BRITISH SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP

Calders fix their motor and get right back on form

Organiser: Midland Automobile Club When: 18/19 Starters: 126 June

Two contrasting days greeted the first 2016 visit to perhaps one of the British Sprint Championship’s competitors’ favourite circuits, Anglesey.

Saturday enjoyed quite delightful weather but on Sunday it rained almost from start of play and steadily got heavier, such that after a tour of inspection just before 1400hrs by the clerk of the course and MSA steward close of play for the day was determined, having had one timed run.

None of this bothered frontrunners Heather and Graham Calder, who were just pleased to have fixed a misfire that has plagued their Gould since the start of the season.

Heather Calder secured the Saturday win, although she was disappointed that she only took third place on Sunday. Father Colin was just over 0.25s away on Saturday and did more than enough for the comfortable win on Sunday.

John Graham was grateful for the loan of the Calder family’s spare front wing after damaging his when he had a small incident with the Armco barrier just after the start on Saturday during the second timed run. It was sufficient to enable him to secure third place spot on Saturday and second on Sunday’s run.

The works SBD pairing of Steve Broughton and Matt Hillam managed a fifth and fourth placed finish on Saturday but were rather less successful in Sunday’s wet conditions, Hillam managing a sixth place but Broughton only managed 10th spot. Steve Miles tied on best times with Broughton on Saturday, but was bettered on second best times. However, on Sunday, he took a very laudable fourth position finish. Nick Algar was next up behind Miles on Saturday, but failed to finish on the one timed run on Sunday.

Jim Belt finished as top sportscar on Saturday in eighth place, but managed a remarkable fifth on Sunday. Grahame Harden was next finisher on Saturday, but on Sunday with the car still on slicks and wheelspinning in the uphill sections that same ninth place was more disappointing.

Carole Torkington finished top SBD employee on Sunday in eighth and her 10th place on Saturday secured one of her better weekend points hauls.

Richard Arrowsmith secured two 11th placed finishes, and although Matt Carter only managed an off on Saturday he came back strongly after overnight repairs with a seventh on Sunday.