Fine third for Luke Harrison

FINE THIRD FOR LUKE HARRISON IN BRITISH UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP

ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions’ 17-year-old star Luke Harrison finished in third place in the British Under-21 Final at Glasgow earlier this afternoon (Sunday) – but it easily could have been even more.

Harrison shot out of gate one and was leading the final race, when referee Willie Dishington stopped the race and warned second-placed Joe Thomspon for making a slight movement at the tapes. Many would argue that, since it was Harrison and not Thompson who was leading, that the referee should have let the race continue.

As often happens, the re-run proved different and, ironically, it was Thompson from gate two who made the second start, with Harrison finding himself pegged in on the inside. But he refused to give up and battled with Sam Hagon for second place on the opening two laps. Hagon won that battle, and then cut up the inside of Thompson on third lap to take the lead.

There was one last twist coming off the final bend, as Hagon lost control. He bounced off the fence and crossed the line in first place to deservedly retain his title, but it had a concertina effect on the riders behind him. Just after the finishing line, Harrison caught the back wheel of Thompson and both Harrison and William Cairns took heavy falls. Fortunately, both riders were able to get to their feet.

Earlier in the afternoon, Harrison started his meeting with a hat-trick of wins, and ended up with 12 points. He just missed out on one of the two automatic qualifying places for the final, but then won the semi-final in fine style.

Harrison will have another three attempts to win the British Under-21 title, unlike both Hagon and Thompson who will be too old next year.

A second Scunthorpe representative, Vinnie Foord of the National League Steelers, scored five points.

QUALIFYING SCORES: Joe Thompson 14, William Cairns 13, Luke Harrison 12, Jody Scott 12, Sam Hagon 10, Jake Mulford 10, Max Perry 9, Ace Pijper 6, Freddie Hodder 6, Ben Trigger 6, Luke Killeen 6, Vinnie Foord 5, Ashton Boughen 4, Sam McGurk 3, Senna Summers 2, Jack Shimelt 1 (res), Dan Thompson 1, Stene Pijper 0 (res).

SEMI-FINAL: Harrison, Hagon, Mulford, Scott.

GRAND FINAL: Hagon, J Thompson, Harrison, Cairns.

* STEELERS – the joint Scunthorpe and Sheffield National League side – lost 34-55 at Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon. Luke Harrison was top scorer for Steelers on 10 points.

* ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions host Oxford Cheetahs at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday (May 23) at 7.30pm in the second leg of a MAXiCab Knockout Cup quarter-final.