Kenzie Bennett becomes Junior World Champion as 5 Poole riders competed in the recent World Championships held in Australia and came home with lots of trophies
Kenzie Bennett becomes Junior World Champion as 5 Poole riders competed in the recent World Championships held in Australia and came home with lots of trophies
5 members of the Poole / Trent Cycle Speedway Club have recently returned from a highly successful visit to Adelaide South Australia where they contested a series of 2023 World Championships events.
First to gain a podium position was reigning British Womens Individual Champion Maddie Saunders who gave an excellent performance in the Girls U19 event to secure the silver medal from eventual winner Zuzanna Klett of Poland.
The South Coast visitors soon added another award when Nataleigh Goulden gave a brilliant display in the Girls U15 final and her 18 points were enough to take the bronze award from Zuzanna Klett who gave another outstanding performance with a faultless five ride maximum.
However the elusive gold was yet to find a home in Poole until the Junior Individual final when Kenzie Bennett amassed 18 points to lead home by 2 clear points fellow England International Leon Penketh and in turn capture the prestigious title.
It was a determined Feroze Langoo and Oliver Saunders who figured highly in the Australia v Great Britain Test Match series and in the deciding fixture they combined with Kenzie to inflict a defeat on the host nation.
The final day of the events featured the World Junior Pairs and the England duo of Kenzie and Torston Jolly topped the podium that saw another gold returning to Harbourside Park.
There is no doubt that the international experience gained will stand them in good stead during the 2025 World Championships to be staged in the UK and although they could be competing at a higher age category level it will be a challenge they will relish.
Report by Pete Barnes
Photos credits to Terry Scriven Photography, Michelle Saunders and others – Many thanks
