East Anglian Individual Championships 1999

At Gt Blakenham 12-9-99

The action got underway with the under-19s and the racing immediatley sprung to life with favourite Oli Martin having to pass Eaton's Darren Slater. Richard Williamson, Shaun Brown and Lee Hulcoop also won their first outings and they joined home rider Martin on the early leader board.
Heat 6 was a close one with Somersham's Barry Copping and Leigh Cossey from Hethersett battling it out. Cossey won in the end but it was Andy Hardy from Kesgrave who nipped in for 2nd on the last lap.
After 2 rides each Martin & Williamson were quickly emerging as the pair to beat. They were on 8, while 5 riders were on 6 points in equal 3rd. Of those only Blakenham's Adam Peck & Slater won their 3rd outings and they kept the pressure on the leaders.
In the 4th set of heats their were no surprises with wins for the leading 4. That meant Martin & Williamson were still unbeaten, and the tension built up as both were due to meet in the last heat.
An exciting Heat 17 decided the 3rd place overall. Peck lead from the start but Slater rounded him on the back straight to make the rostrum, with Hardy almost following him through. Heat 19 was also a thriller. Copping gated well to take the lead but was riding too wide and on the final bend both Hulcoop & Lewis Osborne came under.
The tension mounted as the riders prepared for the last heat decider. Martin had the inside gate but Somersham rider Williamson was confident. They both gated level and elbows clashed but it was Martin who had the line to enter the back straight in front. Wiliamson was close throughout, but despite slipping Martin held on for a deserved win.

O Martin 20, R Williamson 19, D Slater 18, A Peck 17, L Hulcoop 16, L Cossey 14, A Hardy 14, L Osborne 14, B Copping 12, S Brown 11, W Page 10, M Slater 9, C Osborne 6.

The Senior event then took place and the favourite got a morale booster by winning the first heat. Jason Ashford, on his home track, has already won this event 4 times and was clearly the man to beat.
Gary Brown took heat 3 from the back while Peter Williamson won heat 4 to make a promising start for the Somersham riders. This heat also saw Darren Slater fall trying to pass Adam Peck, a move that was to prove crucial in the final tally.
The first big shake up came in heat 6 when Richard Williamson gated and held off Ashford for the 4 laps. A chance perhaps for Brown to capitalise but he made a poor gate in heat 8 and after passing Eaton's Paul Starling, Slater was too far in front.
After 2 rides each Peter Williamson lead with son Richard, Ashford & Brown close behind. However the championship was then thrown wide open in the next set of heats as Starling beat both the Williamsons in a close heat 12, and Ashford beat Brown.
However the Blakenham man suddenly emerged as the favourite again as he beat Lee Hulcoop and the tiring Peter Williamson in heat 14, meaning he only had to win his final race, a relatively easy one, to secure victory. Brown then won a great scrap with Peck after the younger rider slipped meaning Brown needed to win his last ride to guarantee 2nd. This he did despite an early challenge from fast starting Peter Williamson. Ashford then predictably took the trophy next time out but 3rd place overall was still up for grabs. Starling needed a win to force a run-off but it was a great first bend by Peck and he held him off, meaning Richard Williamson claimed 3rd overall.

J Ashford 19, G Brown 18, R Williamson 17, P Starling 16, P Williamson 15, A Peck 15, D Slater 15, L Hulcoop 14, T Ashford 14, L Cossey 12, W Page 10, K Ives 9, S Brown 8.