Blair Scott faced a tough task in the British Under-21 Semi-final at Newport on Saturday. He was tied with former teammate James Birkenshaw on ten points after the qualifying heats but won though after a runoff.
1 - Adam Allott (Sheffield)
2 - Andrew Appleton (Newport)
3 - Phil Ambrose (Arena Essex)
4 - James Birkenshaw (Sheffield)
5 - Mark Blackwell (Mildenhall)
6 - Barry Campbell (Workington)
7 - Aiden Collins (Glasgow)
8 - Scott Courtney (Glasgow)
9 - Jitendra Duffill (Mildenhall)
10 - Graig Gough (Newport)
11 - Steven Jones (Newcastle)
12 - Robert McNeil (Linlithgow)
13 - Chris Neath (Newport)
14 - Blair Scott (Edinburgh)
15 - Dave Osborne (Ipswich)
16 - Steven McAllister (Berwick)
Former Monarchs Barry Campbell and Steven Jones did not show up for the event along with Phil Ambrose and the injured Scott Courtney. Their places were take by Paul Lee and James Birkenshaw (both Sheffield) plus home riders Darren Hatton and Lee Hearne.
The winner was Paul Lee with a 15 point maximum ahead of home stars Andrew Appleton and Chris Neath.
|
Paul Lee |
Sheffield |
15 |
|
Andrew Appleton |
Newport |
13 |
|
Chris Neath |
Newport |
13 |
|
Aiden Collins |
Glasgow |
11 |
|
Blair Scott |
Edinburgh |
10 |
|
James Birkenshaw |
Sheffield |
10 |
|
Steven McAllister |
Berwick |
9 |
|
Adam Allott |
Sheffield |
8 |
|
Lee Hearne |
Newport |
7 |
|
Graig Gough |
Newport |
6 |
|
Mark Blackwell |
Mildenhall |
6 |
|
David Osbourne |
Ipswich |
4 |
|
Gary Flint (Reserve) |
Linlithgow |
3 |
|
Robert McNeil |
Linlithgow |
2 |
|
Darren Hatton |
Newport |
2 |
|
Jitendra Duffill |
Mildenhall |
0 |
The five qualifiers: Paul Lee, Andrew Appleton, Chris Neath, Aiden Collins, and Blair Scott join six seeded riders and five qualifiers from the second Semi-final at the Isle of Wight for the Final at Armadale in three weeks time. James Birkenshaw and the sixth place rider from the Isle of Wight event will be reserves for the meeting.
The seeded riders are World Under-21 Champion Lee Richardson (Coventry), David Howe (Peterborough), Simon Stead (Sheffield), Ross Brady (Edinburgh), Danny Bird (Isle of Wight) and Grant MacDonald (Newcastle). There has been no confirmation if Richardson intends to contest the event.
Blair Scott has qualified for the Under-21 Final for three years in a row. He went through from the Berwick semi-final in 1998 and won the Workington semi-final with a 15-point maximum last year. He 'qualified' for the continental quarter-final in 1998 only to have the place taken away from him when the England Under-21 manager put in Leigh Lanham, who was injured in the British final, ahead of Blair.
Ross Brady was awarded a 'wild card' place for the Final at Peterborough last year but failed to progress. While both Blair and Ross have one more year in the Under-21 Championship, this year probably represents the best chance that either will have especially if Richardson decides not to compete.
Heat details plus a report will appear here when available.