Horspath staged the British Veterans Final on Saturday (6th September 2008) at their homely Oxfordshire circuit, attracting a top class field full of former World and British champions and laced with an array of Cycle Speedways finest performers over the past three decades.

Ex World champs Steve Harris (on his home Horspath track) and Mark Newey, the prolific Leicester scorer, headed the parade of champions. Former British champions Pete Young of Southampton and Poole’s Andre Cross were amongst a super strong supporting cast which also included defending title holder Ian Lawrence (Filton) and World Veterans champion Norman Venson of Leicester.

Happily, the heavy rain that had lashed Britain for several days had relented as the riders approached the gate in heat 1. Unhappily, the rain was soon to return with a vengeance, destroying the enjoyment for competitor and spectator alike.

It was a hair-raising opening heat. Three times a trio of riders crashed spectacularly, with Andy Franks of Wednesfield each time being the innocent victim of mayhem before him. At the fourth attempt, Gary Brown of Somersham was excluded, with Lawrence taking the win as he looked for a hat-trick of veteran titles.

Mark Griffiths of Wednesfield earned a tapes exclusion in heat 2 from the inside gate. Newey, from grid 2, gleefully took full advantage to register the win, knowing g he had two further inside grids to come.

Harris made easy work of heat 3 to post his credentials, before Irish star Gary Colby of Norwich won heats 4 and 5 to fleetingly head the leader board. Harris engineered a fine pass on Young in heat 6 to join Colby on 8. Venson held an all-important inside gate in heat 7, with Newey on his tail throughout.

The rain returned as the riders lined-up for heat 8, light at first before increasing and lasting for the remaining duration of the final. However, this did not effect the super-fit Franks in the eighth race, stalking the flagging Birmingham racer Paul Timms for three and a half laps before powering ahead on the outside on the final lap.

After a couple of tepid outings, Young, who has just returned to action, raised his game to take heat 9, before the hugely entertaining Yorkshireman Darren Kent, of Heckmondyke, won heat 10, the last race before the interval.

The half time period witnessed a tremendous downpour, which soon completely engulfed the Horspath circuit, making conditions increasingly appalling for all present.

The popular Dave Murphy, from Poole, who had earlier dropped two inside gates, made amends by winning heat 11 from grid 4 – the first rider to do so. Harris produced a scintillating first lap to account for heat 12.

After each rider had completed three rides each, Harris was unbeaten on a maximum 12, with Newey and Colby chasing hard on 10, with Murphy, Kent and Venson ready to pounce on 9.

Newey maintained the pressure on Harris by motoring home in heat 13. In heat 14, Venson begun his late charge for glory with his second heat win of the afternoon, after all-action reserve Dave Paltryman (Filton) had hit the front.

Heat 15 provided the race of the day and surely one of the finest duels of the season. Using all his home track knowledge, Harris conjured another masterful first lap to hit the front from grid 4, gliding past Brown on the inside. That’s another four points to Harris whispered the drenched gallery. Brown was having none of it, regrouping well to chase down Harris, catching him with a superb dive on the final lap for a brilliant victory.

An increasingly impressive Cross won heat 16, before the Norfolk based Poole asset earned an exclusion in heat 17, thus allowing Harris on gate 2 a free `home run` to glory and the British Veterans crown. It caps a terrific year for Harris. The leading Brit at the European Final in Rawicz, a vintage display in the British Final, and now British Vets champion, what a year for one of Cycle Speedways true greats. 

Newey won him 18 to confirm second place in an accomplished display and Venson raced through from the back in fine fashion in the final heat to secure third place on the podium.

Young can feel well pleased with his performance in his first major meeting for over two years. Colby and Murphy were always good value, defending champ Lawrence faded after a bright start, whilst both Kent and Franks will look to exclusions and bad luck which restricted their progress.

2008 British Veterans (Over-40s) Individual Championship – Point scorers:
Steve Harris (Horspath) 19, Mark Newey (Leicester) 18, Norman Venson (Leicester) 17, Pete   Young (Southampton) 15, Gary Colby (Norwich) 14, Dave Murphy (Poole) 14, Ian Lawrence (Filton) 12, Andre Cross (Poole) 12, Paul Gibbs (Filton) 11, Gary Brown (Somersham) 11, Darren Kent (Heckmondwike) 11, Andy Franks (Wednesfield) 9, Paul Timms (Birmingham) 9, Mark Griffiths (Wednesfield) 8, Mike Burgess (Filton) 7, Les Stevens (East London) 5, Dave Palfreyman (Filton-reserve) 3
Eliminated - Dave Palfreyman (Filton), Martin Glover (Horspath), Tim Grimes (Hethersett), Phil Widdas (Birmingham)
Non Starters - Simon Plows (Hull) Tim Metcalfe (Independent), John Whiting (Bury)