REPORT: Chargers off to a winning start

REAL MINI COMPANY Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs commenced their season with a hard-fought 48-42 victory over the Middlesbrough Tigers in the WSRA National League at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium yesterday afternoon (Sunday).

Chargers led throughout, after a 5-1 from Jacob Clouting and skipper Jody Scott in Heat 1. Scott was dumped on the track on the first bend by the erratic Tom Spencer – who later fell in both his third and fourth outings – but Scott passed Spencer on the fourth bend of the re-run. Race-leader Cooper Rushen suffered an engine failure at the midway stage of the race allowing Clouting and Scott through – the only points dropped by 15-year-old Rushen all afternoon, who looks a fine prospect for British Speedway.

With Tigers boosted by the inclusion of guest rider Rushen – in place of the injured Jamie Halder – the visitors were never far away all afternoon and they were only four points behind entering Heat 13. Scott trapped, while new signing Darryl Ritchings roared around the outside of both Danny Phillips and Spencer on the third and fourth bends to join Scott for a 5-1 that put Chargers in sight of the winning post.

Victory was clinched with a 4-2 in Heat 14. Ashton Vale took charge of the race after rounding Stene Pijper on the second bend. Meanwhile, Max Broadhurst – another new face for Chargers – fell on the third lap, but he quickly remounted and that gained him a point after Kai Ward shed a chain on the final lap and lost third place.

Tigers took a consolation 5-1 from Ace Pijper and Rushen in Heat 15, after the impressive Rushen charged around the outside from fourth to first early on.

While conditions were a little dusty on a hot and windy afternoon, the track provided overtaking right until the end of the meeting.

Scott dropped his only points in Heat 15 and scored 11+1, while Ritchings collected 10+2. Vale won his concluding two outings and scored nine.

Senna Summers won his opening two outings on his way to eight points – he won Heat 2, despite having a broken seat for almost the entire race, and he defeated the experienced Phillips when positing a 5-1 with Ritchings in Heat 4.

Clouting collected two early 5-1s with Scott, but he was caught out when he clipped the back of the flying Rushen in Heat 8, while Rushen was in full lock. Clouting took a nasty tumble, but he was okay and was back out in Heat 10.

Darryl Ritchings has returned in 2025, after an eight-year gap from British Speedway. The 30-year-old previously rode from 2010 to 2017.

Ritchings said: “I’m pretty delighted to score 10+2. It could have been even better, but it’s a learning curve.

“I enjoyed Heat 13, when I went around the outside of both of their riders to join Jody for a 5-1. That one was rolling back the years. For the afternoon meetings around here, the track is going to be quite slick, but it’s about learning how to ride it. By going around them, I showed what I had learned during the afternoon.

“Even for the boys who had ridden for Chargers around here last season, bike time is still all important, especially if they’ve got a new engine. It’s all about adapting and so it was good that combined and took the win as a team today.

“I’ve come back to speedway after eight years away. I’ve sacrificed so much over the last year. And not just me – the whole family, my wife, my kids, my dad, my brothers. I’ve trained so hard over the last year, and to receive the Rider Of The Afternoon was very special and it makes it all worthwhile.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies take on Plymouth Gladiators in the BSN Series on Wednesday (April 30) at 7.30pm. After Poole lost at Plymouth on Saturday, Cheetahs would go back to the top of the Southern group with a victory. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs 48: Jody Scott 11+1, Jacob Clouting 6+1, Arran Butcher 2, Ashton Vale 9, Darryl Ritchings 10+2, Max Broadhurst 2+1, Senna Summers 8.

Middlesbrough Tigers 42: Tom Spencer 3+1, Cooper Rushen 12, Ace Pijper 12+1, Stene Pijper 4+1, Danny Phillips 4, Ben Rathbone 2+1, Kai Ward 5+1.

PHOTO: Darryl Ritchings leading Ace Pijper, Max Broadhurst and Steve Pijper in Heat 7 (pic: Ian Wagstaff)