MATCH REPORT: Yorkshire League Round 1

Report by Robert Mawhood

Hull’s Hessle raceway was the venue for the first fixture of 2021 for the three Yorkshire Clubs, Heckmondwike, Hull and Sheffield. The format so successful in 2019 was kept for this year. That’s 12 heats of pairs racing, finished off with four individual races (climaxed with the top scorers race).
Lewis Foxley had the honour of being the first race winner of 2021, the Edinburgh Falcon on loan to Heckmondwike due to covid restrictions. The first 7-3 maximum came in heat 2, from Sheffield riders Kielan Burton and Niall Morton over Darren Kent/Justin Naylor. Hull took an advantage over Sheffield with 6-4 from Nathan Everett-Atkinson/David Cooper over Kyle Holland/Luke Morton. Darren Kent won heat 11 to dent Sheffield’s hopes of taking the lead. Everett-Atkinson dropped his first point in heat 12 to Niall Morton, leaving the scores after 12 races at Hull 45, Heckmondwike 31, Sheffield 44. Jack Lister won heat 13 to increase Hull’s lead to two. This was increased to three in heat 13, a race won by Laura Watson as Cooper and Burton swooped places as they concentrated on each other. Holland won heat 15, and with Kent relegating Matt Eglen to third the Hull lead was back to one point. This set up a last race decider, Niall Morton needing to beat Everett-Atkinson to tie the match. Foxley shot from the tapes for his second win, with Everett-Atkinson able to pass Morton to give Hull the victory.

Scorers

Hull (57) – Jack Lister 14, Matt Eglen 13+1, Nathan Everett-Atkinson 16+2, David Cooper 14, Andy Knowles DNR
Heckmondwike (44) – Lewis Foxley 15, Laura Watson 8, Darren Kent 14, Justin Naylor 5, Pat Beacock 2.
Sheffield (55) – Will Banyard 8+1, Kyle Holland 16+1, Niall Morton 15+2, Kielan Burton 13+1, Luke Morton 3.

Referee – Andy Schofield.

Fourteen riders lined up for the under 13’s GP, which saw the predicted showers start to fall (luckily not the thunderstorm that was forecast). Ten riders won at least one race, Hull’s Noah Lyon taking a hat trick of victories. Kacey Bennett and Will Hollich (Hull) both won twice as did Sheffield’s Laythan Sharp and Charlie Taylor.
Moving on to the GP finals Sharp had managed to beat Lyon in the last qualification race, crucial to giving him grid one for the under 13 Boys final. The Sheffield youngster was away from grid one but Lyon closed on the last lap, eventually beaten by just a bikes length. The new under 13’s Girls category saw Sheffield’s Lacey Ackroyd beat Hull’s Kacey Bennett.
Sheffield had a one/two in the under 10’s, Oliver Banyard taking first place ahead of Seraphina Green (both had been consistent in qualifying with three second places). Hull’s Jayden Bennett won the under 8’s ahead of three debut riders, Joseph Green (Heckmondwike), Lincoln Ackroyd (Sheffield) and Freddie Strafford (Hull).

GP points

Under 13 Boys

Laythan Sharp 25, Noah Lyon 20

Under 13 Girls

Lacey Ackroyd 25, Kacey Bennett 20

Under 10’s

Oliver Banyard 25, Seraphina Green 20, Harry Gibson 18, Will Hollich 16, Raylan Dakin 14, Charlie Taylor 13.

Under 8’s

Jayden Bennett 25, Joseph Green 20, Lincoln Ackroyd 18, Freddie Strafford 16.

Referee – Niall Morton

The senior GP saw an impressive 24 riders line up, numbers increased by guests Tom Bewick (Wednesfield) and Chris and Paul Timms (Birmingham). The qualification races (run on the ladder format) saw close racing and plenty of passing. Andy Angell (Hull) and Patrick Beacock (Heckmondwike) each managed a hat trick of race wins, with fifteen of the 24 riders winning at least one race. Chris Timms, Paul Timms, Niall Morton, Matt Eglen and Luke Morton each recorded a race win double.
The GP finals saw Laura Watson beat her Sheffield team mate Niamh Morton in the Women’s as she started defence of her title. Kielan Burton (Sheffield) also started his defence of the under 18’s title with victory, debutante Daniel Green (Heckmondwike) impressing as he took second place. Darren Kent won the newly created vets 55+ final, Paul Timms preventing a Heckmondwike one, two by claiming second place. Sheffield had a one/two in the Vets 40-54, Luke Morton finishing ahead of Will Banyard. With defending champion Matt Beharrell now back in Rugby League we will have a new open champion in 2021.
Andy Angell staked his claim by winning the Open A Final, Kyle Holland taking runner up spot (capitalising on Chris Timms spinning on the gate and Tom Bewick falling on lap one). The Sheffield rider fully deserved second place as he’d stayed in the top group throughout the qualification races. Nathan Everett-Atkinson (2020 runner up) had to settle for winning the Open B Final, which turned into a five rider race after David Cooper withdrew from racing after feeling unwell.

GP points

Open

Andy Angell 25, Kyle Holland 20, Chris Timms 18, Tom Bewick 16, Nathan Everett-Atkinson 14, Niall Morton 13, Jack Lister 12, Lewis Foxley 11, Matt Eglen 9, David Cooper 8.

Women’s

Laura Watson 25, Niamh Morton 20

Under 18’s

Kielan Burton 25, Daniel Green 20, Sam Stansfield 18, Liam Bennett 16.

Vets 40-54

Luke Morton 25, Will Banyard 20, Justin Naylor 18, Andy Knowles 16.

Vets 55+

Darren Kent 25, Paul Timms 20, Pat Beacock 18, Barry Ashton 16.

Referee – Andy Schofield.