BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS: Day 3 Round-up

Day 3 of the 2022 British Champinships saw the action move to Perry hall Playing Fields, Birmingham where the Over 40’s, Under 16 Boys, Women’s and Open British Champions would be crowned.

The day started with the British Over 40’s Championship and Kevin Burns (Leicester) recaptured the title he won for the first time in 2019 with a 19 point score, dropping his only point to his Leicester club-mate Craig Marchant who finished as runner-up with 18 points. Steve Harris rounded off a good weekend for him personally with 3rd place on 17 points following his runner-up spot in the Over 50’s yesterday

Kevin Burns (Leicester) 19, Craig Marchant (Leicester) 18, Steve Harris (Astley & Tyldesley) 17, Andy Yard (Exeter) 14, Mark Winwood (Birmingham) 13, Toby Millen (Great Blakenham) 12, Gavin Wheeler (Horspath) 12, Paddy Wenn (Norwich) 12, Mark Whitehead (Leicrester) 12, Lee Galley (Newport) 11, Craig Guy (Fred Williams Cycles) 11, Lee Grange (Norwich) 10, Alan Nation (Poole) 9, Nicky Whitehead (Leicester) 8, Steven Hammond (Kesgrave) 7, Lee Ashman (Wednesfield) 7

Referee: Bob Prince (West Midlands)

Noah Woodhouse (Kesgrave) successfully defended the British Under 16 Boys title he won last year with 18 points, dropping his only points in his first race. Leon Penketh (Southampton) took 2nd place with 17 points, an excellent result for him given that his bike was stolen from Wolverhampton Premier Inn overnight. Kesgrave rider Torsten Jolly took 3rd on 16 points in a final where the top 15 scorers were separated by 10 points

Noah Woodhouse (Kesgrave) 18, Leon Penketh (Southampton) 17, Torsten Jolly (Kesgrave) 16, Ryker Jolly (Kesgrave) 15, Charlie Parr (Kesgrave) 15, Kenzie Bennett (Poole) 14, JJ Wildman (Exeter) 14, Oliver Saunders (Poole) 13, Mason Martin (Hethersett) 12, Connor Steel (Birmingham) 12, Corey Burt (Wednesfield) 11, Kai Gowers (Ipswich) 10, Luca Woodhouse (Kesgrave) 9, Tom Pearson (Leicester) 8, Sam Stansfield (Sheffield) 8, Charlie Buet-Gannon (Birmingham) 2, Harvey Yard (Exeter)(reserve) 2

Referee: Dave Dart (Devon)

Astley & Tyldesley’s Emily Burgess scored a 20 point maximum to successfully defend the British Women’s title she won last year. Sheffield’s Elizabeth Rigley finished as runner-up, dropping her only point to Burgess. European Women’s runner-up Maddie Saunders took 3rd place with 17 points

Emily Burgess (Astley & Tyldesley) 20, Elizabeth Rigley (Sheffield) 19, Maddie Saunders (Poole) 17, Lauren Hookway (Exeter) 15, Laura Watson (Sheffield) 15, Lily Parr (kesgrave) 14, Lexie Curtis (Poole) 14, Rebekah Humphries (Birmingham) 14, Lucy Whitehead (Leicester) 13, Daisy Sherwood (Poole) 13, Chloe Pearce (Ipswich) 11, Niamh Morton (Sheffield) 9, Georgia Burt (Wednesfield) 8, Shannon Tucker (Exeter) 7, Honey Whitehead (Leicester) 5, Megan Burt (Wednesfield) 2

Referee: Mike Hack (Greater Manchester)

Paul Heard (Birmingham) recaptured the British Open Championship that he first won in 2019 and in doing so became the 4th rider to win the title whilst racing on his home track following in the footsteps of Bryan Wood (South London, 1956), Martyn Hepworth (Poole, 1987) and Mark Boaler (Horspath, 2021), Runner-up Josh Brooke (Great Blakenham) created his own piece of history by becoming the first rider to stand on the podium in 5 consecutive finals, matching the feat of the late Andrew Jackson. Newport’s Mark Carmichael completed the top 3 placings after losing a run-off to Brooke for 2nd and 3rd.

Paul Heard (Birmingham) 17, Josh Brooke (Great Blakenham) 16, Mark Carmichael (Newport) 16, Myke Grimes (Coventry) 15, Wil Bristowe (Poole) 15, Aaron Smith (Poole) 14, Lewis Brinkhoff (Ipswich) 13, Ben Clarke (Ipswich) 12, Mark Boaler (Horspath) 12, Ashley Hill (Ipswich) 11, Ben Mould (Horspath) 11, Chris Timms (Birmingham) 10, Zac Payne (Horspath) 10, Ed Morton (Sheffield) 9, Reece Pollitt (Astley & Tyldesley) 9, Gavin Wheeler (Horspath) 5, Chris Jewkes (Wednesfield)(reserve) 1, James Porter (Ipswich) (reserve) 1

Referee: Mark Winwood (West Midlands)

The British Finals Weekend baton is expected to pass to the North & Scotland region for 2023