CLUB NEWS: Poole keep up push for League Crown

Club news from Poole covering recent results – Evening Echo article by Poole press officer Gordon Day.

HIGH-FLYING Poole Comets kept their English League Championship hopes alive with a workmanlike away win at Birmingham.

Poole’s better all-round team strength gave them victory, although an 100-78 match result had been a lot closer than the final score suggested, with the points shared in no fewer than eight of the 18 races.

Comets went ahead when Wil Bristowe and Fraser Garnett combined for a 7-3 heat win in the second race and they increased their advantage through Matt Mildon and Nathan Goulden in heat four.

But the midlands side were not going to give in without a fight and held their nerve to share the next four races.

Bristowe and Mildon then linked up for another maximum heat win to give Poole an 11-point lead at the interval.

Ben Mould opened the second half with a tapes-to-flag win and with Garnett holding on to third as the Comets stretched their lead further.

Mould, Kyran Yeatman, and Mildon then posted successive race wins to put the result out of Birmingham’s reach, leaving promising junior Nathan Goulden to wrap up the league points by winning heat 16.

In-form Mould then showed his mastery to win the final race and complete his maximum, with team-mate Aaron Smith following him home as Comets stayed in the hunt for the league title.

Comets: Ben Mould 20, Matt Mildon 18, Wil Bristowe 17, Aaron Smith 12, Kyran Yeatman 12, Fraser Garnett 10, Nathan Goulden 10, Natalie Goulden 1.

Poole riders also took the honours in the final round of the British Youth and Junior League championship.

The Comets side won the team event to be crowned 2019 British Youth and Junior league club champions.

Individually, Kenzie Bennett won the BYJL Under-12 title, while Fraser Garnett took under-18 honours.

Comets number one Ben Mould will be taking part in a special award ceremony outside of the JD Sports outlet in the Dolphin Centre at 2pm on Saturday, October 19.

The Dolphin Centre are main team sponsors of the successful Poole club and the award will be made by the centre management in recognition of Mould winning the 2019 ICSF World Championship.