CLUB NEWS: Birmingham’s Indoor defence ends in Semi Finals
The Birmingham Monarchs senior team missed out on defending their team title, after failing to come through the tough second semi final qualifier in Coventry, during the weekends British Indoor Championships.
The quartet of Chris Timms, Ricki Johnson, Scott Millward and Nathan Groves got beaten into third place to see all hopes of a successful title defence ended. Winners of that semi were Ipswich, who went on to finish runners up in the final, second to winners Wednesfield.
However, a weekend of packed entertainment did bring about some success for Monarchs riders in individual competitions with some rostrum placings.
The British Individual Open was a strong group of riders from the qualifiers, with Timms, Millward and Johnson all qualifying with strong semi final performances. Paul Timms and Groves missed out on a final place.
All three Birmingham riders maintained hopes of the title throughout the meeting. The strongest challenge coming from Millward. After a third place start he reeled off two impressive wins, a second place in his fourth ride saw him in second spot with the final block of heats to come.
The last race of the day was likely to crown the winner. Millward on 13 points needed to win the race from gate 2 to be crowned Champion. Stockport rider Jake Read lined up next to him on grid one who, on 14 points also needed to win to take the title.
In the first running both riders clashed on bend one, causing both to hit the air fence. At the second attempt Read made no mistake, leading the race throughout. Millward got caught in traffic on bend 2 but managed to make his way through into third.
(L-R): Chris Timms, Jake Read, Ashley Hill
The race however ended in controversy, with Read over the line and winning the event the three riders behind clashed out of the 4th bend and all fell into the air fence, Millward first up to cross the line.
However, the decision by the referee was to award the race where they crashed and exclude the rider who caused the incident, which left Millward in third place and a chance to finish on the rostrum dashed.
Timms on 16 points lost a run off for second spot but still finished on the rostrum in third. Johnson meanwhile finished joint fourth on 15 points, level with Millward.
The international championship was also won by Read, whilst Johnson beat Millward in a run off for second spot, both Monarchs finishing on the rostrum.
International GP podium: Scott Millward (left), Jake Read and Ricki Johnson (right)
Ewan Hancox finished 5th on 14 points in the Under 16 championship, won by Stockport rider Devon Campbell. He also took part in the Under 19 championship finishing in 10th place on 10 points.
Paul Timms came 5th in the Over 40’s championship on 15 points.
This weekend the club will be relaying the track with new shale to make the track surface much more suitable for racing. The club now have a twitter account. Follow them with the following Twitter tag: @brummonarchs.