CLUB NEWS: Coventry wiz kids post record score

In a superb afternoon of junior racing at Hearsall Common last Saturday afternoon in the British Junior league, Coventry Cycle Speedway junior wizz-kids posted a club record score of 175 match points in the competition.

In another illustration of their relentless junior policy, the Coventry club also fielded a record number of riders for the popular British Junior League event, with 17 riders taking to the sun drenched Herasall Common circuit.

Leading the Coventry charge was dashing 13-year-old Jimmy Wassall, son of ex Whitley rider Karl, who also rode in Coventry`s double winning side of 2006. Wassall is fast maturing into one of the best junior prospects to come out of Coventry for many years.

Wassall, who attends Caludon Castle School, was given a tough test by teammate Ben Wells. Wassall beat his club colleague in the qualifiers, before the duo provided the highlight of the day in the three-times rerun of the under 14s final.

Twice the pair went crashing to the ground in a no holds barred encounter. The two were finely matched, Wells having the greater speed but with Wassall, with his greater experience, displaying better race tactics.

Eventually, Wassall got the better of Wells to take the silverware but Coventry club officials and parents looked on with glee with the club having two of the best juniors in the country.

In the under 8 final, Coventry`s Jude Willcockson produced three qualifying race wins in an all action display before having to settle for runners up in the final.

Hopes of a third successive series victory for Jack Reynolds, having already won at Birmingham and East Park, in the under 12 classification disappeared when the talented youngster crashed out when well placed in the final.

Newcomer Jacob Slezak continued his recent improvement by taking silver in the under 12s and there were also podium finishes for Sammi Marsh, Wyatt Jacobs and Autumn Smith.

The British Junior and Youth League regional series now moves onto round 4 at Wednesfield in Wolverhampton on Saturday 4th June. Coventry are currently well placed to qualify for the national rounds later in the season.