MATCH REPORT: Manchester League round 4 from Gin Pit

Astley & Tyldesley hosted Round 4 of the Manchester League Grand Prix series at Gin Pit on Wednesday. The Manchester League continues to boom this year, as there was a record equalling turnout of 47 riders, which resulted in 60 races being completed, in 3 hours.

Astley & Tyldesley riders dominated the u-10s match, with A&T providing the top five scorers, as Charlie Burgess recorded his first ever maximum score. Joe Quarmby lost only to Burgess in heat 2, whilst John White lost only to Quarmby in heat 6. The u-13s match saw Stockport’s Michael Preston race unbeaten, with A&T’s Max Evans losing only to Preston in heat 3.

The u-16s and u-19s raced a combined match, with scores subsequently adjusted. A&T’s Reece Pollitt and Sheffield’s Adam Watson dropped one point each in the u-19 and u-16 categories respectively. Defending Manchester League Division 2 champions Astley & Tyldesley made it four wins out of four in this series, with Bury pipping Stockport for second place. A&T’s top five scorers gave a near perfect display, dropping just two points to opposing riders.

Manchester League Division 2 result (top 5 scorers only count to their team’s total)

Astley & Tyldesley 76 Bury 58 Stockport 53 Sheffield 28.

U10s: Charlie Burgess (A&T) 16, John White (A&T) 15, Joe Quarmby (A&T) 15, Charlie Dickinson (A&T) 13, Jack Murray (A&T) 13, Thom Deakin (Bury) 12, Jack Littler (A&T) 12, Charlie Thacker (Bury) 12, Luke Hill (A&T) 11, Angel Etheridge (Bury) 11, Duncan Whalley (Bury) 10, Ryan Fallon (A&T) 9, Zak Thacker (Bury) 9, Max Quarmby (A&T) 7, Caillen Langlands (A&T) 7, Kaci Neath (Bury) 7, Lucy Grantham (A&T) 6, Hermoine Whalley (Bury) 6.

U13s: Michael Preston (Stockport) 16, Max Evans (A&T) 15, Louis Wright (Stockport) 14, Devon Campbell (Stockport) 13, Tom Whitwam (Sheffield) 13, Louis Turner (Bury) 12, Daniel Miller (Bury) 11, Josh Neath (Bury) 10, Sean Etheridge (Bury) 10, Emily Burgess (A&T) 10, Lewis Habib (Bury) 8, Kacper Kupiec (A&T) 7, Kieran Fallon (A&T) 5.

U16s: Adam Watson (Sheffield) 15, Ciaran Collins (A&T) 13.

U19s: Reece Pollitt (A&T) 15, Jake Read (Stockport) 10.

Referees – Chas Whalley and Mike Hack.

Division 2 standings: Astley & Tyldesley 17, Bury 12, Stockport 8, Sheffield 7, Heckmondwike 1.

Bury’s Ben Scranage top scored in the Division 1 (senior) match, losing only to Stockport riders Jake Read and Mat Lush in heats 9 and 20 respectively. A&T’s Radek Handke recorded three quick wins, including the fastest time of the night, 42.70 secs, when winning heat 17, but suffered a gate exclusion in heat 7. Defending Division 1 champions Stockport narrowly edged out Astley & Tyldesley to take the win on the night.

Manchester League Division 1 result (top 5 scorers only count to their team’s total)

Stockport 59 Astley & Tyldesley 57 Bury 33 Sheffield 5.

Seniors: Ben Scranage (Bury) 14, Ben Higham (Stockport) 13, Mat Lush (Stockport) 13, Reece Pollitt (A&T) 13, Terry Norman (Stockport) 12, Gareth Paine (A&T) 12, Radek Handke (A&T) 12, Luke Jamson (A&T) 11, Dylan Radcliffe (Stockport) 11, Kristian Ramsden (Bury) 11, Jake Read (Stockport) 10, Chris Eaton (Stockport) 9, Max Evans (A&T) 9, Will Thacker (Bury) 8, Mark Grantham (A&T) 7, Ciaran Collins (A&T) 6, Adam Watson (Sheffield) 5.

Referee – Mike Hack.

Division 1 standings: Stockport 15, Bury 11, Astley & Tyldesley 10, Sheffield 4.