Ipswich Eagles ended Sheffield Stars’ unbeaten run in an action-packed match at Whitton Sports Centre.
And it was British champion Andy Angell at the centre of it all after he appeared to deliberately lock arms with Ipswich’s Lewis Osborne in the deciding final race to try an get the home rider excluded. An action that caused fury among the Eagles riders.
It mattered not however as the young Ipswich team made it back-to-back wins after their recent hammering of Birmingham.
Sheffield took the early advantage with three 6-4s and a draw but Ipswich came to life in heat five when Charlie Rumbold moved British Champion Andy Angell to the outside of the track, taking a 6-4 win with partner Richard Fellgett.
The racing remained tight and Ipswich tied the scores by half-time.
Heats 10 and 11 saw exclusions to Sheffield’s Bull and Angell for legging, and Ipswich’s Williamson for bringing down Hoyland.
The Eagles moved ahead for the first time by four points but then disaster struck on the last lap of heat 12 as Sheffield’s Stephenson slowed almost to a halt and Ipswich’s Chittock and Mower collided as they both went for the lead, turning a safe 5-5 in to a 7-3 reversal and tying the scores again.
Ipswich took a 6-4 win, then Sheffield’s Jamie Ball was excluded a second time when his shoulder barge on Roberts turned in to a clash of heads. Ipswich won the re-run 6-3, moving five points clear with two heats to go.
Adam Peck and Jamie Chittock split the Sheffield pair to share heat 17, so Sheffield went in to the final heat needing an Ipswich exclusion to allow them a 7-2 or better.
Angell attempted to goad Lewis Osborne into an offence, resulting in locked arms and both riders hitting the fence on bend three.
Several riders from both teams entered the track and referee Simmonds declared a re-run.
Stephenson for the visitors was then excluded for moving under starter’s orders, handing the win to Ipswich.
This win moves Ipswich to third in the Elite League, level on points with defending champions Horspath who Ipswich visit on June 30. First though on Saturday, June 22, the Ipswich club plays host to the British Under 16 Team Championship to defend their 2012 title, and next day Norwich are the visitors to the Whitton raceway.
Ipswich: Adam Peck 18, Lewis Roberts 18, Lewis Osborne 14, Jamie Chittock 10, Richard Williamson 10, Charlie Rumbold 8, Chris Osborne 6, Leon Mower 5, Richard Fellgett 2, Ashley Hill dnr.
Elite Combination
Ipswich 78 Sheffield 60
The Combination League match saw the two undefeated teams meet, with Ipswich running out comfortable winners and moving three points clear at the top of the Combination League table.
Ipswich 68: Ashley Hill 19 , Richard Fellgett 14 , Daniel Knights 13 , Matt Hill 10 , Jordan Stant 6 , Lauren Jacobs 4 , Fraser Harris 2 .
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Lewis takes the U-10 title at Ipswich
Kesgrave riders were first, second and third in the recent Suffolk U10 championships held at Ipswich. Lewis Brinkhoff was the winner with a 20-point maximum, with Olly Wright second on 19 points and Alfie Steward third with 18. Other qualifiers for the East Anglian final were: Ben Clarke (Ips), Jake Vincent (Kes), Kai Maguire (Kes), Gemma Hill (Ips), Charlie Johnson (Ips), Kristian Mitchell (Ips), Abi Warner (Ips), Hansen Ingram (Kes) and Cormac Repman (Kes).
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Dan proves tops in U-16 championship
Ipswich’s Dan Knights was crowned Suffolk Under-16 champion at Kesgrave after some fierce racing especially with fellow team-mates Richard Fellgett and Matt Hill, who joined him on the podium for an Ipswich 1-2-3.
Knights roared to a maximum, with Fellgett on 19 and Hill on 18.
Other qualifiers for the East Anglian final later in the year were: 4th Pierce Bacon (Ips) =5th Ben Harvey (Ips) and Stefan Farthing (Kes), 7th Alex Harvey (Ips), 8th Tyler Brinkhoff (Kes) 9th Leesa Maria-Bown (Ips) (after Run-off), 10th Lily Gedge (Kes) (after run-off), 11th Jay Berry (Kes) (after run-off).
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