CLUB NEWS: Wednesfield celebrate successful 2017
Wednesfield Aces Cycle Speedway Club staged their club presentation night in November, a week before twenty three of the clubs riders and members set off for the world finals in Australia.
The night was hosted by club supporter and Signal radios star presenter Scottie Lyons. It was supported by well over one hundred members and their families. The club gave many awards to riders and volunteers.radios
First to receive his Tuesday club rider of the year award was Joban Soori, who was also an ever present BYJL rider and Midland Division 3 team member.
The younger riders have also raced for the Aces in the British Youth and Junior League. Burtie and Louise did a fantastic job over the season in looking after the Youth and Junior riders on race days.
Wednesfield’s Little League riders finished second in the Midlands, and the young Aces finished third in the Midlands Youth and Junior league overall.
Brandon Whetton finished 2nd in the Midland rounds and went onto become National BYJL and British Junior Champion, showing why he is the best youth and junior rider of his generation, and this was before he became World Champion just a few weeks later.
Brandon’s younger brother Josh collected the second award of the night as the Aces BYJL rider of the year. Georgia Burt collected a women’s league intermediate pair’s trophy that she won with her race partner Alice Neighbour.
Ever present and top scorer Megan Burt was awarded with the Division 3 rider of the year award. A forever present rider in division 2, was team Captain Adam Tipton, who received the manager’s rider of the year award.
There was a special award given to 2017 graded rider Matt Smith who had to miss out being a member of the team which won the British knockout cup final however he was awarded with the medal that he had not received on the day.
Wednesfield Aces first team squad all collected their Division 1 Midland League winners medals, they were Lee Aris, Paul Heard, Chris Jewkes, Matt Smith, Lee Kemp, Brandon Whetton, Carl Parfitt, Haydn Rowley, Harrie Everiss, Josh Whetton, Tyler Bould, Adam Tipton, Phil Hemming, Mark Griffiths, Tom Buick and Graham Kemp.
The first team were also recognised for their Spring Cup success and their playoff final victory against Newport, Ipswich and Astley & Tilsley.
Two awards were given to first team rider and British open final runner up Paul Heard, who was named as first division rider of the year and the rider’s rider of the year. Special mention also went to Steve Mullinder, who guided the midland junior team to Battle of Britain victory.
The club has a thriving veterans section and long may it continue. We have had another successful season in the Euro vet’s tours across Britain with new addition’s Burtie, Graham Kemp, Glyn Rowley and Wayne Tipton joining Steve Mullinder, Mark Griffiths and Phil Hemmings in the vets team.
Mark Griffiths won the over 50s Euro Vet championship and Phil Hemmings won the over 60s championship. Josh Whetton collected his second award of the night collecting this year’s most improved rider for 2017.
Awards were Also presented to the Aces club championship winners :-
GIRLS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1ST GEORGIA BURT, 2ND MEGAN BURT 3RD ROBYN VAUGHAN
UNDER 6s CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1ST ZANE NICHOLLS 2ND AMBER SOORI 3RD JACOB JEWKES
UNDER 8s CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1ST KYLAN BOULD 2ND JOBAN SOORI 3RD EWAN TURNER
UNDER 10s CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1ST COREY BURT 2ND PETER MIDDLETON 3RD JOSEPH TURNER
UNDER 14s CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1ST GEORGIA BURT 2ND ELLIS RICHMOND 3RD TODD ROWLEY
UNDER 18s CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1ST CARL PARFITT 2ND ADAM TIPTON 3RD HAYDN ROWLEY
VETERANS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1ST GRAHAM KEMP 2ND STEVE MULLINDER 3RD GLYN ROWLEY
SENIORS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1ST MATT SMITH 2ND CARL PARFITT 3RD LEE KEMP
The club were proud to stage the British finals day in August. The day was blessed with fantastic weather and the committee of Roger Ellis, Dave Jewkes, Wayne Tipton, Steve Mullinder, Burtie Burt, Andy Parfitt, Cindy Ellis, Kevin Turley, Chris Jewkes, Wayne Aris, Tom Haddock, and, not forgetting our President Paul Bodley, were all given round of applause by the room for their hard work throughout the year.
However every club needs help on big occasions and the club gave each of its volunteers a box of chocolates to show their appreciation to Jacqui Parfitt, Bernie Kemp, Kim Smith, Rachel Tipton, Lisa Tipton, Rachel Staunton, Kate Mullinder, Louise Burt, Nannie Jan, Megan Burt, Georgia Burt, Indi Soori, Janet Robbins, Jess Haddock, Laura Lee, Kerry Bold and not forgetting Jez Tuner and Martyn Vaughan for their help at the Club every Tuesday evening.
After the gifts were given out to our army of volunteers, club Chairman, Dave Jewkes, then presented the volunteer of the year to the popular Craig” Burtie “Burt.
Cindy Ellis has worked tirelessly for the club in the club canteen and as the clubs welfare officer for many years and alongside Roger they have volunteered a big part of their life together to the club, without Cindy and the funds she has helped to raise over the years things like the presentation just wouldn’t be possible.
This is the last year that Cindy will be volunteering in the clubs canteen as Cindy is retiring from club duties, Chairman Dave Jewkes and Husband Roger Ellis presented her with a Crystal Vase.
Jacqui Parfitt was presented with a bouquet of flowers from club members who were about to leave for the world finals in Australia. Jacqui had raised funds to pay for all riders to wear a specially designed commemorative race shirt for when the club raced Salisbury.
The final presentation on the night was given by Councillors Phil and Mary Bateman who presented Paul Bodley and Roger Ellis with a framed letter from The Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Elias Mattu honouring the special recognition that Wednesfield Aces has in the community of Wolverhampton.