REPORT: Oxford Chargers are WSRA National League Champions!
REAL MINI COMPANY Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs clinched the WSRA National League title with an incredible 60-30 away win against the Middlesbrough Tigers at Redcar’s ECCO Arena yesterday afternoon (Saturday). It is the second NL title in three seasons for Chargers, following on from a previous success in 2023.
The hugely impressive victory – in their final fixture of the season – left Chargers out of range of both Edinburgh Monarchs Academy and defending champions Leicester Lion Cubs. It was the first time that any of three Oxford sides had scored 60 points in an away fixture since speedway returned to the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium at the start of 2022.
Determined Chargers meant business from off. Neither Jacob Clouting nor skipper Jody Scott trapped in Heat 1, but Clouting pushed his way to the front and was followed by Scott. By the halfway stage of the second lap, they held a 5-1. Middlesbrough skipper Ace Pijper dived under Clouting on the third bend of lap three, making contact and Clouting thudded into the air fence. He was okay, while Pijper was excluded and the race was awarded as a 5-1 to Chargers.
Chargers simply powered away and led by 23-7 after five successive heat advantages in the opening five races, including further 5-1s by Senna Summers and Ashton Vale in Heat 3 and Scott and Clouting in Heat 5.
Oxford were in touching distance of the league championship when Darryl Ritchings and Arran Butcher posted a further 5-1 in Heat 9, moving the scoreline to 38-16.
Appropriately, it was skipper Scott who clinched the WSRA National League title in Heat 11. He raced around Tom Spencer on the second bend and then pulled away, and the 4-2 with Clouting took the scoreline to 45-21 with just four races remaining.
Tigers threatened to finish the meeting with a consolation 5-1 in Heat 15. But Ritchings – who had scored a number of points from behind – passed Spencer with a lap remaining to make sure Chargers reached the 60-point-mark.
Ritchings – who missed a top international meeting in the Netherlands to ride for Chargers – top-scored on 11+1. Scott (11), Summers (11) and Butcher (8+3) all dropped just a single point to Ace Pijper.
Clouting and Vale (both 7+2) were both involved in two 5-1s for Chargers, while Harry Fletcher was again an impressive guest for the injured Max Broadhurst and scored 5+2. Incidentally, Broadhurst made the long journey to Teesside to support his team-mates – just as he had done at Edinburgh the previous week.
Skipper Jody Scott said: “It’s been a long season, but an absolutely fantastic one for the Chargers. The goal at the start of the season was to win the WSRA National League and take the silverware and we’ve all made it happen. I couldn’t be more proud of the boys.
“It was a great team performance today. There were no complaints; we just got stuck in. The track was prepared really well and the boys got used to it quickly.
“When I won my third ride, I saw everyone standing by the air fence on the victory lap and realised that we were league champions. We won it previously in 2023. It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve done it again.
“I started with the Chargers at 15 years old. I’m now 18 and I’ve been captain and No 1 this season. Oxford Speedway has shown it does work when you let the riders progress up the team and that’s what this league is about.”
The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by AW Mobbs host Redcar Bears in the second leg of their semi-final of the MAXiCab Knockout Cup today (Sunday). Please note the start-time of 5pm. Cheetahs are just six points down from the first leg, and the aggregate winners meet the Poole Pirates in the final. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Middlesbrough Tigers 30: Ace Pijper 12, Elliot Kelly 4, Stene Pijper 3, Mason Watson 2, Tom Spencer 7, Liam Greens 0, Kieran Douglas 2.
Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs 60: Jody Scott 11, Jacob Clouting 7+2, Senna Summers 11, Ashton Vale 7+2, Darryl Ritchings 11+1, Arran Butcher 8+3, Harry Fletcher 5+2.
PHOTO: The league champions – Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs. Back row: Senna Summers, Darryl Ritchings, Ashton Vale, Jody Scott (skipper), Arran Butcher and Peter Schroeck (team manager). Front row: Jacob Clouting, Harry Fletcher and Max Broadhurst (photo courtesy of Colin Poole – official track photographer for Redcar Speedway)