NWN-18062020

Thursday, June 18, 2020 47

NEWBURY NEWS

Newbury Weekly News

Sport down the years SPORT has always been covered in the NWN down the years. We look at the unforgettable moments from 50, 25 and 10 years ago Surprise as favourites lose MEN’S doubles champions dethroned, mixed doubles title holders axed, second seed men’s singles defeated – only two of the five holders defended their titles in Saturday’s finals of the Newbury lawn tennis championships. The quarter-finals and semi-finals brought their crop of surprises as the favourites come up against spirited challengers. The glory belongs to David Jones and Raymond Pontin who had a struggle to beat Mike Bent and Frank Dance in round one of the men’s doubles, yet rose to the heights in disposing of Dom Beaver and Tony Reeves at the semi-final stage. Beaver and Reeves, who have won the cup eight times, could not combine consistently to achieve victory. Athletics Clubs teamed up to provide the backbone of the West Berkshire team that won the overall award at Saturday’ s Berkshire Schools Track and Field Championships staged at Reading’s Palmer Park. West Berks were given a golden start by hammer thrower Helen Broadbridge, who celebrated her final county schools appearance with a new personal best of 48.39m in the senior event, to move her into fifth place in the UK age group rankings. It was her fourth successive Berkshire crown, in all of which she has produced a new championship record. There was a trio of second-place finishes for West Berkshire athletes in other senior contests. David Eames was runner-up in the 400m in 48.7 seconds, well within the English Schools qualifying standard, and Lee Doran was close to his personal best in the hammer with a throw of 43.47m for his second place, going close to the ESQS mark. An exciting finish saw Marcus Bridger-Wilkinson just miss out in the 800m in 1:55.5, one place ahead of Daniel Tuttle in new personal best time of 1:57.2, while Matthew Plumb was third in the triple jump with his leap of 12.75 metres. Bertie Lewis also made his mark in the 400m hurdles, reaching the final after qualifying with a time of 55.1 seconds and Justin Lakey won the high jump with a clearance only 14 centimetres shy of the ESQS. Letcombe return LETCOMBE FCwill start pre-season training at the clubhouse on Thurs - day, June 25 (7pm). For the following few weeks, training will be on Tuesday and Thursday and new players are invited to join existing members. Players should arrive pre-changed, as the clubhouse cannot be used. Anybody requiring more information should contact Des Williams on (01235) 764130. Most of last season’s squad have committed themselves to the club for next season, including club captain Danny Joyce, captain Sam Mulvey, and goal scorer Josh Fowler. Manager Garry Cook is confident of a few new signings, and is looking forward to another successful campaignin Divi- sion 2 West of the Hellenic League as they in top spotwhen the 2019/20 season was ended. 50 years ago June 18 1970 10 years ago June 17 2010 West Berks race away NEWBURY and Team Kennet

It’s all systems go for a late-season charge

to be an unlikely gap to close, but with seven other teams with at least as good, if not better, a statistical chance of breaking into the top six, the odds lengthen further still. Unless Reading win or lose all their first four games back we can write off any July drama. Mid-table is not such a bad place to be after two seasons finishing 20th, and on both occasions with Championship status uncertain until the final weeks. It may not be dramatic, but it is progress. The interest might come more from the fate of individuals. A clutch of senior players, including Jordan Obita, Chris Gunte,rGarath McCleary, Charlie Adam and Tyler Blackett are out of contract in a couple of weeks time. Some of the most prodigious talents, including Ovie Ejaria, Matt Miazga and Judilson Gomes are at the club on loan, but could they be convinced to make a permanent move to the Madejski Stadium?

Cash-strapped Reading may want to off- load some of their most valuable players, including John Swift, George Puscas, Liam Moore and Michael Olise. Plenty of players know their futures are on the line, which ought to serve as ample motivation. All in all, with 27 points remaining the next 32 days will likely be important and interesting, rather than dramatic and unforgettable. Effectively it is a mid-summer mini tournament and because of Reading’ s unspectacular league standing, in 10 years time we will probably most remember it for empty stadiums, extreme heat and extra water breaks and substitutes during games. But, of course, you never know. Nobody predicted a 105-day mid-season break, or the resurgence under Mark Bowen, or the dire finances. Is anyone brave enough to predict the next month of results? Whatever happens, above all Reading fans should all just be thankful ofotball is back.

SO where were we, before being so rudely interrupted? Who could have possibly envisaged at 5pm on Saturday, March 7, at St Andrew’s, that would be it for 15 weeks – 105 days without a Reading game to enjoy. That’s a longer break than we usually get between the end of one season and the start of the next. As the final nine games begin this weekend, there’s a danger we have all forgotten what was going on. Reading won that last game at St Andrew’s 3-1. They had won their previous Champi- onship game against Barnsley as well, so were in reasonably decent form. Between those two league victories they were knocked out the FA Cup by Sheffield United. Back in December then new manager Mark Bowen ’s Reading drew 0-0 at Stoke. It was perhaps the least memorable game of the season so far and seems like a different age.

Royals Watching

with TIM DELLOR

Then Reading were 18th in the table, five points above the relegation zone. Now they are 14th in the table, nine points clear of danger. Relegation should be no issue, thanks to an excellent run of seven games unbeaten and 12 points from 12 over Christmas. Tantalisingly, the play-offs appear to be just out of reach – eight points of the pace with nine games remaining looks

Fallon storms to historic victory Jockey rides joint longest-price winner at Newbur y

THERE was a moment of history made at Newbury Racecourseon Saturday as jockey CierenFallon guided Intercessor to victory at odds of 200-1 in a novice contest. The John Gallagher-trained horse edged out favourite Naswaary by a head and it is believed to be the joint longest-priced winner in British flat racing history. The three-year-old was beaten 26 lengths on his only previous run last year. Earlier in the day, Frankie Dettori tasted victory as Franconia won the Abingdon Fillies’ Stakes. In a listed race, which has previ- ously been won by the likes of Sea of Class , Dettori seemedat ease on the 7-4 favourite as the Frankel filly finished clear of Cabaletta . Dettori said: “She’s a handful, but she’s got a big engine. She showed a good turn of foot.” There was also a local winner as Lambourn’s Joseph Tuite-trained Fortune And Glory won a Handicap race. Meanwhile, Mubtasimah won the Listed Maggie Dickson Fillies’ Stakes under James Doyle.

Cara’s still a Warrior FORMER Park House school pupil Cara Brincatt has extended her contract with Premier 15s side Worcester Warriors. CaraBrinca(twithball)inactionforWorcester Picture: Nizaam Jones/JMP RUGBY UNION

use wider facilities at Sixways. “Since the pandemic, we have constantly been trainingas indi- viduals, but have also had team challenges to bond as a team remotely, for example baking challenges and running or biking 100 miles in an month. “We are more then ready for the start of pre-season training, which will hopefully be soon.” As Brincatt looks forward to her fourth season with the club, she said: “We have lots of inter- national signings and our strength will hopefully put us in a good position in the league. “Individually, I want to continue to develop as a player, as well as competing for a place in the starting line-up.” Brincatt has represented England at junior level on several occasions. She said: “My international experience has developed me massively through intensetrain- ing days and camps. “It has given me the experi- ence to play against or train with top under-20 players and chal- lenged me in many ways to make me the player I am today. “Every experience I expose myself to is developing me and I am excited to see what I can achieve in the future.”

The back row forward, who played for Newbury and Hunger- ford youth teams, signed for Warriors in 2017 and has played 33 top-flight games for the club. And she said: “Going it to my fourth season I couldn ’t be more excited. “We have grown and devel- oped so much since Jo Yapp [new director of rugby] came in. “I’m excited to see our true potential, as well as having some great new signings too which will only strengthen the side.” Brincatt added: “ We have been improving massively as a squad –Warriors have created an amaz- ing environment, laying the foundations for our continued improvement as a club.” The Premier 15s season was brought to a premature halt by the pandemic and Brincatt said: “Our goal was to be in the top six and I firmly believe we were on track to achieve this. “The support from the new coaching team has been amazing in my personal development from extra sessions beingput on during the week and the strengthened partnership with the men’s team has enabled us to

Cieren Fallon urges 200-1 shot Intercession (4) to a stunning vyictaotr NewbuyronSaturday Picture: Edward Whitaker ( Racing Post )

Century Dream , riddenbyJamesDoyles, tormstovictoyr intheDiomedStakes

Picture: Francesca Altoft