GREAT Blakenham Cycle Speedway youngsters Philip Day and Michael Blackwell completed an impressive double last weekend, as they finished first and third respectively in the British Championships held at Poole.

GREAT Blakenham Cycle Speedway youngsters Philip Day and Michael Blackwell completed an impressive double last weekend, as they finished first and third respectively in the British Championships held at Poole.

Proud mum of Philip, Sara said, “This level of success is both good for the boys, and also for Great Blakenham cycle speedway. The club is doing really well at the moment and I hope it continues. I am obviously very proud of what Philip has achieved, he rode really well and we are all very pleased for him, he is very happy with his trophy, but the fact he enjoys his racing so much is a bonus as well.”

The Under 10's competition attracted 25 competitors, all of whom raced with great commitment and effort, signalling a bright future for the sport.

Day didn't put a foot wrong in his first four qualifying heats, recording four victories before losing out to team mate Blackwell in his fifth outing, the later securing himself third place on 18 points, seeing off the challenge of Newport's James Robinson.

Lancashire competitor Adam Phillips recorded three victories from his final three outings to draw himself level on points with Day, and in doing so forcing a run off for the title.

Phillips won the toss and chose to start the race from gate two, but Day managed to outclass the Astley racer from the outside gate and led as he powered his way round a tactically superb first corner. Showing great balance and composure, Day sprinted into a bike lengths lead by the end of the first lap. Phillips rose to the challenge and tailed Day closely in a tight race, but he couldn't find a way past the former Kesgrave rider, in what were four very competitive laps of speedway.

Day, who has been racing cycle speedway for two years, was rightfully pleased with his win, he said: “I am very pleased to win, especially winning from gate four in the final. I think I rode very well for the whole meeting, and to win the final like that was particularly pleasing for me.”

The Suffolk success continued, as Ipswich's Libby Knights also performed well, impressively finishing second in the Under 10 Girls category behind Weymouth's Charlotte Cox.

Both Philip and Michael were on the podium again on Wednesday night, this time with roles reversed as Blackwell managed to beat Day into second place in the U10's Suffolk Championship at their home track in Great Blakenham.

Next stop for Philip is the third round of the National Youth and Junior League at Wednesfield in the West Midlands, before competing in the final round of this event in Ipswich on 20th September.

2008 British Under-10 Individual Championship - Final

Philip Day (Great Blakenham) 19, Adam Phillips (Astley & Tyldeseley) 19, Michael Blackwell (Great Blakenham) 18, James Robinson (Newport) 18, Lee Kemp (Bretford) 16, Charlotte Cox (Weymouth) 15, Will Tidball (Exeter) 14, Marco Cooper (Horspath) 13, James Chattin (Sandwell) H12, James Clanfield (Poole) 11, Jack Herbert (Exeter) 10, Adam Watson (Astley & Tyldesley) 9, Adam Bennett (Newport) 8, Alex Pursglove (Weymouth) 7, James Harriman (Wednesfield) 6, Liam Eagles (Wednesfield) 5

Under-10 Girls

1st Charlotte Cox (Weymouth) 2nd Libby Knights (Ipswich) 3rd Holly Morgan (Poole)

Referee: Mike Legge (Dorset)