MATCH REPORT: Frank Knight/Dave Shoat Memorial metting at Sheffield

Report by Rob Mawhood, photos by Brogan Burn

Sheffield opened their 2025 season with the Frank Knight/Dave Shoat memorial individual, plus Go Ride Round One.
Thirty-eight riders were on track, which was bathed in glorious spring sunshine.
Chris Timms produced the magic to win the final race, taking home the trophy for the second time (2023 his previous win). Chris’s commitment to racing shown in that this was his fifth visit for the season opener.
Elite riders mixed with juniors and seniors to give some excellent racing and invaluable experience for the Junior riders. The two rounds of 16 had riders seeded to give an even split of abilities, the top elite riders given the race numbers that hold two grid 4 starts.
Timms tied for first place in Round A with Mike Baldock (Bury) on 19 points. Chris lost to Mike, who in turn lost to Lewis Foxley (Great Blakenham). Lewis had recorded the fastest 2 lap time trial (18.50) taking home the £25 cash prize.
John White (Astley and Tyldesley) who placed fourth last year was in good form again, three race wins in his 18 points.
Surprise packet was Luke Draisey (Birmingham) who was making his first visit to Cookson. Luke lost to the top three as he quickly adapted to the Cookson Raceway.

Scorers
Chris Timms (Birmingham) 19, Mike Baldock (Bury) 19, John White (A and T) 18, Luke Draisey (Birmingham) 17, Lewis Foxley (Great Blakenham) 16, Aiden Owen (Sheffield) 16, Frank White (A and T) 13, Noah Lyon (Hull) 13, Niall Morton (Sheffield) 12, Jude Wilcockson (Coventry) 12, Calan Cuthbert (Fife) 10, Paul Timms (Birmingham) 9, Dougie Morgan (Fife) 7, Phil Vanner (Heckmondwike) 6, Lincoln Ackroyd (Sheffield) 6, Dariusz Pilas (Sheffield) 4, Oliver Slight (Fife) 3.

Round B saw an outstanding performance from home star Pawel Idziorek, who raced to a 20 point maximum. Kayden Davidson (Fife) taking runners up place on 18 points.
Home rider Leon Wild would have had 18 points also, but was deducted 1 point for tapes movement in his first race. Standout performance came from Sheffield’s junior starlet Oliver Banyard. Oliver won four of his five races, showing that the recent training he’s put in is reaping benefits. His one blip was race ten, when he ended up with no points (after a 1 point deduction for tapes movement).

Scorers
Pawel Idziorek (Sheffield) 20, Kayden Davidson (Fife) 18, Leon Wild (Sheffield) 17, Wil Banyard (Sheffield) 16, Oliver Banyard (Sheffield) 16, Kielan Burton (Sheffield) 15, Lizzie Rigley (Sheffield) 13, Jake Slight (Fife) 13, Kieran Hale (Sheffield) 12, Brendan Sidebotham (Birmingham) 11, Laura Watson (Sheffield) 10, Lacey Ackroyd (Sheffield) 10, Elliott Long (Heckmondwike) 9, Harry Gibson (Hull) 7, Amy Baynes (Coventry) 6, James Vanner (Heckmondwike) 5.

The riders then moved onto the knock out stage. All riders getting a sixth race. Seven of the eight races had the riders from grids one and two completing the first two places to progress to the quarter final stage. The only upset race saw Niall pass Noah to progress (ironically Noah ko’d Niall in the 2024 quarter finals).
The racing was getting intense now, with two quarter final races ending with crashes (two of only three in the entire days racing).

Pawel won race one from Lewis, with Kielan passing Frank for a minor place improvement.
Race two had Lizzie crash on lap one after an inside pass attempt on Luke. Then Luke and Aiden passed and re-passed each other until a collision on the back straight on the last lap saw the second place awarded to Luke, with Aiden excluded (tired legs playing their part).
Controversy surrounded race three when race leader Leon and Mike came together on the exit of turn four. Referee Rob Mawhood saw no reason to stop the race, much to Mike’s disappointment. Race four was completed without incident, John and Kayden progressed to the semi finals.
With Luke feeling the effects of his crash his semi final spot went to Lizzie, who then picked up the prize for best placed Women rider on International Womens Day.
The race placings going with grid positions in both semi-finals, Lewis sliding off on turn three when challenging Leon for second place in the second semi-final.
The final four had Chris and John in the line up for the second successive year.
Pawel on grid one, Chris (2), John (3) and Leon completed the line up on four.
Pawel led from the tapes until lap two, when Chris executed a well timed inside pass on the exit of bend two. Pawel (in his 15th race of the day) had nothing in his legs to reply.
John had though as he repassed Leon on the final corner to take third place.
Final
1. Chris, 2. Pawel, 3. John, 4th Leon.

The days racing had started with Sheffield’s Go Ride Round One. Twenty four riders lined up for five races and a final on the ladder format, which as usual produced some excellent races. Seventeen riders enjoyed a race win, with Pawel and Frank being the tops with three race wins each. Dave Robinson, a star Sheffield rider from the late 1970’s early 1980’s, rolled back the years to take two race wins – the same as John White, Lizzie Rigley, Lacey Ackroyd, Jude Wilcockson, Lincoln Ackroyd, Lewis Bemrose, Harry Gibson and Oliver Banyard.
Finals
Open – 1st Pawel, 2nd John, 3rd Kieran, 4th Kielan, 5th Niall
Women – 1st Lizzie, 2nd Laura, 3rd Lacey, 4th. Amy
Vet 35+ – 1st Wil, 2nd Dave, 3rd Phil, 4th Chris Palmer, 5th Rob Mawhood.
Under 17 – 1st Noah, 2nd Oliver, 3rd Frank, 4th Jude, 5th Charlie Mawhood, 6th Lewis
Under 13 – 1st Harry, 2nd Lincoln
Under 10 – 1st James, 2nd Alfie Palmer.

Referees

Go Ride – Chris Bingham
Frank Knight/Dave Shoat – Rob Mawhood