CLUB NEWS: Hethersett stage Club Championships
Words by Mel Perkins, Photos supplied by Jenny Melvin
HETHERSETT HAWKS / YELLOW BRICK MORTGAGES staged their annual Club Championships on a fast track made perfect by rain the previous day. A sunny afternoon saw 29 members take part contesting nine events over nearly six hours of wall-to-wall entertainment. Mason Martin could not repeat his triple champion feat of 2021 after slipping in one race in the Seniors. Paul Delaiche deservedly lifted the cup that dates back to Hethersett Hornets in the 1940s – his first victory after twice being runners-up. Mason had quite a battle with Paul to defend his Under-19 title winning their clashes 3-1 and had a comfortable win in the Under-16s.
The El-Labanys dominated the youngest events with Nyla and Luca winning the Under-8s and Under-10s respectively but Luca found the going tough in the next categories up with some great battles with Will Clarke, whose race management was spot on. Aiesha Musa won the Under-13s and Ladies events while Glyn Morgan regained the Veterans tile after three years in which Dave Martin ruled the roost. Dave was struggling with injury towards the end and conceded a run-off for the title.
Events concluded with the Maiden Plate, an event for those who had never won any of the Club Championships. Michael Gunn saved himself all day for this event and sped to a maximum. Overall there were some great performances outside the winners, notably Alfie Gunn, Amelia Dodson and Jamie Neill, back in action after 35 years!!
Full results –
Under-8
Nyla El-Labany 16, Alfie Gun 14, Miles Jessett 12, Noah Frost 9, Josh Morris 8, Henry Everson 7, Dylan Jessett 4.
Under-10
Luca El-Labany 16, Oscar Copeland 15, Austin Brailey 14, Nyla El-Labany 13, Arlo Davies 12, George Snook 11, George Morris 10, Alfie Gunn 9, Miles Jessett 8, Henry Everson 7, Josh Morris 6, Michael Whitfield 5, Noah Frost 4
Under-13
Aiesha Musa 24, Will Clarke 21, Amelia Dodson 20, Luca El-Labany 17, Lola Martin 17, Oscar Copeland 13, Hugo Kemp 13, Austin Brailey 10, Yeva Makieieva 8, Arlo Davies 7
Under-16
Mason Martin 16, Aiesha Musa 15, Will Clarke 13, Luca El-Labany 13, Lola Martin 12, Amelia Dodson 12, Arlo Davies 10, George Morris 9, George Snook 6
Under-19
Mason Martin 15, Paul Delaiche 13, Lola Martin 8, Yeva Makieieva 3
Seniors
Paul Delaiche 18, Mason Martin 17, Jamie Neill 15, Glyn Morgan 14, Dave Martin 13, Nick Davies 11
Ladies
Aiesha Musa 16, Lola Martin 12, Amelia Dodson 11, Nyla El-Labany 6, Yeva Makieieva 5
Veterans
Glyn Morgan 19, Dave Martin 19, Jamie Neill 16, Nigel Longlands 14, Jo Silver 11, Nick Davies 11
Maiden Plate
Michael Gunn 16, Amelia Dodson 15, Austin Brailey 14, Arlo Davies 12, Hugo Kemp 11, Alfie Gunn 11, Nick Davies 11,Jo Silver 10
The final midweek Norfolk Grand Prix takes place at Harford Park on Wednesday (7 p.m.) while on Saturday some Hawks will be at Kesgrave for the final round of the South-East Grand Prix. Meanwhile Glyn Morgan will be crowned Over-60s Eurovets champion at Birmingham irrespective of how he finishes in the final round.
Sunday will see a fitting climax to a successful season with the staging of the Hethersett Charity Cup (3 p.m.) preceded by an internal Under-13 Handicap event (1 p.m.). Both matches are sponsored by Breckland Autos and monies raised on the day will go to local charity Finnbar’s Force.