RESULTS: Australian Titles

November 9, 2020 Steve Copping

Photos taken by Terry Scriven

Sunday 1st of November saw the Australian titles held at the Findon Cycle speedway circuit and the sun was out in force. The dry track conditions saw many riders come to grief including defending Australian Champion and Aussie team member Daniel Robb who slipped and suffered a broken thumb forcing him to retire from the meeting.

Top 4 for the elite men.

4th place Matty Snowden 14pts
3rd place Nash Manoel 14pts
2nd place Shane Bentley 19pts
1st place Bobby McMillan 20pts

McMillan won his first Open Australian title which certainly put a smile on his face. Bentley dropping one point to a formidable Snowden in his final heat put McMillan on the favourable grid 1 for the sudden death final. Nash Manoel bursting out the gates all day with good form and fitness will be one to watch in the next few years. Unfortunately top contender Cody Chadwick had to pull out of the meeting due to a hamstring injury leaving the field wide open.

Headlining the Junior category
4th place Locke Pearce 7pts
3rd place Jacob Pudney 10pts
2nd place Braylan MacDonald 15pts
1st place Blade Blatchford 17pts

A costly DNF for MacDonald in his first heat cost him a potential win. But that didn’t stop Blatchford’s strong performance all day closely followed by Jacob Pudney and Locke Pearce.

Open women’s category

4th place Harleigh Rochester 12pts
3rd place Charlotte Tidswell 14pts
2nd place Kayleigh Clarke 15pts
1st place Holly Greenhalgh 20pts

Kayleigh Clarke came to grief in her first heat causing a stoppage earning her a DNF in her first heat. Charlotte Tidswell is new to the sport coming from BMX and picking it up very quickly and will no doubt be a contender for the women’s Aussie team in the future.