Sport

Sport Wait for it: Brad’s superbike debut delayed until late June

The debut of Stalbridgebased rider Brad Jones in British Superbikes has been delayed until late June. The Government’s roadmap applies capacity limits for fans at non-seated venues until June 21 at the earliest. But with organisers wanting the maximum number of spectators to enjoy the competition’s 25th anniversary, the 11 race rounds will now start at Oulton Park on June 25-27. Brad, 22, is riding for the recently renamed iForce Lloyd & Jones BMW team, which is based in Liverpool. He will ride alongside team mate Joe Francis, who is competing in his third consecutive campaign with the team, following a successful 2020 season which saw him secure two top 10 finishes. Last season Brad finished runner-up in the British Supersport category, with one victory and six further podiums. He competed at that level for four years on board a 600cc bike: now he will be on a 1,000cc machine producing 225bhp compared with the 140bhp he has been used to. In his first season of stepping up to the premier Superbikes class, Brad said: “I don’t have any expectations. There is a lot of learning and adapting to do. The style of riding is different and that’s something that will take time to get the hang of.” The official test programme begins at Silverstone on April 28-29. The race season proper will now be truncated to run all 11 rounds within 17 weekends, ending up at Brands Hatch on October 1517.

Sprit pair gearing up for GP2 Cup

By Steve Keenan

sport@blackmorevale.net Dorset team Spirit Moto Corsa’s 2021 line-up for the British GP2 Cup has been confirmed, with Jamie Perrin joining the outfit alongside reigning champion Mason Law. Perrin, 27, has impressed in British Supersport over the last few years, challenging at the sharp end of the field despite entering on a privately-run bike. He has previous experience in the GP2 class, picking up nine podiums across the first six events of the 2019 season. Law, 25, is continuing with the team for a second season, having picked up the 2020 title in fine fashion with a double victory in the Brands Hatch season finale. He picked up four wins and seven podiums in a hotlycontested campaign, eventually winning the championship by 22 points. Following on from last year’s success, the team’s target is for both riders to compete for the GP2 title, as well as fighting at the top of the overall classification with British Supersport. The Shaftesbury-based Spirit Motorcycle team is bolstered by a continued title sponsorship deal Gillingham-based motorcycle dealership Moto Corsa. There is also increased backing from Chedington Estate in Beaminster, whose branding features heavily on the team’s striking new-look livery. Perrin said: “I’m looking forward to being back in the GP2 class for 2021 after a successful stint in the class in 2019. To be joining the team that’s come straight off the back of winning the championship is great. “Obviously the aim for the season is to win the GP2 championship, but I imagine everyone has the same idea. I also want to be in a position to run competitively in the overall standings.” Law said: “I’m really pleased to rejoin the team for the 2021 British GP2 season. Last season we were very much developing and racing the bike at each and every round, so to win the championship over a much shorter distance, for me, was a great achievement. “There’s still plenty of work and improvement that can come from the package for this season. Obviously, the next couple of months are very important in terms of development, then hopefully we can kick-on and use the recently announced official tests as the platform for a strong and successful defence of the championship.” n Ahead of the new season, Spirit Motorcycles has bought Talon Engineering, a Yeovil-based company which specialises in motorcycle parts including wheels, brakes and sprockets. Spirit plans to expand the business and diversify its product range. Talon’s products have been used at highest level of Motocross and Speedway, as well as the Dakar Rally. In its 50-year history, more than 100 world champions have used Talon components. Talon exports to 35 different countries around the world.

Castle Cary

DYNAMIC DUO: Mason Law and Jamie Perrin

North Dorset staggering restart of rugby training

Rugby made a tentative return at North Dorset RFC this week – but all teams are not coming back to training at the same time. It was hoped Mini and Youth squad training could resume from Sunday – but all players are asked to check with team managers for exact dates and times for the start of their training sessions. As with football and other outdoor sports allowed to resume this week, changing rooms and showers are shut and no spectators allowed bar one adult or guardian per child. Club chairman Greg Pearce said: “Planning is going on to get the highly popular Friday Touch rugby competition going again from April 16, and we expect to link this with a restart of the World’s Biggest Beer Garden which was so popular last year. “Planning is already underway for our annual ND7s event, subject to restrictions being lifted, it is proposed for Saturday July 24.” nNorth Dorset RFC is hosting Bath Rugby for one of its mixed half-term camps on April 7 for 6 to 14-yearolds. The day camp costs £30 and limited spaces are available. Book at rugbycamps.co.uk/bath.

Competitive football makes welcome return to the Vale

By Steve Keenan

sport@blackmorevale.net Competitive football returns to The Blackmore Vale this weekend for the first time in three months. The move is allowed as part of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, which allows the resumption of sports including organised outdoor football. The rules state that changing rooms cannot be used although toilets will be allowed to open, 30 minutes before and after matches. No spectators are allowed but one parent or guardian per child is permitted. Most non-league football has been abandoned for the season, leaving the senior teams at Shaftesbury, Wincanton and Sherborne with no competitive games. But the Dorset Premier Football League is running an optional League Cup competition for members, and 11 teams have chosen to enter including Gillingham Town, Shaftesbury Reserves and Sturminster Newton United. The teams have been split into two leagues, of six and five teams: the teams will play each other home and away. The first games are on Saturday and there are likely to be midweek games throughout the competition. The top two in each group play the semi-finals on May 15, with the final a week later. The Dorset Football League, one step down from the Premier Football League, is also running a mini-cup competition for members: 13 of its Senior League clubs have joined, including Wincanton Town Reserves, Stalbridge and Tisbury United. The remaining fixtures in the Dorset Senior Trophy will also begin on April 10, with Tisbury taking on Shaftesbury Reserves in an outstanding second round match for a place in the quarter finals. Meanwhile, the community Blackmore Vale League resumes on Sunday with nine teams, Hazelbury Hornets having dropped out. Unbeaten leaders Wincanton United Wasps take on South Cheriton Comets before meeting their closest challengers, Donhead Barbarians on April 11. The demanding schedule means the league may not end until June 27 but a spokesman said: “We are determined to complete the schedule and with everyone’s support, we believe we can achieve this together.”

FOOTBALL FIXTURES

APRIL 3 Dorset Premier League Cup 3pm Gillingham Town v Holt Shaftesbury Reserves v Bournemouth Sports Sturminster Newton v Merley Cobham Sports Dorset Senior League Cup 3pm Poole Borough v Tisbury United Stalbridge FC v Hamworthy Recreation Reserves APRIL 4 Blackmore Vale Football League 10.30am AFC Blandford v Donhead Barbarians Sturminster Rovers v Team Gryphon TGR v Bradford Abbas Wincanton United v South Cheriton Comets APRIL 5 Dorset Senior League Cup 2pm Broadstone FC v Stalbridge FC Tisbury United v Merley Cobham Sports Reserves Wincanton Town reserves v Sturminster Marshall APRIL 6/7 Dorset Premier League Cup Sturminster Newton v Gillingham Town Shaftesbury Reserves v Holt APRIL 10 Dorset Senior Trophy 2.30pm (2nd round) Shaftesbury Reserves v Tisbury United Quarter finals Blandford United v Sturminster Marshall Gillingham Town v Hamworthy Recreation Dorset Premier League Cup Merley Cobham Sport v Sturminster Newton APRIL 11 Blackmore Vale Football League 10.30am Bruton United Colts v TGR South Cheriton Comets v Team Gryphon Sturminster Rovers v Bradford Abbas Wincanton United v Donhead Barbarians APRIL 13/14 Dorset Premier League Cup Gillingham Town v Shaftesbury Reserves Bournemouth Sports v Sturminster Newton

By Steve Keenan

sport@blackmorevale.net It felt like the first day of school holidays: let’s all run outside and play! It was last Monday that the shackles came off and organised outdoor sports for both adults and children was allowed once more. Golf courses were packed as members played their first round since January 4. Running clubs were allowed to meet for organised training sessions and tennis players unzipped their rackets. Football and rugby will resume this weekend: competitive cricket will also be allowed. The next stage in the government roadmap will be Monday week (April 12) when indoor gyms and leisure centres are allowed to re-open, for use individually or with household groups. Here’s a round-up of resumed or new sports activities in the Blackmore Vale. If we’ve inadvertently missed your club off, do let us know your news: sport@blackmorevale.net.

GOLF Tee-off times were available on both courses at Yeovil Golf Club on Monday, although some courses weren’t taking visitor bookings, reserving the links for members for the first few days. Wincanton took bookings from Tuesday as there was a race meeting the previous day. The first few lucky golfers found the courses in pristine condition, having had no play on them or divots gouged out for the last three months. Pro shops and clubhouses were closed but can open from April 12 and May 17 respectively. including singles and doubles social play, one-toone coaching and organised activity for groups. It also has Easter tennis camps for under 10s and juniors, with three-hour morning and afternoon sessions on weekdays between April 616. Call Matt (07403 025881) or Stu (07825 660781).

Donhead Community Tennis Club is to restart Fitness for Tennis classes on Mondays, 9.30-10.30am. It’s a cardio tennis session with trainer Rachel Carter and coach Ian Griffin. No need to be able to play tennis, just run about to music and hit some balls. It’s five sessions for £30 from April 19. Call Ian: 07930 569342, info@Live4Tennis.co.uk All Star sessions for children aged 5-8 on Friday evenings (5.15pm-6.15pm) from May 28 through to July 16. There are also All Star courses at Marnhull, Stalbridge, Blandford, Mere and Sherborne CCs on differing days. New ECB courses for children aged 8-11, called Dynamos Cricket, are also available at Stour Provost, Sherborne, Blandford and Compton House CCs. Sign up for all at ecb.co.uk/play.

CYCLING Gillingham Wheelers began its 2021 Time Trial Series on Wednesday with the first event on the Milton on Stour six-mile course. The club has more than 100 members and considers itself to be a social and sporting cycling club with a primary focus on road cycling. There are regular social rides. New members welcome. Go to gdw.org.uk RUNNING The Dorset Doddlers running group this week resumed its Tuesday evening training sessions in Shaftesbury and Thursday sessions in Sturminster Newton last night. The summer runs begin on May 18. There is currently no Beginners Group but the main training groups are welcoming and support new runners of all abilities, from beginners to those returning to running after a break or longer layoff. More at dorsetdoddlers.co.uk.

HOWZAT? Shaftesbury Cricket Club is running All Star sessions for youngsters At last! Sport can start up again and here’s where to go

WOMEN’S RUGBY Yeovil Rugby women’s mixed ability team relaunches on April 9 and welcomes new players. The team is supported by Bath Rugby Foundation. More at twitter.com/YeovilRugbyGirl.

SWIMMING Sherborne Storm swim club is appealing for volunteers as it gears up for re-opening on April 12. “We are a small volunteer run club providing all types of swim disciplines to children based in Sherborne,” said swimming director Wendy Flack. “We are desperate for more volunteers: coaches, team members, supporting competitions, committee members, fund raising – we need you all, of all ages!” The club trains at Leweston School on weekdays with occasional training at Millfield. Previous knowledge not required, said Wendy, with training on the job. Contact Wendy at flack.wendy@gmail.com or text 07545 306883.

FOOTBALL Sherborne Town FC is looking for a new volunteer club secretary, working with the First and Reserves sides. Contact chairman John Bowers: chairman@ sherbornetownfc.com.