RESULT: DARCY WARD BENEFIT MEETING

The result and scorers of the Team Magic v Team Monster Challenge in aid of the Darcy Ward Benefit Meeing from Wimborne Road:-

It was always going to be an emotionally charged evening as fans, sponsors and riders gathered at Wimborne Road to show their support for injured Darcy Ward but no-one could have anticipated the level of outpouring when the man himself appeared on track - his first public appearance since sustaining serious spinal injuries in a track crash in Poland back in August.

As Joe Parsons of Monster Energy wheeled Darcy Ward on to the stage which has seen so many awesome performances from the Australian, the crowd stood as one, chanted his name and the odd tear began to form. By the time meeting presenter Nigel Leahy actually got to interview the 23 year old, there were an awful lot more tears as Ward immediately thanked his family, for whom he said "this has been so tough" before leading tributes to the likes of his Swedish club Piraterna, the Poole club, best buddy Chris Holder, Australian Team manager Mark Lemon and his surrogate parents Neil & Suzi Middleditch and his girlfriend Lizzie, who he described as 'simply amazing'.

It was an all round massive effort by the stricken Ward to pay his thanks for the great support that he has received over the course of the six weeks since his crash and it undoubtedly had an effect on the fourteen riders that had turned out to contest the special challenge meeting in his benefit.
The atmosphere was distinctly different once racing resumed with Team Magic leading by a point. But post break Janowski's side dominated proceedings providing the next five race winners and gaining advantages in three of those, to lead 49-40. Although a 16th heat had  been programmed - which came with a voucher prize donated by engine tuner Peter Johns for the winner - it was agreed to curtail proceedings with emotions running so high.

The huge crowd had witnessed a very impressive unbeaten performance by Pole Patryk Dudek who, putting himself in the shop window, did his chances no harm of a 2016 contract, whilst younger brother of Poole favourite Chris Holder, 18 year old Jack showed family pedigree on his way to a creditable 7 points for Team Monster.
This meeting will be remembered more for the effort that the man himself made to be there, than for the entertaining efforts of those that turned out in honour of Darcy Ward.

TEAM MAGIC 49
M. Janowski FD,3,3,3=9
D. Watt 1,3,R,R=4
P. Dudek 3,3,3,3=12
P. Pawlicki 3,0,3,2'=8+1
A. Jonsson 0,1,1,1,3=6
D. North F,1,2,1=4
B. Kurtz 3,0,0,3,0=6

TEAM MONSTER 40
C. Holder 3,1',2,0=6+1
N. Morris 2,2,2,F=6
T. Batchelor 2,2,1',0,2=7+1
B. Pedersen 1',0,3,1=5+1
G. Hancock 1',2,2,2=7+1
J. Grajczonek R,0,1',0,1'=2+2
J. Holder 2,2,1,2=7

Ht 1 C. Holder N. Morris D. Watt M. Janowski (Fell d/q) 1-5 (1-5) (60.56)
Ht 2 B. Kurtz J. Holder D. North (Fell) J. Grajczonek (Rtd) 3-2 (4-7) (61.8)
Ht 3 P. Dudek T. Batchelor G. Hancock A. Jonsson 3-3 (7-10) (60.96)
Ht 4 P. Pawlicki J. Holder B. Pedersen B. Kurtz 3-3 (10-13) (61.8)
Ht 5 D. Watt N. Morris D. North J. Grajczonek 4-2 (14-15) (61.4)
Ht 6 P. Dudek G. Hancock C. Holder P. Pawlicki 3-3 (17-18) (61.89)
Ht 7 M. Janowski T. Batchelor A. Jonsson B. Pedersen 4-2 (21-20) (61.22)
Ht 8 P. Pawlicki N. Morris J. Grajczonek B. Kurtz 3-3 (24-23) (61.33)
Ht 9 B. Pedersen D. North J. Holder D. Watt (Rtd) 2-4 (26-27) (62.03)
Ht 10 P. Dudek C. Holder A. Jonsson N. Morris (Fell) 4-2 (30-29) (awd)
Ht 11 M. Janowski G. Hancock T. Batchelor D. Watt (Rtd) 3-3 (33-32) (61.62)
Ht 12 B. Kurtz J. Holder D. North J. Grajczonek 4-2 (37-34) (62.44)
Ht 13 M. Janowski G. Hancock A. Jonsson C. Holder 4-2 (41-36) (61.57)
Ht 14 P. Dudek P. Pawlicki B. Pedersen T. Batchelor 5-1 (46-37) (62.07)
Ht 15 A. Jonsson T. Batchelor J. Grajczonek B. Kurtz 3-3 (49-40) (61.71)

Referee Ronnie Allan
Gates:  Team Monster win toss and take 1&3. Heat 15 Team Magic take 1&3