O’Hare wins inaugural Upright Northern Riders Championship

SATURDAY 18th June saw the inaugural running of the Upright Northern Riders Championship. It was incorporated in the second round of the Scunthorpe Summer Championship amateur meeting and attracted a class record 14 entries. The strengthened field saw the quality of the racing go up a notch from previous meetings but in the end it was 2015 Summer Champion and 2016 Winter Series winner Gary O’Hare who came out on top. He didn’t have it all his own way though and third at one point of the ‘A’ Final. Unfortunately his old adversary Lee Coleman encountered bike problems whilst leading at the end of the first lap and, after being baulked by Coleman’s failing bike, O’Hare took until the third lap to reel in Nathan Morton and take the race lead. Claiming third place was 62-year old Graham Knowler who had travelled from Kent to race in the meeting.

After the meeting O’Hare declared “What keeps me racing is finals like that. I still feel like a 20 year old but with 36 years’ experience. This meeting attracted riders from as far as Scotland and Kent which was brilliant and the racing was worthy as a spectator meeting.

“The comradeship between the riders is fantastic and everyone as Scunthorpe makes us feel so welcome. I’d urge anyone to come along and sample it. The upright class is growing with close to a dozen meetings at Scunthorpe over a year and I’m sure we’ll have a much bigger field when we run the second Northern Riders Championship next summer”.

Over the day there were ten other classes run with a total of 78 riders competing over 97 races. In the first half there was some great racing in the Open Class with rising star Jack Parkinson-Blackburn winning three races but being relegated to two third places behind Mirek Daniszewski and Eryk Borczuch. However, he won when it mattered relegating Daniszewski and Borczuch to second and third respectively in the final.

In the Support Class Mick Skinner once again set the standard. He dropped just one point, to Milosz Chojnacki, in qualifying but beat the youngster in the final with Sam Chapman claiming third after Luke McKenna, who had dropped just two points to Skinner in qualifying, was excluded for falling in the first running of the final.

In the Youth 500 class Kean Dicken won from a fast improving Sheldon Davies whilst in the non-speedway classes there were wins for Skye Adams who dominated a strong Flat Track Class, Odgie Danaan who had a thrilling six-race battle with Archie Jeeves and Chris Wright in the Quad Bike Class.

In the afternoon, along with the Upright Northern Riders Championship, there class wins for James Chattin (Novice Class), Jordan Palin (Youth 125/150 Class), Lee Carter (Pit Bikes) and Luke Gardner (Junior 110 Class).

The remaining summer meetings, for all twelve classes, take place on Sunday 24th July, Sunday 28th August and Sunday 25th September. Anyone wanting to book places or help out at the meetings should text Richard Hollingsworth on 07832-402167.

2016 Upright Northern Riders Championship

Qualifying scores: Gary O’Hare 15, Lee Coleman 11, Nathan Morton 11, Graham Knowler 10, Shaun Bickley 10, Glyn Edwards 9, Max Pankhurst 9, Eddie Rouse 8, Dave Harvey 5, Glen Belcher 4, Scott Cook 4, Martyn Smith 4, Jimmy Culbert 3, Phil Kynman 0 (0 rides)

C Final: Pankhurst, Rouse, Belcher, Culbert, 67.6
B Final: Knowler, Pankhurst, Edwards, Bickley, 68.3
A Final: O’Hare, Morton, Knowler, Coleman (retired), 67.9

Summer Championship points: O’Hare 20, Morton 19, Knowler 18, Coleman 17, Pankhurst 16, Edwards 15, Bickley 14, Rouse 13, Belcher 12, Culbert 11, Harvey 10, Cook 9, Smith 8, Kynman 7.

Gary O’Hare 40 (20-20), Lee Coleman 36 (19-17), Graham Knowler 36 (18-18), Shaun Bickley 30 (16-14), Glyn Edwards 30 (15-15), Phil Kynman 21 (14-7), Nathan Morton 19, Dave Patten 17, Max Pankhurst 16, Ray Vernon 13, Eddie Rouse 13, Glen Belcher 12, Jimmy Culbert 11, Dave Harvey 10, Scott Cook 9, Martyn Smith 8.

Heat winning times: 45. Morton 70.2, 46. Culbert 87.3, 47. O’Hare 65.6, 48. Belcher 79.5, 51. O’Hare 64.3, 54. Morton 68.8, 57. Coleman 68.1, 60. O’Hare 66.7, 63. Coleman 68.2, 66. O’Hare 65.8, 69. O’Hare 66.9, 72. Edwards 68.2, 75. Edwards 69.6, 78. Pankhurst 70.2, 81. Knowler 68.1, 84. Bickley 71.2, 86. Morton 69.9, 88. Coleman 67.7

Open Class
Qualifying Scores: Mirek Daniszewski 12, Jack Parkinson-Blackburn 11, George Rothery 10, Eryk Borczuch 9, William O’Keefe 4, Andrew Blackburn 2

B Final: Borczuch, O’Keefe, Blackburn, 64.5
A Final: Parkinson-Blackburn, Daniszewski, Borczuch, Rothery (excluded tapes), 64.0

Summer Championship points: Parkinson-Blackburn 20, Daniszewski 19, Borczuch 18, Rothery 17, O’Keefe 16, Blackburn 15

Championship standings (after 2 rounds): Miroslaw Daniszewski 39 (20-19), George Rothery 34 (17-17), William O’Keefe 31 (15-16), Andrew Blackburn 28 (13-15), Jack Parkinson-Blackburn 20, Krystian Bialecki 19, Sam Bebee 18, Eryk Borczuch 18, Chris Widman 16, Bradley Andrews 14,.

Heat winning times: 2. Parkinson-Blackburn 61.3, 3. Daniszewski 64.8, 10. Rothery 63.7, 16. Parkinson-Blackburn 60.1, 22. Daniszewski 61.4, 27. Daniszewski 62.3, 31. Parkinson-Blackburn 63.1, 35. Borczuch 64.8

Support Class
Qualifying Scores: Mick Skinner 14, Luke McKenna 13, Sam Chapman 9, Milosz Chojnacki 5, Lloyd Ditchburn 4, Arran Butcher 2.

B Final: Chojnacki, Ditchburn, Butcher, 67.0
A Final: Skinner, Chojnacki, Chapman, McKenna (fell, excluded) 66.7

Summer Championship points: Skinner 20, Chojnacki 19, Chapman 18, McKenna 17, Ditchburn 16, Butcher 15

Championship standings (after 2 rounds): Mick Skinner 40 (20-20), Sam Chapman 37 (19-18), Milosz Chojnacki 34 (15-19), Lloyd Ditchburn 33 (17-16), Alex Spooner 18, Luke McKenna 17, Ian Leverington 16, Arran Butcher 15.

Heat winning times: 4. Skinner 67.3, 5. McKenna 68.6, 11. McKenna – awarded, 17. Skinner – awarded, 23. Chojnacki 65.1, 28. Skinner 64.8, 32. Skinner 65.1, 36. McKenna 67.8

Novice Class
Qualifying Scores: James Chattin 14, Tim Antill 12, Andy Humphries 9, James Andrews 7, Simon Gale 3, Ian Rawlings 2.

B Final: Gale, Rawlings, 78.3
A Final: Chattin, Humphries, Gale, Antill (excluded), 75.0

Summer Championship points: Chattin 20, Humphries 19, Gale 18, Antill 17, Rawlings 16, Andrews 15

Championship standings (after 2 rounds): Andy Humphries 37 (18-19), Simon Gale 34 (16-18), Craig Nethercott 20, James Chattin 20, Joe Greenwood 19, Tim Antill 18, Sheldon Davies 17, Ian Rawlings 16, Jeff Robinson 15, James Andrews 15.

Heat winning times: 52. Chattin 76.3, 55. Andrews 84.3, 61. Antill 80.3, 67. Chattin 74.4, 73. Chattin 76.3, 77. Chattin 73.9, 82. Antill 73.1, 87. Antill 72.3

Youth 500 Class
Qualifying scores: Kean Dicken 15, Sheldon Davies 10

A Final: Dicken, Davies, 68.3

Summer Championship points: Dicken 20, Davies 19

Championship standings (after 2 rounds): Taylor Hampshire 20, Kean Dicken 20, Sheldon Davies 19

Heat winning times (all Dicken): 6. 65.5, 12. 63.9, 18. 62.3, 24. 63.4, 29. 65.9

Youth 125/150 Class
Qualifying scores: Jordan Palin 15, Harry McGurk 10, Jacob Clayton 9, Sam McGurk 8, Jack Bell 4, Mikey Robbins 2

B Final: S. McGurk, Bell, 75.3
A Final: Palin, Clayton, S. McGurk, H. McGurk, 66.1

Summer Championship points: Palin 20, Clayton 19, S. McGurk 18, H. McGurk 17, Bell 16, Robbins 15

Championship Standings (after 2 rounds): Jordan Palin 39 (19-20), Sam McGurk 38 (20-18), Jacob Clayton 31 (12-19), Jack Bell 29 (13-16), Mickie Simpson 18, Nathan Ablitt 17, Harry McGurk 17, Mason O’Rourke 16, James Laker 15, Mikey Robbins 15, Jamie Bursill 14,

Heat winning times (Palin unless stated): 49. 70.7, 50. Clayton 73.9, 58. H. McGurk 69.3, 64. 67.6, 70. 67.1, 76. 66.7, 80. 67.7, 85. H. McGurk 68.1

Flat Track
Scores: Skye Adams 84, Joe Burden 70, Aaron Tuttlebee 68, Adam Lovesey 64, Adam Grice 52, Isaac Hunter 47, Jack Pitt 44, Michael Smalley 41, Ben Hunter 39 (5 rides), Pete Pearson 30, Joe Mansell 26 (5 rides), Jodie Devaney 10 (3 rides), Nigel Wilson 7 (1 ride), Stuart Avery 5 (1 ride).

Summer Championship points: Adams 20, Burden 19, Tuttlebee 18, Lovesey 17, Grice 16, I. Hunter 15, Pitt 14, Smalley 13, B. Hunter 12, Pearson 11, Mansell 10, Devaney 9, Wilson 8, Stuart Avery 7.

Championship standings (after 2 rounds): Joe Burden 39 (20-19), Aaron Tuttlebee 36 (18-18), Adam Grice 33 (17-16), Isaac Hunter 30 (15-15), Ben Hunter 28 (16-12), Jack Pitt 26 (12-14), Michael Smalley 26 (13-13), Joe Mansell 21 (11-10), Skye Adams 20, Craig Atkinson 19, Adam Lovesey 17, Mark Whitelam 14, Pete Pearson 11, Adam Waller 10, Jodie Devaney 9, Nigel Wilson 8, Stuart Avery 7.

Heat winning times (all Adams): 9. 109.9, 15. 109.4, 21. 104.3, 26. 102.4, 34. 101.1, 42. 101.5

Road Bikes
Scores: Odgie Danaan 16, Archie Jeeves 13, Tom Miles 7

Summer Championship points: Danaan 20, Jeeves 19, Miles 18

Odgie Danaan 38 (18-20), Archie Jeeves 36 (17-19), Craig Atkinson 20, Jon Lawson 19, Tom Miles 18, Steve Cook 16, Scott Speed 15, Andy Blaylock 14, Denise Lawson 13

Heat winning times: 7. Danaan 89.9, 13. Danaan 84.0, 19. Jeeves 81.0, 25. Danaan 77.9, 30. Danaan 77.4, 40. Jeeves 74.1

Quad Bikes
Scores: Chris Wright 15, Mark Hooker 10, Troy Clay 7, Ian Russel 4 (5 rides)

Summer Championship points: Wright 20, Mark Hooker 19, Troy Clay 18, Ian Russel 17

Chris Wright 38 (18-20), Troy Clay 33 (15-18), Ian Russel 31 (14-17), Mark Hooker 29 (10-19), Nick Wright 20, Colin Jackson 19, Joe Hodgson 17, James Williamson 16, Gary Dobson 13, Calvin Marsh 12, Josh Swaby 11
Heat winning times: 1 Wright 70.6, 8. Wright 69.0, 14. Hooker 66.5, 20. Wright 66.3, 33. Russel 62.0, 41. Wright 63.1

Pit Bikes
Scores: Lee Carter 53, Wayne Carter 45, Stuart Foster 44, Jack Bell 43, Adam Waller 37, Luke Gardner 35, Jeff Robinson 28, Michael Smalley 21,Joe Mansell 13, Si Edel 9

Summer Championship points: Lee Carter 20, Wayne Carter 19, Stuart Foster 18, Jack Bell 17, Adam Waller 16, Luke Gardner 15, Jeff Robinson 14, Michael Smalley 13,Joe Mansell 12, Si Edel 11

Championship standings (after 2 rounds): Lee Carter 38 (18-20), Jack Bell 36 (19-17), Stuart Foster 34 (16-18), Adam Waller 33 (17-16), Wayne Carter 26 (7-19), Michael Smalley 23 (10-13), Steven Rhodes 20, Si Edel 20 (9-11), Thomas Tovey 15, Luke Gardner 15, Lee Foster 14, Jeff Robinson 14, Stephanie Tovey 13, Tom Miles 12, Joe Mansell 12, Dan Miles 11, Colin Willerton 8,.

Race winning times: 53. Bell 81.3, 59. W. Carter 82.5, 65. Waller 80.9, 71. L. Carter 78.2, 79. Bell 76.8, 94. Gardner 72.3

Junior 110
Scores: Luke Gardner 42, Max McGurk 34, Iona Glover 32, Finley Dimmock 21, Jack Franklin 21, Clara Webster 8 (5 rides), Hayden Pearce 8.

Summer Championship points: Gardner 20, McGurk 19, Glover 18, Franklin 16.5, Dimmock 16.5, Webster 15, Pearce 14

Luke Gardner 40 (20-20), Iona Glover 35 (17-18), Finley Dimmock 32.5 (16-16.5), Jack Franklin 28.5 (12-16.5), Thomas Tovey 19, Max McGurk 19, Stephanie Tovey 18, Jessica Ingram 15, Clara Webster 15, Max Atkinson 14, Hayden Pearce 14, Ryan Ingram 13, Katie Henson 11.

Race winning times (all Gardner): 56. 88.4, 62. 89.1, 68. 92.2, 74. 81.3, 83.77.8, 95. 78.6