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KENT star James Shanes led the qualifiers for the British Under-21 Final with a full maximum at Central Park on Monday.Shanes finished four points clear at the top of the semi-final order, and was joined on the rostrum on the night by Mildenhall’s Connor Mountain and Josh Bailey of Scunthorpe and King’s Lynn.All three of the Young Stars’ competitors went through as Nathan Greaves and Ryan Kinsley also made the cut in the top six, along with Danny Phillips.The final four qualification places for Sheffield on April 14 were taken by Ellis Perks, Danno Verge, Jack Smith and Jack Parkinson-Blackburn.
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SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey says Josh Bailey’s British Under-21 Final qualification is fine reward for a good start to the season.Bailey has impressed in his early meetings for the Scorpions and sailed through Monday’s Under-21 semi at Kent in third place on the night.Godfrey said: “It’s been a mixed start to the season for the Scorpions, but one of the major plusses for us has been Josh Bailey. He’s got a very tidy style, is willing to learn, and doesn’t know when he’s beaten.“I’m delighted that Josh has got through to the Under-21 Final at Sheffield. He’ll be going there with the Scorpions this Thursday, and then he’ll be again the following week for the final, which gives him every chance of doing well in that meeting.”
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BIRMINGHAM promoter Graham Drury was delighted to see his two teenage reserves qualify for the British Under-21 Final.Jack Smith and Jack Parkinson-Blackburn made it through Monday’s semi-final at Kent, whilst Danyon Hume finished a point short of the cut, and will be second reserve at Sheffield.Drury said: “I'm absolutely delighted for the two Jacks and it's a great achievement so early on in their career.“They're only 17 and 15 years of age so they've got plenty of time on their side but just to compete in the final will be a great experience for them both.“Zach (Wajtknecht) has already been seeded so we will have three representatives in next week's final. I feel for Danyon but he'll have learnt a lot tonight and he'll be desperate to score well again against Rye House on Wednesday.”
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DANNY Phillips has spoken of his satisfaction at qualifying for the British Under-21 Final.The Stoke and Newcastle rider scored ten points at Kent on Monday, booking him a place at Sheffield next Thursday.Phillips said: “I’m really pleased to have got the job done and qualify for the Final which was my main goal. It was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be but I battled hard and got the points that were required to get through. “The track was a lot slicker than it looked and therefore you needed to get out of the gate to make things easier for yourself, but I’m through to the Final and that’s the most important thing. I will be going to Sheffield to give it my best shot.”
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WEDNESDAY APRIL 6:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Lakeside 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Eastbourne 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Birmingham v Rye House 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 7:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.30VINCE MAPLEY MEMORIAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight 7pm
FRIDAY APRIL 8:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30, Lakeside v Poole 8pmLEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Peterborough v Sheffield 7.30CHALLENGE: Somerset v Isle of Wight 7.30
