CLUB NEWS: Norwich Stars-The season so far

Norwich opened the 2024 season with a visit from East Newport on Saturday March 9th with an Individual event and a team match. The Individual event was won by East Newport’s Sean Bennett. Of the Norwich riders Lee Grange scored 17 points to finish 4th, Harrie Everiss scored 16, Jamie Medler 14, McKenzie Loombe 10, David Adams 8, Steve Copping 4 and Paddy Wenn 3 (from 1 ride). The team match followed and this saw the Welsh team take the win by 100 pounts to 79. Lee top scored with 18 points, Paddy scored 14, Harrie 10, Gary Colby 10, Connor Jarrett (guest) 6, Jamie 6, McKenzie 4, Steve 3 and Zackery Eastwood 3

The opening round of the South-East Grand Prix took place at Norwich on Saturday 6th April which was also the opening South-East Regional British Youth & Junior League round. Zackery rode in the Under 14’s category and finished 3rd in the A Final. Jack Western rode in the Senior event and finished 4th in the B Final whilst Steve and Paddy rode in the Over 40’s category and finished 1st and 2nd in the A Final, Steve taking the win from Paddy and dedicating the result to his former Somersham team mate Peter Millell who lost his life in tragic circimstances on April 1st 2012

The following day saw Norwich make the trip to Great Blakenham for their opening South East Division 2 match and the Stars came away victorious by 89 points to 71. Lee top scored with 18 points with Harrie scoring 15, Jamie 14, Jack 13, David 12, Paddy 10 and Gary 5

Round 2 of the British Youth & Junior League and South East Grand Prix took place at Kesgrave on Saturday April 27th with Zackery, Jack and Steve all representing the Stars. Zackery won the Under 14’s B Final, Jack finished 4th in the Senior B Final and Steve was 3rd in the Over 40’s A Final.

April should have finished with a South East Division 2 match at home to the Kesgrave Pumas but that was postponed due to a waterlogged track and will be restaged later on in the season

Somersham was the venue for the 3rd round of the British Youth & Junior League and South East Grand Prix where Zackery, Jack and Steve were once again representing the Stars. Zackery repeated his performance at Kesgrave in the Under 14’s category, winning the B Final whilst Jack won the Senior A Final and Steve, on his former home track, was runner-up in the Over 40’s A Final.

The following day saw Norwich make the visit to Kesgrave for a South-East Division 2 match against the Panthers and it was the Panthers who emerged victorious by 97 points to 63. Lee was top scorer with 16, Jamie scored 11, Harry 10, Paddy 8, McKenzie 7, Jack 6 and David 5

The opening Norfolk Go-Ride event took place at Harford Park on Wednesday May 22nd. The qualifying heats were raced but the finals were not run due to rain so the results were based on the heat scores. Thomas King was the Under 8’s winner, Stanley Budds was runner up in the Under 13’s, Zackery was joint winner of the Under 16’s and the Senior event saw Paddy, Jamie and Jack finish 4th, 5th and 6th respectively

The Ade Gale Veterans Laurels were staged at Poole on Saturday May 25th and Paddy scored 8 points to finish 13th. Paddy was also in action at Southampton on Bank Holiday Monday May 27th in an Over 40’s Southampton Grand Prix

The Home Internationals were staged at leicester on Saturday June 1st and Steve was the only Norwich rider in action where he scored 5 points for an Ireland Select team which finished 4th in the Over 40’s event on 29 points

Round 2 of the Norfolk Go-Ride series was staged at Spixworth on Wednesday 5th June but results were not available at the time of writing. The next action involving Norwich riders will be at Hellingly tomorrow (Saturday 8th June) where the 4th round of the South-East Grand Prix and th3 4th South East regional British Youth & Junior League round takes place. Norwich’s next team match is on Sunday June 9th when the Hellingly are the visitors for a South-East Division 2 match with an 11am start time as the Lions then travel to Hethersett in the afternoon