MATCH REPORT: Midlands BYJL Round One from Leicester

The Midlands rounds of the 2017 BYJL got underway in the sunshine at Leicester, where there was a good turnout despite a number of our regular competitors being away on holiday (we missed you Burtie!). It was good to see riders wearing the colours of Brandon once again and also there were a also a number of new riders from East Park’s Go-Ride sessions.

In the U8s, both Coventry’s Jude Wilcockson and Leicester’s Liam Wells were unbeaten in the qualifying races and in the final Jude made the better start and took the win ahead of Liam, Finley Yousen and Ewan Turner.

The experience of Ronnie Wassall was too much for the other competitors in the U10s, as he went unbeaten on his way to victory, but there were some good performances by newcomers to the tournament with the Brandon duo of Lewis Middleton and Tom Pearson taking second and third, ahead of Birmingham’s Charlie Buet-Gannonn.

Jude Wilcockson leads in the U8s. Photos by Greg at East Park.

Ronnie Wassall was in fine form in the U10s competition. Photos by Greg at East Park.

Click here for more photos by Greg from East Park

In the U12s it was another first-timer, Brandon’s Jonathan Middleton, who won ahead of the 2016 U10’s champion Connor Steel, Jack Reynolds and Dylan Hawtin.

With only 3 riders in the U14s Coventry’s Ben Wells was a comfortable winner ahead of Alexsander Maslanka and Jude Painter.

Jonny Middleton had a dream BYJL debut to take the win in the U12s. Photos by Greg at East Park.

Coventry’s Ben Wells (right) won the U14s. Photos by Greg at East Park.

14 riders competed in the new Junior (U18s) category, and whilst there was little doubt about the winner Brandon Whetton, there was still plenty of good racing, with Ollie Morris taking second ahead of Ewan Hancox and Max Wells making his first A final to finish fourth.

Jimmy Wassall had an eventful day with a starting gate exclusion in a two rider race and a fall on the last bend, but he still managed to win the B final ahead of another impressive Brandon rider, Cameron Gill.  The unlucky Josh Whetton only made it to the second bend of his first race before a heavy fall ended his day’s racing.

In the Girls it was a 1-2-3 for the older trio of Lizzie Rigley, Chloe Whitehead and Sammi Marsh, but last year’s U12’s winner Sophie Sinclair-Black was always in the action to take fourth. Brandon’s Amy Baines took a heavy fall in the B Final but was already looking forward to the next round by the time she made it back to the pits.

Brandon Whetton was untroubled in the Juniors. Photos by Greg at East Park.

Lizzie Rigley was on top in the Girls event. Photos by Greg at East Park.

Team scores:

Little League:  Coventry 94, Wednesfield 37, Leicester 28, East Park 27, Birmingham 14

BYJL: Coventry 119, Birmingham 69, Leicester 62, East Park 29, Wednesfield 24

There was plenty of good racing throughout the day and we look forward to the next round at Wednesfield on April 22.

The next generation of racers are already in training, as Dougie Grimes could be seem taking in a few laps of the track – guess we’ll have to start a Very Little League then!

Thanks to BYJL co-ordinator Ross Mee for the report.