Jamie Rodgers wins British Under 21 Grass Track title at Ugley

Jamie Rodgers (Dunford Bridge) was crowned British Under 21 Champion at Ugley on Sunday after a thrilling afternoons racing in warm sunny conditions.

The draw had kept three of the favourites, Rodgers, Nobes (Moreton in the Marsh) and Saunders (Swindon) apart in their first legs and each was expected to win, but a shock was on the cards immediately in the very first race, Nobes, nicknamed the Cotswold Express, had a drive belt break when leading by a convincing margin. As all the points counted through the 4 legs, the semis and the final he knew that his chances of taking the title had all but evaporated from that moment. He was gutted

Rodgers and Saunders went on to win their first leg races in convincing fashion.

Leg 2, Nobes met Saunders and Nobes won in convincing style, with Rodgers doing the same in his second leg. Mark Richardson (Boston) looked to be a possible contender for a podium place with a 2nd against Saunders in his first leg then steamed into the safety fence whilst leading when entering the wide back straight on the last lap and demolished both the fence and his chances of the title and was unable to take part for the remainder of the day.

Leg 3 and the eagerly awaited clash between Nobes and Rodgers, Nobes went to the front and despite having a puncture from lap 3 won in convincing style.

Leg 4, Rodgers met Saunders and won in a canter, and so onto the semi finals.

Nobes and Saunders were pitched together in the first semi that was to be run 3 times after a light watering during the interval caught 2 riders out on the pits bend and it was unsafe to continue the race with the riders still on the track. Nobes was leading both times but was not phased by the incidents and won the re run.

The second semi final saw Rodgers unchallenged by Rob Mear, who was to eventually end up in 4th place.

And so to the final, had Rodgers done his homework and realised that a second place would be sufficient to take the title ? Who knows ?

Nobes went to the front after the first bend and although chased hard by Rodgers, always kept a comfortable gap with Saunders further back behind Rodgers. Nobes was ecstatic, unbeaten all day but for a drive belt breakage when leading, but for Rodgers the satisfaction that he had completed what he set out to do that day, win the British Under 21 title for the second time.

The question on everyone’s lips at the end of the day, including Tim Nobes’s own comments at the presentations were “what would the final have been like between himself and Jamie had the title depended on that last race” Lewis Denham who had won the title consequetively for the last 3 years presented the trophies and explained to the appreciative crowd that he has to undergo further surgery on an injured shoulder and will not be able to ride this year.

Charlie Saunders had weighed in with two wins, two seconds and a third to grab the remaining podium place, and although tying with Nobes on 45 points the tie break rules gave the second place position to Nobes as he had the best position in the final.

The eagerly awaited 250cc clash between former British champion Adam Shipp (Diss) and 15 year old Tom Perry (Wolverhampton) lived up to expectations with fast gating Shipp always pulling out a substantial lead before gradually being wound in and overhauled by Perry, but alas for Perry his chain came off in one leg and it cost him dearly with points running all through., second place overall going to Paul Simmons (Ashford)

Vince Kinchin (New Romney) took the 350c with 4 straight wins, but he had to work hard for it, challenged closely by Kent rivals Matt Etherington (Whitstable) and Dave Mears (Canterbury), Tom Perry also challenged in this class with a second place in one leg but two non finishes ruined his chances.

In the 500cc solos class the heats were dominated by Tom Cooper (Maidstone) with four straight wins over Dave Mears and Scott Campos (Ipswich), who competed in 3 classes taking a total of 14 rides!

The upright class for all capacities was dominated by Paul Simmons on a 250cc, however although technically an upright engine it was a modern water cooled type and although Simmons won all the races including the final, Simmons agreed the engine was against the spirit of the class and volunteered to forfeit his win in favour of Brian Cornelius (Faversham) from Aaron Vale (Hatfield) and Chris Mackett (Ashford)

The 1,000cc right handed sidecars included a father and son double act with Paul Whitelam (Nottingham) and Paul Whitelam Junior taking it in turns to pilot the machine in successive races, but alas come the 3rd leg the bike cried enough and ended their day. Trevor Colvin (Bexhill) returning from a broken leg at High Easter several years ago took the final from Paul Johnson (Doddinghurst) and Ray Westbrook (Ashford)

The 1,000cc Left handed sidecars raced for the Ben Kinchin shield and Will Penfold/Kevin Penfold (Crawley) had a good battle with newcomber Dave Penfold/Paul Randal in the first race before Kevin Penfold lost his footing on the top of the hill and spectaculary fell out of the sidecar tumbling down the track , fortunately he did not need hospital treatment, indeed, it was an injury free event throughout on a well laid out track. Dave Penfold took the class overall with four wins, relieving the current holder , Martin Cuff, who had engine problems, of the shield. Will Penfold calimed second overall despite one non finish and Danny Holman (Cuxton) finished third.

In the 500cc sidecars Scott Dunn/Natasha Bartlett (Huntingdon) batteled it out with Barrie Bennett/Eifon Highes (Newtown) all afternoon, with Dunn winning 3 races to Bennetts one with Vince Kinchin, doubling up on sidecar as well as solo coming in third.

So a fine days racing with an ambitious 49 races, the start gate crew did a brilliant job with just one tape breakage all day and the event being completed by 5.45pm

Report by
Julian Sayer (Secretary)
Photos: Top - 71 Jamie Rodgers
Bottom - 2 Tim Nobes

Full Results

British Under 21 Championship

Jamie Rodgers 50 pts, Tim Nobes 45 pts, Charlie Saunders 45 pts, Rob Mear 41pts, Michael Faulkner 37 pts, Harland Cook 32 pts, Scott Campus 30 pts, Benn Fenn Smith 28 pts.

250cc 1st Adam Shipp 45pts,2nd Paul Simmons 39pts, 3rd Tom Perry 36 points

350cc 1st Vince Kinchin 48pts 2nd Matt Etherington 38 pts 3rd Dave Mears 41 pts

500cc 1st Thomas Cooper 48 pts, 2nd Dave Mears 41pts, 3rd Scott Campos 41 pts

Upright/Two Valve Final Brian Cornelius, Aaron Vale, Chris Mackett (Ashford)

1,000cc Sidecar Right Hand Final 1st Trevor Colvin/Andy Colvin 2nd Paul Johnson/Damion Janes 3rd Ray Westbrook /

1,000cc Sidecar Left Hand 1st Dave Penfold/Paul Randal 2nd Will Penfold/Kevin Penfold 3rd Danny Holman/Ben Fitness

500cc Sidecar
1st Scott Dunn/Natasha Bartlett 2nd Barry Bennett/Eifon Hughes 3rd Vince Kinchin/Richard Webb