2013 Cont'd ..... Jan. - June 2013
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30.6.2013,
Walkerville SA: Champs back but Kotze takes the Golden Boot.
The
Boet Strydom Golden Boot Trophy event at Walkerville saw the welcome
return to the track of both Mac Magill and Neil Pettit after
co-incident 6 month absences, but the former and current champs didn't meet until the Final for the Golden
trophy. Magill lead for the first 2 laps, when Pettit, unbeaten in the qualifying rounds but on a wet track, came down trying for the lead. Young Lyle Kotze saw a chance and swept around the outside of MM on corners 3 & 4, and Gio Nunes did likewise on the final lap as the 17 year old from Alberton (left) took the
chequered flag and the Golden Boot.
The full 29-heat programme featured Sidecars, Flat
Track, Quads and Peewee events in addition to Solo Speedway. On 3
wheels the 3 Butler brothers battled against each other and it was
Edwin, with wife Estelle in the chair, that beat off both his kid and
his elder sibling with 2 wins from three races to take first place in
the Sidecar competition.
On both 2 wheels and 4 wheels Hennie
Human was unbeaten throughout the day, winning both the Flat-Track
and the Mens' 450 Quad classes, while Chantel Fourie took the Ladies
Quad class with 3 straight wins. The Banshee Quads 1st
place was taken by Seef Fourie, and the Peewees' winners were Brandon
Herbst (Ama class) and Nathan van der Westhuizen (Pro class). Full Results
“To
the sponsors who sponsored prize money for the riders, – Archie
Bruins from Dot Engineering, Boet Strydom and Roger Chicken – ,
Thank you. It is much appreciated by the riders.
Thanks also to
the indirect sponsors: – Mibern Medical, Ansley Racing and Buffs
Biltong.
To all the
riders who came to race, – Thank you as well, with a special thanks
to those who came from far! “ - WSRC.
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26.6.2013, Bekker
starts Physio after Knee Operation.
Byron Bekker today commenced physiotherapy following the operation on his knee at home in Johannesburg 2 weeks ago. At the Press & Practice day on the Isle of Wight, UK, in April he suffered a complete rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament which brought a premature end to his season before it had even started. After returning home in May for consultation locally he was admitted for a few days on 11th and his knee operated upon, wholly reconstructed, and set in a brace. A review 7 days later with the surgeon was positive, and a strict physio routine was set out. It'll be a long process, - he's still on crutches plus the brace - , but is confident of returning to full fitness once more.
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26.5.2013, Walkerville, Gauteng, SA. - Monarchs v. Wild Bunch.
The Monarchs team defeated the Wild Bunch squad again this year at Walkerville Raceway, taking major points in all of the 3 classes of speedway solos, sidecars and quad bikes. Top solo riders were Gio Nunes for the Monarchs and Derrick Hilliar for the Wild Bunch, ( Derrick, pictured left, doubling up on 2 wheels as well as taking his usual 3-wheel role,) each with 8pts from 3 rides. Gordon & Donovan Butler clearly had rectified their engine gremlins of yesterday at Rustenburg and went through the card unbeaten, including Ht.25 when all 6 pairs of riders & jockeys met up in the Grand Slam race. Deon Kruger was top combo rider for the Wild Bunch with 12pts. Full scores
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25.5.2013, Rustenburg, North West Province, SA.
On the occasion of the annual Rustenburg Show the WSRC were again invited to race at the Showground and a squad of solo and sidecar teams undertook 8 heats of racing for the thrill of the local crowd. Despite riding off a 25m handicap Lyle Kotze won 3 of the 4 solo speedway races to total 10 points, while between them the Butlers won all the combination races, - brothers Gordan & Donovan B. were unbeaten in their completed rides but suffered 2 engine failures, when third brother Edwin B. & wife Estelle B, (above rt.,) on their Kawasaki 1100cc machine, took the chequered flag ! With 2 second spots added to their wins the couple topped the sidecar scorechart with 10 points. Full scores.
13.5.2013, Tai Woffinden wins British Championship.English-born, Aussie-raised Tai Woffinden has taken the title of 'British Champion 2013' on his home track at Wolverhampton, UK, with 6 unbeaten rides. He broke the Scott Nicholls-Chris Harris domination of the crown over the last 8 years with a faultless evening's performance to make it a unique triple by adding the senior title to the British U18 and British U21 titles of his younger days. The past champions filled the other rostrum places but the result has no effect on the UK Wild Card for the Cardiff SGP, as Woffinden is an existing GP rider, Nicholls has 'retired' from international events, and Harris by default has already been nominated by BSPA selection. Full heat details can be found via the Fixture & Results page.
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1.5.2013, Serious Career blow for Byron Bekker.
Byron Bekker will sell
his UK equipment and be returning to South Africa in the next week or
so to consider his speedway career and the likelyhood of possible
enforced retirement from speedway racing. After his knee failed
during the Isle of Wight Press & Practice session last week and
initial diagnosis that more extensive surgery on the joint would be
necessary, ruling out any track action in 2013, he obtained a second
medical opinion. That alternative second medical opinion verified the
first diagnosis of no other option but the need for further surgery,
which he will have undertaken in S.A. Understandably the 25 year old
is dreadfully disappointed, and is reviewing his future after 9 years
of UK action following his arrival at Newcastle toward the end of the
2004 season. He was loaned out by the Tynesiders in 2005 to
Scunthorpe, where he spent 4 successful seasons until acrimony in
2009 following Scunny's promotion to the UK's 2nd
Division. Since then he has ridden for Edinburgh, Weymouth, Belle Vue
II, and Dudley, and was due to skipper the Islanders in 2013. Now that season is over for BB without him having started a single race!
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23.4.2013, British U21 Championship.
19 year old Robert
Branford lifted the British Under 21 title on a night of memorable
racing hosted by Dudley Heathens at Monmore Green on Tuesday. A
bumper crowd saw Coventry Storm's Branford, (Oz-born, riding on a
British licence), victorious after Jason Garrity and Kyle Howarth had
looked set to contest a two-horse race. Having topped the
score-charts, Garrity had edged ahead of Howarth courtesy of his
victory when the duo met in heat 17, yet in the final Branford shot
out of gate 2 before holding off Howarth to take the chequered flag.
Garrity eventually took third place courtesy of a last lap overtake
on Heathens skipper Ashley Morris who bounced back from a heavy crash
in his opening ride to come within a whisker of the top three. Last
year's runner-up Tom Perry, now with Isle of Wight, made the
semi-final on his return to his parent club, only to see his night
end in unfortunate fashion with a fall whilst challenging for a place
in the final.
QUALIFYING SCORES:
Jason Garrity 15, Kyle Howarth 14, Ashley Morris 13, Robert Branford
12, Tom Perry 11, James Sarjeant 9, Darryl Ritchings 8, Danny
Stoneman 7, Joe Jacobs 7, Dan Greenwood 6, Ben Morley 4, Stefan
Nielsen 4, Shane Hazelden 3, Max Clegg 3, Josh Bates 3, Matt
Williamson 1.
SEMI-F, R/r: R.Branford, A.Morris, J.Sargeant f,
(T.Perry f.ex r/r)
FINAL: 1. Robert
Branford (Coventry), 2. Kyle Howarth (Workington/Poole), 3. Jason
Garrity (Rye House), 4. Ashley Morris (Dudley/Workington)
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12.4.2013, Bekker nominated Skipper.
As 'old boy' of the team, 25 year old Byron Bekker has been nominated skipper of his new team, Isle of Wight Islanders in the UK's National League. Seen right with his teammates at the Press & Practice day on Tuesday, the responsibilities of captaincy are not new to Byron, having skippered at Scunny, Weymouth and Belle Vue. The islanders have their first fixture away to Stoke tomorrow, 13th; their first home match is at Smallbrook Stadium on Tues. 30th April.
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7.4.2013, Dot Engineering South African National Championship, Rd.1.
Gio Nunes took the first round of the 2013 'Dot Engineering' S.A. National Championship from the field of solo riders at Walkervile on Sunday, while Gordon Butler, partnered by Johan Herbst, did likewise in the Sidecar class. Nunes and 'DJ' Devine took a point off each other, but DJ also lost out to kid brother Brad in Ht.10, denying him a chance of the top slot. Husband & wife Edwin & Estelle Butler were runners up amongst the 3-wheelers.
See Gallery for action shots: results page for full scores.
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12.1.2013, Dot Engineering South African National Championship 2012:
Pettit takes his 3rd S.African Championship at Walkerville
Although former S.African National Champ Mac Magill was on top form in the re-run of the third & final round of the Dot Engineering South African National Championship on Saturday 12th, taking all his heat wins from the gate, it was to no avail as defending champ Neil Pettit, playing a cautious role, secured the 2012 title by virtue of his consistent scoring over the three annual rounds. 19-year old Jason Cole took the U21 National title despite loosing points when having to lay down his machine in his last ride after championship challenger Lyle Kotze fell on the 4th corner of lap 3 in Ht.26. Other categories' successes, including National Sidecar Championship, decided earlier on 2 rounds only, can be seen in the Prize Giving report item.
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FIRST MEETING OF 2013 NEXT SATURDAY, 12th JAN. !
Re-Run of the DOT Engineering 3rd & Final Round of the 2012 S.A. National Championship.
A reminder to all, - participants, members and spectators - , that the re-run of the DOT Engineering South African National Final Round race meeting will be held next SATURDAY, 12th JANUARY 2013 starting at 1pm. FREE entry for spectators to the race meeting.
The sidecars, peewees and pitbikes having completed their National legs, this meeting will be held as a “Summer Challenge” for those classes, as well as for the Flat Track class.
The speedway riders will race their Final Round and the scores will be added to Round 1 & 2 to determine the Championship places.
The Annual Prize Giving will follow directly thereafter at 6pm, at which a meal will also be served consisting of meat, salads & rolls. In order to facilitate catering kindly RSVP if you will be attending the prize giving. Members entry is free, for all other people attending the Prize Giving the charge is R50-00 per person. The bar will be available at Happy Hour prices, so please support the bar.
Camping facilities are available and there will be quite a few people camping over, so feel free to join in. ALL THE BEST FOR 2013 !
p.s. See more photos from our very muddy rained-off 'race' meeting of 9th December 2012 on the Gallery webpage.
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