Guernsey rider Vining lands British grasstrack title
Thomas Vining proved a level above his opposition in winning an intermediate ACU British Youth Grasstrack Championship title.
At just 14 and therefore at the younger end of the 13-18 age category, he managed a near clean-sweep in winning four out of five races against UK rivals at the ‘Donut Meeting’ in Latchingdon, Essex. He took runner-up in the other after a slow start.
Ultimately, he topped the podium from promising UK riders Ollie Binns and Jesse James.
His father, Guernsey sandracing chairman Nick Vining, highlighted the magnitude of this achievement for an island-based rider.
‘I’m very proud,’ he said.
‘It’s something no one in the Channel Islands has ever done before.
‘This is the first British youth title ever to come to Guernsey.
‘Thomas gets a lot less riding than his competitors in the UK.’
Vining has no means of practising grasstrack in Guernsey, instead having to combine his local sand racing expertise with specific experience from the odd away trip. He backs up this training using a trials bike.
The family have previously also had to turn down invites to high-level competitions in Germany and Belgium, considering the difficulties of travel.
Given his son’s recent success on the British scene, Nick admits that may change in the future.
‘His riding has really switched on in the last couple of meetings. It would be worth travelling.’
