SPORTS SHORTS
NEWCASTLE-BORN driver Matt Bell has a full season of LMP3 racing ahead of him with the United Autosports team - starting with the first round of the Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship this weekend at Donington Park.
New for 2017, the ACO-supported Championship features six race meetings - each of which contains two, one-hour sprint races.
Bell (pictured) is partnered by Tony Wells and the duo will compete in the No.3 Ligier JS P3.
Bell said: “Tony has taken part in two pre-season tests with United Autosports and he has been really quick.
“LMP3 is a great category and it is booming so it is good to see the addition of this new UK championship.
“United Autosports have set the bar high with a double win at the opening European Le Mans Series round last weekend.
“Now we are hoping to carry on that top form.” ■■THOUSANDS of amateur cyclists will tackle rides over 34, 69, 90 and 106 miles in this summer’s Cyclone Challenge Rides.
The event, part of the annual Cyclone Festival of Cycling, will be held on Saturday, June 17.
All starting and finishing at Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park ground, the rides are open to anyone aged 12 and upwards and are expected attract riders and clubs from all over the country. ■■FIVE of the top 10 points scorers in the English Under-15 North Ice Hockey League Division Two are Whitley Tomahawks players.
Jack McCumiskey leads the way with 20 goals and 16 assists from 11 matches and is just one point ahead of Alex Nergaard (25 goals and 10 assists).
They are closely followed in fourth place by Matthew Wood (19+11) and Thomas Fraser in fifth (23+6). ■■MORE than 100 children from eight schools (above) played rugby league at Kingston Park as Newcastle Thunder’s Community Project hosted their latest Year Seven Girls’ Sky Try Festival.
The festival concluded five weeks of coaching allocated within the school curriculum delivered by the Project’s coaches.
The aim of the Sky Try initiative is to engage boys and girls in years three and four at primary school along with year seven from secondary schools.
The festival featured Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy, John Spence, Morpeth Newminster, Walbottle Campus, George Stephenson, Ferryhill Business and Enterprise School and Redhouse Academy. ■■NORTHUMBRIA Kings B team are on a revenge mission this weekend.
The university ice hockey squad lost to Kent Knights in the final of the National Cup - but meet the same opposition in the Northern Conference-Southern Conference group play-off final on Sunday.
The Kings won the Northern Conference League title without losing a game. ■■BEDLINGTON Town Bulldogs take on Montagu and North Fenham Jets in the final of the Global Image Embroidery NFA Girls’ Under-16 Cup final on Friday, May 26 (7.30). Venue for the match is Whitley Park, Benton. ■■SOUTH Northumberland host Benwell Hill on Sunday in Division One of the Dukes ECB North East Premier Sunday League.
Washington play Tynemouth, Newcastle face Blaydon and South Shields meet Stockton.