Speedway title for Heroes after surprise final victory

Scorching temperatures matched the on-track action at Smallbrook Stadium, Ryde, as the West Wight Heroes took a remarkable win in the annual best pairs meeting on Tuesday night, despite starting with only one permanent rider.

Charlie Southwick was left without a partner after James Shanes withdrew at short notice. In a sporting gesture, each of the other four pairs ‘lent’ a rider in rotation to keep the Heroes in contention under the 4-3-2-0 scoring system.

The experienced racers — Adam Ritchings, Chris Cluff and Connor Coles — collected big points for their teams, while the battle for minor places often proved decisive. Heat 2 saw Henning Loof (Surrey Sliders) edge past James Laker (Golden Duo) for third, with the pair repeating the duel in Heat 4. Southwick fell in Heat 7, but his guest partner won to limit the damage.

In the semi-finals, the Sliders were eliminated on countback. The Heroes, with Southwick and Loof, beat Rob’s Raiders 6-3 after Coles was excluded for a fall. The Golden Duo defeated Chesil Radio Wildcats 5-4, with Laker recovering from a slip to retake third place on the final bend.

For the final, Heroes team manager Jerry Lake called in Nathan Hargrave to join Southwick. Cluff won the heat for the Golden Duo, but Hargrave’s third place sealed a 5-4 win and the meeting title.

Qualifying: Heroes 20, Golden Duo 19, Wildcats 17, Sliders 17, Raiders 17.
Semi-final 1: Heroes 6, Raiders 3.
Semi-final 2: Golden Duo 5, Wildcats 4.
Final: Heroes 5, Golden Duo 4.

In the women’s event, Yorkshire’s Rachel Hellowell retained her NORA British Women’s Championship with three wins and a second place, ahead of Islander Tia Brant, Plymouth’s Charlotte Brooks and Anastasia Williams.

The next meeting is on Tuesday, August 19, when the Wightlink Warriors face Cradley Heathens in the second leg of the Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy.