MATCH REPORT: Coventry cap off excellent weekend at East Park
Coventry XL Motors Sabres took 24 riders to contest three divisions of Midland League racing at East Park, Wolverhampton yesterday afternoon.
The first team registered their biggest win to date against the hard working Wolves, with Jake White starring for the home side. The Sabres took a 63-117 victory with new signing Jim Bailey and skipper Myke Grimes racing unbeaten by an opponent.
Other debutant Mike Baldock conceded his only point to White in heat one, with the rest of the Sabres contributing heavily, Dan Drewett scored his best points haul for the first team.
EAST PARK 63
Jake White 18, Aleksander Maslanka 6, Adam Mebbely 7, Bob Prince 9, Sam Bishop 10, Charlie Barnett 6, Nathanial Picor 3, Brendan Sidebottom 4
COVENTRY 117
Sam Hardie 12+2, Mike Baldock 18+1, Danny Drewett 17, Jim Bailey 12+4, Kyle Barlow 17+1, Myke Grimes 17+3, Cameron Gill 12+2, Matt Lawrence 12+2
The second team won a close fought match 71-78. The unbeaten Tom Savage top scoring for the Sabres alongside Lee Gregory to start joint team managers, Matt Lawrence and Sam Hardie off to a winning start.
EAST PARK 71
Brendan Sidebottom 14+1, Adam 11+2, Louise 9+2, Nathanial Picor 11, Aleksander Maslanka 13+1, Charlie Barnett 14+3
COVENTRY 78
Amy Baynes 5, Ben Wells 13, Lee Gregory 15, Marc Gilpin 7, Tom Savage 16, Owen Gregory 11+2, Jony Middleton 8+1, Jack Reynolds 3
Earlier in the day, Jez Hughes’ division three side took a comprehensive victory to set the tone for the day. Captain Lewis Middleton, Jude Wilcockson, Lewis Fry, Chester Gilpin and Tom Pearson all raced unbeaten for the Sabres.
EAST PARK 44
Nick Jansons 2, Alicia Gdowska 5, John Walsh 8+1, Bethany Price 4+1, Liene Busma 6, Dominic Price 8, Chaviv Coleman 11
COVENTRY 76
Lewis Middleton 10+2, Jude Wilcockson 11+1, Lewis Fry 12, Tom Pearson 10+2, Chester Gilpin 12, Alex Cunningham 9+1, Yoanna Gilpin 8, Finn Yousen 4
The results capped off a great weekend for the club. Firstly, the Coventry League was a huge success on Friday with 33 riders turning out for round one. The event features 6 riders races with 3 teams, Coventry Sabres, Brandon Bees and Whitley Wizards. Using a grant from Sport England ally assisted by British Cycling, the club kitted out all the riders in eye catching new tops from 33/18 Designs.
The formula splits all available club riders into divisions where they race their own ability group from division 6 to division 1.
Whitley Wizards took the round one victory in a fiercely competitive meeting.
On Saturday Coventry were well represented at the British Youth and Junior League at Wednesfield, with Yoanna and Chester Gilpin taking A final victories in U8s and U10s respectively, in their first ever BYJL match.
Jude Wilcockson secured 4th in the U10s A Final after moving up an age group. Autumn Smith cane second in the B final, while Alex Cunningham and Finn Yousen came first and third respectively in the C final with Ruary Hughes taking first in the D final.
In the U12s, Lewis Fry impressed and was unlucky to only take 4th in the A final. Lewis Middleton and Tom Pearson took first and third in the B.
Jonathan Middleton pulled off some impressive passes to take third in the A final of the U14s, with Jack Reynolds winning the B.
Amy Baynes took a well earned third in the B final of the girls event with a typically battling display.
Cameron Gill rode to third place in the A final of the U18s, while Tom Savage recovered from a crash to come third in the B final, the 14 year old having an impressive weekend. Ben Wells won the C final. Yoanna and Chester are pictured with BYJL coordinator below:
This week, weather permitting the club have coaching night on Tuesday from 6pm, club night ladder racing on Wednesday and on Sunday they host Birmingham Monarchs in the Midland League at Hearsall Common. Not one to be missed!
Photos by Paul Devine. BYJL photos by Marc Gilpin.