Great racing, a fabulous track and first-class presentation, that’s the story behind a simply superb 2025 Summer Trophy event on Sunday hosted by the Dalton Grasstrack Club. Starting with that track and what an absolute gem of a venue, Sheencroft Farm, Blewbury looks to be! Not only did Michael Austin and his crew set out a big, fast oval, but they also prepped it professionally to perfection, even having some extra pre-event assistance from that natural watering source, rain! So, the scene was set, a big crowd was in attendance, and it was time for action!
Report and Images by Mike Wood
Having always promoted and encouraged the young stars of tomorrow at every opportunity, it was great to see the Dalton Club again catering for Youth classes. First up was the Autos/Cadets, and in that one, there was no stopping Albie South, who stormed to four classy heat wins. In the first three encounters, Dakota Wright chased Albie home, but Dakota was then a non-starter in the last clash. So, that saw Alfie Mudgway take the Cadets’ overall runners-up spot with Dakota 3rd and Leo Mudgway 4th. Making it a podium pie day for the Wright family, Dakota’s brother Dalton topped the Auto’s score chart on his little GasGas machine. In all four heats, Dalton led home Levi Collins, Lilly Bence and Savannah Polden.

What a battle there was to be for top slot in the Juniors class on Sunday as Rex Austin and Archie Whitelam really went at it! In the first two heats, fast-starting Austin led the charge for the entire duration despite close attention from Whitelam as Brayden Blyth and Harry Little were next up. Heat three and Austin again got away first, but this time Whitelam reeled him in before making a great pass to snatch the win. So that result meant that the Juniors class would go down to a last heat decider for the right to take home the overall first place trophy, and just like their third meeting, Austin led before Whitelam made the crucial pass, great stuff! With 44 points apiece, Whitelam’s last race victory meant that he earned the top podium step from Austin with Blyth, Little, Daisy Torres and AJ Bence next up. Spare a thought in this class for Luton-James McAlinney, forced out of heat one due to mechanical issues, he was then only able to compete in his last ride of the day!

READ MORE: GRASSTRACK NEWS
Kane Newby won the first, very competitive Intermediates heat at the Summer Trophy before the stylish Archie Rolph took control of proceedings by winning the next three heats. Newby, though, was a constant threat, and he had again led the final heat before both Rolph and Binns made a pass. The day had not started well for Binns, who stopped in heat one, but after that frustrating blip, he then chased Rolph home in all three of his remaining rides. In the overall standings, Rolph topped the podium, joined by Newby and Binns.

There was certainly no stopping Oxford speedway youngster Ashton Vale in the 250cc class as he stormed to four perfect heat wins. With Vale in classy control of proceedings, there was, though, a fierce battle raging for the remaining podium places. Luke Wicks, Ben Phillips (2) and Austin Riches took turns to chase Vale home. In the final reckonings, though, it was Riches who was to be the overall runner-up. Throughout the event, Austin had certainly earned his points the hard way, coming through traffic as Wicks, who had initially started the day as reserve, then took his unexpected opportunity with both hands and finished it in style with a well-deserved 3rd place overall.

Racing for the David Durham Memorial Trophy, the 500cc solo class started with a couple of dramatic incidents! In the very first heat, it was a battle of the Oxford speedway boys as Arran Butcher led from Darryl Ritchings. Just when it appeared that Butcher had the win in the bag, he picked up a late puncture, which slowed him down, allowing Ritchings through. Then in heat two, late entry Chad Wirtzfeld slipped off, and although the following Charlie Wood brilliantly laid his bike down in an attempt to avoid his rival, Chad was to suffer a broken upper arm! Taking the win in the rerun of that one was Mickie Simpson, but he certainly had to work very hard and get the better of fast-starting Jordan Derrick.

Indeed, Derrick then pushed Simpson to the limits in their second meeting, leading all the way until the final turn before slipping off! As Simpson then went on to earn maximum points and final qualification, Butcher with a couple of heat wins, Ritchings, Jack Roberts, Derrick and Cameron Taylor also booked direct progress to the last race. The above lads were then joined by the ‘B’ final top two finishers, Jade Mudgway and Kai Ward. In the main final, Taylor was quickest away, but Butcher, enjoying his most productive performance on the grass this season, quickly found a way through. As Butcher controlled from the front, the main battle was a fierce three-way tussle for the runners-up spot, with both Simpson and Ritchings inserting heavy pressure on Taylor. Trying just about every line possible, Simpson and Ritchings were climbing all over Taylor but had to wait until the final turn to eventually make a pass stick, so it was a finishing order of Butcher, Simpson, Ritchings, Taylor, Mudgway, Roberts, Ward and Derrick. After lifting the David Durham trophy, Butcher was quickly hitting the road on his way to a Monday grasstrack event in Standskanaal in Holland!

This new Dalton club venue looked ready-made for some great 1,000cc sidecar action, and that’s the way it proved to be as it produced an absolute thriller! In just the second heat of the day there was to be a classic as Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth made a breathtaking inside pass on rival and leader Terry Saunters/Liam Brown. Looking to get back to winning ways in his next one, Saunters then picked up a rear wheel puncture whilst leading! Indeed, Saunters’ only victory was to come in his semi-final heat, which crucially proved to be just enough to get him into the big finale. In the qualifying heats, Matt Fumarola/Andy Wilson (2), Michael Austin/Wayne Rickards (2), Will Offen/Ricky Pay and Dale Fish/Jordan Fish all picked up race wins.

With points accumulated in both the heats and semis deciding the eventual final line-up, the intensity was now rising as the 1,000cc crews went for glory. In what was an exceedingly strong first semi-final, Cossar was first past the post whilst in a frantic race to the line, Fumarola made a stunning pass on Robbie Simmonds/Frankie Courtney, thus in the process denying Battle of Britain winner Simmonds a final place. As mentioned, Saunters won semi-final two ahead of Austin and Simon Beaney/Brook Fowler.

With the club having already received an anonymous donation of £800 for the winner of the sidecar final, that prize fund was then topped up to an incredible £1,000 by further kind donations. So, with both that lovely money and the Chris Townsend Memorial Trophy on offer, this final was always going to be red hot! Unfortunately for Dalton Chairman Austin, his victory chances were quickly extinguished after finding a little too much grip and lifting off the start. Powering away at the front, though, was Saunters, but Cossar was right on his tail. For most of the contest, Saunters looked in control, but once again the multi–British Masters Champion pulled off a big inside pass. Briefly, as the riders entered their final lap, Saunters again edged in front, but Cossar on the outside line had the drive to respond, regain the advantage and take the win. There was an equally stunning battle going on behind the front two as Fumarola eventually confirmed a strong 3rd place just ahead of a rip-roaring tussle between 4th place finisher Offen and Fish. What a classic it was!

Completing the Dalton programme was the Old and New Sidecars, and it was Mark Courtney/Leon Torres all the way, winning his three heats and the final. Dean Kitchker/Liam Kitchker had looked to be the main threat to Courtne,y but an engine failure in their final heat was to stop their progress. So, although they had encountered a rather steady start to proceedings, young Luca Whitelam/Michael Day finished strongly with a heat win and a runners-up spot in the final. Taking the last podium step was Brian Hatch/Lewis Wharton with Marianne Walford/Barbara Springall in 4th.
Massive well done to the Dalton Grasstrack Club on what was a fantastic event, and let’s hope that this cracking venue will be on the racing calendar for many years to come!

Results
Autos sponsored by R.G Motors: 1 Dalton Wright 48 points 2 Levi Collins 40 3 Lilly Bence 32 4 Savannah Polden 28.
Cadets sponsored by R.G Motors: 1 Albie South 48 points 2 Alfie Mudgway 32 3 Dakota Wright 30 4 Leo Mudgway 16.
Juniors sponsored by RTS Racing products: 1 Archie Whitelam 44 points 2 Rex Austin 44 points 3 Brayden Blyth 31 4 Harry Little 27 5 Daisy Torres 19 6 AJ Bence 12 7 Caelan Ratcliffe 11 8 Luton-James McAlinney 8.
Intermediates sponsored by Standlake Vehicle Services: 1 Archie Rolph 46 points 2 Kane Newby 38 3 Ollie Binns 28 4 Finley Theobald 28 5 Dylan Huthwaite 26 6 William Offen 18 7 Jacob Phillips 16.

250cc sponsored by Houghton Hams: 1 Ashton Vale 48 points 2 Austin Riches 34 3 Luke Wicks 31 4 Ben Phillips 29 5 Karl Beddingfield 21 6 Shane Knight 19.
500cc sponsored by Abingdon Beds: 1 Arran Butcher 2 Mickie Simpson 3 Darryl Ritchings 4 Cameron Taylor 5 Jade Mudgway 6 Jack Roberts 7 Kai Ward 8 Jordan Derrick.
Old and New Sidecars sponsored by Munchkins: 1 Mark Courtney/Leon Torres 2 Luca Whitelam/Michael Day 3 Brian Hatch/Lewis Wharton 4 Marianne Walford/Barbara Springall 5 Jim Penfold/Danny Hill.
1,000cc Right Hand Sidecars sponsored by Executive Fire and Security: 1 Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth 2 Terry Saunters/Liam Brown 3 Matt Fumarola/Andy Wilson 4 Will Offen/Ricky Pay 5 Dale Fish/Jordan Fish 6 Michael Austin/Wayne Rickards.
