CLUB NEWS: More Gold Cup misery for Birmingham
Birmingham fell to a 3rd Gold Cup defeat on Sunday as Leicester came to Perry Hall Playing Fields and took a narrow win in a highly entertaining encounter with some spectacular racing on show.
In the early stages of the meeting Leicester were solid by not allowing the home side any advantages and only 1 heat advantage in heat 5 to the visitors split the 2 sides.
2 maximums in heats 9 & 10 however changed all that as the Birmingham men fought back through victories for both Humphries and Billy Winwood followed by another from Carl Winwood and a Ricki Johnson, moving into the interval one point ahead (50-49).
The 2 nd half was a real topsy turvy affair with the lead swapping a couple of times as both Monarch teams fought for supremacy. Heat 12 saw both juniors Billy and Ryan Winwood getting in each other’s way that saw the visitors exploit with a 7-3 (58-61).
Heat 15 saw a brilliant start from Paul Timms to take victory whilst Chris Timms provided support to take a maximum and the lead (75-74).
Heat 16 Leicester took their own maximum in the Junior heat to move ahead again whilst a Birmingham maximum in the 17th from Billy and Ryan Winwood took the home team 1 up again with Billy taking on and defeating the unbeaten Bartosz Pelaczyk in the process with a forceful and determined ride.
Yet again the visitors fought back with 7-3 of their own in the 18 th to again regain the lead. The 19th was a costly affair for the home side as Carl Winwood was excluded for taking a rider off the track. With the Monarchs in a heat advantage at the time it proved a costly exclusion. A maximum heat advantage in the final heat was required to grab a draw on the day however Leicester’s Dave Frith held onto 2 nd despite huge pressure from Mark Winwood. Despite a 2 point defeat on the day it was the racing that proved to be the winner on the day as well.
GOLD CUP
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS 98 v Leicester 100 – Ricki Johnson 15+1, Carl Winwood 7+1, Paul Timms 7, Chris Timms 15+1,Ewan Hancox 6, Mark Winwood 12, Billy Winwood 10+2, Bekah Humphries 11, Ryan Winwood 6+1, Connor Steel 7, Charlie Buet Gannon 2+1.
Mark Winwood sealed victory on Saturday in Leicester by taking the Eurovets title. Having got himself in pole position leading up to the final few rounds he knew that an A final appearance would seal him the title. 18 points on the day was enough for Mark to take victory overall. He finished 2nd in the final to Craig Marchant, the outgoing champion remaining unbeaten on the day.
Next week the Monarchs travel to East Park in the Gold Cup. Tapes up at 2pm. The following weekend sees GB take on Rest of the World on Saturday 20th at The Perry Barr facility and on Sunday 21st Wednesfield arrive in more Gold Cup action.
Training continues on a a Tuesday and a Thursday from 6PM until end of October. Newcomers of all ages and abilities are welcome to come and have a go.