MATCH REPORT: Bury juniors show their quality and quantity
If the first team match between Sheffield and Bury wasn’t decided until the final heats, the League Two match was a complete contrast. Bury dominated from the first race, and ended up providing 14 of the 15 race winners in a convincing 88-62 victory.
Danny Taylor, James Elston and Adam Turnbull all finished unbeaten, with the Comets taking a heat advantage in nine races (six by 7-3). Sheffields one race winner and heat advantage came from Niamh Morton and dad Luke in race 14. Bury finish the season as runners up, with Sheffield needing a win at Northumbria on the final day to finish in the top half of the table.
SHEFFIELD 62
Ed Morton 12+2(5), Sophie Middleton 11(5), Niamh Morton 11+1(5), Vicky Brown 10(5), Dan Rushton 8(4), Paul Fisher 6+2(4), Luke Morton 3+1(1), Jack Brownell 1(1)
BURY 88
Danny Taylor 19+1(5), James Elston 18+2(5), Adam Turnbull 17+3(5), Adam Taylor 16(5), Kaysor Mohammed 10(4), Steve Mann 3(3), Louis Turner 3(2), Daniel Miller 2(1)
The final fixture of the day was the under 13’s individual, and Cookson records would tumble. Bury were recently involved in a mammoth match against A&T, when 35 riders were in competition.
This time there was only 29, but Bury brought 22 (a record for a visiting team in this competition). If Sheffield were outnumbered by 3-1, managing to put 7 riders on track. The riders were split into two pools, Pool A contained the older more experienced riders (who raced over 4 laps). Pool B contained those as young as 4, and was raced over 3 laps.
Kaysor Mohammedi was the only unbeaten rider, looking especially quick around Cooksons wide open track. Daniel Miller, Louis Turner and Harry Radford were the ones to push him close. For Sheffield Jack Brownell and Kielan Burton each got a win, but the visitors always dominated.
In pool B it was Sheffields newest recruit KD Gittens who went through the match unbeaten. His final race against Thom Deakin and Kaci Neath being the decider, as all were unbeaten when they lined up at the start. Duncan Whalley and Zak Thacker both managed two wins each. While Sheffields one other racer, Lewis Bemrose won his first race.
Pool A
Sheffield – Jack Brownell 13, Kielan Burton 13, Joe Brownell 9, Logan Perkins 8, Max Fletcher 6
Bury – Kaysor Mohammedi 16, Daniel Miller 15, Harry Radford 14, Louis Turner 14, Dean Nolan 11, Josh Neath 10, Sean Etheridge 9, Lewis Habib 7, Charlie Thacker 7, Dane Brooks 4, Louis Roberts 4
Pool B
Sheffield – KD Gittens 16, Lewis Bemrose 11.
Bury – Thom Deakin 15, Kaci Neath 14, Duncan Whalley 14, Zak Thacker 13, Angel Etheridge 12, Kasper Renc 11, Sheldon Nolan 9, Nicodem Renc 9, Harmoine Whalley 9, Rowan Heath 8, Kyle Turner 7.
All the races had expert commentary from Sheffields Chris Bingham, even though it was a struggle to identify the riders. The one sour note was when a couple of the delightful locals took to throwing stones at the riders on turn 4, so brave were these youths that they hid behind girls to carry out their cowardly act. They soon left the scene when approached about their actions. The winners of the day were the kids out on the track.