CLUB NEWS: Hethersett bring curtain down on successful competitive season

Words by Mel Perkins, Photos supplied by Jenny Melvin

HETHERSETT HAWKS / YELLOW BRICK MORTGAGES brought the curtain down on a successful competitive season that will be proudly celebrated at the Club’s Presentation Evening on Friday December 2nd. The final day’s racing was the annual charity event, sponsored by Breckland Autos and, this year, raising well over £150 for the local charity Finnbar’s Force.

The day started with the Club’s Under-13 Handicap event which was the Club’s youngsters’ chance to show how much they have improved – none more so that Michael Whitfield who, dispute his disability, continued his improvement and is a popular member of the junior squad. His improvement and commitment was recognised with the “champagne moment” prize. Last year’s winner Aiesha Musa won all he races but it was not enough as the Hawks’ young star Luca El-Labany pulled off some great passes over older riders to drop just one point. His handicap bonus because of his age took him to 22 points. A Race-off was required for third place and this again featured a handicap which proved too much for Will Clarke starting round the bend. Lola Martin who conceded about 12 yards tried her best to pass Oscar Copeland but the dogged young rider held on.

Scores –
Luca El-Labany (19+3) 22 Aiesha Musa (20+0) 20 Oscar Copeland (14+4) 18 Lola Martin (16+2) 18 Will Clarke (18+0) 18 Austin Brailey (14+3) 17 Amelia Dodson (17+0) 17 Nyla El-Labany (10+6) 16 Arlo Davies (12+3) 15 Hugo Kemp (14+1) 15 Remy Davies (9+6) 15 Henry Everson (8+6) 14 Jamal Musa (11+2) 13 Noah Frost (6+6) 12 Michael Whitfield (7+4) 11

The Hethersett Charity Cup saw riders from Hethersett, Ipswich and Norwich put on a good show in a competitive but friendly competition. Ash Hill produced a fast start from grid four in a rerun of a tough first ride and then never looked troubled as he sped to a maximum to retain the Cup, his fifth win. A race-off was required for the minor places with Glyn Morgan trying all his experience to hold out the challenges of Harley Hamill but in the end the Ireland international finally made his move on lap three and was too strong when the riders clashed. For the rest of the field there were some good races mixed with unforced errors so no-one was consistent enough to challenge for the podium. The Colin Chamberlain Memorial Trophy for the most entertaining rider went to David Adams who was involved in a couple of falls, one of which saw his trousers come down!!

Scores –
Ash Hill (Ipswich) 20, Harley Hamill (Hethersett) 18, Glyn Morgan (Hethersett) 18, Dave Martin (Hethersett) 15, Jamie Medler (Norwich) 15, Owen Wells (Ipswich) 14, David Adams (Norwich) 14, Tom Blackmore (Norwich) 13, Shaun Kell (Norwich) 13, Mason Martin (Hethersett) 12, Paddy Wenn (Norwich) 12, Aiesha Musa (Hethersett) 10, Scott Grimes (Hethersett) 8, Nick Davies (Hethersett) 7, Amelia Dodson (Hetherstt) 6, Dave Blackmore (Norwich) 3
Referee – Shaun Dyball

The previous day Glyn Morgan was duly presented with his Over-60s Champion’s jersey in the Eurovets Series and ended in style by winning the final round at Birmingham. He was unlucky in the Over-50s though as an ad-hoc countback system placed him in the B Final where he came second, a position that gave him 5th place overall. Much younger Hawks were at Kesgrave for the final round of the South East Grand Prix. Luca El-Labany finished second in the Under-10s, sufficient to move him up to third overall despite missing two rounds. Going one better was Aiesha Musa, a third place at Kesgrave making her runner-up in the Girls series, closely followed by Amelia Dodson. Other positions on the day were – Nyla El-Labany (4th U8 A Final) Oscar Copeland (2nd U10 B Final) Austin Brailey (3rd U10 B Final) and Ronnie Harding (2nd U10 C Final)

In midweek the Hawks brought home eight of the nine trophies awarded in the Norfolk Grand Prix series after the final round for older age categories at Harford Park.
Results on the night –
U16 – 1 Will Clarke 2 Lola Martin 3 Jamal Musa
Female 12+ – 1 Aiesha Musa 2 Amelia Dodson 3 Anna Clarke 4 Charlene Johnson
Senior – 1 Paul Delaiche 2 Mason Martin 3 Dave Martin 4 Jamie Medler (Norwich)
Final standings –
U16 – 1 Lola Martin 94 2 Jamal Musa 88 Will Clarke 58
Female 12+ – 1 Aiesha Musa 98 2 Amelia Dodson 71 3 Anna Clarke 33
Senior – 1 Paul Delaiche 94 Mason Martin 93 Jamie Medler 78

Training will continue Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings until October 30th with the 11.30-12.30 session this Saturday the final one for disabled and neuro-divergent children as part of the Wingz programme run by Access to Sport. Aiesha Musa and Amelia Dodson have been invited to the inter-regional Ladies & Girls Battle of Britain event at Kesgrave on October 22nd.