Main Man Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 (edited) The inaugural staging of the Midland Development League Riders’ Championship proved to be a rip-roaring success. 23 races plus 4 demonstrations from Under 16 Double Champion Nathan Greaves were slickly run. Despite losing 15 minutes when the paramedic was treating a rider the whole meeting was completed in 2 hours and 15 minutes without a sense of rush and even had the luxury of allowing the four finalist to be walked around to choose their starting gate positions. With sponsorship backing for every race plus fuel and supplementary sponsors the riders were able to receive a voucher each to spend on the spares van , had a gallon of fuel each and Lucas Oils provided them with chain spray. The main meeting sponsors provided prizes for the final whilst three hand carved superb trophies in gold, silver and bronze were presented by Mick Chapman Trophies. D-Star Racewear provided special race jackets for the meeting that the riders kept as a keepsake along as providing vouchers for their products to the four finalists whilst medals were sponsored by FB RacePlates who also gave out prizes to all four finalists. The racing got better and better as the evening progressed with the good sized crowd enjoying the action. Heat 1 saw just two finishers with both Michael Neale and Lee Springthorpe retiring with Oliver Greenwood taking the first of four wins on his way to 14 points. Dan Greenwood started off with three wins before lifting coming out of the gate in heat 15 before working his way past Tommy Fenwick and a determined Martin Wrathall but Andy Braithwaite raced on for the win giving the Coventry-Mercia Viking his only defeat of the night. The Greenwoods –who are not related despite the announcer claiming they were brothers!! –met in a delayed heat 17 with the Viking who races in the National League for Dudley getting the better of the MK Knights’ Oliver inflicting his only defeat in the qualifying heats. The battle for places in the semi-finals heated up in the closing stages with several riders vying for the eight spots so it was cut and thrust right to the end with Max Clegg ousting Tom Woolley in the end on count-back for the final position. Semi one saw Dan Greenwood coming up against Liam Rumsey, Chris Widman and Shaun Tedham whilst in Semi two Oliver Greenwood met Max Clegg, Andy Braithwaite and Lee Geary. It was both Greenwoods taking their semis being joined in the final by Braithwaite and Rumsey. In the end it was Dan Greenwood who triumphed ahead of Oliver with Rumsey third in a great end to a well run night. 1. Ollie Greenwood 3,3,3,3,2 = 14 2. Michael Neale 0,0,2,1,0 = 3 3. Martin Wrathall 2,0,1,1,0 = 4 4. Lee Springthorpe 0,0,0,1,0 = 1 5. Andy Braithwaite 0,2,1,3,3 = 9 6. Chris Widman 2,2,2,3,2 = 11 7. Lee Geary 3,2,2,1,3 = 11 8. Dan Phillips 1,1,3,0, ret = 5 9. Liam Rumsey 2,1,2,2,2 = 9 10. Dan Greenwood 3,3,3,2,3 = 14 11. Tom Woolley 0,1,1,3,2 = 7 12. Shaun Tedham 1,3,0,2,3 = 9 13. Nick Laurence 2,0,1,2,1 = 6 14. Martin Knuckey 3,1,0,0,1 = 5 15. Max Clegg 0,3,3,0,1 = 7 16. Tommy Fenwick 1,2,0,0,1 = 4 17. David Holt (res) 0 = 0 18. Adam Kirby (res) did not ride H1 O.Greenwood, Wrathall, (Neale fell), (Springthorpe ret) 67.69 H2 Geary, Widman, Phillips, Braithwaite 67.88 H3 D. Greenwood, Rumsey, Tedham, Woolley 67.38 H4 Knuckey, Laurence, Fenwick (Clegg ret) 66.91 H5 O. Greenwood, Braithwaite, Rumsey, Laurence 67.50 H6 D. Greenwood, Widman, Knuckey, Neale 65.97 H7 Clegg, Geary, Woolley, Wrathall 67.31 H8 Tedham, Fenwick, Phillips, Springthorpe 68.41 H9 O. Greenwood, Widman, Woolley, Fenwick 67.28 H10 Clegg, Neale, Braithwaite, Tedham 67.72 H11 Phillips, Rumsey, Wrathall, Knuckey 68.72 H12 D. Greenwood, Geary, Laurence, Springthorpe 66.43 H13 O. Greenwood, Tedham, Geary, Knuckey 67.50 H14 (Awarded) Woolley, Laurence, Neale, (Phillips fell) NO TIME H15 Braithwaite, D. Greenwood, Wrathall, Fenwick 67.50 H16 Widman, Rumsey, Springthorpe, (Clegg fell) 67.81 H17 D. Greenwood, O. Greenwood, Clegg, Holt 65.31 H18 Geary, Rumsey, Fenwick, Neale 67.75 H19 (Re-run) Tedham, Widman, Laurence, (Wrathall fell, excl) 67.62 H20 Braithwaite, Woolley, Knuckey, Springthorpe 69.88 SF1 D. Greenwood, Rumsey, Widman, Tedham 66.29 SF2 O. Greenwood, Braithwaite, Clegg, Geary 67.47 FINAL D. Greenwood, O. Greenwood, Rumsey, Braithwaite 65.53 Edited September 30, 2012 by Main Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuxtonTiger Posted September 30, 2012 Report Share Posted September 30, 2012 What a great example of how a meeting should be run, if they were all like this then crowds would return. Nothing worse than been kept hanging around for hours in the cold. Full marks to all concerned for getting everything including the sponsorship sorted. Slight moan, £1.50 for an 8 page programme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main Man Posted September 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2012 prices for admission and programme were set by Leicester. It was the same price as the England v Australia programme which had less content the week before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sancho Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Didn't think prices were too bad Meeting went on at a pace (EL tracks take note) Good to see riders clearing the track when possible when they fell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionking Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Riders cleared the track because there was no money at stake. EL & PL riders only stay down in the hope they can get back in the re-run so they can earn some money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 £1.50 for an 8 page prog sounds fine to me..! Well done to Oliver Greenwood. Oli's been a splendid rider in the Junior/Development Leagues this year... Wasn't really aware tht his namesake Daniel was competing much at this level - thought he'd moved onwards and upwards really but suppose that early season injury meant he took the DL route to getting back on track.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundp Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 £1.50 for an 8 page prog sounds fine to me..! Well done to Oliver Greenwood. Oli's been a splendid rider in the Junior/Development Leagues this year... Wasn't really aware tht his namesake Daniel was competing much at this level - thought he'd moved onwards and upwards really but suppose that early season injury meant he took the DL route to getting back on track.. Parsloes, think it was Oli who picked up an early season injury, Dan as far as i am aware has not been injured this season, You must remember Dan was only a NL reserve at the start of the season, and this after having at least 2+ years away from the Sport, and i believe he has been a regular, in the MDL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main Man Posted October 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Dan has ---- and has done really well which has helped him no end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Parsloes, think it was Oli who picked up an early season injury, Dan as far as i am aware has not been injured this season, You must remember Dan was only a NL reserve at the start of the season, and this after having at least 2+ years away from the Sport, and i believe he has been a regular, in the MDL. Do you know wot - I've messed up which Greenwood is which all season!!!! Wouldn't mind but I've met Oliver several times (he's a terrific lad..) so you'd think I might be able to get it right!!! It's a real case on my part of not being able to see the Greenewoods for the trees!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main Man Posted October 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 don't worry at Leicester they announced them as brothers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahLapworth Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 After a few days rest from all things speedway I have come to reflect on what a huge success the first staging of the MDLRC was A massive thank you to all the sponsors, Leicester speedway and my colleague Laurence for all the time and effort that was put into making it such a superb meeting. I hope we can work a deal with Leicester to return again next year as every supporter I spoke to said they really enjoyed it. Of cause, as Co team manager of the Coventry-Mercia Vikings I am delighted that Dan Greenwood took the title but what really made me happy was the smile on Liam Rumseys face for getting third. The lad was chuffed to bits and its moments like that that make me realise that the MDL is working. A big thank you to all the riders who took part - they raced hard and with every race that went by the entertainment got better and better. You were all a credit to the event and long may the MDL continue Kelvin Lapworth MDL Co-ordinator 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21st century heathen Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Congrats to all concerned. It sounds like I missed a good one. Well done Dan. He's had a cracking return to the sport this season. He started the year as a 3-point NL reserve and ends on 5.90 in the main body of the team, rode very well in the U19's at Sheffield a few weeks ago and has now taken the MDLRC. Now if he can just add some team silverware... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main Man Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 you did 21st century heathen! it was a superb night. I am pleased to say that Dan has done what I knew and expected he would do. When Dudley approached me about bringing him to the Heathens I told them what I thought he would do and he has just about done that. We must thank the superb sponsors who have stepped in to help him in 2012 ..the lad had nothing before the season and had worked three jobs and over 60 hours a week at the end of last season to buy a bike to make his comeback after almost three years out > he rode for me at Newport for the Hornets and showed what potential he had in his few meetings. We are working on his sponsorship and looking at what machinery he will use in 2013 ....which should be a big breakthrough year for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMW Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 After a few days rest from all things speedway I have come to reflect on what a huge success the first staging of the MDLRC was A massive thank you to all the sponsors, Leicester speedway and my colleague Laurence for all the time and effort that was put into making it such a superb meeting. I hope we can work a deal with Leicester to return again next year as every supporter I spoke to said they really enjoyed it. Of cause, as Co team manager of the Coventry-Mercia Vikings I am delighted that Dan Greenwood took the title but what really made me happy was the smile on Liam Rumseys face for getting third. The lad was chuffed to bits and its moments like that that make me realise that the MDL is working. A big thank you to all the riders who took part - they raced hard and with every race that went by the entertainment got better and better. You were all a credit to the event and long may the MDL continue Kelvin Lapworth MDL Co-ordinator Well done Kelvin for highlighting that there were more riders in the field and it wasn't just the Dan Greenwood show. I to am over the moon for Liam mind you with Dan Lowe and Simon Lambert as his pit crew. Could he fail?. . Dan has made good progress this year and he was always going to do well in the meeting but the improvement Liam has made this year is stagerring.possibly due to him having a good run out in the NL and gaining in confidence by the meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main Man Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 as Kelvin said Liam's smile was a mile wide .... and like all the lads really enjoyed the night. Oliver Greenwood was on top form too whilst Andy Braithwaite did superbly to get to the final. ---in fact he told me after his first one he was shattered and when I mentioned that to him as we walked round to pick gate positions for the Final he said he was more than shattered!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballinger Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 DVD of the 2012 MDL Riders Championship now available to order from Clean Cut Sports, priced just £10 (plus £2 P&P) http://www.cleancutsports.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=101&products_id=995 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMW Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Check out the crowd and some of the action http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/speedway/19751135 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main Man Posted October 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Blimey who's that bloke handing out the rider medals on the parade !! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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