2008 BRITISH VETERANS (OVER-40S) CHAMPIONSHIP

BRILLIANT HARRIS SCOOPS CROWN - posted 7 September 2008

Special Report by Joe McLaughlin

Horspath staged the British Veterans Final on Saturday (6 September) at their homely Oxfordshire circuit, attracting a top class field full of former World and British champions and laced with an array of cycle speedway's finest performers over the past three decades.

Ex World champs Steve Harris (on his home Horspath track) and Mark Newey, the prolific Leicester scorer, headed the parade of champions. Former British champions Pete Young of Southampton and Poole’s Andre Cross were amongst a super strong supporting cast which also included defending title holder Ian Lawrence (Filton) and World Veterans champion Norman Venson of Leicester.

Happily, the heavy rain that had lashed Britain for several days had relented as the riders approached the gate in heat one. Unhappily, the rain was soon to return with a vengeance, destroying the enjoyment for competitor and spectator alike.

It was a hair-raising opening heat. Three times a trio of riders crashed spectacularly, with Andy Franks of Wednesfield each time being the innocent victim of mayhem before him. At the fourth attempt, Gary Brown of Somersham was excluded, with Lawrence taking the win as he looked for a hat-trick of veteran titles.

Mark Griffiths of Wednesfield earned a tapes exclusion in heat two from the inside gate. Newey, from grid two, gleefully took full advantage to register the win, knowing he had two further inside grids to come.  Harris made easy work of heat three to post his credentials, before Irish star Gary Colby of Norwich won heats four and five to fleetingly head the leader board.

Harris engineered a fine pass on Young in heat six to join Colby on eight. Venson held an all-important inside gate in heat seven, with Newey on his tail throughout.  The rain returned as the riders lined-up for heat eight, light at first before increasing and lasting for the remaining duration of the final. However, this did not effect the super-fit Franks in the eighth race, stalking the flagging Birmingham racer Paul Timms for three and a half laps before powering ahead on the outside on the final lap.

After a couple of tepid outings, Young, who has just returned to action, raised his game to take heat nine, before the hugely entertaining Yorkshireman Darren Kent, of Heckmondwike, won heat 10, the last race before the interval.

The half time period witnessed a tremendous downpour, which soon completely engulfed the Horspath circuit, making conditions increasingly appalling for all present.

The popular Dave Murphy, from Poole, who had earlier dropped two inside gates, made amends by winning heat 11 from grid four – the first rider to do so. Harris produced a scintillating first lap to account for heat 12.  After each rider had completed three rides each, Harris was unbeaten on a maximum 12, with Newey and Colby chasing hard on 10, with Murphy, Kent and Venson ready to pounce on 9.

Newey maintained the pressure on Harris by motoring home in heat 13. In heat 14, Venson begun his late charge for glory with his second heat win of the afternoon, after all-action reserve Dave Palfryman (Filton) had hit the front. 

Heat 15 provided the race of the day and surely one of the finest duels of the season.  Using all his home track knowledge, Harris conjured another masterful first lap to hit the front from grid four, gliding past Brown on the inside. That’s another four points to Harris whispered the drenched gallery. Brown was having none of it, regrouping well to chase down Harris, catching him with a superb dive on the final lap for a brilliant victory.

An increasingly impressive Cross won heat 16, before the Norfolk based Poole asset earned an exclusion in heat 17, thus allowing Harris on gate two a free `home run` to glory and the British Veterans crown. It caps a terrific year for Harris. The leading Brit at the European Final in Rawicz, a vintage display in the British Final, and now British Vets champion, what a year for one of cycle speedway's true greats. 

Newey won heat 18 to confirm second place in an accomplished display and Venson raced through from the back in fine fashion in the final heat to secure third place on the podium.

Young can feel well pleased with his performance in his first major meeting for over two years. Colby and Murphy were always good value, defending champ Lawrence faded after a bright start, whilst both Kent and Franks will look to exclusions and bad luck which restricted their progress.

British Veterans (Over-40s) Individual Championship
Steve Harris (Horspath) 19, Mark Newey (Leicester) 18, Norman Venson (Leicester) 17, Pete   Young (Southampton) 15, Gary Colby (Norwich) 14, Dave Murphy (Poole) 14, Ian Lawrence (Filton) 12, Andre Cross (Poole) 12, Paul Gibbs (Filton) 11, Gary Brown (Somersham) 11, Darren Kent (Heckmondwike) 11, Andy Franks (Wednesfield) 9, Paul Timms (Birmingham) 9, Mark Griffiths (Wednesfield) 8, Mike Burgess (Filton) 7, Les Stevens (East London) 5, Dave Palfreyman (Filton-reserve) 3
Eliminated - Dave Palfreyman (Filton), Martin Glover (Horspath), Tim Grimes (Hethersett), Phil Widdas (Birmingham)
Non Starters - Simon Plows (Hull) Tim Metcalfe (Independent), John Whiting (Bury)
Referee: Ralph Doughty (Derbyshire)

LAWRENCE BIDS FOR VETERANS HAT-TRICK - posted 3 September 2008

British Veterans' champion Ian Lawrence knows that he will need luck on his side if he is to make it a hat-trick of victories in Saturday's event at Horspath.

After being out of the sport for the best part of 20 years, his career was unexpectedly revived a couple of years ago - and he  hasn't looked back since, having won back-to-back over-40s and 0ver-50s national titles.

Speaking exclusively to spokesman-online Ian picks up the story.

"I had been out of the sport for about 18 years when I received a phone call asking me to ride in a pub car park in South Norfolk. I was intrigued, so, armed with my old shoes and a long sleeved tee shirt, set off across country to compete in this bizarre event. A great time was had by all and after the evening drinking games in the pub, I was well and truly re-hooked on the sport I hadn't even thought about for more than a decade.

"The only problem really was my location. Living in St Ives in Cornwall is not the best of bases when riding for Long Stratton. The last two years have been very kind to me though, having been lucky enough to win the over 40s and over 50s national champs twice.

"Having seen the draw for the over 40s final at Horspath this weekend I will need lady luck firmly on my side to retain the title. Every race is going to be tough with some very fast gaters and master tacticians.

"To name one person as the favourite would be impossible as I feel that at least six of the field are very capable of lifting the trophy. The veteran events seem to go from strength to strength. It should be a great final and I'm really looking forward to it. I just hope that 32-20 will be the right gearing on the day" smiled Ian.

It's all building up to a great day.  Racing starts at Horspath at 1pm with the qualifying rounds.  The final gets underway at 3.30pm.

BEST EVER VETERANS LINE UP - posted 2 September 2008

The British over-40s championship, which takes place at Horspath on Saturday (6 September) promises to be the best ever!  The championship has attracted its strongest field of 23 riders boosted by the addition of several 'first-time' vets including former World champions Steve Harris and Mark Newey and ex-British champions Andre Cross and Pete Young.  And that's not all.  There are several Premier League regulars as well, all hoping to make their first vets final.

It was that quality that urged one present day rider to remark that "Getting into the Vets final wil be harder than the senior!" - a slight exageration perhaps - but only slight!l

Two-time winner Ian Lawrence will be hard pushed to defend his title against quality riders ten years his junior.  The 51 year old plumber from St Ives in Cornwall, who was only raced half a dozen matches all season, knows this will be his toughest challenge yet.  But the remarkable Lawrence, who seems to defy age, should never be discounted.

Reports reaching spokesman-online tell of a valiant effort last week, when in a South-West League match at Southampton, the Filton veteran held off newly crowned British champion Gavin Wheeler for three and three-quarter laps, only to be pipped in the rush for the line.

And talking of form, no one is in better shape than Steve Harris who was just edged out of the medals at the British championships at Poole just a fortnight ago.  Riding on his home track, it would be a major surprise if Harris failed to mount the rostrum this time round.

The qualifying rounds start at 1pm and the final gets underway at 3.30pm.

The draw is as follows

1 Paul Gibbs (Filton), 2 Paul Timms (Birmingham), 3 Andre Cross (Poole), 4 Ian Lawrence (Filton), 5 Gary Brown (Somersham), 6 Timothy Grimes (Hethersett), 7 Dave Palfreyman (Filton), 8 Pete Young (Poole), 9 Norman Venson (Leicester), 10 Martin Glover (Swindon), 11 Andy Franks (Wednesfield), 12 John Whiting (Bury), 13 Darren Kent (Heckmondwike), 14 Gary Colby (Norwich), 15 Mike Burgess (Filton), 16 Simon Plows (Hull) 17, Mark Newey (Leicester), 18 Dave Murphy (Poole), 19 Tim Metcalfe (Independent), 20 Les Stevens (East London), 21 Phil Widdas (Birmingham), 22 Steve Harris (Horspath), 23 Mark Griffiths (Wednesfield)