Somersham cycle speedway rider Andrew Mittell became the Under-13s British Individual Indoor Cycle Speedway champion at The Aldersley Leisure Centre, Wolverhampton, recently.

Somersham cycle speedway rider Andrew Mittell became the Under-13s British Individual Indoor Cycle Speedway champion at The Aldersley Leisure Centre, Wolverhampton, recently.

Mittell, who is already the holder of the East Anglian U-13s outdoor title was competing with 26 other riders in the qualifying rounds, with the top 16 going through to the final.

The final produced existing and fast racing with each rider programmed for five rides. With one heat to go, Sheffield's Jonathan Birks had only dropped one point when beaten by Mittell in the sixth heat.

Mittell entered the last heat of the championship unbeaten but knowing that anything less than a win would mean a run off for first place. The scene, therefore, was set for an exciting climax to what had been a brilliant competition and a credit to all the riders for their competitive but sportsman-like attitude.

The first attempt to run the heat resulted in Sandwell's Tom Hibbard being excluded in a first lap incident when he fell, bringing down Mittell in the process. Mittell kept his nerve and in the re-run a fiercely contested first bend saw Scott Doherty (Wednesfield) take the lead

To the roar of Mittell's supporters he forced his way through the narrowest of gaps to take the lead, from which he held his position comfortably to the chequered flag. This completed his maximum to give him the title.