Heathersfield Golden Helmet 2010

Greg Blair receives the 2010 Golden Helmet from 2007 & 2009 winner Gary Beaton.


A decent enough meeting all told, given the grubby weather and overall feeling of winding down at the end of another disappointing season. Gary Irving and Patrick Tarp were the top men over the heats, with the slow starting Greg Blair and James McBain making the last four via the semi-final. Blair roared out of the gate in the final with Irving never really getting close to him and James McBain trailing in third. Tarp's bike failed on the 1st bend. Congratulations to Greg, who knuckled down after a poor start and scored the points when it counted.

Special mentions go to Steven Morris, who looks faster than ever and maybe just needs to get his starts nailed. Sixteen year old Rachel Hellowell also rode pretty well, considering she didn't look entirely at home in the condidtions, as well as having some mechanical gremlins. Her race with Steven Morris for a few laps in heat 10 showed what she's capable of. Dale Lamb took a few races to get going in what looks to be a gentle easing back into the sport after a horrible pelvic injury last year.

Glasgow's first signing for 2011......??

Patrick Tarp

John MacPhaill loses it out of the 4th bend. He was a little sore, but needed no hospital treatment.

Dale Lamb, with Stephen Morris chasing in the background

Dale Lamb, Rachel Hellowell and Gary Irving

James McBain

Dale Lamb

Gary Irving

Stephen Morris

Greg Blair

Greg Blair & John MacPhail after a small get off.
Adam Kenyon, in the process of dropping it at the 3rd bend

Eventual winner Greg Blair during the parade.

Heathersfield Golden Helmet: Victory Lap

Gary Beaton wears the Golden Helmet for the 2nd time. A fine return after a half season lay-off in which he was rarely seen in 2nd half racing. Hope he can get a team sorted for next season, as he's undoubtedly good enough for the National League, or a PL reserve spot.

Heathersfield Golden Helmet Final

Gary Beaton gets the gate from Tamas Sike. Sike challenged for a few laps before dropping back and finally being mugged on the line by Kyle Howarth. Adam Wrathall brings up the rear. All four riders would have been deserving winners going on their scores, but Gary was more than deserving of the victory, after playing the percentages and calmly working his way to the final. I was very impressed with Howarth who was unbeaten until the final on a track he had never seen. Wrathall was another newcomer who showed very well.

Heathersfield Golden Helmet Heat 12

Tamas Sike books his place in the final with a win from Adam Wrathall. James Cartmell takes third and Stephen Morris fourth.

Heathersfield Golden Helmet Heat 7

Adam Wrathall heads off with the points whilst John McPhail overhauls James McBain for 2nd.

Heathersfield Golden Helmet Heat 2

Mike Pickering gets left at the line as Kyle Howarth & Adam Wrathall battle it out for the heat win, with Keiron Morris coming in a distant third.