Astley & Tyldesley’s youngsters turned in a great performance to convincingly beat Sheffield Rockets in a junior challenge match. On a hot sweltering day, A & T’s youngsters won the opening five heats to race into a 33-17 lead on a dusty Cookson Park circuit. Sheffield then rallied with two race winners, but A & T kept up the pressure to win another six heats and run out 91-59 winners. Stefan Whitelegg and Sacha Street both lost just once, beaten by Niall Morton in heat 15 and Ed Morton in heat 7 respectively. Reece Pollitt, racing in his first match, turned in a terrific performance, losing just once to an opponent, to Niall Morton in heat 6. No A & T rider recorded a fourth place throughout the match, in what was an excellent showing by all six riders. Full credit to Sheffield in giving rides to nine youngsters, with Niall Morton losing just once to Stefan Whitelegg in heat 1.

Junior Challenge match result.

Sheffield Rockets 59 Astley & Tyldesley 91

Sheffield: Niall Morton 15, Callum Bower 12, Ed Morton 9, Ashley Houlden 6, Jake Millington 5, Katy Unwin 4, Josh Gammage 3, Alice Unwin 3, Alec Critchley 2.

A & T: Stefan Whitelegg 19, Sacha Street 19, Reece Pollitt 17 (2), Max Evans 13 (3), Matthew Turnbull 12 (3), Adam Turnbull 11 (1).

Referee – Mick Knowles.

As was the case at Gin Pit last month, the match was ridden in a great sporting atmosphere and credit to both clubs for their commitment to junior development.

Stockport hosted round 3 of the Manchester League Grand Prix series on Wednesday evening. Astley & Tyldesley’s youngsters dominated the U-10 and U-13 categories, with Adam Turnbull, Max Evans, Joel Partington and Adam Phillips all being unbeaten by an opponent. Stockport then hit back to dominate the U-16 and U-19 categories, with their top five scorers – Dylan Radcliffe, Mat Lush, Jake Read, James Carter, Ben Higham – all racing unbeaten by an opponent.

Manchester League Division 2 match result (top 5 scorers only count to team totals)

Stockport 74 Astley & Tyldesley 72 Bury 38 Sheffield 21.

U-10s: Adam Turnbull (A & T) 15, Max Evans (A & T) 13, Alfie Woolley (Stockport) 8.

U-13s: Adam Phillips (A & T) 15, Joel Partington (A & T) 15, Matt Turner (Stockport) 12, Karolina Olczak (Sheffield) 12, Adam Watson (Bury) 8, Georgina Healey (Stockport) 8, Stefan Whitelegg (A & T) 6, Tom Spencer (Bury) 4.

U-16s: Dylan Radcliffe (Stockport) 16, Mat Lush (Stockport) 15, Jake Read (Stockport) 14, James Carter (Stockport) 13, Joe Pickford (Stockport) 11, Laura Watson (Bury) 11, Sandra Tamborska (Sheffield) 9, Jack Lush (Stockport) 3.

U-19s: Ben Higham (Stockport) 16, Ben Dickenson (Bury) 15, Luke Jamson (A & T) 14, Matt Turnbull (A & T) 11.

Referees – Graham Lush & Alan Taylor.

The Division 1 result was never in doubt with Stockport fielding seven of the nine riders entered. Plenty of keen racing took place with no one racing unbeaten.

Manchester League Division 1 match result (top 5 scorers only count to team totals)

Stockport 67 Astley & Tyldesley 12 Bury 12.

Seniors: Terry Norman (Stockport) 14, Ben Higham (Stockport) 14, Dylan Radcliffe (Stockport) 14, Mat Lush (Stockport) 13, Luke Jamson (A & T) 12, Ben Dickenson (Bury) 12, Dariusz Pilas (Stockport) 12, Joe Pickford (Stockport) 8, Jack Lush (Stockport) 0.

Referee – Alan Taylor.

The Manchester League Division 1 Round 2 match which was postponed on 5th May, was ridden on 12th May at Bury. Results as follows.

Manchester League Division 1 match result (top 5 scorers only count to team totals)

Stockport 59 Bury 32 Astley & Tyldesley 11.

Seniors: Terry Norman (Stockport) 15, Jack Lush (Stockport) 13, Chris Parish (Bury) 12, Luke Jamson (A & T) 11, Mat Lush (Stockport) 11, Ben Higham (Stockport) 10, Ben Dickenson (Bury) 10, John Whiting (Bury) 10, Dylan Radcliffe (Stockport) 10, Joe Pickford (Stockport) 8.

Referee – Alan Taylor.

Astley & Tyldesley hosted Round 2 of the North West Go-Race Grand Prix series at Gin Pit on Sunday. A handicapping system was put into place to even up the differences in age, ability and experience of the competitors. Joel Partington made light of his 20 yards handicap in each race, coming through the field each time to win all four of his races and win the round with a 16 points maximum score. Young Adam Turnbull turned in a tenacious display, to take 2nd place overall after scoring 14 points, with Luke Jamson and Stefan Whitelegg tieing for 3rd place, after both had scored 13 points.

North West Go-Race Grand Prix Round 2 result

Joel Partington 16, Adam Turnbull 14, Luke Jamson 13, Stefan Whitelegg 13, Matthew Turnbull 12, Tyler Koch 12, Max Evans 11, Ben Thornton 9, Michael Hilton 8.

Referee – Mike Hack.

A & T staged a Women’s taster event afterwards, with the enthusiastic ladies finishing off with their own competition. Christine Carroll won the final, ahead of Linda Turnbull, Kirsten Worgan and Meriam Partington.

A & T Women’s Taster result

‘A’ Final: 1st Christine Carroll, 2nd Linda Turnbull, 3rd Kirsten Worgan, 4th Meriam Partington.

‘B’ Final: 1st Joanne Koch, 2nd Beverley Evans, 3rd Joanne Whitelegg.

Referee – Mike Hack.

Astley & Tyldesley continue to hold practice sessions every Tuesday and Thursday evening, at 7 pm. Newcomers are always welcome to try out this sport, with bikes and helmets available for hire. The track is located at the Astley & Tyldesley Miners’ Welfare Club, Meanley Road, Gin Pit, Astley, M29 7DW. For further details, visit the club’s website at www.astleycyclespeedway.org.uk

Great news is that the Astley & Tyldesley club have been successful in their application for £5,000 funding from the Community Foundation through their Grassroots Grants scheme. The funding has been made in full, which will enable the club to purchase two cabins to replace the old bike storage cabin and the old first aid cabin. This is clearly great news that the club has been able to purchase three replacement cabins this year and they will greatly enhance the facilities. So, there will be some work ahead in moving equipment and kitting out the new cabins, but it’s far preferable to patching up and making do with old and leaking cabins!

Disappointing news has been the mindless vandalism the club has suffered during the past week, with damage to the locks on the new catering cabin delivered last week, to the announcer’s cabin locks and to the trackside locks. It all costs time and money to repair such damage. The A & T club are taking out extra security measures to avoid repeat occurrences.

Fiona Walmsley-Collins visited Gin Pit last year, to make a short film based on the A & T v Edinburgh match last August. She has received the great news that her film, Match Day, has been selected for the 2010 New York Bicycle Film Festival, which takes place on June 16-20. The Festival organisers received hundreds of submissions, and state that the quality and diversity is superb. This year is their 10th Anniversary. Good luck to Fiona with her submission and thanks to her for bringing cycle speedway to a much wider audience.

The 2nd Round of the North West Go-Race Grand Prix series will be held next Sunday (16th May), but at the earlier start time of 2 pm, following A & T’s withdrawal from the Northern Combination League. The match will be followed by a special training session, exclusively for women and girls, starting at 3.30 pm.

There will also be a special training session, exclusively for women and girls, starting at 8 pm this Thursday, following the regular training session.

Any new women and girls wishing to come along to the training sessions will be made most welcome. For further details, visit the club’s website at www.astleycyclespeedway.org.uk or contact Mike Hack at m.hack@blueyonder.co.uk

Astley & Tyldesley opened their 2010 season

Astley & Tyldesley opened their 2010 season on Sunday with a trip to Stockport, for a Northern Combination Division match. A & T’s youngsters put in a gallant display against a much older Stockport team, consisting of half their first team, before going down 93 – 54. Ali Lam, Matt Turner, Jack Lush, Mat Lush and Jake Read all raced unbeaten for Stockport. Joel Partington and Matthew Turnbull were joint top scorers for A & T, with Sacha Street recovering well after a fall first time out.

Northern Combination Division match result.

Stockport 93 Astley & Tyldesley 54

Stockport: Ali Lam 20, Jake Read 16, Matt Turner 14 (2), Jack Lush 10 (2), Mat Lush 10 (2), James Carter 9 (3), Joe Pickford 8, Georgina Healey 6.

A & T: Joel Partington 12, Matthew Turnbull 11 (1), Sacha Street 10 (2), Stefan Whitelegg 10, Max Evans 6 (1), Adam Turnbull 5.

Referee – Alan Taylor.

Joel Partington won the English Schools U-12 Roller Cycling Championships last week, to add to the four titles he already holds in other cycling disciplines. Sacha Street represented Wigan at the Gt. Manchester Champions Challenge on Saturday and finished 3rd in the Boys Cycling Sprint Final.

Photography by Michal Zakrzewski

The annual charity BMX / Cycle Speedway event is taking place on the Astley & Tyldesley Cycle Speedway track at Gin Pit on Sunday 20th December. Registrations take place at 11.30 am, with racing starting at 12 noon. There is a £5 entry fee. Entries are open to all British Cycling registered riders, with riders to race on their own BMX or Mountain bikes. This event is being run in conjunction with Simon Barber of the Mid Lancs BMX club.

The Astley & Tyldesley track is located at the Astley & Tyldesley Miners’ Welfare Club, Meanley Road, Gin Pit, Astley, Gt. Manchester. M29 7DW.

The exciting spectacle of indoor cycle speedway racing returns to Salford this weekend. Fit City Broughton hosts the British Indoor Cycle Speedway Championships this forthcoming weekend (Saturday 28th / Sunday 29th November). Widely regarded as the sport’s best indoor venue, Broughton is bound to provide a feast of fast and exciting racing, featuring Britain’s best indoor cycle speedway racers.

The juniors take to the track on Day 1 (Saturday). Racing consists of individual championships at U-13, U-16, U-19 levels and the junior team championship, featuring four-side teams of U-19 riders. There will be new winners in each of the junior individual competitions, as last year’s winners have all moved up an age category and therefore cannot defend their titles. There will also be new winners in the junior team competition, as last year’s winners, Wednesfield, will not be participating this time round. Last year’s runners-up Sandwell will be looking to go one better this year.

Day 2 (Sunday) will be contested by the seniors and veterans. Racing consists of individual championships at senior and veterans levels and the senior team championship, featuring four-side teams of open age riders. Horspath’s Mark Boaler returns to defend his senior individual title and he can expect some tough opposition from multi title winners Lee Aris (Wednesfield, Wolverhampton) and Steve Harris (Horspath, Oxford). Remarkably Harris is at the veteran stage and he is a clear favourite to retain the veterans title he won last year at Cheslyn Hay. Wednesfield won last year’s team final from Horspath. These two clubs have dominated the team event in recent years and are bound to be strong contenders again.

Racing starts at 9.15 am on Saturday and 9 am on Sunday, running through to early evening on both days. The Broughton Centre has spectator seating, catering facilities and car parking. It’s located just 2 miles away from Manchester City Centre, at Fit City Broughton, Camp Street, Salford. M7 1ZT. There’s nothing like the spectacle of indoor racing, as riders hurtle round a small circuit, pitching their bikes over at gravity defying angles. Don’t miss it!