These images were grabbed from Kevin Turley's old Euro Vets web site and add a wee bit of extra history to ours.
Sandwell Cycle Speedway hosted an exciting third round of the 2011 Euro Vets championships.
A thrilling days racing saw victory for Mark Griffith in the over 40s A final.
Full results: Over-40s A Final: 1 Mark Griffith 2 Dennis Hubble 3 Paul Timms.
Over-40s B Final: 1 Peter Chant 2 Steve Mullinder 3 Colin Wheeler.
Over-50s A Final: 1 Dennis Hubble 2 Paul Timms 3 Phil Hemming.
Over-50s B Final: 1 Fred Rothwell 2 Colin Wheeler 3 Chic Mackie.
Over-60s A Final: 1 Colin Wheeler 2 Dave Baxter 3 Chic Mackie.
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Local London rider Dennis Hubble completed a full house of victories at the East London Eurovets GP Series Round 6 which also incorporated the 16th running of the London Old Masters.
With an oversubscribed entry of 19 riders present, Eurovets organiser Fred Rothwell and his East London deputy Kevin Smith were forced to run the event in two matches.
Over 50/60s
Dennis, the recent national over 50s winner at Edinburgh a fortnight ago, clinically won with a full maximum from fellow Redbraes Park runner up Steve Woodroof with Colin Wheeler finishing ahead of Rothwell in the A Final.
Sandwell's Phill Hemmings won the B version ahead of EL teammates Les Stevens and Dave Hughes from once a year racer Chris Riches, formerly of Hawbush. The organisation pressures of match promoter Kevin Smith affected his performance but the two over 60s finals provided major challenges for the eight grandvets present.
Edinburgh's Dave Baxter coming good in the B version from debutant Pat Cousins, the irrepressible Chic Mackie and a tiring Riches whilst the A Final produced the race of the day which saw 3 different leaders before the foursome cascaded over the finishing line in a blanket finish with Rothwell getting the win from Wheeler, Hughes and a not so lucky Les Stevens.
Over 40s
With the younger 40 something riders joined by the best of the rest the second individual would count as the London Old Masters prior to the two GP Finals at the end.
With the pace of racing upped accordingly in the now stifling conditions Dennis continued with another four straight wins only coming second to GP leadership rival and defending LOM champion Mark Griffiths in his final outing. Usual podium favourite Norman Venson triumphed over big gun Griffiths, who surprisingly lost out to newcomer Pete Chant in that heat too. Venson only dropped a point to Dennis in his first race, that meant they tied on 19 points necessitating a run off. Winning the toss Dennis chose the inside and led from the gate despite Norman's usual overtaking challenges.
Other riders in the individual impressed with EL's Woodroof picking up a brace of heat wins, teammate Steve Myhill beating Midlander Steve Mullinder in a thriller and Fred and Les accumulating points as well whilst tiring legs diluted the older riders some who had done 13 races by the finish. Lack of racing this year for Norfolk rider Tim Grimes showed and spectators like Ivan Darby, Tony Johnstone or Alan Busby could not be tempted to fill the one blank space in the programme.
The B Final saw Woody win from Les, the impressing Chant and co-ordinator Fred whilst the A version containing the forecasted powerhouse foursome did not disappoint.
Hubble off of one led primarily but hard close racing in the first two laps saw the others jockeying for the lead which resulted in a brilliant pass by Gary Brown on Dennis which saw the Suffolk rider streaking away for certain victory only for disaster to strike on the second bend of the final lap when he lost his front wheel in the drying shale, leaving Hubble doing well to avoid a collision and win and Griffiths second although Gary remounted to secure third place from a now tiring Venson.
This result now ties Dennis and Mark at the top of the standings with three rounds remaining.
London Old Masters (Run Off)
Dennis Hubble beat Norman Venson (Leicester) after both riders tied on 19 points in the individual scores prior to the GP Finals.
Results
Over 40s
1. Dennis Hubble 25
2. Mark Griffiths (Wednesfield) 23
3. Gary Brown (Kesgrave) 22
4. Norman Venson 21
5. Steve Woodroof 20
6. Les Stevens 18
7. Peter Chant (Southampton) 17
8. Fred Rothwell 16
9=.Colin Wheeler and Steve Myhill (East London) 12
11. Steve Mullinder (Wednesfield) 11
12, Phill Hemmings 10
13. Dave Hughes 8
14. Tim Grimes (Hethersett) 7
15. Chris Riches 6
Over 50s
1.Dennis Hubble (East London) 25
2. Steve Woodroof (East London) 23
3. Colin Wheeler (Southampton) 22
4. Fred Rothwell ("Pedal Sport") 21
5. Phil Hemmings (Sandwell) 20
6. Les Stevens (East London) 18
7. Dave Hughes (East London) 17
8. Chris Riches (ex Hawbush) 16
9. Dave Baxter (Edinburgh) 12
10=. Chick Mackie (Edinburgh) & Kevin Smith (East London) 11
12. Pat Cousins (Southampton) 9
Over 60s
1. Fred Rothwell 25
2. Colin Wheeler 23
3. Dave Hughes 22
4. Les Stevens 21
5. Dave Baxter 20
6. Pat Cousins 18
7. Chic Mackie 17
8. Chris Riches 16.
Referee - Nicky Gunkel (Greater London)
London Old Masters 2008
13th. “London Old Masters” (Eurovets GP Series Final Round of 7) held at East London on Saturday 25th. October 2008.
With 22 riders in the 3 classes present the meeting comprised of 2 individuals with corresponding “A” & “B” GP Finals. The over 50’s (Supervets) and over 60’s (Grand Vets) Individual final was first, refereed by Nicky Gunkel (Essex) followed by the over 40’s (Eurovets) Old Masters Final refereed by Dave Hughes (Greater London). With a considerable number of riders doing both events there was not too much time to socialise with the large crowd present including many old faces from the past.
No. Rider Club Eurovets o40,s Supervets o50,s (P) Grandvets o60,s (P)
1. Steve Harris Horspath 25 Points (The 2008 London Old Masters Winner)
2. Ian Lawrence Filton 23 25 Points (1)
3. Norman Venson Leicester 22 Champion
4. Mike Burgess Filton 21 23 (2) Champion
5. Paul Gibbs Filton 20
6. Garry Brown Somersham 18
7. Les Stevens East London 17 18 (6)
8. Mick Aris Wednesfield 16 22 (3)
9. George Hughes East London 11 17 (7)
= Tim Metcalf Coventry 11
= Dave Tulloch ex Hawbush 11 20 (5) 25 Points (1)
12. Fred Rothwell Bury 10 11 (9=)
13. Dave Palfreyman Filton 9 11 (9=)
14. Steve Woodroof ex East London 7
15. Steve Bloxham ex Hawbush 6 11 (9=)
= Steve Harvie East London 6 16 (8)
Also
Alan Cox ex East London 21 (4)
Chris Riches ex Hawbush 11 (9=) 23 (2)
Dave Hughes East London 10 (13)
John Whiting Bury 8 (14) 22 (3) Champion
Dave Baxter Edinburgh 5 (15=)
Chic Mackie Edinburgh 5 (15=) 21 (4)
Final Eurovets GP Positions 2008 (6 from 7 Rounds)
1. NORMAN VENSON (Leicester) 138 Points, 2. D.Murphy (Poole) 125, 3. M.Burgess (Filton) 124, 4. M.Aris (Wednesfield) 119, 5. P.Gibbs (Filton) 106, 6. S.Harris (Horspath) 98, 7. I.Lawrence (Filton) 86, 8. P.Timms (Birmingham) 85, 9. F.Rothwell (Bury) 84, 10. S.Plows (Hull) 80, 11. R.Ellis (Wednesfield) 72, 12. J.Whiting (Bury) 56, 13. S.Harvie (East London) 49, 14. C.Mackie (Edinburgh) 40, 15. K.Marson (Wednesfield) 37, 16. P.Widdas (Birmingham) 32, 17. D.Baxter (Edinburgh) & T.Metcalf (Coventry) 26, 19. L.Lawrence (Edinburgh) 20, 20. G.Brown (Somersham) & J.Murphy (Edinburgh) 18, 22. L.Stevens (East London) 17, 23. M.Pedley (Wednesfield) 16, 24. M.Glover (Horspath), G.Hughes (East London), D.O’Callaghan (Bury) & D.Tulloch (ex Hawbush) 11. 28. I.McKinley (Edinburgh) & D.Palfreyman (Filton) 9, 30. P.Davies (Newport), A.Forbes (Edinburgh) & S.Woodroof (ex East London) 7, 33. S.Bloxham (ex Hawbush) & S.Jarman (Bury) 6.
Supervets – 1. MIKE BURGESS 140 Points, 2. M.Aris 139, 3. R.Ellis 116, 4. F.Rothwell 115, 5. J.Whiting 106, 6. I.Lawrence 93, 7. P.Timms 91, 8. S.Harvie 78, 9. D.Baxter 62, 10. C.Mackie 59, 11. P.Widdas 52, 12. J.Murphy 38, 13. M.Pedley 22, 14. A.Cox (ex East London) 21, 15. D.Tulloch 20, 16. L.Stevens 18, 17. G.Hughes 17, 18. S.Bloxham, D.Palfreyman & C.Riches (ex Hawbush) 11, 21. D.Hughes (East London) 10, 22. I.McKinley 9, 23. A.Forbes 7 & 24. S.Jarman 6.
Grandvets – 1. JOHN WHITING 142, 2. R.Ellis 140, 3. C.Mackie 132, 4. J.Murphy 48, 5.I.McKinley 40, 6. D.Tulloch 25, 7. C.Riches 23 & 8. A.Forbes 18. A total of 36 riders from 12 current clubs plus Hawbush.
Eurovets G.P. Series 2007. - Details by Dave Murphy
2007 Final Eurovets GP Standings (6 Rounds) - Over 40:
1st Norman Venson 121 points 2nd Dave Murphy 110 3rd Ian Lawrence 108 4th Dave Frith 99
Other GP point totals: Mick Aris 91, Fred Rothwell 86, Roger Ellis 69, S.Harvie 54, Lee Galley & Les Stevens 50, Dave O’Callaghan 41, Allan Evans 40, Mike Burgess 34, Lee Lawrence 33, Paul Dyson 23, Martin Glover 22, Kev Marson 21, Mick Pedley & Colin Wheeler 20, Joe McLaughlan 17, Paul Gibbs, Alan Guest, Chick Mackie & John Murphy 16, Gilbert Davis & Alan Cox 11, Ian McKinlay 10, Steve Bloxham, Chris Riches, Rob Absolom & Jan Kuik 9, Phil Widdas 8, Grzegorz Wielinski 6 & George Hughes 5.
2007 Final Eurovets GP Standings (6 Rounds) - Over 50:
1st Ian Lawrence 123 points 2nd Fred Rothwell 113 3rd Mick Aris 110 4th Roger Ellis 96
Other GP point totals: Steve Harvie 93, Les Stevens 63, Mike Burgess 45, Chick Mackie 24, Mick Pedley & Joe McLaughlan 22, Alan Cox, John Murphy & Colin Wheeler 21, Alan Guest 20, Ian McKinlay & Phil Widdas 17. Steve Bloxham 17, Chris Riches 9.
2007 Final Eurovets GP Standings (6 Rounds) - Over 60:
1st Roger Ellis 123 points 2nd Chick Mackie 45 3rd John Murphy 25 4th Colin Wheeler 25
