Shropshire Star

Sam Hall roars to a magnificent seven

Super Sam Hall secured seven stunning wins during round three of the Formula Grasstrack Association Championships.

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The Whitchurch schoolboy showed why he’s Junior champion, going unbeaten during the entire meeting, hosted by the Wrekin Grasstrack Club, in Chetton.

Making superb starts in all seven Junior Class rides he went on claim victories in every race, while the consistent Eli Meadows secured five second places and a third before again finishing behind good friend and rival, Hall.

Taking the last rostrum spot was Aidan Arthur who, after experiencing bike problems in the first two championship rounds, went on to show some great race craft at the meeting.

Club spokesman Louis Bennett said: “The Junior class produces some fantastic racing at every meeting and this time was no different.

“With five riders all evenly matched there was plenty of overtaking in each race.

“Despite the weather making racing conditions tricky, with showers throughout the afternoon, the championship leaders in all four categories showed their talent by taking wins all their races.”

In the Auto Cadets, it was Oliver Binns who took top honours and extended his championship lead over Charlotte Arthur, who pushed Binns in every race.

But the boy from Cheshire had the edge in tricky conditions, while rounding out the top three was youngest of the Crewe brothers, Jack, who is improving each meeting.

Billy Budd, from Ellesmere Port, put in a fine performance in the Cub Class to take top honours ahead of elder Crewe brother Joe.

Knutsford racer Katie Gordon pipped Nathan Alder to fourth place overall after some consistent gating throughout the day.

The seniors also produced some great racing despite a slightly depleted entry and it was Ryan Ashcroft who showed his talent and put on a masterclass to take the win, reclaiming the series lead from his younger brother, Liam, who had chosen to sit out the meeting due to school exams.

Second place went to grasstrack stalwart Glyn Stanton, who only dropped two points throughout the heats to tie with Shrewsbury’s Martin Adams.

Stanton edged out Adams in the final to take silver medal after an elbow to elbow dice for four laps.

Fourth place went to newcomer and father of Oliver, Dave Binns, who was competing in his first ever grasstrack meeting.

An incredible performance in the first three rides saw him sitting joint first with Ashcroft after taking the scalps of some of the more experienced seniors.

Binns, whose brother Andy has been an FGA rider for many years, went on to drop four points in his last three rides putting a rostrum finish out of reach.

Fifth place went to Darren Jukes, who was putting in his first outing of the year, edging out Welshman Rob Cuffin, who finished sixth.

Lower down the finishing order was front-runner Marcus Crutchington from Solihull. Crutchington missed his first three rides due to late work commitments but 17 points from a possible 18 in his last three races put him 15th overall.