MATCH REPORT: SW&W just shy of 80 riders in BYJL round 3

Exeter were the hosts on Saturday for 79 riders in round 3 of the South West and Wales British Youth and Junior League, and with the army of volunteers, it proved to be another great days racing for all involved.

U8 category was first up at 12 noon. Charlie Martin from the home track was on the inside of fellow team mate Jack Tidball to clinch the A final, after taking a point of each other in the heats. Rylee from Poole Comets came third off grid one and Kieran Legg came fourth in his first A final of the season.

The U10s saw a healthy 27 competitors, 15 from Poole alone. JJ Wildman, another home rider, once again came first from a gate 4, while Poole’s Kenzie Bennett put in a maximum 16 score in heats, and claimed the runners up spot. Oliver Saunders, another strong rider from Poole came third from gate one after another maximum score in the heats, while Mackenzie Laing took the final A-final position.

Rosie Tidball, another home Aces rider, was only rider in the U12s to win all of her races in the heats. She drew gate 1 in her final, making no mistake to come home first and lead the championship by 75 points. Poole’s Joe Hurren secured second from Shannon Tucker. Jamie Brown came fourth after 13 points in the heats.

The U14s saw Newport Flyers’ Dan Wright showing his gating power by scoring a max in the heats, and went on to claim an A final win from grid 2. This keeps Dan on top of the leader board with 75 points. Exeter’s Ben Stanbury coming in second from the outside grid position. Poole’s Nathan Goulden was third over the Aces’ Harry Stanbury.

The Girls racing saw 8 riders take part, where once again Macie Schmidt from Poole did not drop a single point and went on to win the final from a gate 4. Team mate Maddie Saunders showed her ever presence by coming second, with Bethany Briggs, also from Poole, coming third. Alice Neighbour from Horspath pulled herself out of the meeting due to being unwell.

Poole Comets’ Ben Tinsdale was in good form in the Junior competition, scoring 14 in the heats to win the A final from a gate 2. Will Jeffery came second after a fall in the heats with Newport’s Callum Goward. Fraser Garnett was third from the outside and the unlucky Jack Ellis from Horspath Hammers came off in his first ever A final came in 4th.

Poole 162, Exeter 129, Horspath 80, Newport 68, Southampton 8.

Little League

Poole 193, Exeter 93, Newport 39.Sothampton 34, Horspath 22.

Combined for SSW purposes only

Poole 355, Exeter222, Newport 107,Horspath102, Southampton 42.

Photos are up on Exeter Aces Facebook page. Thank you to everyone at Exeter Aces for a brilliant and enjoyable Day.

Report by Neil Garnett

Newport reportedly took a coach to Exeter, such is the growing interest in junior racing at the two Welsh tracks. Newport are well renowned for winning senior titles, now look to build their pyramid base once again. Newport won 4 BYJL national titles in the early 2000s.