Success on track for Hawks

HETHERSETT Hawks/Swinton and Co cycle speedway riders had a successful time on the south coast over the bank holiday weekend. Racing at the picturesque Poole circuit, three club members were prominent in major events.

HETHERSETT Hawks/Swinton and Co cycle speedway riders had a successful time on the south coast over the bank holiday weekend.

Racing at the picturesque Poole circuit, three club members were prominent in major events.

Carly Grimes represented the east region in the first women and girls' league match against south-west and Wales and was second highest scorer with 12 points in the 66-54 defeat.

She then went on to win the B final in the over 15s grand prix, beating three top riders.

Dan Chambers represented Young England against a Rest of the World side. He scored 12 in the home 95-80 victory and the following day he contested the Ade Gale Memorial Junior Laurels event. He finished fourth overall after losing a race-off for third place. Ben Collins also rode well in this event to finish eighth.

Hethersett have a new Norfolk champion with Phil Adams taking the U19 title after a very unpredictable and exciting final at Hethersett.

Chambers looked favourite after already beating Adams but reigning champion Collins surprised him with a strong challenge in their last ride.

The two tangled and ultimately Collins could only be content with a third place, keeping Chambers at the back.

Adams had won all his other races, including a recovery after being passed by Collins, so his 15 points gave him the title with Chambers winning a race-off with Scott Grimes for third place on the podium.

With several riders away the Hawks took a scratch side to face leaders Great Blakenham in the South-East League and got well beaten, although acting captain David Adams was in good form and his brother Phil scored the Hawks' only race win.

Gt Blakenham 114, Hethersett 65. D Adams 13, P Adams 10, R Carter 10, S Grimes 8, T Grimes 8, O Buxton 6, Calvin Grimes 6, Carly Grimes 4.

The Combination Division match was much tighter as unavailability led to both sides using a lot of first-team riders, giving Hethersett a starting handicap advantage of 20 points.

They defended that well with Scott Grimes and David Adams working an early 7-3 win.

An exclusion for Phil Adams reduced the deficit but no more races were lost until David Adams fell and brought down Scott Grimes in heat 12 for a home 7-0.

The Hawks won two of the last four heats to win by five points.

Gt Blakenham B 126, Hethersett B 131. P Adams 16, S Grimes 13, Calvin Grimes 12, D Adams 10, O Buxton 9, M Perkins 8.

This Saturday Hawks' riders will be at Colchester for regional round three of the British Youth and Junior League.