Astley & Tyldesley are the 2018 North & Scotland League Division 1 champions!
A&T raced at Sheffield on Sunday, with half of the regular riders missing from each
of the three teams, due mainly to holidays. Despite this, A&T's squad strength in
depth saw wins in both the Division 1 and 3 matches, and the Division 2 match
fulfilled without conceding penalty points.
A&T had to dig deep against a full strength Sheffield team, by turning in a
professional and disciplined performance to win the Division 1 match.
It was close early on, but after the Idziorek/ Phillips pair banged in a 7-3
maximum heat win in heat 6, to put A&T in front, the lead was never subsequently
surrendered. This left A&T to run out 93-87 winners. With Stockport losing at Hull,
this meant that A&T are the North & Scotland League Division 1 champions for the
second successive season. Pawel Idziorek rode to a superb 24 points maximum score
for A&T with solid scores from the rest of the team.
North & Scotland League Division 1 match result
Sheffield 87 Astley & Tyldesley 93
A&T scorers: Pawel Idziorek 24, Steve Harris 19 (plus 1 bonus),
Adam Phillips 16 (1), Ciaran Collins 15 (2), Paul Graham 11 (2),
Mick Knowles 7 (2),
Emily Burgess 1.
Sheffield ran out easy winners in the Division 2 match, 81-68, to move level
on match points with league champions and league leaders A&T. Mick Knowles
top scored for A&T, losing only oncen in heat 1.
North & Scotland League Division 2 match result
Sheffield 81 Astley & Tyldesley 68
A&T scorers: Mick Knowles 18 (1), Tom Morrissey 12 (1), Emily Burgess 12,
Charlie Burgess 10 (1), Duncan Whalley 8 (2), Lewis Skitterall 8 (1).
A&T maintained their 100% record in Division 3, with a convincing 82-30 win.
Duncan Whalley and Aiden Green joint top scored in the u-10 match, losing once
to each other. Tom Morrissey top scored in the u-13 match, losing once to
James Morris.
North & Scotland League Division 3 match result
Sheffield 30 Astley & Tyldesley 82
A&T scorers: Duncan Whalley 15, Aiden Green 15, Tom Morrissey 15,
Lewis Skitterall 10, Freddie Cox 10, Charlie Burgess 10, Ada Cox 7.
Members of the Astley & Tyldesley club travelled to Poland for the European Championships
weekend at Czestochowa and Poczesna.
Ciaran Collins was eliminated from the Junior Individuals at the Semi-final stage
at Poczesna, while Mick Knowles exited the Veterans Individuals at the Qualifier
stage at Czestochowa. In the Veterans Final at Poczesna, Paul Graham scored 9
points, to finish 12th, whilst Steve Harris scored 16, to finish 5th
overall after coming 3rd in a 3 man tun-off for 3rd place. In the Women's Final at
Poczesna, Emily Burgess was the youngest rider in the field. She started off with
two wins, but a last bend fall, whilst leading her third ride put paid to her title
hopes and she finished 7th, after scoring 14 points.
In the Senior Individuals, Mick Knowles went out from his Qualifier, whilst Steve
Harris was eliminated at the Repechage stage at Czestochowa.
Tomasz Wlodarczyk reached the Semi-Finals, but was forced out midway, due to a
broken foot. Kamil Bielica rode brilliantly throughout the rounds, to reach
the Senior Final, where he scored 14 points and finished in 6th place.
Emily Burgess was selected to race for the England team in the European Junior
Nations Cup at Czestochowa and she put in a typically spirited performance
to score 9 points, plus 1 bonus. She was the youngest rider and only female in the
match. England finished in 2nd place, behind Poland, but ahead of Wales Select.
Ciaran Collins raced for Ireland in the European Nations Cup at Czestochowa and he
rode brilliantly throughout, on the pace with Europe’s top racers. Ciaran top
scored for Ireland, with 7 points, as they finished 4th, behind Poland, England
and Wales respectively.
Emma Burgess in her England Colours
Photo galleries and video clips of the European Championships can be viewed on
the Czestochowa club's Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/LwyCzestochowa/
Results and scores from the European Championships can be accessed on Google Drive.
https://drive.google.com/…/1DezsuMZdVacStveJdfFs0OGDEi6MPYlm
Astley & Tyldesley raced an international challenge match against Slask
Swietochlowice on the Monday evening following the European Championships.
It was the first time A&T have ever raced a team match in Poland, so after 16 years
in A&T colours, Przemek Binkowski and Tomek Wlodarczyk finally got to race for A&T
in their homeland! Steve Harris lined up for A&T against his Polish club, whilst
Kamil Bielica lined up for Slask against his British club.
The riders were introduced to the 1970 World Speedway Final silver medallist, Pawel
Waloszek, and the Mayor of Swietochlowice.
A&T got off to a great start with a 7-3 heat win by Emily Burgess and Ciaran
Collins. Another 6-4 to the Marcin Jakubiak and Przemek Binkowski pairing in
heat 3 put A&T six points up. Slask levelled the scores with a 6-4 in heat 8 and a
similar score in the next race put them ahead for the first time.
The scores remained close for the rest of the match, with Slask running out 83-77
winners, in a very friendly and entertaining match, ridden in front of a large crowd.
Charlie Burgess won the Junior Individual series, with races run at intervals during
the main match.
International Challenge match result.
Slask Swietochlowice 83 Astley & Tyldesley 77
A&T scorers: Marcin Jakubiak 14, Tomasz Wlodarczyk 13 (3), Przemek Binkowski 10,
Emily Burgess 10, Ciaran Collins 9 (3), Steve Harris 8 (1), Paul Graham 6,
Mick Knowles 6, Charlie Burgess 1.
See the Slask Swietochlowice YouTube page for video footage of the match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch…
Click on the link below for a photo gallery of the match
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Karol-Stodolka-Photography-554461681274840/photos
/?tab=album&album_id=17475149219695
Astley & Tyldesley take on Hull in a Northern League fixture at Gin Pit next
Sunday (12th August). First race is at 1 pm.
