MATCH REPORT: Hellingly enjoy another Norwich tussle

Hellingly Lions entertained Norwich Stars for their final fixture of the season, with the track having taken some serious rain on the Saturday, a good dry day helped to produce a decent surface.

A shared first heat was followed by a couple of 6-4 advantages that saw the Lions 4 points up after 3 heats. Norwich bounced back in heat 4 though with a maximum 7-3 courtesy of Chris Cullum and Paddy Wenn.

The home club then set about regaining the advantage and with two 6-4s, a shared heat and a 6-3 due to a tapes exclusion for Jamie Medler before the interval were 7 points up (43-36) when the half time cup of teas were taken.

After the interval the home side continued in the same vain, a 6-4 from Jesse Moore and Etienne Patel saw the lead increase to 9. Hellingly maintained the 9 point advantage until heat 12 when Jesse and Martyn Hollebon secured a 6-4 advantage to increase the gap to 11.

Neil Hollebon and Eddie Ridley took the following heat with Hellinglys first maximum advantage of the day in heat 13 and with the lead now increased to 15 with just 3 heats to go had all but secured the valuable 2 league points.

Heat 14 saw captain Jesse Moore score his 5th race win of the day with Jamie Morley taking a good 3rd to put the home side 17 in front. Norwich were not done with though and a 7-3 in heat 15 via Chris Cullum and Lee Grange closed the gap to 13 before team manager Martyn Hollebon led the way home, Norwich rider Lee Grange finished in front of Jesse Moore with Paddy Wenn taking 4th.

The final score of Hellingly 87 Norwich 72 was after a great spirited match, something the club have found both home and away this season in their first season in the South East region after the winter switch.

The second team match was a very youthful affair for the home club, the 7 riders used saw a 4 riders under the age of 14 with two of them making their club debuts alongside a rider having his first appearance of 2016 due to injury.

A 5 ride maximum from Etienne Patel and some great scoring throughout the card saw the lions go down by 8 points (75-83), one sore point was a painful and nasty looking fall for outstanding club member Jamie Morley, which saw him taken to hospital with what was diagnosed as a twisted back, everyone at the club wishes Jamie a swift recovery.

Club Chairman Barry Carpenter said: “We have, as a club, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves this season. We have ridden on some new tracks and against new clubs and it has all been positive.

“What was great today was not only the performances of the riders, but the fact that newcomers were riding round after the meeting and with a couple of youngsters aged 12 and 13 making team debuts in the second team match.

“The future is looking good, we are still on the look out for new riders and with us celebrating our 70th year of racing next year, what better time to get involved.

“Anyone interested in coming to join us and finding out what we are all about can, weather permitting, come down to the track on Sunday 9th October at 2.00pm for a come and try it session”.

Please email hellinglylionscyclespeedway@btinternet.com for more information.