EAST
ANGLIAN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Saturday 26th February 2000 saw the inaugural staging of the East Anglian Indoor Cycle Speedway Championships. Racing took place at Rendlesham at the former US Air Force Base-Bentwaters. The event was sponsored by Suffolk County Council Travel Wise & the British Cycling Federation. Facilities kindly offered by Anglian International Airports.
Riders from London, Wolverhampton & Norfolk joined the Suffolk contingent for a complete days racing.
The day started with a four a side competition. The first round saw Hawbush win on 48 points, Eaton 46, East London 31, & Kesgrave B on 30. Making a welcome return to the sport was Jamie Hall for Kesgrave a former British Under 21 indoor champion. Top scorer for Kesgrave was young Lewis Osbourne on 9.
Round 2 saw a tie Between Kesgrave & Gt Blakenham with 50 points, followed by Hawbush B on 31 and Wednesfield on 28. For Kesgrave, Wildon top scored with 13, for Blakenham Askew & J.Ashford both scored 14 points. .
Round 3 saw a strong Wednesfield team win convincingly on 58, second Somersham on 40, third Kesgrave C 27 and fourth Gt. Blakenham B on 26. For Somersham Gould finished with 14 points and R.Williamson 13, best score for a very young Blakenham team was D.Pike on 9.
Next up was an Under 13 Individual. Event in which Daniel Pike & Scott Askew of Gt. Blakenham & Kesgraves Chris Osbourne competed. Daniel Pike rode brilliantly and qualified for the final race off with maximum points. Chris Osbourne of Kesgrave finished on 14 points and also made the final.. In the race off for the title Daniel Pike drew gate 1, made the start and never looked back to win the event. Chris Osbourne drew gate 3 and did well to fight his way through to take second place. Scott Askew rode well and tried hard for his 6 points.
This was followed by a 4s qualifier to decide the final two remaining teams for the semi final. After 30 hard fought heats the final scores were East London 73, Hawbush B 57, Wednesfield B 53, Kesgrave B 48, Kesgrave C 36 & Gt Blakenham B 31.
The first semi final saw Gt. Blakenham, Hawbush, Kesgrave & Somersham compete. Through out the match Hawbush, Kesgrave & Gt. Blakenham vied for the lead, right down to the final race. In the final race J Ashford of Blakenham made the start but coming out of turn 2 was struck by one of the following riders and almost forced off his bike. With the ref not ordering a re-run Blakenhams hopes of making the final were over. Final scores Kesgrave 44, Hawbush 42, Gt Blakenham 40 & Somersham 33. Top local scorers for Kesgrave Webb & Ingram scored 13, Somersham Williamson & Gould 10 and Blakenham J.Ashford 14.
The second semi final saw no local interest, scores, Wednesfield 49, East London 44, Eaton 43, Hawbush 21. Highlight of the meeting was British champion Shun Ellis, losing his chain but still managing to finish second after having scooted his machine round for 4 laps.
Before the finals of the 4 side, an Under 16 individual Championship took place. Two Suffolk riders, Richard Willimson of Somersham & Lewis Osbourne of Kesgrave made the final. Lewis Osbourne finishing second behind the winner Slater of Eaton. Richard Willimson finishing fourth. Other Suffolk scorers. A.Mattel (Som) 13, A.Peck (GB), A.Hardy (Kes) 13, K.Hardy (Kes) 13, C.Osbourne (Kes) 11, R.Barton (kes) 9, W.Page (GB) 8, D.Pike (GB) 8, S.Masterson (Kes) 6, M.Slater 6.
So the final event of the day was the 4 a side East Anglian Indoor Championship. Wednesfield who fielded a team of experienced riders including the British Champion won the final. Kesgrave and East London fought out a real battle for second place, with the scores being close all the way through. The final race would decide second spot. Kevin Smith of EL just doing enough to take second place to the capital, with Kesgrave finishing third.
Scores Wednesfield 47, East London 39, Kesgrave 38, Hawbush 33
Kesgrave scorers Webb 14, Ingram 11, Buckles 10, Wildon 3
WEDNESFIELD "A" WINNERS of the BCF & TRAVELWISE Indoor Cycle Speedway Championship