MATCH REPORT: Norfolk Under-10 & Under 19 Individual Championships

September 13, 2020 Steve Copping

Report by Mel Perkins MBE

Photos sent in by Jenny Melvin

HETHERSETT HAWKS / YELLOW BRICK MORTGAGES staged two more Norfolk Championships on a dry and dusty track in gorgeous September sunshine. If success is measured in staging some memorable matches with a well-behaved crowd in their pre-set bubbles encouraging every rider and the riders themselves enjoying providing entertainment, then it ticked every box.

However, if success is measured in trophies it was not such a good day for Hethersett. Even at Under-10 level Norwich Stars provided three riders with much experience compared to nine of the 11 Hethersett riders who had only taken up the sport in the post-lockdown training sessions.

Two of the Norwich riders, Will Blackmore and Connor Jarrett, produced the race of the day as early as heat 4 when they jockeyed for positions on every lap with Will pipping Connor in a race to the line. That ultimately is how they stood at the top of the podium with Frank Spauls finishing third overall. Hethersett’s Under-8 champion Luca El Labany was laid low by illness so it was left to Louis Marling and Lola Martin to head their challenge while others to show plenty of speed were Ronnie Harding and Freddie Jackson.with Max Pugh consistently notching five second-places.

Scores – Will Blackmore (Norwich) 20, Connor Jarrett (Norwich) 19, Frank Spauls (Norwich) 18, Louis Marling (Hethersett) 17, Lola Martin (Hethersett) 16, Max Pugh (Hethersett) 15, Freddie Jackson (Hethersett) 13, Jamal Musa (Hethersett) 12, Ronnie Harding (Hethersett) 12, Benedict Kohler (Hethersett) 11, Zackery Eastwood (Norwich) 11, Ralph Silvester (Hethersett) 9, Thalia Silver (Hethersett) 9, Noah Cameron (Hethersett) 7, Grace Cameron (Hethersett) 6

There may have been only five entrants for the Under-19s and only five heats for them to contest but there was no shortage of action as they hurtled round the track. Coming into his first competitive match was Norwich Stars’ Marcel Moore but he will not be a complete unknown for long. The multi-discipline cyclist showed speed and bike handling skills so becoming a surprise Norfolk Champion. His toughest challenge came from home favourite Paul Delaiche who passed Marcel in heat 4 only to slip off at the corner and lose positions. When Paul was unable to hit the front from the outside grid in the last race Marcel took the title. Paul was runner-up followed by Tom Blackmore.

Scores – Marcel Moore (Norwich) 14, Paul Delaiche (Hethersett) 13 Tom Blackmore (Norwich) 11, McKenzie Loombe (Hethersett) 8, Mason Martrin (Hethersett) 4.