Isle of Wight Warriors 44 - Mildenhall Fen Tigers 46

Challenge Match 11.8.26

The Warriors slipped to their first defeat of the season, after a gripping match at Smallbrook on Tuesday evening. Once again on a hot night, the track dried quickly and track staffs had to work overtime to keep the dust down, but once that was contained and the sun had gone down the fans were treated to some top draw racing.

The home side went in front when Darryl Ritchings raced to a fast 69.82 second pillar to post first heat win, with Tayla Street holding a credible third place for a 4-2 advantage. Australian Ben Whalley once again showed his liking of the wide open spaces on Britain’s biggest track, winning the first of his three race wins in heat two from Arran Butcher and Danno Verge in the second. Before track master James Shanes stormed to victory in the third, again with the home riders Charlie Southwick and Alex Spooner, taking the minor positions.

Ritchings won the fourth, but team partner Butcher was passed by the spectacular Simpson for second, but the 4-2 doubled the home teams lead to 14-10. Mildenhall levelled things up after Charlie Southwick took an alarming last bend tumble when his chain came off, whilst chasing Whalley, Scott Campos gleefully accepting second for a 1-5. Shanes headed home Ritchings, to keep it level in the sixth before the visitors went in front as Simpson produced a magnificent pass on Verge, with Sadler holding third from Butcher.

2 points became 6, as the impressive Whalley teamed up with Campos for a 1-5 with Street third after Southwick on his second machine ground to a halt.  Shanes was at it again as he comfortably won the eighth heat from the out of sorts Butcher with Verge third. 24-30. Heat 10 was rerun after Fen Tiger Simpson lifted violently and crashed into the helpless Southwick. 

Amazingly the Warrior didn't just get up, but won the rerun with Spooner to collect a 5-1 bringing the Warriors right back into contention at 29-31.

Ritchings then lowered the colours of Whalley to keep the deficit to two points at 32-34. Shanes produced a superb ride coming from last to first to prevent the home side going back in front in Heat 12. Sadler then won his first race from Spooner, with Harrison snatching third to make it 37-41 with two heats to go. A dramatic heat 14 saw the Warriors level things, Charlie Southwick with a blistering outside pass of Simpson who came down on the 3rd lap, and Danno Verge accepting the chance. 42-42. The final heat was as good as you can get as Darryl Ritchings and Aaran Butcher let from the start with Whalley and Shanes at the back.  Shanes first had to get past his own team mate before setting after the home pair, after a lap he picked off Butcher quickly followed by Whalley, Ritchings looked good for the win, which would have given a draw, but in an amazing lap of speedway, Shanes flew out wide on turn four, and just as Ritchings moved out to block him, Shanes cut back to produce a magnificent pass and take to win for the visitors and complete a 15 point maximum at the same time.

Visiting team manager Kieran Phillips said "everyone likes a last heat decider, but wow, that was something special." Promoter Martin Widman commented, "What a meeting and what a final race, just being pipped at the post, but speedway was the real winner”.

Scorers:

IOW. Ritchings  13+1, Street  3+1, Butcher 5, Verge  8+3, Spooner  7+3.

Mildenhall.  Sadler 5, Simpson 8, Campos  5+3, Whalley 12, Shanes 15, Rogers 1.

Next action at Smallbrook stadium is Tuesday when they stage the Mark Cooper best pairs even and the British Woman's Championship final. 7pm

Here are the riders for the Ladies Championship.

1. Rachael Hellowell 2. Tia Brant 3. Annastasia Williams 4. Tayla Street

Our next meeting is sponsored again by IOW devotee, Mark Cooper who comments, "I am very pleased to be sponsoring the Best Pairs meeting, it's always one of the highlights of a Warriors season.  The use of the 4/3/2 points scoring means team riding is a must, encouraging close racing, all culminating in semi-finals and a final bound to be dramatic to the very last turn, where a fall or dreaded mechanical failure can rob even the likeliest looking winners of victory.  We have seen it all at Smallbrook over the years and should "expect the unexpected" once more. "I have managed an IOW Best Pair four times in the past, twice winning in the process, but as the meeting sponsor will rest "The Surrey Sliders" this term, instead watching it all from the stands. The Team Managers will certainly have a memorable experience with some nail-biting moments; and the crowd having another enjoyable and exciting evening in what is proving to be a very successful and pleasingly well attended summer season of racing on the island."

Report by Ken Burnett.

Image courtesy of Sportography.