MATCH REPORT: Home Internationals at Newport
The track alongside the Wales National Velodrome in Newport was the setting for the 2023 Home Internationals and Women’s Regional Pairs. It was the Women’s pairs which was the opening event and the saw the North & Scotland pairing of Emily Burgess and Laura Watson take victory for the 5th time in the last 6 years with 37 points. Burgess scored a paid maximum 23+1 points whilst Watson scored 14. The South & South Wales team finished as runners-up with 31 points and will rue a tape exclusion for Lauren Hookway in the last race when she and Maddie Saunders needed a maximum to beat Burgess & Watson. The South-East team finished 3rd with 27 points ahead of the Midlands on 23
North & Scotland 37: Emily Burgess 23+1, Laura Watson 14+1
South & South Wales 31: Maddie Saunders 17, Lauren Hookway 10+2, Rachel Lammin 4
South-East 27: Lily Parr 15, Amberley Gant 10+3, Ella Case 2
Midlands 23: Rebekkah Humphries 15+1, Georgia Burt 8
The Junior Home International followed and this saw England, Scotland & Wales take on a team of Young Lions, all of those possibly going to Australia for the World Championships in November. It was England who took the win on 69 points with Owen Geach top scoring with 15 points whilst John White and the Jolly brothers Torsten & Ryker scored 14 each and Harry Radford scored 12. The Young Lions finished as runners up on 64 points with Wales 3rd on 35 points followed by Scotland on 27
England 69: Owen Geach 15, Torsten Jolly 14, Ryker Jolly 14, John WHite 14, Harry Radford 12
Young Lions 64: Kenzie Bennett 16, Leon Penketh 14, Ollie Saunders 13, Shaun Kell 12, Feroze Langoo 9
Wales 35: Luis Lewis 9, Harry Marsh 8, Sam Marsh 6, Jacob Jones 6, Jayden Jenkins 6
Scotland 27: Kayden Davidson 9, Calan Cuthbert 6, Gareth Davies 5, Finn Crowther 4, Josh Falconer 3
Referee: Dave Dart (Devon)
The next match was the Over 40’s Home International and this was another win for England who have won the last 6 stagings of this event: Gavin Wheeler recorded a 16 point maximum whilst EuroVets Over 50’s and Over 60’s series leader Phil Gard scored 15 points, losing only to Scotland’s Jason Keith in heat 4. Richard Edge, a late call up after Andy Collett was injured on Thursday evening in a training crash, weighed in with 14 points. whilst Steve Paver scored 13 points and Andy Yard 12. Wales were runner-s up with 56 points ahead of Scotland on 38 and Ireland on 33. Ireland lost the services of Lee Ashman in his 2nd ride after a fall on the pits bend saw him sustain a broken collarbone
England 70: Gavin Wheeler 16, Phil Gard 15, Richard Edge 14, Steve Paver 13, Andy Yard 12
Wales 56: Mark Winwood 13, Alan Nation 13, Lee Galley 12, Matt Parr 10, Darren Busby 8
Scotland 38: Jason Keith 15, Joe Beuckmann 8, Colin Davidson 8, Stevie Crowther 7
Ireland 33: Paddy Wenn 11, Steve Copping 9, Gary Colby 7, Dave Blackmore 4, Lee Ashman 2
Referee: Dave Dart (Devon)
The Senior Home International rounded off the days action and this saw England take the win with 75 points from a possible 80. Aaron Smith top scored with a 16 point maximum whilst Ben Clarke, Chris Timms and Josh Brooke all scored 15 points with Zac Payne scoring 14. Wales finished as runners up with 65 points with Ben Mould and Mark Carmichael winning the 5 races between them that England didn’t win. Scotland finished 3rd with 31 points whilst Ireland were 4th on 27
England 75: Aaron Smith 16, Ben Clarke 15, Chris Timms 15, Josh Brooke 15, Zac Payne 14
Wales 65: Ben Mould 15, Mark Carmichael 14, Dan Bock 12, Wil Bristowe 12, Adam Bennett 12
Scotland 31: Tom Blackmore 8, Kyle Holland 8, Calum Ramsay 6, Lewis Alsop 5, Nathan Groves 4
Ireland 27: Aaron Herbert 7, Jack Herbert 7, Owen Wells 6, Steve Copping 4, Patrick O’Shea 3
Referee: Colin Simmons (Monmouthshire)