MATCH REPORT: Northern 4’s & Junior League Final Round

October 23, 2023 Steve Copping

Report by Mike Hack

The Northern Fours & Junior League series concluded on a bright cool afternoon at Astley & Tyldesley’s Gin Pit circuit on Sunday. The famed Gin Pit drains worked wonders after heavy rain over the preceding days, with the track in pristine condition.

Bury had already clinched the Fours League series, and they again took the win on the day, to win all six rounds. Reece Pollitt raced unbeaten and recorded the fastest time of the day, 41.57 seconds, in heat 22, This was marginally faster than Lewis Foxley’s time in the previous race, which saw the Hull rider also complete a maximum score, as his team took 2nd place on the day. Stockport fielded Adam Watson, as a guest rider, to make up their team. Despite his 12 points not counting to their final score, they still finished in 3rd place, with their own three riders all scoring solidly.

Stockport’s Ben Higham (left) and Eryk Motala of Bury (right). Courtesy of Len Priestley (Astley & Tyldesley Official Club Photographer).

Northern Fours League Round 6 result

Bury 55 Hull 43 Stockport 39 Sheffield 38 Astley & Tyldesley 33 Heckmondwike 27.

Bury: Reece Pollitt 16, Kris Ramsden 13, Eryk Motala 12, Tom Dunphy 9, Mark Radford 5.
Hull: Lewis Foxley 16, Noah Lyon 12, Rich Gibson 9, Liam Bennett 6, Spencer Glenton dnr.
Stockport: Ben Higham 14, Devon Campbell 13, Terry Norman 12.
Sheffield: Kielan Burton 15, Laura Watson 9, Oliver Banyard 7, Lacey Ackroyd 7, Lincoln Ackroyd dnr.
A&T: Steve Harris 13, Duncan Whalley 8, Barry Downing 5, Owen Simcock 4, Mason Gallagher 3.
Heckmondwike: Darren Kent 10, Dan Green 6, Justin Naylor 4, Lee Warhurst 4, Elliott Long 3.

Referee – Graham Lush.

Final Northern Fours League standings

Bury 36 Hull 29.5 Sheffield 20 Astley & Tyldesley 19.5 Heckmondwike 13 Stockport 6.

Hull successfully retained the Northern Junior League title, by finishing ahead of their nearest challengers, Sheffield, on the day. In the six Individual Grand Prix series, the overall series winners were: Bobby Dunphy (Bury) at u-10 level; Jayden Hancock (Bury) in the u-13 category; Duncan Whalley (A&T) in the u-16 group; Kielan Burton (Sheffield) at u-19 level; Laura Watson (Sheffield) in the Women’s category; Will Banyard (Sheffield) in the Division 2 group.

Northern Junior League Round 6 result

Hull 137 Sheffield 88 Astley & Tyldesley 74 Bury 68 Heckmondwike 51.Stockport 0

U-10: Bobby Dunphy (Bury) 16, Lincoln Ackroyd (Sheffield) 15, Elwood Harrison (Hull) 14, Jayden Bennett (Hull) 13, Carson Derbyshire (Bury) 12, Sophia Temple (Hull) 11, Elijah Rechembei (A&T) 10, Alexis Woodcock (Hull) 9.

U-13: Jayden Hancock (Bury) 16, Spencer Glenton (Hull) 15, Oliver Banyard (Sheffield) 14, Harry Gibson (Hull) 13, Elliott Long (Heckmondwike) 12, Josh Pilkington (A&T) 11, Harvey McLachlan (Hull) 10, Nahom Tumizghy (A&T) 9, Levi Edwards (A&T) 8, Will Hollich (Hull) 7, Joseph Green (Heckmondwike) 6, Josh Gearing (Hull) 5.

U-16: Noah Lyon (Hull) 14, Duncan Whalley (A&T) 12, Tom Dunphy (Bury) 12, Liam Bennett (Hull) 8, Mason Gallagher (A&T) 4.

U-19: Kielan Burton (Sheffield) 16, Owen Simcock (A&T) 10, Ryan Tomkinson (Hull) 10.

Women: Lacey Ackroyd (Sheffield) 14, Laura Watson (Sheffield) 14, Kacey Bennett (Hull) 8..

Division 2: Darren Kent (Heckmondwike) 15, Will Banyard (Sheffield) 15, Mark Radford (Bury) 12, Justin Naylor (Heckmondwike) 12, Barry Downing (A&T) 10, Lee Warhurst (Heckmondwike) 6.

Referees – Graham Lush and Chaz Whalley.