CLUB NEWS: Timms takes victory in campaign awareness meeting

November 4, 2019 Steve Copping

Words and photo by Steve Hodgkinson, Birmingham CSC Press Officer

Birmingham Monarchs Cycle Speedway Club hosted the final meeting of the 2019 season on Sunday with the campaign raising knives against crime awareness day. Top class riders from as far and wide as Suffolk and Norfolk travelled to show their support for the campaign.
The ‘Justice for Ryan’ meeting was in serious doubt over the weekend with heavy and prolonged rain leading up to the Sunday requiring trackwork and major work on the drains on Saturday to keep the racing a possibility. Although the track was still heavy and spongy on the 4th bend the riders attacked it and provided some top class racing for the crowd.
British champion Paul Heard and GB team mates Ash Hill and Chris Timms were included in the line up along with Veteran World Champion Paddy Wenn whilst event organiser Johnson himself rode. 7 of the home club 1st team also took part.
Early front runner was home rider Scott Millward who was unbeaten after 2 blocks of racing. The only unbeaten rider at the stage. However the consistency of Ipswich duo Hill and Fellget saw them lead after the 3rd block of races on 11 points, both having only dropped a point each.
In the closing stages Fellget was clear leader on 15 points with 1 round of races remaining whilst Hill and Timms both needing wins to stay in touch on 14 points. First up in Heat 17 put Timms against Fellget. The Ipswich rider sped from the inside grid to lead for a lap. Timms burst under Fellget on the 2nd lap on the 1st bend sending the Suffolk rider wide with Heard following through to demote the Ipswich rider to 3rd place.
Heat 18 saw Hill have to play 2nd fiddle to impressive youngster Lewis Brinkhoff who is still not even 16 yet. Johnson finished with a 3rd win to finish on 16 in heat 19 beating team mate Millward who needed to win the heat to finish on the rostrum.
After 20 heats a final race was required to settle 2nd and 3rd place. Fellget beat his team mate Hill in the run off which sees the end of the 2019 season for the Birmingham club. Timms win in heat 17 proved vital as 18 points proved to be the winning score on the day.

After the racing the club hosted a group of youngsters to try the sport. The all girl group thoroughly enjoyed practising and racing.
The club will now be running Sunday taster sessions for any youngsters who want to come and try the sport or anyone that wants to come and practise. These will be every Sunday from 1.15pm weather permitting. Feel free to pop along and have a go, for ANY age!
With the racing season now over the racing moves indoors ready for the Indoor championships in Coventry on the first weekend of January. Further discussions will continue with the council over the lease and development of the track and facilities.