HOT rider Lee Smethills is the new British U16s cycle speedway champion.

The Astley & Tyldesley captain, pre-match favourite for the title, won at Great Blakenham in Surrey.

He qualified for the final at the first attempt, clubmate Damien Hack getting there at the second attempt - the only U13 rider to make the U16 final.

Martin Phillips made it a trio of riders in the final, getting there at the third attempt, but Dale Edwards missed out.

In the final Lee began with two good wins, then faced ex-A & T rider Daniel Hughes, now of Stockport. That gave him No 3. But he was surprisingly beaten in Heat 16 before another win two races later secured him the title by just half-a-point.

Phillips scored nine points, Hack six.

A & T have now produced six British solo champions in the past two years.

And on Saturday they were within a whisker of another. Damien Hack scored a terrific 17 points for third place in the British U13s final at Hethersett.

In a series of thrilling races he was always up against it as pre-race favourite Andrew McMinn and surprise winner Mike Morgans took the major honours.

Hack needed victory in a third-place play-off against Southampton's Tony Hill and he did so in style.

A & T's other riders were Matthew Helme, who scored 10 points, and Carl Howarth, who qualified as second reserve.

A & T won the final Manchester League Second Division match of the season to clinch the title with a 100 per cent record.

Lee Smethills also collected the Grand Prix title, again with a 100 per cent record.

Final score: A & T 53, Denton 52, Bury 44, Sheffield 42.

Scorers: Smethills 12, Daniel Helme 11, Martin Phillips 10, Matthew Helme 10, Robert Black 10, Dale Edwards 8.

In the Northern Junior League A & T remain top after victory at Sheffield with one match to go. Score: A & T 86, Sheffield 79, Bury 77, Heckmondwike 50, Tameside 42. Scorers: Damien Hack 16, Lee Smethills 16, Daniel Ward 15, Martin Phillips 14, Robert Black 13, Dale Edwards 12.

In the Northern Senior Fours match A & T were second on 39 behind Heckmondwike's 57. Other scores: Bury 38, Sheffield 25. Scorers: Mike Hack 10, Martin Phillips 10, Lee Smethills 10, Daniel Ward 9.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.