| Cycle Speedway facts | How do I start? Cycle speedway is organised through local clubs and they are always keen to welcome new members of all ages. For your local track check on the British Cycling website. Is it dangerous? Not really! Serious injury is very rare in cycle speedway the most common injury if any is just minor bruising. Can girls and women compete? Most certainly British Cycling is keen to encourage more females into sport. Do I need any special clothes? The obvious one is a safety helmet; all clubs will give advice on the best sort. Most riders tend to wear trainers with track bottoms, other protective items like knee pads and elbow pads can also be worn. |
Birmingham Monarchs cycle speedway club hosted the third regional round of the
Cussack British Youth and Junior League championship at their Perry Barr track on Saturday 28th May.
 | | Jamie Palmer (l) |
The event open to boys and girls aged up to 18 years from the North and Midland regions attracted an entry of more than 30 riders. The riders were divided into their respective age groups racing through a series of heats to culminate in finals for each grouping. The first group of riders out on the track were the under 8's riding with enthusiasm and passion they put on a great show. The eventual winner of the A group final was Wednesfield Aces Ryan Morris in only his second ever meeting he looked delighted to be taking home his winners trophy. Sandwell's James Chattin also made the A final. James Harriman another Wednesfield starlet at just four years old impressed everyone in making the B group final. In the under 10's division it was expected to be a battle between young Wednesfield flyer Jordan Holdcroft and Ryan King from Manchester's Astley and Tyldesley club. Jordan however was carrying an injury picked up playing football and had to retire after two heats. Jack Harriman another Wednesfield rider did well to make the A final but it was the impressive Ryan King who won the day with a series of blistering rides.
 | | Kids over eight can take part |
Hot favourites in the under fourteens were Declan Crouch who just happens to be the national under 13 champion and fellow Leicester rider Carl Jarvis who also has a national championship under his belt. These two boys definitely the most gifted of their age in this region didn't disappoint. In the heats they dominated in style and the final looked as if it was going to Carl Jarvis but the tenacious Crouch never gave up the chase and took a narrow victory at the final flag of what had been a superb and exciting race. Wednesfield's Jamie Holcroft took an excellent third place finish in the A final with Sandwell's Lee Smith taking the honours in the B final. The under 16's event final was an all West Midland affair with two Sandwell riders taking on two home track riders but it was Sandwell pair who dominated as they had done through the heats. Tom Hibberd taking an excellent win from David Ball in second. In the B group final it was Chris Timms from home team Birmingham Monarchs who crossed the line first with better luck on the day I'm sure Chris would have been in the A final.
 | | Jack and Tom Hibberd |
The best kept secret of the day was Jack Hibberd's broken wrist he kept it wrapped and hidden from his opponents all day long in the final of the under 18 event Jack rode superbly to win a close fought encounter with an extremely tight finish from Tameside's Chris Eaton. Wednesfield's Ian Warren finished in third place. At the end of the day Birmingham Monarchs had hosted a superb six hour meeting and would invite anyone of eight years or older to come and give cycle speedway a try at their weekly training sessions held every Wednesday evening at Perry Hall Park playing fields, Perry Avenue, Perry Barr. The club with adult supervision and training will supply all the bikes and safety equipment. | 
