ASTLEY & Tyldesley Cycle Speedway Club are the 2018 North and Scotland League Division One champions!

A&T raced at Sheffield on Sunday, with half of the regular riders missing from each of the three teams mainly to holidays.

Despite this, A&T’s strength in depth saw wins in both the Division One and Three matches, and the Division Two match fulfilled without conceding penalty points.

A&T had to dig deep against a full-strength Sheffield team, by turning in a professional and disciplined performance to win the Division One match.

It was close early on, but after the Idziorek/ Phillips pair banged in a 7-3 maximum heat win, to put A&T in front, the lead was never subsequently surrendered.

This left A&T to run out 93-87 winners. With Stockport losing at Hull, this means that A&T are champions for the second successive season.

Pawel Idziorek rode to a superb 24 points maximum score for A&T with solid scores from the rest of the team.

A&T scorers: Pawel Idziorek 24, Steve Harris 19 (plus 1 bonus), Adam Phillips 16 (1), Ciaran Collins 15 (2), Paul Graham 11 (2), Mick Knowles 7 (2), Emily Burgess 1.

Sheffield ran out easy winners in the Division Two match, 81-68, to move level on match points with league champions and league leaders A&T.

Mick Knowles top scored for A&T, losing only once.

A&T scorers: Mick Knowles 18 (1), Tom Morrissey 12 (1), Emily Burgess 12, Charlie Burgess 10 (1), Duncan Whalley 8 (2), Lewis Skitterall 8 (1).

A&T maintained their 100 percent record in Division Three, with a convincing 82-30 win.

Duncan Whalley and Aiden Green joint top scored in the under 10s match, losing once to each other.

Tom Morrissey top scored in the under 13s match, losing once to James Morris.

A&T scorers: Duncan Whalley 15, Aiden Green 15, Tom Morrissey 15, Lewis Skitterall 10, Freddie Cox 10, Charlie Burgess 10, Ada Cox 7.

Meanwhile, members of A&T travelled to Poland for the European Championships weekend at Czestochowa and Poczesna.

Ciaran Collins was eliminated from the junior individuals at the semi-final stage at Poczesna, while Mick Knowles exited the veterans individuals at the qualifier stage at Czestochowa.

In the veterans final at Poczesna, Paul Graham scored 9 points, to finish 12th, whilst Steve Harris scored 16, to finish fifth overall after coming third in a three-man race-off for third place.

In the women’s final at Poczesna, Emily Burgess was the youngest rider in the field.

She started off with two wins, but a last-bend fall whilst leading her third ride put paid to her title hopes and she finished seventh, after scoring 14 points.

In the senior individuals, Mick Knowles went out from his qualifier, whilst Steve Harris was eliminated at the repechage stage at Czestochowa.

Tomasz Wlodarczyk reached the semi-finals, but was forced out midway due to a broken foot.

Kamil Bielica rode brilliantly throughout the rounds, to reach

the senior final, where he scored 14 points and finished in sixth place.

Emily Burgess was selected to race for the England team in the European Junior Nations Cup at Czestochowa and she put in a typically spirited performance to score nine points, plus one bonus.

She was the youngest rider and only female in the match.

England finished in second place, behind Poland, but ahead of Wales Select.

Ciaran Collins raced for Ireland in the European Nations Cup at Czestochowa and he rode brilliantly throughout, on the pace with Europe’s top racers.

Ciaran top scored for Ireland, with seven points, as they finished fourth, behind Poland, England and Wales respectively.