HECKMONDWIKE Saints Cycle Speedway Club maintained their unbeaten record in heatwave conditions at Bury in their North and Scotland Division 2 encounter.

Before the main match, Elliott Long and Joseph Green scored 10 and 7 points respectively in the Under-13 event.

Heckmondwike got off to the best possible start when club stalwarts Darren Kent and Patrick Beacock combined for a maximum heat win over fast-rising Bury teenager Jayden Hancock (who was unbeaten after that for the rest of the afternoon).

The Saints gradually extended their lead through a series of heat advantages, including a well-worked maximum heat win by Kent and Daniel Green over leading Bury rider Tom Dunphy, though Bury clawed a few points back when Mark Rushby fell trying to pass Hancock, earning an exclusion in the process.

With a comfortable lead in the scores, Beacock and Justin Naylor were able to relinquish a couple of rides each in the stifling heat, in favour of Heckmondwike reserves, Lee Warhurst (making his league debut) and comeback man Ian Johnson - whose first race had to be re-run when nearly completed due to a stoppage for a fallen opposing rider.

Johnson won the re-run and also won his other race. Race of the day was the penultimate heat, when Stuart Hardaker, a very late starter in the sport and in his second full season, passed the home pairing twice, the action being so exciting to watch that the flag marshall lost count of the number of laps, and Stuart had to hold on for an extra lap in the heat in his 5th race of the day.

The match ended with a drawn heat in an intriguing race between Bury's teenage prospects Jayden Hancock and Tom Dunphy, and Heckmondwike's vastly experienced veteran pair of Darren Kent and Mark Rushby.

Final score : Bury 61 Heckmondwike 87

Heckmondwike scorers : Darren Kent 17(+1 bonus point), Patrick Beacock 8(+3), Daniel Green 16(+1), Justin Naylor 7(+3), Mark Rushby 12(+2), Stuart Hardaker 16(+1), Lee Warhurst 3, Ian Johnson 8

Meanwhile in the British youth and junior league, Heckmondwikes James vanner took the overall win in the under 8s and Joseph Green managed a 1st in the under 12s C final.