It’s all hail the Vale as Oxford speedway youngster Ashton Vale became the first rider since Andy Phillips back in 1988 to win an ACU British Grasstrack Championship double title. At Shipley, West Sussex on Sunday, Ashton not only retained his 250cc solo crown but also added a 350cc title to his roll of honour! There was also 1,000cc left-hand sidecars going for ACU British Championship glory, and in that class the 2024 title winners Danny Hill/Callum Ray were at it again by scoring a 2026 title success.
Words and Images by Mike Wood
In a super meeting promoted by the GTSA Racing club, let’s start with the 250cc solo action. In that one, Ashton Vale and Luke Harris both started very strongly by reeling off a hat-trick of impressive heat wins apiece. The only other rider to score a victory in the qualifying heats was the 2025 3rd place finisher Simon Hammersley, whilst Luke Wicks, Ben Ilsley, Dan Miller and Thomas Vinning all picked up the required points to qualify for the big winner-takes-all final. Ilsley’s qualification was particularly impressive as he only came into the meeting as a late reserve replacement for Ollie Binns, who had British Speedway Under-21 final commitments. For young Huthwaite, though, the route to the final was not quite so straightforward when his handlebars snapped during his final heat when disputing the race leadership! That meant that he only just about scored enough points to thus secure a last-race qualifying place!
So, to the final and defending Champion Ashton Vale led the pack into turn one and then resisted a big outside challenge from Luke Harris who was equally very quick out the gate! As the race progressed and settled down, it was Vale all the way from the hard-charging Harris as Huthwaite and Hammersley locked horns in a super tussle for 3rd. Unfortunately, though Hammersley was to later fall and despite quickly remounting had to settle for 8th. So as Huthwaite in 3rd joined winner Vale and Harris on the podium, Wicks worked very hard to get home in 4th ahead of Ilsley, Miller and Vinning.
In the 350cc class, Paul Cooper, celebrating his 44th birthday, was aiming to score his sixth ACU title, and he certainly started his quest in style! Cooperman won all four of his heats to guarantee first gate pick in the final. Cameron Taylor (3) and Jack Roberts also scored heat wins as Ashton Vale, Dave Mears, Jamie Fenn-Smith, Tim Curnock and Karl Miles all qualified for the big one!
And, what a stunning final it was to be as Cooper was quickest away with Mears also making a great start, challenging for the lead with an audacious big, brave outside blast on turn one! With Cooper resisting the challenge of Mears and remaining in control, Mears was initially battling with Roberts for 2nd as Vale, who had gated in 4th, moved through to thus join the party! Quickly the tussle for supremacy at the front became a thrilling three-way battle with Cooper being reeled in by both Roberts and Vale. Going right at it and fully committed, three abreast, the race for the 350cc crown entered its final lap but then in one big dramatic moment the picture totally changed as Cooper the defending Champion fell. Meanwhile, having been just behind the front three and waiting to pounce, Taylor cleverly took advantage of the moment to slip brilliantly past Roberts and up into 2nd as Vale raced onto a historic double title win! So, on the podium it was Vale the 350cc Champion from Taylor and Roberts with Mears, Fenn-Smith, Curnock, Miles and the remounted Cooper next up.
Having won their first three heats in the 1,000cc Left-Hand sidecar Championship contest, Danny Hill/Callum Ray were pushed back to 3rd in their last qualifier behind Will Penfold/Adrian North and Josh Penfold/Dan Woodbridge. In the final, though, Hill was the boss over Will Penfold. Taking 3rd on the podium was Joe Holland/Jordan Holland, who had claimed the last qualifying place for the all-important final. Holland finished ahead of defending Champion Rob Heath, who had Sam Heath in the chair, Michael Phillips/Conor Measor and Josh Penfold. So, this super title win for Hill now means that he’s won two crowns in the ACU 1,000cc left-hand chairs.
Providing some stunning support action, Mark Cossar won the Steer Trophy for the 11th time with victory in the 1,000cc Right-Hand sidecar contest. Having Carl Blyth in the chair, Cossar won all three of his qualifying heats. Terry Saunters/Liam Brown (2) and Neal Owen/Jason Farwell also scored victories to help them safely qualify for the final. In the heats, Dale Fish/Jordan Fish, Simon Beaney/Brook Fowler and John Hand/Adrian North also performed strongly to make it into the decider. The final, though, saw the immaculate Cossar go through the card and earn top honours as Saunters and Owen joined him on the podium.
Completing the programme was a Quad class as Colin Strudwick topped the final qualifiers courtesy of his three heat wins. In the decider, though, it was Dillon Stepney grabbing the win as Strudwick had to settle for 2nd, joined on the podium by Lewis Strudwick.
Well done again to GTSA Racing Club on their promotion of an exciting 2026 ACU British Grasstrack championship event.
Results
250cc ACU British Championship
Final 1 Ashton Vale 2 Luke Harris 3 Dylan Huthwaite 4 Luke Wicks 5 Ben Ilsley 6 Dan Miller 7 Thomas Vining 8 Simon Hammersley.
Other scorers 9 Austin Riches 17 points 10 Ben Phillips 14 11 Liam Cox 11 12 Russell Little 10 13 Adam Hawker 10 14 Jake Breeze 8 15 Max Derrick 5 16 Shane Knight 3.
350cc ACU British Championship
Final 1 Ashton Vale 2 Cameron Taylor 3 Jack Roberts 4 Dave Mears 5 Jamie Fenn-Smith 6 Tim Curnock 7 Karl Miles 8 Paul Cooper.
Other scorers 9 Liam Ashcroft 15 points 10 Max Broadhurst 15 11 Chris Brook 14 12 Charlie Wood and Luke Clifton 10 14 Will Thurlby 10 15 George Pardoe 8 16 Marcus Crutchington 5.
1,000cc ACU Left-Hand sidecar Championship
Final 1 Danny Hill/Callum Ray 2 Will Penfold/ Adrian North 3 Joe Holland/Jordan Holland 4 Rob Heath/Sam Heath 5 Michael Phillips/Conor Measor 6 Josh Penfold/Dan Woodbridge
Other points scorers 7 Tony Penfold/Karl Beddingfield.
1,000cc Right-Hand sidecar support class for the Steer Trophy
Final 1 Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth 2 Terry Saunters/Liam Brown 3 Neal Owen/Jason Farwell 4 Dale Fish/Jordan Fish 5 Simon Beaney/Brook Fowler 6 John Hand/Adrian North
Other scorers 7 Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb 10 points 8 Billy Winterburn/Conor Measor 10 9 Clint Blondel/Lewis Davies 8 10 Stef Blyth/Morgan Blyth 5.
Quads Support
Final 1 Dillon Stepney 2 Colin Strudwick 3 Lewis Strudwick 4 James Walker 5 Mark Stepney 6 Bruce Stocker. Other scorers 7 Alex Reed 4 points 8 Sam Habgood 3.
