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What a scorcher! A beautiful day for the Euro-Vets annual “KO Cup” type competition held at Glasgow to coincide with Chic Mackie’s 80th Birthday celebrations. It’s a pity the track was so parched but that’s been the way of things for some weeks now (months in my own case) for a lot of tracks without a decent water supply. With such conditions of course there was less passing than may have been expected with grip at a real premium and only those willing to take real chances doing the overtaking.
Before I move on and forget, I have to say Thank You on behalf of us all to Team GB Manager Geoff Gamage who covered both Pits Marshall and Announcer jobs very efficiently after a long trip up from the Home Counties on his own. Geoff has been as regular as our regulars this year! Thanks also, as usual, to the hardworking Mackie family who lay on super refreshments for us whenever we hit town. Longest travellers at this one were Paddy Wenn and family, and Martyn Hollebon and Eddie Ridley who had taken in Edinburgh Speedway the previous night. I know Chic was thrilled to see so many travelling as far as they can go northward to help him celebrate. Any data analysts out there could note that the magnificent Leicester club together with Glasgow and Northumbria provided enough riders to fill one of the group matches themselves but let's not forget there's so much going on elsewhere, particularly the vital junior racing, that it would never be easy for "foreigners" to attend this one, which tempered my own slight disappointment at the overall numbers. However if my memory serves correctly (for once) there were at least 8 past or present World, British, Euro and Scottish Champions here today out of 23 participants, and I believe another one at the party afterwards!
The rider numbers present made it necessary to field two mixed age groups of 12, just about sharing the age categories between them – well done Fred! (again).
Group 1 led off for heat one with World Champion Norman Venson heading up Mick Knowles and welcome one-off E-V visitor, the “retired” John Murphy! How could John, that other Scottish CS icon, not turn out to honour his long-term friend Chic? Here they are with old pal Ian McKinley:
Triple Crown World Champion Dave Hemsley had the pleasure of heading up Group 2’s first race with an easy win over Steven Mackie and Chic himself after Ashie Patterson had come down heavily in the first attempt to get away.
Dave went on to an untroubled 5 ride maximum in the qualifying heats with Mark Winwood on 19 and Dave Frith on 18. I need to find out how Dave makes racing look so effortless. Group 1 was won by immaculateTeam GB skipper Craig Marchant closely followed by the in-form pair of Martyn Hollebon and Jason Keith on 18 apiece. There was plenty of squabbling for points going on behind these, although as indicated the track didn’t lend itself to too much passing, but as usual the cream rose to the top and we were set for some splendid action come Knockout Time. For the title-deciding run-offs each qualifying rider (from their scores in the heats) takes his turn to select which of two Semi-Finals he wishes to ride in and at which gate position. Unsurprisingly the favoured grids were 1 and 2 to try and avoid the dust storm and the loose material around the edges when the bends loomed up!
Although there was again, as we’re used to, an age group separation for the semis the Knockout formula allowed a bit of overlap which saw Leicester’s dynamic Over 50 duo of Dave Frith and Norman Venson make it the Over 40s semis, Paddy Wenn just missing out on countback. Ditto the Over 50s but mainly due to low numbers.
Dave Hemsley continued his immaculate run of wins with another in 40s Semi1 followed by Martyn, Jason and well-on-form Eddie, while Mark Winwood lost out in Semi2 when he was re-visited by Lady Luck’s Dark Side sister who has plagued him for two years and fell leaving the final bend on lap three. Craig won that one with the other Dave 2nd and Norman 3rd. Norman and Paddy qualified from 50s Semi1 while Dave Frith and Joe Beuckmann made it from Semi2. Terry Kirkup and Ian “Caveman” McKinley claimed top 60s Semi2 spots with Fred Rothwell and Chris Ward doing likewise from the other one.
The Over 60s Final was first up and this time Terry got the better of an effervescent Fred who’d already beaten him twice in his surprise resurgence to decent form. Chris gave good chase with Ian in 4th place. While we could have expected some good old shenanigans in the Over 50s Final between Dave, Norman and Paddy as we’ve seen for a year or two, once they broke free of Joe on the first turn they were all three going as fast as they dared and thus almost forced to stay line astern for the duration, finishing in that order. Here’s another great shot from ace camera wielder George Swanson that sums it up nicely.
The “pièce de résistance” should have been the Over 40s Final (with Dave Frith!) and so indeed it looked for the first ten seconds after a tangle at turn one between Dave Hemsley off grid 1 and Craig with a fantastic start off 2 leading to an almighty scramble down the back straight. Half way down there a very determined Craig just got his nose in front, somehow and spectacularly, after Martyn who was following the kerb had dive-bombed the pair of them, with Dave Frith keeping a watching brief, ready to pounce. Here's another of George's brilliant captures:
When Craig, leaning well into Martyn but still allowing him an inch of track, reached the third bend the ferocity of his arrival saw the front wheel dig hard into the loose top dressing and throw him off the bike, the two Daves taking a rapid diversion around the outside and Martyn somehow staying upright with his bike. While Craig dusted himself off the discussion in the gallery was all about a possible repeat in the re-run, but astonishingly that chance was blown away by the Referee’s decision to exclude him from the re-run. You could almost hear the communal question mark rise up into the air and explode! So what could have been a much more memorable, and indeed worthy end to the on-track proceedings fizzled out somewhat as Dave Hemsley gated clear to claim first prize from Martyn and Dave Frith.
We was robbed!
The Finals:
Sorry I've been away for a few days since the Exeter meeting so I've borrowed this from 3318news. Meantime here are the programme and overall results sheets. And thank you Kev Greaves and Fred Rothwell for pointing out a few omissions, all such offers responded to!
The Euro-vets GP Series hit Devon this weekend, with Exeter staging an entertaining afternoon of veteran racing.
It was the new European veteran Champion Craig Marchant who completed a great week by topping the score-chart, before winning the Over-40’s Final from Birmingham’s Mark Winwood.
Marchant’s only defeat of the afternoon came at the hands of Northumbria’s Jason Keith who rode a perfect line to keep the Leicester rider on his shoulder in heat 12.
Local favourite Rob Geach had a mixed day, and provided his usual share of thrills and spills. However he was successful in holding off Jason Keith, after a great battle, to take third place in the Over-40’s Final.
Current World Veterans Champion Norman Venson was relegated to 2nd place in the Over-50’s Final, after his Leicester club mate Dave Frith executed a fine pass, whilst Exeter’s Dave Murphy clinched third place in an exciting race.
Welsh Ace Colin Simmons, from Newport, took victory in the Over-60’s Final despite the efforts of local rider Andy Collett, with Northumbrian Terry Kirkup finishing 3 rd .
SCORES:
Craig Marchant 19, Mark Winwood 18, Norman Venson 18, Dave Murphy 15, Jason Keith 15, Dave Frith 14, Colin Simmons, 14, Andy Collett 14, Rob Geach 13, Terry Kirkup 12, Steve Clarke 10, Jim Collier 9, Kev Greaves 7, Chris Ward 7, Fred Rothwell 7, Ash Patterson 5.
Over 40 A Final: 1st Craig Marchant, 2nd Mark Winwood, 3rd Rob Geach
Over 50 A Final: 1st Dave Frith, 2nd Norman Venson, 3rd Dave Murphy
Over 60 A Final: 1st Colin Simmons, 2nd Andy Collett, 3rd Terry Kirkup
Will try to catch up in a few days and get some more detail on here with maybe a few videos.
Once again the Leicester club did us proud, beginning with a massive clear-up operation after the track was flooded in the morning but ready for racing come tapes-up around 1:15 pm. In fact as the drizzle finally slowed and stopped the track did firm up and begin to dry out, but somehow it still provided fantastic grip levels right from the opening heat apart from a few inches around the inner kerbs.
I have to repeat a few Facebook “thank you”s here, starting of course with the Monarchs riders and helpers for their graft and hospitality. Also to Paddy Wenn’s folks, our super, much-travelled supporters for the last few seasons and sponsors of today’s pennants which every rider received. To Steve Copping of Norwich CSC who took his first steps into the world of the Euro-Vets today. To Chris Ward for his brilliant season-long support of the series after many years away from the bikes. And to my old mate and adversary, ex-speedway rider Frank Auffret who like Steve braved potential misery and took the plunge at today’s Finale, vowing to do the whole series next year.
Below - Frank lines up for his first taste of serious racing in 50 years on the inside against Vets World Champion Norman Venson, British Over 60s Champion Colin Simmons and "I Am Legend" Chic Mackie.
To Horspath stalwart and Team GB mastermind Geoff Gamage who has done a fantastic job this year as Pits Marshall and lent his considerable expertise and assistance to the cause. To my chauffeur, travelling companion and good friend Jason Keith who has also kept our dying club’s head just above water this year with his insistence on regular training sessions, and also my very old friend Alan “Ashie” Patterson who has fought off nasty disease for the last two years now and battled the effects of chemotherapy to join us for five of this year’s GP rounds. And to the amazing 80 year old Chic Mackie who managed to turn out once again for the final round of the series.
And finally, Thank You to the incredible Fred Rothwell who’s enthusiasm keeps the whole thing going year after year and keeps smiling through all the torment of finding fixture dates and venues, arranging insurance, collecting funds for Orchid and the E-Vs and generally providing the means to give us the racing we all enjoy so much.
On the subject of Orchid it looks like our chosen charity will again receive over a thousand pounds from us as a group which isn’t bad for a little bunch of sometime bike riders.
Apart from all the usual ups and downs, moments of joy and torment we experience throughout a season we were all a bit extra shocked when Paddy Wenn took a nasty tumble in heat 14 and emerged with what looked like a possible broken jaw and a proper dizzy spell, as well as some peripheral damage. Shades of Dave Hemsley’s horrible broken ankle crash in the same event last year. However a check-up in hospital later saw some stitches popped into Paddy’s face and luckily nothing more serious, though we were all a bit fearful watching him stagger around the place afterwards looking dazed and hardly able to speak, with blood pouring from his mouth.
There were again a few title and overall rostrum places to be decided in this final round, again reminiscent of 2017. This time Paddy Wenn was just 4 points up on home man Dave Frith at start time in the chase for Over 50s third place, while theoretically Paddy could have overtaken Norman Venson for first place had he won the “A” Final and Norman not scored at all! Similarly in the Over 60s, had Terry not turned up or had an early problem Fred was in a position to snatch runner-up spot. The Over 40s situation was much more intense and precariously balanced on a knife edge after a season-long battle between E-V newcomer from Exeter ,Rob Geach and Northumbria’s Jason Keith. Either one could have emerged in third place and it wouldn’t be decided until the end of the “B” Final. A wee bit further up the points ladder, Brummie Mark Winwood had defending champion and home favourite Craig Marchant a mere five points adrift for the title, and with Craig scoring maximum points in the heats and grabbing grid one for the “A” Final it was all to play for come Final time.
Next best in the main programme were Leicester’s British Champion Mark Whitehead and Mark Winwood on 18 apiece while Rob Geach again provided most of the talking points as he gathered up 17 valuable points including a staggering last gasp pass on the line over rostrum rival Jason Keith in heat 1 after an intense chase and some place swapping. This would eventually see the Geordie relegated to the “B” Final and needing to win it to secure third place overall.
Carl Winwood and Craig Whitehead both made their very welcome second outings in this year’s series piling up 14 each with some spirited riding, the Birmingham Monarch missing out on a win against his brother in heat 3 after having his eyes filled with shale, corrected with glasses from then on but creating a few murmurs in the pits. Surely not! And it was good to see Great Blakenham's Jason Ashford back amongst his old rivals and ex-teammates again. Wednesfield’s Craig Burt made his fourth 2018 appearance and rode well again, hustling his way to 12 points including a good win over Jim Collier while Steve Copping joined the fray for his Euro-Vets debut, hopefully encouraging others to try their hand next year.
The first running of the “A” Final saw a typically opportunist undercut attempt by Rob Geach go a little awry with Craig being unseated and Mark Whitehead wiped out completely! Rob was allowed back in the rerun by a very generous referee but this time came unstuck at the pits end where the very inside was still a little slippery, and down he came to finish last with the very impressive and fast-starting Stumpz gathering his 24th point of the day to win from Winnie and Mark Whitehead. That result clinched the championship for Mr Winwood while Rob's single point threw the pressure for third place overall back onto Jason. The 2018 Edinburgh rider made no mistakes to win the "B" Final from grid 1 over Carl and Craig Whitehead, a fast but tiring Jason Ashford eventually outpaced in 4th place, thus ensuring JK's overall third place by a single point over Rob. Below - the "A" Final lineup.
The Over 50s and 60s event saw championship topping trio Paddy Wenn, Dave Frith and Norman Venson kick off with their first wins and Over 60s champion elect and current BC Over 50s champ Colin Simmons next best after three heats each. Dave's stern defence against Norman in heat 8 and Norman's against Paddy in the tenth showed the Leicester pair really meant business today and both drew gasps from the onlookers with most of the defensive action at the pits end. That was until heat 14 when Paddy's persistent and determined effort to dig a hole under Dave going into the third bend cost him that nasty face plant and brought the meeting to a halt for a good ten minutes. He wasn't able to continue and that was his chance of climbing an extra podium step gone for this year. We wish Paddy a speedy and complete recovery.
Below - looks like Norm the Storm is phoning a friend as he lines up for the epic heat 8 battle with Dave!
Dave emulated his young Leicester teammate Craig by going on to record a brilliant maximum with World Champion Norm just 1 point adrift while reigning Over 60 E-V champion Phil Hemming gathered three wins in his last three heats to put him on 17 with Colin, both Grand Veterans well in the mix.There was plenty of action further down the field with the highlight probably being another on-the-line pass, this time new boy Frank sneaking up on the normally very wily Fred to grab a cheeky second place by a minute margin.
The 50s "B" Final saw Fred and Frank hard at it again for the whole race and as they mucked each other about with a lazy and wide entry to the final turn, an enterprising Chris Ward sprang a surprise on them both to lead to the finish! In the "A" Final Dave made no mistake to complete his own 24 point score and secure second overall, again hotly pursued by Norman, here clinching the Championship with Phil getting the better of Colin a bit behind the runaway leaders.
The Over 60s "B" Final gave Fred a chance to compensate for two earlier mistakes with a good win over a hard challenging Chris, Ashie Patterson getting the better of Chic Mackie off the start and easing to third place. The "A" Final saw a bit of a strange start with Colin off grid 2 not happy about something while fast starting Phil off 1 scooted into the lead pursued by Frank and Terry, who managed to make use of the phenomenal grip around the outside to jump past Phil on the back straight and take the win. Colin did manage to overhaul a now very tired but superbly game Frank for third.
We couldn't resist turning the clock back to 1968 or thereabouts with this shot of our motley, or more appropriately on this occasion, mottled crew from that era, left to right Fred Rothwell (then Woodside Diamonds, Halifax), Leslie Gustafson (then Trow Lea Mariners, South Shields and/or Newcastle Vikings), Frank Auffret (then Saltersgill Saints, Middlebrough and/or Newcastle Vikings and/or Trow Lea Mariners), Terry Kirkup (then Trow Lea Mariners, South Shields and/or Newcastle Vikings) and Ashie Patterson (then Newcastle Vikings). Les, we need to see you on a bike again next year!
How did it turn so cold so quickly? At least we had a dry if somewhat breezy afternoon for this, the penultimate round of the 2018 series which was very kindly and generously sponsored by local mortage providers Yellow Brick Mortgages. This was my first visit to the Norfolk track and very pretty it is, situated in the farthest corner of the Memorial Playing Fields enclosed by housing.
First job for fellow traveller Fred Rothwell and the magician's apprentice GB Team Manager Geoff Gamage was to come up with a decent race formula for the Over 40s, suffering another disappointingly low turnout of just seven riders, including the very welcome Carl Winwood having his first outing with Old Folk. I'm not sure where the eventual format came from but it sure packed in plenty frantic action in the first seven of its standard heats before cranking up the excitement in the open draw 8th and 9th and ending with a right old Clash of the Titans in the "A" Final itself.
Defending Champ Craig Marchant and an impressive Jason Keith grabbed three wins apiece in the heats closely followed by Steve Harris, once again doubling-up in the 40s and 50s, pretty hard graft considering the compact nature of the Over 40s programme. Somehow Mark Winwood didn't pass the flag first until it really mattered! Lady Luck sprayed her favours fairly evenly and the most consistent riders emerged as today's "A" Finalists, with slightly less lucky Rob Geach just missing out after once again providing more than his fair share of the entertainment.
The "A" Final saw a couple of even splits into the first bend being called back Craig hitting the floor twice, following the domino effect of a very determined Steve's shoulder charges into the pits bend. Third time unlucky for Craig as the ensuing tangle left him unable to re-mount with enough time to make a challenge and Mark took full advantage around the outside, going on to win the race and the event, with Jason getting the better of Steve.
Rob showed more great form in the "B" Final to stave off the challenge of Carl who seemed to enjoy his first dip into E-V action and a quick-looking Jim Collier.
Home crowd favourite Paddy Wenn from just up the road at Norwich Stars didn't disappoint the decent-sized and vociferous gathering of onlookers, playing their part with enthusiastic support for some very close racing, and even louder when Paddy and home star Glyn Morgan were on track. Paddy just edged out Dave Frith, Norman Venson, Steve Harris and a quick-starting Colin Simmons in the heats to claim the inside grid for the Over 50s "A" Final, the latter surviving a huge dive bomb attack from Norman in heat 8 with the World Champion surprisingly hitting the dirt on the pits bend. Pensioner Paul Timms also showed he's no slouch amongst the lower age group with another fine display. I must extend a warm Euro-Vets welcome to Southampton's Clive Alford who turned out for his Euro-Vets initiation today while he could have just comfortably remained on holiday.
In the 50s "A" Final Paddy made perfect use of his inside gate position to snap into the lead leaving the pits turn while Colin also made another great start but was overtaken by Norman and Dave, finishing in that order to joyous raptures from the crowd. Steve was a comfy winner of the "B" Final, rerun after a hard tumble by Terry attempting an outside blast to compensate for another dismal Over 60s Final display. Paul kept a hard-charging Glyn at bay to finish second.
The Over 60s "A" Final went to Colin with Les Stevens keeping Paul and Terry in the minor placings. Fred Rothwell continued his improved form winning the "B" Final from Chris Ward, the latter getting faster every outing after his own very late return to the Sport, while a game Chic Mackie cruised home in third after another incredible appearance for our wee octagenarian speedster riding his new Mielec and looking better on it than on his age-old mounts.
Thanks to Yellow Brick Mortgages for their superb support of the event and their upcoming sponsorship of the Hethersett club.