For those more experienced but were new to the track, Kev Ranscombe made a welcome visit all the way from Portsmouth, Bard Kerr ended up racing two classes for the Hayes Hawks, and Joe Read Millard came from outside the region for East Anglia and Braintree. As always, here is the lowdown on all the age groups.
5 years and Under
Reece Snelson (Hersden)
Casey Kennelley (Hersden)
George Hibberd (Folkestone)
Lucas Horton (Dover)
Troy Phillpott (Hersden)
With Casey a late addition, all five were on the track at the same time from moto 2, but the first moto provided some excitement as Reece Snelson and Troy Phillpott wiped each other out on the last berm. This left George Hibberd in his first ever BMX race, to go head to head with series champ Lucas Horton, and the pair of them came across the line almost locked together ,with the newcomer Hibberd getting the nod.
The A final, however went the way of the big guns from the summer series with Reece Snelson, adding the Autumn Open to his Rookie of the year win, taking the victory with Lucas second and Troy third.
6 and 7 years
Ben Hodgson (Folkestone)
Kyle Boughton (Gillingham)
Finlay Stockford (Dartford)
Taylor Andress (Dartford)
Toby Esson (Dover)
Joe Read Millard (Braintree, East Anglia)
Daniel Chapfield (St Nicholas at Wade)
Another late comer to proceedings, in the shape of Daniel Chapfield, as we squeezed him in here and the East Anglian invader Joe Read Millard to mix it with some fa,iliar faces from the summer. However with Nick Oaten absent, it was a chance for someone else to win a race this year.
Ben Hodgson gat the A final win after looking booked for second, but he went underneath Joe Read Millard in a superb move that also saw him earn Rider of the day. Joe settled for second with Taylor Andress third.
8 and 9 Years
Josh Webb (Plumstead)
Samuel Grant (Dover)
John Heasman (Wickhambreaux)
Daniel Horton (Dover)
Just the four here for a straight A final, and Josh Webb made up for just missing out on a top three spot in the Summer series, by taking the A final win. Hopefully we will see more of him in 2010, and he could have some great battles with reigning series champ Joel Lockhart. Daniel Horton has been in great form lately, and he got second spot, with Samuel Grant taking his first trophy home in third, after trying so hard for a while now. John Heasman rode great for first time out in BMX racing in fourth, well done to him.
10 and 11 Years
Keaton Snelson (Hersden)
Emmanuel Webb (Plumstead)
Sol Phillpott (Hersden)
Isaac Lennon (Herne Bay)
Joe Barber (Folkestone)
Kane Phillpott (Hersden)
Luke Fisher (Hersden)
William Reckert (St Nicholas at Wade)
Last year saw a couple of Summer series winners sent crashing to the ground in the Autmn Open, this year it was Isaac Lennon that had that jinx on him he went crashing to the floor on the first turn in the A final. This left Emmanual Webb to make it a family double to pick up the win ahead of Kane and Sol Phillpott. This group also saw two complete newcomers to BMX, William Reckert and Joe Barber get second and third respectiveley in the B final.
12 and 13 Years
Tom Butler (Dover)
Kieron Ryder (Dover)
Michael Brooks (Hersden)
James Brooks (Hersden)
Bard Kerr (Hayes Hawks BMX)
Jack Pullen (Hersden)
With the twins around the racing is always going to be close, and add Bard Kerr to mix ,it was always going to make for a good race, and it was the Hawks rider who came out on top here ahead of the twins. Tom Butler was not far away in fourth, and if thes guys all return in 2010, along with the ever improving Joe Nicholson, it will be an awesome series next year.
14 to 16 Years
Tom Worton (Hersden)
Daniel Sterling (Hersden)
Bard Kerr (Hayes Hawks bmx)
Dan and Tom were in a great battle in the first moto, with Tom finally taking a win off Dan, then Bard Kerr decided to join the mix, riding up an age group taking the next two motos. Dan however, was playing possom all day until the final where he woke up and took the A final win from Bard then Tom.
GIRLS and LADIES
Angel Hodgson (Folkestone) Girls
Hannah Carlin (Sittingbourne) Girls
Kirsty Hambrook (Folkestone) Ladies
Sue Horton (Dover) Ladies
Sadly only two in each group here, and the motos were two classes in one, which meant Angel Hodgson having to race her mum
. Both mother and daughter did well with both getting second in both finals. Hannah Carlin took the girls race with Sue Horton getting the Summer Series/ Autumn Open Double in the Ladies.OLD SKOOL
Kev Riviere
Tony Waye (Plumstead)
Billy Omer (Herne Bay)
Neil Grant (Dover)
Kev Carlin (Sittingbourne)
Lee Allen (BADBMX)
Riviere,Allen, Carlin and Omer all raced three classes, paid the full money, just to help us find the money for the compressor, Thanks guys we salute you.
The motos were good for Neil Grant, but it went wrong in the final as he was sent to the grass on the first berm. Billy Omer followed up his South Champs win, with victory here ahead of Riviere and Carlin
MASTERS
Josh Fitzgerald (Hersden)
Kev Riviere
Billy Omer (Herne Bay)
Dave Glendower (Ramsgate)
Kev Carlin (Sittingbourne)
Lee Allen (BADBMX)
The same three riders got the podium spots, but it was a different order as Riviere got the better of the re injured Kev Carlin, with Omer in third.
CRUISERS
Jacob Thompson (Dover)
Kev Riviere
Kieron Tweedy (Sheppey)
Richard Stevens (Sheppey)
Kev Ranscombe (Gosport BMX)
Nick Stockford (Dartford)
Kev Carlin (Sittingbourne)
Jon Andress (Dartford)
Lee Allen (BADBMX)
Mark Hodgson (Folkestone)
Another strong turnout for the big bikes, but it was a double for Kev Riviere that was the story here, although Jon Andress was unlucky to go crashing out on turn one. Nick Stockford got his first Hersden race trophy in second place, with Kevin Ranscombe making the long trip worth while in third. All Cruiser riders were put on full alert, for a massive Cruiser meeting planned for 2010, so watch this space for details in the new year.
A great fun way to finish off things at Hersden in 2009. Big thanks to all riders for coming, and we all see you back for some terrific action in 2010