5 more World Championships would be decided at Kesgrave today as the World Over 50’s Individual Championship and the Junior, Womens, Over 40’s and Open World Pairs Championships were up for grabs. Among the riders who qualified for the Over 50’s World Final were Dave Murphy, who at 66 was the oldest rider in the field and 2 riders who have been involved in Cycle Speedway for nearly 80 years between them, Gary Brown and Steve Copping, the latter dedicating his appearance to John Murphy whose death was announced on World Cup Finals Day and was due to compete at Kesgrave, The final itself was decided in a 3 rider run=off between defending Champion Paul White, Mark Winwood and Arek Slysz after all 3 riders cored 18 points. It was Winwood who drew gate 1 in the run-off and led all the way to clinch the title from White and Slysz. British Over 50’s Champion Craig Marchant was unbeaten in the 4 races which he completed after suffering an exclusion in his first race which cost him his chance at the title.

Mark Winwood (Wales) 18*, Paul White (Australia) 18*, Arek Slysz (Poland) 18*, Craig Marchant (England) 16, Kevin Burns (England) 16, Lee Galley (Wales) 15, Steve Paver (England) 13, Jason Ashford (England) 12, Gary Brown (England) 12, Mark Whitehead (Wales) 10, Chris Turner (England) 10, Paddy Wenn (Ireland) 9, Brad Hoppo (Australia) 9, Ray Pyke (Ireland) 8, Dave Murphy (Wales) 6, Steve Copping (Ireland) 5

*-after run-off

Referee: Shaun Dyball (England)

Before the Over 50’s World Final the Junior World Pairs Championship was decided and this saw England defeat Poland in a run-off for the championship after both finished on 31 points. Australia took 3rd with 29 points ahead of Ireland on 24, Scotland on 18 and Wales on 16

England 31*: Kenzie Bennett 16, Leon Penketh 9, JJ Wildman 6

Poland 31*: Arek graczyk 11, Pawel Szkludarek 10, Adrian Olkowski 10

Australia 29: Cody Petty 17, Josh Candy 7, Tyler Wood 5

Ireland 24: Mason Martin 12, Jude Wilcockson 9, Joe Gillespie 3

Scotland 18: Calan Cuthbert 10, Josh Falconer 4, Hugo Kemp 4

Weles 16: Tom Alexander 8, Kalem Martin 5, Mitchell Baker 3

*-England win after run=off

The Women’s World Pairs followed the Over 50’s World Final and would be a battle between England and Poland. The key race was heat 6 when those 2 countries met having recorded maximum 7-3’s in each of their first 2 races. It was England who emerged with a 6-4 in this race and they duly clinched the title in heat 8 with a maximum over Australia who clinched 3rd

England 27: Maddie Saunders 10, Lizzie Rigley 9, Lily Parr 8

Poland 25: Karina Gorniaczyk 15, Zuzanna klett 10, Oliwia Wilbrandt dnr

Australia 18: Holly Greenhalgh 8, Kayleigh Clarke 8, Caitlin Knights 2

Wales 15: Esmae lewis 11, Maisy Baker 2, Ellie George 2

Scotland 14: Esme Cameron 9, Marianne Cameron 5

Referee: Artur Pisarek (Poland)

The Over 40’s World Pairs followed and this came down to the final race before the eventual championsh would be crowned. Poland and Australia had finished their races with 27 and 26 points respectively but England were on 26 points going into the last race where they would be up against Ireland who were also with a chance of the title but would need a maximum heat advantage to win it or a 6-4 to force a run-off for the title. It was England who clinched the title with a 6-4 leaving Ireland and Poland tied for 2nd which meant a run-off was required. The Poles won the run-off to take 2nd overall.

England 32: Lee Aris 13, Adam Peck 10, Mark Boaler 9

Poland 27*: Lukasz Nowacki 16, Pawel Kozlowski 7, Jacek Wleklik 4

Ireland 27*:Richard Williamson 15, Craig Norton 12, Ray Pyke dnr

Australia 26: Daniel Pudney 12, Paul White 9, Brad Hoppo 5

Wales 19: Toby Millen 11, Mark Winwood 5, Mark Whitehead 3

Scotland 15: Ewan Tulloch 8, Danny Peoples 7, Marianne Cameron dnr

*-Poalnd defeated Ireland in run-off for 2nd

Referee: Damian Wojczynski (Poland)

The Open World Pairs rounded off the action and the title would be settled in heat 14. Poland had finish their races on 29 points but Wales and England would meet in heat 14 with Wales 1 point up on England who needed a maximum to take the title whilst 6 points for Wales would be enough to give them the crown. An exclusion for British Champion Mark Carmichael for ramming meant that Ben Mould had to win the re-run with England 2nd and 3rd to force a run-off and that is exactly what happened which gave Poland the title and meant that England & Wales had to go into a run-off for 2nd and 3rd. A bad crash (and subsequent exclusion as causing the stoppage) for Mould in the run-off left England to take a 6-3 in the re-run to clinch 2nd overall

Poland 29: Kosma Sykorski 12, Mikolaj Menz 10, Radek Morawiak 7

England 28*: Noah Woodhouse 19, Lewis Brinkhoff 7, Chris Timms 2

Wales 28*: Ben Mould 17, Mark Carmichael 11, Sean Bennett dnr

Australia 23: Cody Chadwick 13, Daniel Robb 5, Blake frencken 5

Ireland 22: Matt Hill 11, James Porter 7, Mason marton 4

Scotland 17: Luke Draisey 9, Kayden Davidson 8, Ewan Tulloch dnr

*-England defeated Wales in run-off for 2nd

Referee: Brad Hoppo (Australia)

Tomorrow at Kesgrave the line-ups for the Junior and Open Wirld Finals will be decided in their respective semi-finals but the Juniors will have 2 pre-qualifying rounds before their semi-finals.