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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
Christchurch speedway rider Dale Finch was a clear winner in the NZ Under 21 Solo Championship at Oreti last weekend.
Finch was untroubled and unbeaten in all qualifying races and all three finals. His only hic cup was a mechanical one and he borrowed former champion Grant Tregoning’s bike for the remainder of the meeting. In the true spirit of the sport, there were a number of other rider’s bikes on hand, available if required by those who made the finals. With the track affected by the weather, riding conditions were challenging and all the Under 21’s did very well. Some support racing was dropped while a number of seniors chose not to ride as the club placed the emphasis on getting this title complete. The battle for the minor places behind Finch was a lot closer. Few points separated the three North Island riders, Jamie Moohan, Sean Mason and Dylan Hancock who finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively. They fought hard throughout the meeting with even Ryan Bagshaw mixing it with them throughout some of the heats. Cory Lang also made the final field.
Dale Finch received an outstanding write up in a preview for the Southland Times, one where with good Southern sponsorship for the Christchurch rider, he went into the meeting as favourite. It was class all the way where he was just too good for the rest of the field on the day. Already this year Finch has earned the respect on and off the track as he is the second most successful rider in the South Island behind Tregoning.
As a sixteen year old, Finch stunned a relaxed Jason Bunyan in the NZ final and went underneath the current NZ champion causing him to falter. Andrew Bargh went on to win the title that year with Finch 2nd, Bunyan 3rd. It was hardly mentioned in the media but Finch made front page news when he sustained some very serious injuries including a broken back at a time when speedway related fatalities were in the spot light. Three years on and Finch is back. He nearly gave it away but the desire is there, the ability can be further refined and there is more potential to come. The “boy with the smile that lights up the room” has made it back, has two very proud parents and one hell of a lot fans trackside.
Side car racing was also of a high standard for the Peter Blick Memorial Trophy. Seasoned campaigner Fraser Gillespie and David Uitentuis put the pressure on Lionel Green and Aaron Ray in the final. Green had the start into turn one but Gillespie muscled his way through to take the lead. It was cat and mouse from there on with the Christchurch combination having to settle for second. Shaun Kerr and Robbie Poole over came a slower than normal start to fight their way through the remainder of the field to claim third.
Club President Gillespie was surprised when he was awarded Life Membership to the Oreti Club for his services to the World’s most Southern Speedway track. It was warmly received by the crowd present when announced by Joe Hughes. After some 25 years of racing, Gillespie and Uitentuis are at the top of the southern sidecar contingent and Gillespie is at the forefront of a team which in enduring one of the most significant revivals of motorcycle speedway in the country in recent times.
Media: Warrick Korstanje 14/12/09
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