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Over the years these junior
team events have thrown up some fine racing, and this one
was right up there with the best. The final, held in
temperatures towards the mid 20's (in April!) and watched by
Leicester's Lord Mayor was always going to be a close
affair. However, Hull, very impressive in their semi-final,
soon found themselves out of contention, not helped by a
whole series of falls and exclusions.
The remaining three teams were locked in a titanic battle
but exclusions for Sandwell's Paul Heard in heat seven and
Leicester's Jake Hogan in heat eleven handed the advantage
to Hethersett, nevertheless the home side clawed their way
back and entered the final heat just two points behind the
Norfolk club.
Carl Jarvis - unbeaten all afternoon - shot away to complete
a fine maximum for the Monarchs and with Lee Smith slotted
into second a run off was looking likely, Jazz Abbott had
other ideas though and pulled off a fine pass on the second
lap, a fitting finale to a excellent days racing.
Hethersett had strength all through their team which is the
key to winning these events and are deserving champions,
special credit to Phil Adams riding with a badly cut face
after a semi final coming together with Jamie Brown.
Hethersett 45 (J Abbott 13, P Adams 12, B Collins 11,
D Chambers 9, H Hamill DNR)
Leicester 44 ( C Jarvis 16, J Hogan 12, S Jayes 9, A
Crouch 4, M Hartshorn 3)
Sandwell 38 (L Smith 13, P Heard 11, M Smith 8, J
Palmer 6, S Millward DNR)
Hull 27 (L Aylmer 9, C Woodward 8, A Stephenson 6, M
Beharrell 4)
Semi-Final 1: Sandwell 49, Hethersett 47, Wednesfield 42,
Sheffield 32, Norwich 30
Semi-Final 2: Leicester 54, Hull 49, Newport 42, Bury 36,
Ipswich 17 |
