Sand Racing Report 31st August 2019

Inclement August weather didn’t put a dampener on the championship racing being held for the final time this season even though the majority of the championship’s had been decided before this meeting.

The cadet class for those aged 6 to 8 saw Jack Pollard on his slider take the wins from the duelling duo of Tyler-James Savident on a MX bike that 4 times beat Charlie Clark on a slider to second spot though it was non riding GiloRobilliard who should be crowned class champion. Moving up in age the juniors & intermediates combine to race together but are split by bike type, so having the class almost to themselves for the season the MX champions Ben Le Prevost (junior) & Alisha Wild King (intermediate) only had Gemma Le Page for company in their races. There were great tussles between to 2 champions of the slider class Thomas Vining (junior) & Dan Clark (intermediate) as the remaining riders Harry Ogier, Sam & Charlie Walker & Gemma Le Page who was doubling up by riding 2 different bikes wilted in the dismal weather.

For once Erin Ogier had a bike under her that would last the distance in the adult slider races as she was riding Paul Van Der Tang’s machine & even managed a second spot in the Committee Cup race. On course it was Jersey man Jordan Noel who took all the wins & so should be back in November to collect his championship trophy at the clubs annual dinner. Bob Teed was again out on his father’s bike but wasn’t having such a successful day leaving Dave Cleal to race against Nathan Pinchemain who was making his slider debut having missed most of the season off his MX bike. With a clashing MX event this class was at its lowest number for the season with only 6 regular riders boosted by another 2 debutants, James Savident father of cadet rider Tyler-James & Ashleigh Le Page, and Gemma’s elder sisterboth riding MX bikes for the first time. The format was identical to last meeting with 2 twisty course & 2 oval course races & whilst Billy Rive though not winning the twisty races would end up as twisty champion his twin brother Ricky was going to be taken to the last oval race before he could claim the title of oval champion as his main rival Mark King having won the first oval race slipped to third place in the second one which Ricky won. To round off their season they had to face the challenge of a 20 lap handicap race for the Pealing Carey trophy, this meant that the faster rides were sitting on the start line for almost 4 laps before they were sent on their way to chase down the slower riders so there was much overtaking before Jarrod Carrington took the chequered flag.

Once again there were no racing cars present so having completed 6 of the 9 race meetings Mark Le Page takes the racing car championship this just leaving the saloons to battle it out in the various trophy races. Going home with the championship trophies should be Sam De Carteret (production saloons 1401-1800cc), Eric Trump (production saloons over 1801cc) & Gary Robert (modified saloons). Taking the final handicap trophy of the season was Matthew Board who held off Gary Robert by about a cars length to take this race win.

So it’s now time for these competitors to give their machines a very good clean down, removing as much sand as possible before they put them into storage for the winter months before getting them fit to race another season in 2020. This though is not the end of the 2019 sand race season as at 11.45 on Saturday 28^th September the beach will come alive to the sound of 500cc solo sliders & 1000cc sidecars as the Sand Ace British Championship once again gets underway.

Paul Stanford