REPORT: Oxford Chargers battle at Buxton, despite being reduced to four riders in tough contest

REAL MINI COMPANY Oxford Chargers lost out by 38-51 in an incident-packed meeting in the WSRA National League at Buxton yesterday afternoon (Sunday), finishing the meeting with just four riders.

16-year-old Harry Fletcher – who has been so impressive for Chargers this season – pulled out of the meeting with a knee injury, following an eventful Heat 5. Fletcher was twice brought down on the first turn, after clashes with Buxton’s Luke Harris. In the third attempt to hold the race, Fletcher was third, when he took a heavy tumble. He subsequently withdrew and was due to visit the hospital for a check-up. He was still hobbling on his knee following the meeting.

15-year-old Emerson Betty also withdrew from the meeting for Chargers. Betty – riding as an unattached rider in place of the retired Mason Watson – took an impressive second place in Heat 2. But he suffered two falls in his subsequent two outings. He took a knock to his hand, but he will be okay.

Chargers were able to use injury rider replacement for Fletcher, but were still at full stretch and remaining reserve Max Broadhurst was given the full seven outings.

Buxton Bulls took the lead in Heat 3 and led throughout the rest of the meeting.

Chargers’ skipper Jody Scott scored 13 points and only dropped points to Buxton No 1 Alfie Bowtell. In Heat 13, Scott came through in spectacular style to pass both Bowtell and Buxton guest Ben Whalley and inflict the only defeat of the afternoon on Bowtell.

Scott also posted a time of just 0.14 outside the track record while winning Heat 11.

Ashton Vale scored solidly for 11 points, concluding his afternoon by passing former Charger Arran Butcher in Heat 14.

Darryl Ritchings was in the thick of the action with 9+2 and arguably deserved much more. Ritchings was out in front when he reared violently in Heat 6. He somehow regained control, lost the lead to Bowtell, but then re-caught Bowtell and pushed him all the way to the line.

Ritchings suffered an exclusion for the first bend fall in Heat 10, after a nudge from Jack Roberts. Every other first bend incident resulted in all four back, and furthermore Roberts could be overheard apologising to Ritchings for his part in the incident , but the referee stood firm. Buxton were also left questioning at least one decision during the afternoon.

Incidentally, Roberts was hugely impressive at reserve for Bulls and scored 14+2. 

Chargers’ manager Peter Schroeck said: “It was a hard shift for the lads. Buxton couldn’t get hold of enough water for the track today and it was very dry and dusty.

“Buxton have been riding here every week and there’s good facilities here for practicing, so I’m proud of the way our boys got stuck in and made a match of it.

“We hung in, and we all came out of it in piece except for young Harry, who took a big knock to his knee and was in pain. Hopefully he hasn’t damaged the ligaments. But he’s going to the hospital for a check-up, so we’ll know more after that.

“For Emerson, it was his first competitive meeting like this in the WSRA National League. He’s just come from Italy, where he was riding some very different large tracks around there. He showed his promise, but this is a very tight track. After a couple of falls, he’d taken a bash to his hand. After that, it was sensible for him not to go out again, so we used Max instead.

“It was a tough track to handle for the less experienced lads, but okay for Jody, Darryl and Ashton, who all showed what they can do. The decision to exclude Darryl was a poor one. It was a trainee referee today, he’s normally good, but there was a lot going on out there.

“Overall, I can’t complain. We got stuck in and did our best and the boys will have certainly learnt from a meeting like this one, which is what this league is all about.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium is on Wednesday (August 5) at 7.30pm, when SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs take on league leaders Scunthorpe Scorpions in Cab Direct Championship action. Tickets are already on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Buxton Bulls 51: Alfie Bowtell 14, Jack Shimelt 1, Luke Harris 10, Arran Butcher 3+1, Ben Whalley 8, Will Boraston 1, Jack Roberts 14+2.

Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers 38: Jody Scott 13, Senna Summers R/R, Harry Fletcher 0, Ashton Vale 11, Darryl Ritchings 9+2, Emerson Betty 2, Max Broadhurst 3+2.

PHOTO by Steve Edmunds