HORSPATH Cycle Speedway Culb have been rocked by the retirement of former captain Neil Clinkard.

Neil, a senior Welsh international, is set to concentrate on playing for the Gosford All Blacks Rugby Club.

Meanwhile, Horspath Moore Companies rider Ryan Taylor failed to retain his British under 13 individual title at Sheffield.

Having scored a 20-point maximum in the first semi-final of the afternoon to cruise into the final, Ryan was living up to his favourite billing.

But it all went pear-shaped in his first ride, when he was excluded for cutting across an opponent.

It seemed a harsh decision, considering the age of the competitors, although technically correct.

A worse incident of the same offence happened in the very next race, this time with a rider knocked off.

The referee re-ran the race with all four riders, causing heated complaints from the Horspath management.

Ryan eventually finished seventh with 13 points, feeling he had been robbed of a decent chance to defend his title.

Rory Kirkpatrick failed to qualify for the final, scoring ten points in the semi-finals.

Last Sunday, Horspath travelled to Southampton and lost 107-72.

Richard Edge and Andy Johnson were both unfortunate to slip while leading, while an unusual race saw Richard Edge go from first to last on the last half lap of heat 17 while teammate Ricky Gregory went from last to win the race at the same time!

Horspath scorers: R Edge 17, R Gregory 16, A Johnson 14, S Beesley 8+3, W Hutt 6+1, M Boaler 5+1, D Beesley 3, R Kirkpatrick 3.

The Combination match also went Southampton's way 92-80 after Horspath had to give away 36 penalty points.

David Beesley topped the scorers with 18 points. Brother Steven and Wayne Hutt were both unbeaten.

Horspath scorers: D Beesley 18, S Beesley 16, M Boaler 15, W Hutt 13+3, R Edge 6+1, R Kirkpatrick 6.

Today, several Horspath riders were set to compete in the British Junior League Grand Prix Individual Series in Exeter.