CLUB NEWS: Sammi wins bronze in British Junior League

Coventry`s top girl racer Sammi Marsh returned to her best form in Suffolk last Saturday in winning the overall bronze medal in the season long British Junior League in the final round at Great Blakenham, Ipswich.

The 15-year-old, who attends the Ash Green school, eventually mounted the podium after a grueling eight round competition, which featured tough rounds at several Midland tracks, together with national rounds all over the country.

Sammi, who reached the World Woman’s Final last year, ran into her best form at Great Blakenham to pip her nearest rivals for third place in the standings. It cements her place as one of the leading girl riders nationally in her age group over the past three years.

She took up the sport in 2011 and was called up by Great Britain as a squad member for the series against Australia last summer. Always impeccably presented on match days, she never misses a training session and competes successfully against male riders for her club in regional racing.

Together with her parents, Coventry team manager Lee and mum Karen, and older brother Josh, who also races, Sammi and her family are hoping to travel to Adelaide, South Australia, in November 2017, for the next World championships.

There was disappointment for rising star Ben Wells at Great Blakenham. He once again showed terrific form to win the `B` final, to finish fourth overall in the Under 14s classification, just missing out on a medal position.

Fellow Coventry riders James and Ollie Morris, Josh Marsh, Wyatt Jacobs and Jack Reynolds all posted their highest ever finishes in the British Junior League final standings. It’s another growing indication of Coventry`s re-emergence at junior level nationally.

Coventry stage the Eurovets Grand Prix, round 8, at Hearsall Common today (Saturday 24th September) where riders from as far afield as Glasgow, Wales, Poole, Southampton, Norwich and Newcastle join battle in over 40s, over 50s and over 60s categories. Racing starts at 1pm.

Local riders Norman Venson and Dave Frith, who live in Coventry but race for Leicester, and Ray Oliver and Joe McLaughlin of the Coventry club, are all in the field and are all expected to challenge for the major silverware.

The highly successful `Dirt Bike Club`, staged at the Brandon Bees track in Bretford Playing Fields (CV23 0LA), and aimed at new riders from the Rugby area, has once again been extended due to popular public demand.

It will now run every Saturday (10am – 11.30am) until the end of October. Newcomers (aged 8 to 18 years), can just turn-up and have a go at the fast and exciting sport of Cycle Speedway. Bikes are available to all new riders and the sessions are just £1.

The news of the extension to the Dirt Bike Club emerged at a Public Meeting, held in Brinklow last Tuesday, to discuss the overwhelming success of the revival of the sport in East Warwickshire.

The meeting appointed a `Steering Group` to run all activities at the refurbished Brandon Bees track, under the umbrella of the Coventry club. Further race meetings this season are also planned.

Among the lengthy appointments were: Lee Marsh (acting chairman), Martin Augustus (treasurer), Alan Baynes (welfare officer), Rob Hardie and Trevor Mazey (track managers) and David Middleton (first aid officer).

Coventry complete their Elite League season by travelling to multi champions Horspath in rural Oxfordshire tomorrow (Sunday 25th September). The match starts at 2pm.

The Hearsall Common based outfit, who briefly led the Elite League earlier in the season, welcome back three times British champion Andy Angell to spearhead their attack alongside British number two Myke Grimes.

Coventry team: Andy Angell, Dan Drewett, Adam Watson, Mason Phillips, Ben Higham, Chris Parish, Jake Read, Myke Grimes and Dominik Rycharski.