MATCH REPORT: Aces defeat Birmingham to claim title
The Wednesfield aces took victory on Sunday to seal the Midland League title dropping just one loss all season long.
The Aces lead from the off with a 6-4 opening win however the Monarchs always kept in close distance throughout but with the visitors just holding the extra edge.
A home maximum in heat 8 from Millward and Johnson levelled the score at 40 all only for the Aces to fire in one of their own in the 9th.
Timms and Johnson won heats 10 and 11 respectively before a killer blow was dealt in the 12th with Hancox and Winwood on the receiving end of a maximum (55-64) but hit straight back with a 7-3 for Groves/Timms to give themselves hope in the closing stages.
However by the time the home side took another advantage, in the 18th heat, the match had already been won for the Wolverhampton side.
With Leicester winning their final match of the year they become runners up with Birmingham having to settle for 3rd overall.
MIDLAND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS – Ricki Johnson 18+1 (5), Chris Timms 15+1 (5), Nathan Groves 13+1 (5), Scott Millward 13+1 (5), Mark Winwood 11 (5), Paul Timms 8+2 (5), Ewan Hancox 8 (5), Jake Steel 1 (1)
The 2nd division match also went the way of the Aces who romped to victory on the day despite carrying a huge points penalty. The win being 47-83 however after penalty points removed the amended score was 34-43.
MIDLAND LEAGUE DIVISION 2
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS – Steve Hodgkinson 13 (4), Ewan Hancox 9+1 (4), Jake Steel 8 (5), Marc Phipps 7+1 (5), Emily Pitt 5, Josh Davies 5.
The juniors took victory earlier in the day with Connor Steel top scoring.
JUNIOR LEAGUE
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS – Connor Steel 14+1 (5), Marc Phipps 12+4 (5), William Arkinstall 9+1 (3), Alex Heagren 9 (3), Rebekah humphries 8 (3), Charlie Brookes 6 (2), Jamie Breen 5 (2), Ben Heagren 3 (3) v WEDNESFIELD ACES 56 (minus 9 penalty points).
Birmingham Monarchs riders Mark Winwood and Steve Hodgkinson finished on the rostrum in Coventry last Saturday in round 8 of the Eurovets series.
Both riders have had a much tougher year in the Series after dominating in 2015. Hodgkinson has missed too many rounds this year to fight for a year end top 3 finish and this was his first podium place of the year.
Winwood meanwhile has had some bad luck and hard grid draws along the way this year and was struggling to even be in a podium place for the 1st half of the season however a much improved 2nd half and solid final performances saw him move into 3rd place in round 7 and now holds a 9 point lead going into the final round in 2 weeks time at his home Birmingham track.
Winwood opened with two 2nd places , beaten by series leader Marchant first time out and eventual top scorer Harris. 3 victories followed to head into the A Final on 18 points.
Hodgkinson meanwhile matched that total of 18 points beaten only in the heats in heat 1 by current series leaders Venson and Frith reeling off 4 wins after that. An A final 3rd place (again beaten by Venson/Frith) after defending for a lap from Hemming.
Sutton based Winwood meanwhile blasted around Harris on the opening lap with Harris falling on the home straight trying to find a way back under.
EUROVETS round 8 from Coventry – A Final top 4.
40’s – Mark Winwood, Kev Burns, Martyn Hollebon, Steve Harris.
50’s – Dave Frith, Norman Venson, Steve Hodgkinson, Phil Hemming.
60’s – Terry Kirkup, Joe McLaughlin, Steph Whitehead, Fred Rothwell.
This Saturday the club host the final round of the Eurovets series where titles will be decided with our own Mark Winwood looking good for a rostrum finish. Action starts at 1PM.
Training continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6PM for anyone to join in with free use of bikes and equipment!