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Sunraysia Cricket association Scores

Mildura West9/213 C Williams 122* B Dixon 26  B Turner 2/23 B Zambelli 2/31 M Kerr 2/64    def by  Mildura Settlers4/324(dec) B Turner 161 P Keogh 101 J Morrison 31  

Nichols Point187 G Bridson 104  S Trinick 5/40 L Cavallaro 2/29   def         Merbein South67 H Miah 35  S Bhattarai 4/11 J Bullen 3/27 WC Liddle 2/16 and 6/222 H Cheal 51* H Miah 40 A Wright 31 L Cavallo 25  C Cavallaro 3/49              

Irymple154 D Coghlan 59  A Abbas 5/26 J Freeman 2/29 FN Neser 2/39 and 5/82(dec) D Coghlan 35  A Abbas 2/9 K Smith 2/20          def         Coomealla Wentworth92 A Abbas 26  CD Stone 4/21 D Coghlan 4/26         

Mildura East140 BM Thomas 38  TP Rajapaske 3/33 A Calarco 2/14 JR Barnes 2/47  def by Workers Gol Gol6/266(cc) SJ Groves 62 A Calarco 51

W Hancock 43 JR Barnes 32* SE Thomas 30  TJ Vadlja 3/55 JM Hunt 2/60

 

                                                                                      BY first Corner 

The energized team of former World Sidecar Speedway Champion, local, Warren Monson and Andrew Summerhayes, won the Monaghan Logistics, Gates Sidecar Cup, before an enthusiastic crowd at Mildura’s Olympic Park on Sunday night.

A crack field contested the prestigious event with other World Champions engaged in the program on a balmy Sunraysia evening which had cooled from the mid 40 degree days of mid week.

A good crowd was in attendance in expectation of the thrills to be encountered as so many great teams had been included in the field. Patrons were on the edge of their seats for much of the night as former Australian and State champions gave their very best over each of the five programmed heats and then fought hard for inclusion into the two finals, the last of which, for Monaghan Logistics would decide whose name would be etched on the perpetual award.

 

The night started without ten times Australian and former World Champion, Darrin Treloar / Jesse Headland, who had cracked a head on the 1000cc Yamaha machine at Gillman, Adelaide on Saturday night. Treloar was apologetically a necessary withdrawal from the Gates meeting, but that did not blunt the efforts of those who remained, as it gave others a chance to step into the breach in place of the man who has dominated Sidecar racing for over 20 years.

 

The night opened with a classy win to Byren Gates / Mick O’Loughlin, who started from the inside gate and did enough to keep Club President, Neale Hancock / Tubs Johnson, who started from the outside, in second place. Local pair, Chris Dess / Cam Diwell finished in third place after Queensland pair, Brodie Cohen / Damian Egan had withdrawn part way through the heat. Cohen has spent heavily on a new machine and engine, so as he can have a real tilt at the Australian Championships, to be held in Townsville later in the season, but is down south right now, taking as much competition as he can to get his new beast set up.

 

Monson won cleanly from Mick Headland / Brenton Kerr in the second while Sam Harrison / Luke McGrath accounted for a field of locals in the third. Some carnage came the way of half the filed in the fourth heat which was easily won by Broken Hill’s Darren Howse / Jack Wheeler.

 

Monson won again to open round two which saw locals Chris Dess and Hancock take classy wins along with Headland who did well to complete the second stanza.

 

The better riders consolidated their positions during the second half of the heats with Howse having a good one over Hancock, Cohrs and Headland and Cock having his second win, keeping Howse and Dess at bay. Monson won his third and fourth rounds and was clearly the fastest rider present, being the only team to go below the minute for the 1200 metre journey.

 

Gates / O’Loughlin continued their form with a third and then recovered to win again, tasking nine points into the last round.

 

 

 

 

All was set for some aggressive riding in the final round which saw Gates again take a win and move to 12 points and an assured place directly into the Monghan Logistics final for the Gates Cup.

 

Headland won his last and moved to 11 points as did Harrison / McGrath, who were getting more used to their new BMW Superbike powered beast. Harrison has been around Olympic Park many times as a passenger, but over recent months he had had a new machine built in Queensland and had chosen to use the German superbike engine as the best way to get himself around.

 

Monson closed off the heats with an emphatic win in the last heat, taking a 15 points maximum score directly into the Final.

 

The track provided wonderful grip and plenty of safety all night and was a credit to the Club‘s

Track crew, who, this season, have been single minded in producing excellent race tracks for both Solos and Sidecars.

 

The count-back system had to be employed on more than one occasion to decide where teams might place in either of the finals. It was clear that Monson and Gates were automatic selections, but the next in line were three teams who were all on 11 points. With one place to fill in the “A” Final, the nod went to the former and dual World Champion, Mick Headland / Brenton Kerr, who had finished with three wins making up their 11 points.

 

A second call on the count-back was required to put the next two teams into first and second selections of gate positions with the first choice going to Club President, Neale Hancock / Tubs Johnson by virtue of them beating Harrison / McGrath when they met in heat 8. Third into the “B” Final was Howse / Wheeler and then the count-back was required again to separate two locals for the last spot in the “B”, with the nod going to Cock / McMahon ahead of Dess / Diwell, as Cock had taken two wins against the one win for Dess. It was sad to see Dess miss out, as he and Diwell had ridden well all night.

 

To require the use of the count-back system indicated the class and status of the meeting, with so many riders taking points off each other when it counted. It is vital in individual meetings that the second and third place points can come into contention as riders vie for places in Finals.

It has been shown many times that a chance to get into a Final and then to take the best opportunity from that chance can often be significant in a meeting.

 

A cracker “B” Final got under way with Hancock dominating all the way while the Broken Hill team saw Wheeler lose his grip and tumble down the straight, thankfully not being hurt from the fall. Harrison was second and sadly the patrons were not afforded the opportunity to see the slick SA team again. Nathan Cock / Jack McMahon finished a very good night for them, not disgraced in third position, a position that they perhaps did not expect at the start of the meeting.

 

Hancock won cleanly and then moved into the Gates Final, but with last choice was left with the outside gate as his start point.

 

Monson had chosen the inside, Red gate position while Gates took two and Blue and Headland chose white and gate three, leaving the outside for the “B” Final winner.

 

The race for the Gates Cup was clean for Monson, but during turns one and two, the position of all other three teams was tight and while no-one did anything wrong, some carnage was avoided by clever riding. Gates probably got the worst of the close riding and came out of turn tow just behind both Headland about mid track and Hancock staying brave and keeping the throttle tapped.

 

 

 

Down the back straight, Monson consolidated his lead and showed that he had gained from the others being so tight against and with each other. Headland, with massive drive was able to put his wheel in front and consolidate second place ahead of Hancock on the exit of turn two which left Gates just adrift, but without any chance of making ground.

 

The track, which had been superb all night, gave Monson the edge that he had looked for and taken all night and he went on to score a popular win in the prestigious event. Monson and Summerhayes were clearly thrilled with their success and especially paid tribute to the Olympic Park Track team, who had worked so hard in trying and very hot conditions during the days leading up to the meeting.

 

The support “B” Sidecars competed in the other vacant position in the program caused by the non attendance of Shane Hudson from Sydney, who had mechanical problems in Adelaide.

 

Our regular and very honest performing Classic Sidecars showed all the skills of yesteryear with father and daughter team of Chris and Hannah Holmes taking the points over a clever Broken Hill team of Rob Kemp / Nicholas Johns, riding the wonderful sounding John Waters, Vincent HRD and JAP Machines; n ext was Rod Gebhart / Jamie Knudsen and then Chris Wakefield / Dale Cox.

 

The elevation of our Junior 125cc Solo riders into the Senior meeting, was well appreciated by Mildura fans as these kids really did enjoy their time in front of the large audience. Jackson Milner was successful ahead of Riley McCarthy, Lewis Monaghan, Jordan Hargreaves and Jake Fleet. Their efforts were well appreciated by all those in attendance.

 

The energized team of former World Sidecar Speedway Champion, local, Warren Monson and Andrew Summerhayes, won the Monaghan Logistics, Gates Sidecar Cup, before an enthusiastic crowd at Mildura’s Olympic Park on Sunday night.

 

A crack field contested the prestigious event with other World Champions engaged in the program on a balmy Sunraysia evening which had cooled from the mid 40 degree days of mid week.

 

A good crowd was in attendance in expectation of the thrills to be encountered as so many great teams had been included in the field. Patrons were on the edge of their seats for much of the night as former Australian and State champions gave their very best over each of the five programmed heats and then fought hard for inclusion into the two finals, the last of which, for Monaghan Logistics would decide whose name would be etched on the perpetual award.

 

The night started without ten times Australian and former World Champion, Darrin Treloar / Jesse Headland, who had cracked a head on the 1000cc Yamaha machine at Gillman, Adelaide on Saturday night. Treloar was apologetically a necessary withdrawal from the Gates meeting, but that did not blunt the efforts of those who remained, as it gave others a chance to step into the breach in place of the man who has dominated Sidecar racing for over 20 years.

 

The night opened with a classy win to Byren Gates / Mick O’Loughlin, who started from the inside gate and did enough to keep Club President, Neale Hancock / Tubs Johnson, who started from the outside, in second place. Local pair, Chris Dess / Cam Diwell finished in third place after Queensland pair, Brodie Cohen / Damian Egan had withdrawn part way through the heat. Cohen has spent heavily on a new machine and engine, so as he can have a real tilt at the Australian Championships, to be held in Townsville later in the season, but is down south right now, taking as much competition as he can to get his new beast set up.

 

Monson won cleanly from Mick Headland / Brenton Kerr in the second while Sam Harrison / Luke McGrath accounted for a field of locals in the third. Some carnage came the way of half the filed in the fourth heat which was easily won by Broken Hill’s Darren Howse / Jack Wheeler.

 

Monson won again to open round two which saw locals Chris Dess and Hancock take classy wins along with Headland who did well to complete the second stanza.

 

The better riders consolidated their positions during the second half of the heats with Howse having a good one over Hancock, Cohrs and Headland and Cock having his second win, keeping Howse and Dess at bay. Monson won his third and fourth rounds and was clearly the fastest rider present, being the only team to go below the minute for the 1200 metre journey.

 

Gates / O’Loughlin continued their form with a third and then recovered to win again, tasking nine points into the last round.

 

 

 

 

All was set for some aggressive riding in the final round which saw Gates again take a win and move to 12 points and an assured place directly into the Monghan Logistics final for the Gates Cup.

 

Headland won his last and moved to 11 points as did Harrison / McGrath, who were getting more used to their new BMW Superbike powered beast. Harrison has been around Olympic Park many times as a passenger, but over recent months he had had a new machine built in Queensland and had chosen to use the German superbike engine as the best way to get himself around.

 

Monson closed off the heats with an emphatic win in the last heat, taking a 15 points maximum score directly into the Final.

 

The track provided wonderful grip and plenty of safety all night and was a credit to the Club‘s

Track crew, who, this season, have been single minded in producing excellent race tracks for both Solos and Sidecars.

 

The count-back system had to be employed on more than one occasion to decide where teams might place in either of the finals. It was clear that Monson and Gates were automatic selections, but the next in line were three teams who were all on 11 points. With one place to fill in the “A” Final, the nod went to the former and dual World Champion, Mick Headland / Brenton Kerr, who had finished with three wins making up their 11 points.

 

A second call on the count-back was required to put the next two teams into first and second selections of gate positions with the first choice going to Club President, Neale Hancock / Tubs Johnson by virtue of them beating Harrison / McGrath when they met in heat 8. Third into the “B” Final was Howse / Wheeler and then the count-back was required again to separate two locals for the last spot in the “B”, with the nod going to Cock / McMahon ahead of Dess / Diwell, as Cock had taken two wins against the one win for Dess. It was sad to see Dess miss out, as he and Diwell had ridden well all night.

 

To require the use of the count-back system indicated the class and status of the meeting, with so many riders taking points off each other when it counted. It is vital in individual meetings that the second and third place points can come into contention as riders vie for places in Finals.

It has been shown many times that a chance to get into a Final and then to take the best opportunity from that chance can often be significant in a meeting.

 

A cracker “B” Final got under way with Hancock dominating all the way while the Broken Hill team saw Wheeler lose his grip and tumble down the straight, thankfully not being hurt from the fall. Harrison was second and sadly the patrons were not afforded the opportunity to see the slick SA team again. Nathan Cock / Jack McMahon finished a very good night for them, not disgraced in third position, a position that they perhaps did not expect at the start of the meeting.

 

Hancock won cleanly and then moved into the Gates Final, but with last choice was left with the outside gate as his start point.

 

Monson had chosen the inside, Red gate position while Gates took two and Blue and Headland chose white and gate three, leaving the outside for the “B” Final winner.

 

The race for the Gates Cup was clean for Monson, but during turns one and two, the position of all other three teams was tight and while no-one did anything wrong, some carnage was avoided by clever riding. Gates probably got the worst of the close riding and came out of turn tow just behind both Headland about mid track and Hancock staying brave and keeping the throttle tapped.

 

 

 

Down the back straight, Monson consolidated his lead and showed that he had gained from the others being so tight against and with each other. Headland, with massive drive was able to put his wheel in front and consolidate second place ahead of Hancock on the exit of turn two which left Gates just adrift, but without any chance of making ground.

 

The track, which had been superb all night, gave Monson the edge that he had looked for and taken all night and he went on to score a popular win in the prestigious event. Monson and Summerhayes were clearly thrilled with their success and especially paid tribute to the Olympic Park Track team, who had worked so hard in trying and very hot conditions during the days leading up to the meeting.

 

The support “B” Sidecars competed in the other vacant position in the program caused by the non attendance of Shane Hudson from Sydney, who had mechanical problems in Adelaide.

 

Our regular and very honest performing Classic Sidecars showed all the skills of yesteryear with father and daughter team of Chris and Hannah Holmes taking the points over a clever Broken Hill team of Rob Kemp / Nicholas Johns, riding the wonderful sounding John Waters, Vincent HRD and JAP Machines; n ext was Rod Gebhart / Jamie Knudsen and then Chris Wakefield / Dale Cox.

 

The elevation of our Junior 125cc Solo riders into the Senior meeting, was well appreciated by Mildura fans as these kids really did enjoy their time in front of the large audience. Jackson Milner was successful ahead of Riley McCarthy, Lewis Monaghan, Jordan Hargreaves and Jake Fleet. Their efforts were well appreciated by all those in attendance

.