Frantic racing and top level entertainment at Harbourside Park
Frantic racing and top level entertainment at Harbourside Park
Match Report: 2025 Junior Ade Gale Laurels – Poole Cycle Speedway Club
The 2025 Junior Ade Gale Laurels at Poole Cycle Speedway delivered a thrilling showcase of emerging talent, international flair, and fierce competition, all set against the picturesque backdrop of Poole harbour on Whitsun Weekend.
In a star-studded junior field, eyes were firmly fixed on Kenzie Bennett, the reigning Junior World Champion, and he did not disappoint. Dominant from his opening heat, Bennett delivered a flawless performance, showcasing his signature combination of explosive gate speed, bike craft and calculated aggression in the bends. He amassed a superb total of 20 points taking the Junior Laurels title for a second year running.
Equally impressive was Leon Penketh, the current European Junior Champion. Calm under pressure and ruthlessly efficient on the track, Penketh showed why he’s considered one of the most talented junior riders in the sport. A tactical masterclass in his later heats saw him rack up 18 points, keeping the title battle wide open until the very end.
Luca Woodhouse rode a fantastic competition today, bagging 2 first places on his way to a brilliant 16 points haul. He rides with poise and a maturity way behind his years.
Adding international prestige to the event, Cody Petty jetted in from Australia on Thursday to take part. Despite the jet lag, Petty showed incredible grit and determination throughout the meeting. He finished on a strong 15 points, a commendable effort considering the circumstances and unfamiliarity with the local shale.
Home junior Ted Curtis put in a fine display, with sharp gating and a never give up attitude grabbed 15 points along the way to finish tied 4th with Petty. Another rider finishing on 15 was the mighty JJ Wildman who showed why he is respected as one of Cycle Speedway’s raw talents taking a share of 4th place.
Among the impressive talent, Noah Lyon from Hull caught the eye with some bold fearless racing. His heat win against more experienced rivals underscored his huge potential. Sam Stansfield, representing Edinburgh, notched up a solid tally and ensuring Scotland was well-represented in this fiercely competitive field.
Other notable performances came from home racer Oliver Saunders, Ipswich’s Shaun Kell, Newport’s Harvey Yard, and Wednesfield’s Corey Burt, Southampton’s Sonny Whale each displaying moments of brilliance and adding to the overall spectacle. Birmingham youngster Ethan Lawrence showed plenty of passion and Coventry’s Jude Wilcockson was fast proving he has a bright future.
With an incredibly close top end of the leaderboard, the final races were nothing short of electric. The title was ultimately Bennett’s, with the World Champion edging out his European counterpart Penketh.
Final Standings (Top 3):
🥇 Kenzie Bennett – 20 pts
🥈 Leon Penketh – 18 pts
🥉 Luca Woodhouse – 16 pts
The 2025 Junior Ade Gale Laurels will go down as one of the most exciting editions in recent memory. With such a deep pool of talent and international participation, the future of cycle speedway looks brighter than ever.
Match Report: 2025 Veteran Ade Gale Laurels & Richard Clanfield Cup – Poole Cycle Speedway Club
The 2025 edition of the Veteran Ade Gale Laurels, was a spectacular afternoon of racing, camaraderie, and competitive grit also proudly incorporated the Richard Clanfield Cup, awarded to the top-performing rider aged over 50 – a fitting tribute to a respected names in the sport.
A warm but blustery afternoon didn’t deter a strong turnout of riders and supporters, as a field of seasoned campaigners took to the track. The racing was tight, tactical, and at times fiercely contested, proving that experience and racecraft can rival youthful energy any day of the week.
Lee Aris delivered a masterclass across his heats, clocking up a consistent stream of wins to top the standings with 19 points dropping his only point to a gate infringement. His ability to read the race, protect his line, and capitalise on mistakes made the difference – and saw him lift the 2025 Veteran Ade Gale Laurels title.
Hot on his heels was Mark Winwood, who finished with 17 points. A long-time campaigner, Winwood showed he still has the sharpness and strength to mix it at the front, pushing Aris all the way with some thrilling overtakes and tactical nous. Not only did Mark come second overall he also took the Over 50’s Title and the Richard Clanfield Cup.
Gavin Wheeler the current Veteran World Champion and Lukas Nowacki finished the heats level on 16 points each meaning a runoff for 3rd place overall. Wheeler getting the better of his Polish counterpart to take the final spot on the podium.
Other strong performances came from Steve Paver and Craig Marchant saw them take the other two podium places in the Over-50’s. Mark Whitehead and Pooles Kevin Marshallsay scored well and finished not far off the podium places. Poole’s Alan Nation and Aaron Laing also scored well with Chris Ward, Jason Ashford and Andrew Yard all of whom showcased why veterans racing continues to be one of the most entertaining spectacles in the sport. While some riders had to contend with mechanical issues or the odd fall, the spirit of competition remained high throughout.
🥇 Lee Aris -19 pts
🥈 Mark Winwood –17 pts
🥉 Gavin Wheeler – 16 pts
🏆 Richard Clanfield Cup (Over-50 Winner): Mark Winwood – 17 pts
🥈 Richard Clanfield Cup (Over-50 2nd): Mark Winwood – 17 pts
🥉 Richard Clanfield Cup (Over-50 3rd): Craig Marchant
With clean, fair racing and great sportsmanship all round, the event was a fine tribute to both Ade Gale and Richard Clanfield – two names synonymous with the heart and soul of cycle speedway.
Poole Cycle Speedway Club once again showed why it’s the perfect stage for top-tier veterans racing. The legacy lives on – and judging by the quality on display, it’s only getting stronger.
Poole CSC would like to thank meeting sponsor Yeatmans of Parkstone for thier support of the Laurels and to our amzing club sponsor Fantasy Floors for their incredible help.
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The 2025 Laurels continues today (Sunday 25th) with the Women’s event (1pm) and then the big one, the Senior Laurels (3pm)
