Post by Genghis on May 16, 2008 16:07:26 GMT
Sunday, July 3, 2005
MILDENHALL 46 OXFORD 46 (Conference League)
The Silver Machine Academy showed fighting spirit aplenty, in coming from nine points behind with four races remaining to force a draw at West Row. But, sadly, the meeting was overshadowed by a horrific crash that left Mildenhall's Joel Parsons with a broken leg in two places, after he was involved in a racing accident with Ben Barker in the first of three attempts to stage Heat 11.
The Mildenhall track was much grippier than usual, and although this caused a few of the riders problems early on, the track then settled down and produced some good racing.
Fen Tigers captain Jon Armstrong jetted out of the gate in Heat 1, while both Oxford riders went wide on the opening bend after caught out by conditions, and as a result, Trevor Heath flew inside both of them. Chris Mills recovered to get inside Heath after a lap, while Ben Barker had more ground to recover, but stole third from Heath on the finishing line after a late dash up the inside (3-3).
Mildenhall reserves Andrew Bargh & James Purchase gated in Heat 2, but found themselves in all sorts of trouble after both headed wide after entering the first bend. Bargh took a tumble, while Kyle Hughes nipped inside Purchase on the second bend to take the lead. Bargh remounted in fourth place, a way behind third-placed Sam Martin, but nearly fell again after drifting wide on the second turn of lap 2 (5-7).
Jamie Courtney gated from Chris Johnson in Heat 3, while John Branney took third from Mark Thompson with an inside move on the back straight, only for Thompson to move around both Branney and team-mate Johnson at the completion of a lap (8-10).
Purchase was first away in Heat 4 ahead of Craig Branney, while Joel Parsons nipped around Kyle Hughes on the second bend to take third. As Branney went around Purchase on the third bend to take the lead, Purchase made an error and he subsequently went wide, with both team-mate Parsons and Hughes through by the end of lap 1, as the unfortunate Purchase drifted from first to fourth in the space of a half-a-lap (10-14).
Heat 5 saw Mildenhall hit back. Johnson & Thompson gated, and then neither Mills or then Barker later in the race, could find a way past Thompson (15-15).
Craig Branney & Jon Armstrong were shoulder-to-shoulder into the first turn in Heat 6, but Armstrong (on the inside) was the faster from the second bend, and took the lead. Meanwhile, Heath & Martin were more-or-less level, until Heath (on the inside) took the advantage on the third bend (19-17).
Heat 7 was all decided by the second turn - with Courtney heading home the Mildenhall pair of Parsons & Bargh (22-20).
Heat 8 was the last before the interval and resulted in a very easy 5-1 from Hughes & Barker from Purchase & Heath, with Barker tucking in behind his team-mate (23-25).
Thompson & Johnson gated in Heat 9, and although Branney got inside Johnson on the second bend, he could not quite get on level terms with Thompson, who held on to win the race (27-27).
Heat 10 saw sharp starts from Bargh & Armstrong to head Courtney & John Branney, and then the experienced Armstrong settled behind his New Zealand team-mate to ensure a 5-1 (32-28).
Heat 11 took three attempts to run, and sadly was the end of the meeting and the season for young Australian Joel Parsons. Barker & Mills gated, but Parsons went inside Mills on the second bend, and after keeping the gas going up the inside, also took Barker on the third turn. Barker then cut back to the inside and charged under Parsons on the first bend of lap 2. However, Barker's line took him wide, while at the same time, Parsons attempted to cut back in on Barker. The pair touched on the second bend, sending Parsons straight into an unforgiving Mildenhall safety fence, with the kickboard smashing into two on impact from Parsons's bike, then Parsons then following in. Referee Barbara Horley stopped the race and after a brief pause, slapped on Barker's yellow exclusion light. It appeared to be a tough call for the ref - as it was one of those 50/50 racing accidents, where two riders end up on the same piece of track. However, she decreed that Barker was at fault, and then a lengthy delay ensued while the unfortunate Parsons was tended to. It soon became apparent that it was a serious injury, and by the time he was taken off the track by ambulance, a broken leg was feared. This was confirmed later in the evening, with Parsons having broken his leg in two places. Get well soon Joel.
Around an hour later the meeting recommenced, with Purchase in for the injured Parsons. Mills gated, but lifted halfway around the opening turns, and crashed into the fence on the second turn. The ref promptly stopped the race, as Mills was parted from his bike with no chance of recovering it in time to allow the race to continue. Mills was excluded from the second re-run, in which the Mildenhall reserves cruised around to a 5-0 (37-28).
With the Academy now 9 points down, Oxford team manager Bryn Williams nominated Jamie Courtney as a tactical ride in Heat 12 - with Courtney becoming the first Academy rider to take such a ride in 2005. The Mildenhall pair of Johnson & Bargh were determined to stop him, and Courtney found himself boxed in as the Mildenhall riders moved in from either side, while Hughes took the lead. However, it was all a bit messy, with Courtney receiving a shove in the process, and the ref sensibly called a halt, citing an unsatisfactory start. In the re-run, Courtney shot from the tapes alongside team-mate Hughes. Johnson came inside Hughes after a lap, but Hughes then rode a sensible race to keep on top of fourth-placed Bargh. Meanwhile, with Courtney coming home first in the black-and-white helmet cover, Oxford cut the deficit to four with a 7-2 (39-35).
Armstrong then steadied the Mildenhall ship with a tapes-to-flag win over Branney & Mills in Heat 13, with Purchase - replacing the injured Parsons - in fourth (42-38).
Heat 14 was crucial. Mildenhall tracked a strong looking pair in Thompson & Bargh, but they hadn't reckoned for the fighting spirit of John Branney (suffering from a nasty bug, and without a point from his previous three rides) & Kyle Hughes. Branney trapped from the inside, and although Bargh got around the outside on the second bend, the Oxford pair then held firm in the minor positions, with Hughes showing maturity beyond his tender years to withstand pressure from Thompson. On the last lap, Branney closed in on Bargh, but Bargh held on to win the race and secure at least a draw for the Fen Tigers. Meanwhile, Hughes completed his return to his 2004 home track with a hugely creditable 9 paid 10 (45-41).
And so, to the final race. Oxford won the toss for gate positions, and plumped for 1 & 3, with Craig Branney off the inside and Jamie Courtney off gate 3, from which he had won six points in Heat 12. Sandwiched between them at the start was the hitherto unbeaten Armstrong, while Johnson was left with gate 4. With the tension mounting, the Oxford pair gated, and for the first time on the afternoon, Armstrong was left chasing. Early on, it looked like Armstrong had the legs on Branney, who had settled in second behind Courtney, but as the race wore on, it became apparent that Branney was riding a masterful race and putting himself in just the right place every time Armstrong went to make a move. Finally time ran out for Armstrong, and Oxford had done it, and snatched a draw out of the jaws of defeat (46-46).
So ended a highly entertaining early evening of Speedway, although most people's thoughts at the end of the meeting rested with the unfortunate Joel Parsons, whose debut for the Fen Tigers had gone drastically wrong.
FEN TIGERS 46: Jon Armstrong 12+1 (5), Trevor Heath 1 (3), Chris Johnson 7+1 (5), Mark Thompson 7+1 (4), Joel Parsons 4 (2), Andrew Bargh 10+1 (6), James Purchase 5+1 (5).
ACADEMY 46: Chris Mills 3+1 (4), Ben Barker 4+2 (4), Jamie Courtney 16 (5) (incl. 6-point tactical ride), John Branney 2 (4), Craig Branney 11+1 (5), Sam Martin 1 (3), Kyle Hughes 9+1 (5).
1: Armstrong, Mills, Barker, Heath, 51.56 (3-3).
2: Hughes, Purchase, Martin, Bargh (fell, remounted), 52.56 (5-7).
3: Courtney, Thompson, Johnson, J. Branney, 51.69 (8-10).
4: C. Branney, Parsons, Hughes, Purchase, 51.64 (10-14).
5: Johnson, Thompson, Barker, Mills, 52.00 (15-15).
6: Armstrong, C. Branney, Heath, Martin, 51.10 (19-17).
7: Courtney, Parsons, Bargh, J. Branney, 51.75 (22-20).
8: Hughes, Barker, Purchase, Heath, 52.94 (23-25).
9: Thompson, C. Branney, Johnson, Martin, 51.59 (27-27).
10: Bargh, Armstrong, Courtney, J. Branney, 52.62 (32-28).
11: (Re-run twice) Bargh, Purchase, Mills (fell, excluded), Barker (excluded, unfair riding), Parsons (fell, unable to contest re-run), 53.70 (37-28).
12: (Re-run) Courtney (TR), Johnson, Hughes, Bargh, 52.81 (39-35).
13: Armstrong, C. Branney, Mills, Purchase, 52.50 (42-38).
14: Bargh, J. Branney, Hughes, Thompson, 53.44 (45-41).
15: Courtney, C. Branney, Armstrong, Johnson, 52.81 (46-46).
REPORT: ROB PEASLEY
MILDENHALL 46 OXFORD 46 (Conference League)
The Silver Machine Academy showed fighting spirit aplenty, in coming from nine points behind with four races remaining to force a draw at West Row. But, sadly, the meeting was overshadowed by a horrific crash that left Mildenhall's Joel Parsons with a broken leg in two places, after he was involved in a racing accident with Ben Barker in the first of three attempts to stage Heat 11.
The Mildenhall track was much grippier than usual, and although this caused a few of the riders problems early on, the track then settled down and produced some good racing.
Fen Tigers captain Jon Armstrong jetted out of the gate in Heat 1, while both Oxford riders went wide on the opening bend after caught out by conditions, and as a result, Trevor Heath flew inside both of them. Chris Mills recovered to get inside Heath after a lap, while Ben Barker had more ground to recover, but stole third from Heath on the finishing line after a late dash up the inside (3-3).
Mildenhall reserves Andrew Bargh & James Purchase gated in Heat 2, but found themselves in all sorts of trouble after both headed wide after entering the first bend. Bargh took a tumble, while Kyle Hughes nipped inside Purchase on the second bend to take the lead. Bargh remounted in fourth place, a way behind third-placed Sam Martin, but nearly fell again after drifting wide on the second turn of lap 2 (5-7).
Jamie Courtney gated from Chris Johnson in Heat 3, while John Branney took third from Mark Thompson with an inside move on the back straight, only for Thompson to move around both Branney and team-mate Johnson at the completion of a lap (8-10).
Purchase was first away in Heat 4 ahead of Craig Branney, while Joel Parsons nipped around Kyle Hughes on the second bend to take third. As Branney went around Purchase on the third bend to take the lead, Purchase made an error and he subsequently went wide, with both team-mate Parsons and Hughes through by the end of lap 1, as the unfortunate Purchase drifted from first to fourth in the space of a half-a-lap (10-14).
Heat 5 saw Mildenhall hit back. Johnson & Thompson gated, and then neither Mills or then Barker later in the race, could find a way past Thompson (15-15).
Craig Branney & Jon Armstrong were shoulder-to-shoulder into the first turn in Heat 6, but Armstrong (on the inside) was the faster from the second bend, and took the lead. Meanwhile, Heath & Martin were more-or-less level, until Heath (on the inside) took the advantage on the third bend (19-17).
Heat 7 was all decided by the second turn - with Courtney heading home the Mildenhall pair of Parsons & Bargh (22-20).
Heat 8 was the last before the interval and resulted in a very easy 5-1 from Hughes & Barker from Purchase & Heath, with Barker tucking in behind his team-mate (23-25).
Thompson & Johnson gated in Heat 9, and although Branney got inside Johnson on the second bend, he could not quite get on level terms with Thompson, who held on to win the race (27-27).
Heat 10 saw sharp starts from Bargh & Armstrong to head Courtney & John Branney, and then the experienced Armstrong settled behind his New Zealand team-mate to ensure a 5-1 (32-28).
Heat 11 took three attempts to run, and sadly was the end of the meeting and the season for young Australian Joel Parsons. Barker & Mills gated, but Parsons went inside Mills on the second bend, and after keeping the gas going up the inside, also took Barker on the third turn. Barker then cut back to the inside and charged under Parsons on the first bend of lap 2. However, Barker's line took him wide, while at the same time, Parsons attempted to cut back in on Barker. The pair touched on the second bend, sending Parsons straight into an unforgiving Mildenhall safety fence, with the kickboard smashing into two on impact from Parsons's bike, then Parsons then following in. Referee Barbara Horley stopped the race and after a brief pause, slapped on Barker's yellow exclusion light. It appeared to be a tough call for the ref - as it was one of those 50/50 racing accidents, where two riders end up on the same piece of track. However, she decreed that Barker was at fault, and then a lengthy delay ensued while the unfortunate Parsons was tended to. It soon became apparent that it was a serious injury, and by the time he was taken off the track by ambulance, a broken leg was feared. This was confirmed later in the evening, with Parsons having broken his leg in two places. Get well soon Joel.
Around an hour later the meeting recommenced, with Purchase in for the injured Parsons. Mills gated, but lifted halfway around the opening turns, and crashed into the fence on the second turn. The ref promptly stopped the race, as Mills was parted from his bike with no chance of recovering it in time to allow the race to continue. Mills was excluded from the second re-run, in which the Mildenhall reserves cruised around to a 5-0 (37-28).
With the Academy now 9 points down, Oxford team manager Bryn Williams nominated Jamie Courtney as a tactical ride in Heat 12 - with Courtney becoming the first Academy rider to take such a ride in 2005. The Mildenhall pair of Johnson & Bargh were determined to stop him, and Courtney found himself boxed in as the Mildenhall riders moved in from either side, while Hughes took the lead. However, it was all a bit messy, with Courtney receiving a shove in the process, and the ref sensibly called a halt, citing an unsatisfactory start. In the re-run, Courtney shot from the tapes alongside team-mate Hughes. Johnson came inside Hughes after a lap, but Hughes then rode a sensible race to keep on top of fourth-placed Bargh. Meanwhile, with Courtney coming home first in the black-and-white helmet cover, Oxford cut the deficit to four with a 7-2 (39-35).
Armstrong then steadied the Mildenhall ship with a tapes-to-flag win over Branney & Mills in Heat 13, with Purchase - replacing the injured Parsons - in fourth (42-38).
Heat 14 was crucial. Mildenhall tracked a strong looking pair in Thompson & Bargh, but they hadn't reckoned for the fighting spirit of John Branney (suffering from a nasty bug, and without a point from his previous three rides) & Kyle Hughes. Branney trapped from the inside, and although Bargh got around the outside on the second bend, the Oxford pair then held firm in the minor positions, with Hughes showing maturity beyond his tender years to withstand pressure from Thompson. On the last lap, Branney closed in on Bargh, but Bargh held on to win the race and secure at least a draw for the Fen Tigers. Meanwhile, Hughes completed his return to his 2004 home track with a hugely creditable 9 paid 10 (45-41).
And so, to the final race. Oxford won the toss for gate positions, and plumped for 1 & 3, with Craig Branney off the inside and Jamie Courtney off gate 3, from which he had won six points in Heat 12. Sandwiched between them at the start was the hitherto unbeaten Armstrong, while Johnson was left with gate 4. With the tension mounting, the Oxford pair gated, and for the first time on the afternoon, Armstrong was left chasing. Early on, it looked like Armstrong had the legs on Branney, who had settled in second behind Courtney, but as the race wore on, it became apparent that Branney was riding a masterful race and putting himself in just the right place every time Armstrong went to make a move. Finally time ran out for Armstrong, and Oxford had done it, and snatched a draw out of the jaws of defeat (46-46).
So ended a highly entertaining early evening of Speedway, although most people's thoughts at the end of the meeting rested with the unfortunate Joel Parsons, whose debut for the Fen Tigers had gone drastically wrong.
FEN TIGERS 46: Jon Armstrong 12+1 (5), Trevor Heath 1 (3), Chris Johnson 7+1 (5), Mark Thompson 7+1 (4), Joel Parsons 4 (2), Andrew Bargh 10+1 (6), James Purchase 5+1 (5).
ACADEMY 46: Chris Mills 3+1 (4), Ben Barker 4+2 (4), Jamie Courtney 16 (5) (incl. 6-point tactical ride), John Branney 2 (4), Craig Branney 11+1 (5), Sam Martin 1 (3), Kyle Hughes 9+1 (5).
1: Armstrong, Mills, Barker, Heath, 51.56 (3-3).
2: Hughes, Purchase, Martin, Bargh (fell, remounted), 52.56 (5-7).
3: Courtney, Thompson, Johnson, J. Branney, 51.69 (8-10).
4: C. Branney, Parsons, Hughes, Purchase, 51.64 (10-14).
5: Johnson, Thompson, Barker, Mills, 52.00 (15-15).
6: Armstrong, C. Branney, Heath, Martin, 51.10 (19-17).
7: Courtney, Parsons, Bargh, J. Branney, 51.75 (22-20).
8: Hughes, Barker, Purchase, Heath, 52.94 (23-25).
9: Thompson, C. Branney, Johnson, Martin, 51.59 (27-27).
10: Bargh, Armstrong, Courtney, J. Branney, 52.62 (32-28).
11: (Re-run twice) Bargh, Purchase, Mills (fell, excluded), Barker (excluded, unfair riding), Parsons (fell, unable to contest re-run), 53.70 (37-28).
12: (Re-run) Courtney (TR), Johnson, Hughes, Bargh, 52.81 (39-35).
13: Armstrong, C. Branney, Mills, Purchase, 52.50 (42-38).
14: Bargh, J. Branney, Hughes, Thompson, 53.44 (45-41).
15: Courtney, C. Branney, Armstrong, Johnson, 52.81 (46-46).
REPORT: ROB PEASLEY