Stephen does the honours for Hants and Dorset
By TMX Archives on 16th Jan 08
THE Hants & Dorset Youth Motocross Club recently held their presentation evening with Molson Kawasaki star Stephen Sword doing the honours.
Whilst the 2007 season was blighted by a wet summer and dire rain, the action on the track was to be anything but. The final two-block round at Henstridge in the torrential rain being many a spectators' highlight of the season – watching riders slip and slide around whilst battling for
championship points.
Lee Cummings wrapped up the Expert group in fine style with plenty of race wins and overalls to his name. Given a few more holeshots, it could have been easier for him to break away from the dogged efforts of two stroke mounted Brett Wheeler who was never far behind Lee's booming KTM all season. Josh House, gated well as usual and
finished behind these two.
Whilst Ashley Green was probably the post favourite to take the year's Novice honours, no-one had told Mike Toon, who sprang out of the traps early on and gave the others plenty to think about to take a ten-point lead by round four. Ash knuckled down to grind out the results and take the championship whilst Mike, suffering from tennis elbow, dodged the late season charge from ever improving Luke Pritchard to hold on to second place.
The top five of this year's Senior crop all tasted overall championship honours at one time or other, but it was Ben Weeden's name that frequented the top rung more than any other, leaving Steve Bain and Craig Durston to battle for the final podium placings ahead of senior veterans Chris Cave and Tom White.
Mitchell Bligh fully des-erved to be crowned as the Big-wheel 85cc Champion with some stylish wins and consistency, scoring 493 from a possible 495 points! Eddie Yule and Ross Churchill filled various places among the top six throughout the season and eventually they were split by just four points in Eddie's favour.
In the Small-wheel 85cc Championship, Olli Jones and Louis Schmidt renewed their rivalry from the Juniors, and the outcome was the same with wet weather specialist Olli taking the verdict to be runner-up behind the group's runaway leader Darren Wingar.
Kieran Whitlock improved on last years fourth place Junior trophy to make it this year's group winner due to great consistency. Another to climb up the Junior rankings this year was Jack Dudman who was kept from the runner-up spot by the club's best placed girl Jorja Johnson.
Harry Pritchard took no prisoners in his quest to take the Auto title this year and at most meetings the number 67 bike could be seen howling along up front. Although he didn't have it entirely his own way, as both Sam Lycett and Oliver Curtis popped up to spoil his party with overall wins apiece.
The committee would like to thank Stephen for his excellent service in handing out some 250 awards and wishes him and all our riders a very successful 2007 season.
2007 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL POSITIONS
Expert: 1 Lee Cummings, 2 Brett Wheeler, 3 Josh House, 4 Marcus Feltham, 5 David Thomas, 6 Scott Wallis.
Novice: 1 Ashley Green, 2 Mike Toon, 3 Luke Pritchard, 4 Pete Barns, 5 Kevin Burgess, 6 Ben Rose.
Senior: 1 Ben Weeden, 2 Stephen Bain, 3 Craig Durston, 4 Chris Cave, 5 Tom White, 6 Dom Gould.
Inter 100: 1 Mitchell Bligh, 2 Eddie Yule, 3 Ross Churchill, 4 Lewis Cave, 5 Cherie Wingar, 6 Josh Hipgrave.
Inter 85: 1 Darren Wingar, 2 Olli Jones, 3 Louis Schmidt, 4 Stuart White, 5 Kayleigh Durston, 6 Jack Howe.
Junior: 1 Kieran Whitelock, 2 Jorja Johnson, 3 Jack Dudman, 4 Bradley Jones, 5 Oscar Schmidt, 6 Liam Compton.
Auto: 1 Harry Pritchard, 2 Sam Lycett, 3 Oliver Curtis, 4 Thomas Shutler, 5 Jordan Allen, 6 Lucy Calvert.
PICTURE: tmx_027_001_18-01-08
CAPTION: Hants and Dorset Youth Moto Club