The first event in the Hull Thursday calendar, the George Ely Memorial over the sporting “Hardriders” 25 course, got off to a good start with some very fast times. This Driffield course can be very tough when the wind blows fiercely from the west, side for most of the way, but it showed promise today when Lee Watson and Craig Medcalf returned first with a 58. This didn’t last long, only three minutes, when Dave Shackleton and Steve Ward recorded a 53.

Many riders were inside the hour, but a real cracking 51.29 was posted by Jason Young and Steve Guymer; this was going to take a lot to be beaten. Karl Downes and Richard Moore recorded another 53 and then Chris Daddy and Julian Gromett returned another 51, only a quarter of a minute slower than Jason and Steve.

Perhaps Joel Wainman and Andy Jackson were favourites to win this event, and they didn’t disappoint, their 51.07 looked untouchable near the back of the field, and their own team mates Simon Beldon and Alistair Wareham’s 52.20 was enough to secure them second place (composite teams do not count in regular prizes).

Jason Young and Steve Guymer took the Composite prize, and Shaun Lawson with Heather Tufts the Mixed Pair prize, The George Ely trophy to the fastest Hull Thursday pair was won by Lee Coulson and Andy Carroll, Andy and Lee have been working hard for this.

Result