HEAVY falls put paid to the chances of Horspath Hammers duo Zac Payne and Will Jeffery securing podium finishes in the British Championships.

While Payne safely made it through to the open final at Hull, Jeffery found the task of competing in the semi-finals of both the open and under 18 championships on the same day too much.

In atrocious conditions, Jeffery made the under 18 final – his main priority – and then led after two races.

However, disaster struck in his third ride when his handle grip came adrift resulting in a heavy fall.

Jeffery picked himself up to gain another race win and a second place to finish in an agonising fourth position.

An hour later, Jeffery had to race to make in the senior open semi-final.

Sitting pretty on six points from two rides, disaster struck again with another fall.

The resulting exclusion ended all hopes of a place in the top 16.

So Payne was the sole Horspath rider in the open final.

But his chances of a podium finish were ended by a robust move from Great Blakenham’s Josh Brooke, which resulting in a fall for Payne, who finished ninth overall.