CYCLE SPEEDWAY: Kesgrave Panthers pulled off their best British Youth and Junior League result to date, defeating reigning British champions Ipswich in the second regional round of this year’s competition.

The Panthers amassed their highest-ever total in the competition, 352 points, while Ipswich’s total of 271 should see both clubs progress to the national rounds.

On a damp afternoon the racing at the Kesgrave circuit moved apace and as usual there were plenty of thrills and spills for the crowd to enjoy.

The under-eight A final was won by Lewis Brinkhoff, the young Great Blakenham racer holding off a determined Oliver Wright from the host club, with Kian Howard and Fynlay Hack both enjoying good meetings throughout.

Kesgrave are strong in the under-10 section and again Oliver Knight and Pierce Bacon skated easily through the qualifiers and then had another fine battle in an A final, won by Knight.

Harrison Bacon continued his good form with third place and Tylor Brinkhoff enjoyed his best meeting of the year, also reaching the A final. Ross Knight made it a family one-two, having watched his brother Oliver win the under-10s, Ross duly won the under-12s with a fine start from the outside.

Colchester’s Lewis Davies did himself proud with second place and there were two good performances from Matthew Gifkins and Colby Hack, who both reached the A final.

Richard Felgett made the most of drawing gate one in the final to win the under-14s, an age group Ipswich are very strong in.

Indeed only Kesgrave’s Harry Swallow and Luke Gifkins made any inroads into the fine Ipswich squad. Charlie Rumbold was all over Felgett in the A final, but had to settle for second, with Swallow third and Adam Overett fourth.

Ashley Hill, riding as an independent, won the under-16s, while Norwich’s Dan Osborne won the under-18s and Laura Dale was in brilliant form in the girls GP, holding off Tiffany Collins to take maximum points.

The next round of the competition is at Colchester, where both Ipswich and Kesgrave will hope to continue their push towards the national stages.