OXFORD Cheetahs star Paul Hurry grabbed top honours in front of the biggest crowd ever in the Brighton Speedway Bonanza yesterday.

The indoor meeting, first run in 1997, is unique as a shale track is laid on top of polythene, creating a realistic 100m oval circuit which produces some close and exciting racing.

The afternoon event was a pairs championship, with Hurry and Jan Staechmann representing Oxford. The Cheetahs pair were the early pacesetters and in their first three outings were unbeaten to book a place in the final against Craig Boyce and Mark Loram.

But the final was a disappointment as Staechmann suffered problems with his wrist and he had to retire, handing the title to Boyce and Loram.

The main event was the individual championship in the evening. Staechmann won his first heat, as did Hurry, but disaster struck for Staechmann in his second outing when he clattered into the wooden safety fence. He was unable to take any further part in the meeting. All eyes were then on Hurry, who was second in his next two outings before winning his final heat to qualify for the semis.

Hurry and Boyce met in the first semi-final which Hurry led from the start.

The Cheetahs man had second choice of gate for the final and took gate two, outside Martin Dugard.

An electric start saw Hurry ahead and although Dugard was on his tail for the entire six laps, Hurry held to lift the title.

Story date: Monday 13 December

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