HORSPATH Hammers pair Zac Payne and Will Jeffery have been short-listed to represent Great Britain in the Ashes series against Australia later this year.

Chalgrove’s Payne, 21, is in the senior squad and is also due to compete at the World Championships, which are also Down Under in November.

Wheatley Park School pupil Jeffery, from Garsington, has been asked to represent his country in the under 16 and under 18 World Championships, in addition to the junior Ashes competition.

Hammers’ international involvement also extends to team manager Geoff Gamage, who will be in charge of the women’s and veterans sides.

The trip to Australia is self-funded, so the club are seeking sponsors to help contribute to the cost.

Contact Rob Jeffery on 01865 368022 for further details.

EUROPEAN Champion Lukasz Nowacki led Horspath Hammers to a convincing

105-74 success at home to Exeter Aces in the South West & Wales League.

The hosts quickly gained the upper hand against a useful visiting side, winning eight of the first nine races.

The wins were spread between six of the team, an encouraging sign they will be competitive this season.

They held a 16-point lead at the half-way mark and the gap continued to grow after the break.

Polish rider Nowacki claimed a maximum points haul, while 2015 British champion Zac Payne and the experienced Andy Johnson also impressed.

Returning duo Jake Neighbour and David Liebermann hit the ground running, while 15-year-olds Will Jeffery, Jack Ellis and Alice Neighbour led the charge for the side’s younger riders.

Result: Horspath Hammers 105pts (L Nowacki 17+3, Z Payne 17, A Johnson 16, W Jeffery 15+2, D Liebermann 15, J Neighbour 14, J Ellis 9, A Neighbour 2), Exeter Aces 74.

l A SQUAD of ten riders from Horspath Hammers stayed on course to reach the national finals after impressing at a British Youth Junior League regional qualifier in Poole.

Results

Under 8: K Legg 4th (B final)

Under 10: E Johnson 7pts, C Legg 1st (D final)

Under 12: N Loveridge 2nd (D final), J Brown 3rd (A final)

Girls’ Competition: A Neighbour 4th (A final)

Under 17: O Johnson 1st (C final), R Loveridge 3rd (B final), J Ellis 2nd (B final), W Jeffery 3rd (A final)

Anyone interested in having a go at cycle speedway can take part in junior sessions, which are held at Horspath Hammers every Wednesday 6-7pm.