash, which saw both girls fly over their handlebars and hit the deck hard saw a re-run after a few minutes delay. In the restart it was Gedge who was able to hold off Rigley’s challenge to secure back to back U16 titles. Poole’s Macie Schmidt claimed the final podium place, one point behind Gedge and Rigley.

Vicky Brown (Sheffield) 20, Lauren Jacobs (Ipswich) 19, Michelle Whitehead (Leicester) 17, Lucy Whitehead (Leicester) 16, Kristina Mines (Poole) 15, Charlie-Jane Herbert (Ipswich) 14, Danielle Riley (Newport) 14, Laura Watson (Leicester) 12, Rebecca Davies (Sheffield) 8, Lauren Hookway (Exeter) 7.

U16 Girls
Lily Gedge (Ipswich) 11, Elizabeth Rigley (Leicester) 11, Macie Schmidt (Poole) 10, Chloe (Ipswich) 9, Chloe Whitehead (Leicester) 7, Chloe Horton (Exeter) 6, Sammi Marsh (Coventry) RES 4, Niamh Morton (Sheffield) RES.

Under 10 Boys

It was a home winner for Kesgrave in the Under 10 Boys final, as the impressive Oliver Reynolds raced to a 20 points maximum. Oliver Saunders of Poole and Birmingham’s Connor Steel battled it out for the runners up spot in a run off, after both finishing on 18 points. Saunders was the victor, with Steel having to settle for a well earned third placed finish on the podium.

Oliver Reynolds (Kesgrave) 20, Oliver Saunders (Poole) 18, Connor Steel (Birmingham) 18, Jake Cazey (Kesgrave) 17, Jack Brownell (Sheffield) 16, John Junior Wildman (Exeter) 16, Charlie Beeton (Kesgrave) 13, Archie Foote (Kesgrave) 12, Jack Reynolds (Coventry) 11, Keaton Ripper (Ipswich) 11, John White (Astley & Tyldesley), Oliver Johnson-Love (Great Blakenham) 9, Joe Brownell (Sheffield) 9, Kai Gowers (Ipswich) 9, Mackenzie Straight (Ipswich) 6, Timothy Lawrence (Great Blakenham) 5.

Referee: Bill Brooke

Under 10 Girls

Eight girls battled it out in the opening event of the 2015 British Individual Championships at Kesgrave. It was Rosie Tidball of Exeter who raced to a fine 16 point maximum and retained her British title. Ipswich had more podium joy, with Isabel Farrell claiming the second spot, only losing out to Tidball. Home hero Daisy Steward claimed Kesgrave’s first podium of the weekend, winning her last three rides to secure the bronze medal.

Rosie Tidball (Exeter) 16, Isabel Farrell (Ipswich) 15, Daisy Steward (Kesgrave) 14, Natalie Goulden (Poole) 13, Megan Burt (Wednesfield) 12, Aimee Porter (Kesgrave) 11, Evie Duke (Kesgrave) 10, Isabelle O’Neil (Hull) 9.

Under 13 Boys

Stockport’s Michael Preston powered to victory with a 20 point maximum in the Under 13 boys category. Exeter’s Owen Tidball came close with 19, only losing out to Preston, with Max Evans of Astley and Tyldesley, who was in contention until meeting Tidball and Preston later on in the meeting.

Michael Preston (Stockport) 20, Owen Tidball (Exeter) 19, Max Evans (Astley & Tyldesley) 18, Devon Campbell (Stockport) 16, Lewis Brinkoff (Kesgrave) 16, Louis Wright (Stockport) 14, Nathan Goulden (Poole) 14, Ben Clark (Ipswich) 13, Jimmy Wassall (Coventry) 11, Jake Vincent (Kesgrave) 11, Oli Wright (Kesgrave) 9, Charlie Wade (Hull) 9, Kai Manger (Kesgrave) 8, Charlie Danson (Ipswich) 7, James Porter (Kesgrave) 7, Jack Horton (Exeter) 5, Adam Cooper (Great Blakenham) RES, Kristian Mitchell (Ipswich) RES.

Referee: Mike Legge

Under 13 Girls

In the Under 13 Girls category at Great Blakenham, it was Swindon’s Alice Neighbour who went through the card unbeaten. Coventry’s Bailie Phillips finished second on 19 points, losing out only to Neighbour in heat two. Local girl Gemma Hill of Ipswich claimed the last podium spot with 18 points.

Alice Neighbour (Swindon) 20, Bailie Phillips (Coventry) 19, Gemma Hill (Ipswich) 18, Madeline Saunders (Poole) 17, Anna Tutle (Poole) 16, Georgia Burt (Wednesfield) 15, Natalie Lawrence (Great Blakenham) 14, Libby Steward (Hull) 12, Leah Horton (Exeter) 12, Amanda Rigley (Leicester) 12, Lillie O’Neil (Hull) 10.

Referee: Terry Ashford

U16 Boys

Brandon Whetton dominated the U16 Boys final, racing away to a 20 point maximum. The Wednesfield rider, who finished second in the U19s the day before, had too much fire power for his competitors as he defended his title. Ipswich’s Pierce Bacon secured second spot with an impressive display, while Carl Parfitt of Wednesfield held off the challenge from Ipswich’s Ben Harvey to take third in a run off.

Brandon Whetton (Wednesfield) 20, Pierce Bacon (Ipswich) 18, Carl Parfitt (Wednesfield) 17, Ben Harvey (Ipswich) 17, Danny Taylor (Bury) 16, James Elston (Bury) 15, Adam Watson (Sheffield) 14, Niall Morton (Sheffield) 13, Nathan Everett (Hull) 11, Haydn Rowley (Wednesfield) 10, Ed Morton (Sheffield) 10, Harrison Bacon (Ipswich) 9, Alex Harvey (Ipswich) 8, Ben Tinsdale (Poole) 7, Josh Marsh (Coventry) 6, Callum Smith (Poole) 6.

Referee: Bill Brooke

U19 Boys

Charlie Rumbold was in fine form at Great Blakenham on Sunday night, as he fought his way to victory to claim the gold for the first time. It looked like Rumbold’s chance may have gone after a third in his second ride, but he made no mistake in his remaining three to take the title on 18 points. It was a thrilling fixture, with Brandon Whetton coming close but eventually finishing on 17 in second. Ipswich’s Matt Hill suffered a bad injury after a high speed tangle down the back straight, which required a trip to hospital with stitches, ruling him out for the remainder of the meeting.

The evening was brought to a close in scintillating style, with a super close run off between Adam Watson and Lee Kemp. Kemp threw the kitchen sink at the Sheffield rider, but Watson held firm to take the final rostrum place.

Charlie Rumbold (Ipswich) 18, Brandon Whetton (Wednesfield) 17, Adam Watson (Sheffield) 16, Lee Kemp (Wednesfield) 16, Olly Buxton (Hethersett) 15, Niall Morton (Sheffield) 13, Aaron Smith (Poole) 13, Reece Pollitt (Astley & Tyldesley) 13, Richard Fellgett (Ipswich) 13, Jake Read (Stockport) 11, Jesse Moore (Hellingly) 11, Matt Hill (Ipswich) 9, Ben Harvey (Ipswich) 9, Dan Drewett (Coventry) 7, Callum Albin (Poole) 7, Ed Morton (Sheffield) 7.

Over 40s

Northumbria and Sheffield’s Gavin Parr finally got on the top spot of the rostrum after a few years of just missing out. Parr needed a second place in his final ride and having found himself at the back, battled his way forwards, sitting behind Mark Whitehead to secure the title. World Vets Champion Craig Marchant was second, losing out only to Parr and Steve Harris. The latter secured third place after a run off with Mark Whitehead.

Gavin Parr (Northumbria) 19, Craig Marchant (Leicester) 18, Steve Harris (Poole) 17, Mark Whitehead (Leicester) 17, Gary Brown (Kesgrave) 15, Kev Burns (Leicester) 15, Dan Zagni (Kesgrave) 13, Norman Venson (Leicester) 12, Peter Ingram (Ipswich) 12, Jason Burke (Sheffield) 11, Jason Keith (Northumbria) 10, Martyn Hollebon (Hellingly) 9, Chris Turner (Sheffield) 9, Mick Knowles (Heckmondwike) 7, Paddy Wenn (Norwich) 7, Lee Lawrence (Edinburgh) 3, Luke Morton (Sheffield) RES, Les Stevens (East London) RES.

Referee: Bill Brooke

Over 50s

Having won his first four rides, Lee Lawrence knew all he needed was a second place to secure the title in his final race and he got just that behind Bob Prince, giving him a final score of 19 and the title. Second place was up for grabs with Steve Hodgkinson and Paul Timms both tied on 14 points going into their final ride. Dave Murphy headed home Timms and Hodgkinson made no mistake to win against Steve Woodroof and Gary Lawrence to claim the second spot.

Timms had to get revenge on Murphy in a third place run off, which he duly did from the inside grids, however Murphy will still be pleased with his performance having only just come back from a long injury lay off.

Lee Lawrence (Edinburgh) 19, Steve Hodgkinson (Birmingham) 18, Paul Timms (Birmingham) 17, Dave Murphy (Exeter) 17, Ray Pyke (Kesgrave) 15, Stephen Woodroof 15, Tim Snook (Ipswich) 15, Les Stevens (East London) 14, Bob Prince (Birmingham) 13, Terry Ashford (Great Blakenham) 12, Malcolm Redpath (Great Blakenham) 11, Gary Lawrence (Unattached) 9.

Referee: Steve Copping

Over 60s

East London’s Les Stevens beat Birmingham’s Bob Prince off grid for in a run off for the Over 60s title at Great Blakenham on Saturday night. Exeter’s Andrew Collett was able to hold off Wednesfield’s Mick Aris in a run off for third. Sadly, with only six riders in the competition, all but two races involved only two riders.

Les Stevens (East London) 15, Bob Prince (Birmingham) 15, Andrew Collett (Exeter) 14, Mick Aris (Wednesfield) 14, Gary Lawrence (Unattached) 12, Roger Carter (Hethersett) 11.

Referee: Terry Ashford