Swaffham 28 September 2025

SWAFFHAM RACEWAY

Gold Cup & Gold Roof Championships

Sunday 28 September 2025

Day two of Swaffham Raceway’s major championship meeting, for many of the West Norfolk venue’s local classes, saw a varied format, with three races for each of the eight formulae, but the main trophy races occupying different positions in the programme depending on the qualifying format each class had opted for. This maybe had a significant effect on some of the results, in varying conditions. The first set of races were mainly dry, after morning rain had cleared, but it then turned rather damp for everyone’s second races, with a thick drizzle leaving a very slippery track, before the sun made an appearance right at the end of the day.

Racing commenced with the CLASSIC STOX (or Retro Stox as they will soon be known) out for their Gold Cup (at least, gold coloured cup!) race. The grid had grown to eight cars with the addition of Dave Richardson, but we unfortunately lost two right at the start, with Mark Hewlett pulling out while John Cook, back in the car Rachael Richardson drove on Saturday, had a rear radius arm bracket pull out, prompting John to wonder if he had a heavier right foot than Rachael! Dan Horsepool’s Saturday results earned him pole, with Jamie Bridges alongside, and it was Jamie who went straight to the front and led all the way. Dan’s car was clearly struggling for grip and he dropped back before pulling off on the last lap, as Clive Freeman took a close second from Vince O’Connor. Tom Francis and Dave Richardson took the other places.

The other two races were run in graded order, but on the wet track the results were completely different as Tom Francis excelled in the conditions, holding off Dan Horsepool all the way to win race two, with Clive Freeman in third, chased by Jamie Bridges, and Mark Hewlett and Dave Richardson completing the field after Vince O’Connor found himself facing the wrong way.

The final race started with Dave Richardson having a front corner collapse, while Clive Freeman had a spin that dropped him a lap down. Again Tom Francis, completing a successful first outing in George Cozen's “Big Baps” car, fended off Dan Horsepool all the way to win, while Mark Hewlett beat Vince for third, ahead of Jamie and Clive.

Next up were the NINJA KARTS, for their Gold Roof race, with a rather mixed up grid after Saturday’s hectic graded order heats. Alfie Bradford and Ollie Rainer lined up on the front row, while defending champion Freddie Taber was on row two, but his expected challenger Alfie Cole, with a few titles to his name already this year, was starting tenth. Riley Lynn and Hunter Myson had joined the field since Saturday, while Macie Dixon and Freddie and Charlie Sealy had dropped out.

Alfie Bradford took the lead and held on well for a dozen or so laps, but by then Freddie Taber and Alfie Cole were closing in. In the long 20-lap race, by now they were in among traffic and Freddie held the lead before Alfie Cole got alongside him. Freddie got back in front, then Alfie judged the backmarker traffic just right to nip through again, just as the red flags came out with Frankie Read in trouble. We thought the result might be declared at this point but instead the fourteen survivors (Oakley Mace was also sidelined) were lined up in single file for a three-lap dash to the flag. Riley Lynn had progressed from the back to fourth and caught Alfie Bradford out on the restart, but at the front Alfie Cole made no mistake and took the flag ahead of Freddie, Riley, Alfie Bradford and Albie Challis. The next pack was headed by Harry Plaice, from Evan Boardley, who’d made impressive progress from the back, Ollie Rainer, Daisy Mace, Jak Metcalfe and Tyrus Read, with Mason Challis and Hunter Myson completing the finishers. There was then an endless delay while video replays were watched to confirm the result and eventually the other classes got on with their races while the Ninjas remained in suspense. Finally it was announced that Alfie Cole was indeed the winner, but Freddie Taber had been docked two places, putting Riley Lynn in second and Alfie Bradford into third.

The second race, on a tricky wet track, was lined up with a reversal of the championship grid, which meant this time Alfie Cole went from grid three, while Freddie Taber was further back and Riley Lynn, with no points from Saturday, was again at the back. Two early red flags sorted that out though, and by the second restart Alfie Cole had Alfie Bradford, Freddie, Albie and Riley lined up behind him. Alfie Cole then held off Freddie all the way to the finish, with Alfie Bradford in third from Riley Lynn and Albie Challis, Harry Henderson, Evan Boardley and Ollie Rainer all fighting over fifth.

It was back to graded order for the final race of the weekend, with yet another red flag after Evan Boardley’s very promising weekend ended with a visit to the armco. Ollie Rainer had been leading, and led away again from the restart, but Riley Lynn came through well to take the win. Alfie Bradford took second from Ollie on the last corner, but was passed right on the line by Alfie Cole, with Ollie a close fourth after an excellent weekend. Harry Plaice came next from Frankie Read, Harry Henderson, Freddie Taber, Daisy Mace, Albie Challis, Tyrus Read, Mason Challis, Oakley Mace, Jak Metcalfe and Hunter Myson.

The ROOKIE RODS started their day with a fourth qualifying heat, for just six cars after Stuart Barton had dropped out. John Rattigan held off Emilie Smith for the early lead, but Emilie was soon away to win, chased by Dean Cook. The Gold Roof final then saw Dean line up on pole with Emilie alongside and Jason Chinery, Rhys-Jon Williams, Liam Parker and John Rattigan behind. Dean led away, with Rhys-Jon dropping to the back after a first corner moment. Emilie was excelling in the wet conditions though and she soon got round the outside and pulled out a gap in the lead, while Jason also went outside Dean for second. Going into the second half of the 20-lap race Jason was right on Emilie’s tail as they lapped backmarkers, but Emilie pulled away again to take a very popular win with Jason second and Dean third, the Fiesta looking not quite as comfortable as the Novas on the now very wet track. Rhys-Jon Williams and John Rattigan finished a lap down and Liam Parker pulled off.

The final was the only race of the weekend run in grade order, with three blue grade drivers ahead of Jason and Emilie, as Dean was a non-starter. Rhys-Jon Williams led all the way, chased home by Jason with Emilie third from Liam and John.

The JUNIOR RODS still had all ten cars from Saturday, but their last qualifying heat got off to a bad start with Ted Emmett getting spun after an accidental nudge, just as he had been on Saturday, this time getting heavily collected as Freddie Withers’ Saxo was left with nowhere to go. Lewis Pyne’s Nova took a clear win after a full restart, with Jack Lomax surviving a coming-together with Jayden Lake at the start, Jack then holding onto second from Sienna Wisbey, Rosie Taber, the battered Ted Emmett and Harvey Goudy.

The championship race lined up with Lewis Pyne and Rosie Taber on the front row and Ted Emmett and Jayden lake behind them, with Jack Lomax, Sienna Wisbey, Harvey Goudy, Jay Elton, Freddie Withers and Zach Robinson completing the qualifiers. An unfortunate start though saw Rosie Taber in trouble, getting heavily collected by Jack Lomax and Freddie Withers. The seven survivors lined up for a full restart, headed by Lewis Pyne, but all eyes were on Ted Emmett as he moved up to second and was quickly on Lewis’ tail. On lap 6 Ted saw a gap on the inside and was through to lead, then never putting a wheel wrong for the rest of the 20 laps as he came home a very deserving winner, chased all the way by Lewis. Harvey Goudy took third from Sienna Wisbey, with everyone else lapped as Jayden Lake took fourth from Jay Elton and, after a couple of spins, Zach Robinson.

Starting in graded order for the weekend’s last race, Zach Robinson led away before being passed by Jay Elton, and Jay’s pink Saxo then held on in front. Freddie Withers briefly took the lead but got sideways, and then got even more out of shape and pulled off after a firm shove up the rear. Harvey Goudy then took up the challenge and on the last lap got ahead on the outside line, Harvey taking the win with Lewis Pyne following him through for second and Jay Elton in third, just ahead of Ted Emmett, Rosie Taber, Sienna Wisbey and Jayden Lake.

The RETRO RODS had their Gold Cup race as their first of the day (still in the dry!) with two more cars joining the field; Martin Dean’s Clio and Bristol based Adam Elias, hiring the Les Lynch Anglia for the day. Rich Spiers’ Puma started from the pole after his Saturday results, but the race was decided when Rich got very sideways out of the first corner. Ashley Crofts only needed the one invitation and his Nova went straight into the lead from where, with the very evenly matched field, nobody could move him. Teddy Goodman-West challenged Rich for second and, when he finally got through, moved up on Ashley and they completed the last three laps side-by-side. Ashley wasn’t to be denied the win though, taking the flag just ahead of Teddy, Rich and Martyn Dean, with the two Anglias of Ian Cross and Adam Elias lapped at the end, after spins for both of them.

The wet second race just brought out four cars and Ashley celebrated his new title with a display that saw him finish a lap ahead of Rich and Martin, with Ian spinning out. By the final Rich had joined Teddy on the long haul back to the south coast, leaving the three class regulars on the grid. They all had turns in front but Ashley eventually had the advantage over Martin and Ian.

The STREETSTOX saw one retirement, one addition and one change of car overnight, with Wayne Pottle taking over Adam Green’s car. Wayne then took the win in the last qualifying heat, holding off the fast closing Darren Lovelock’s Alfa at the end, with James Taylor recovering from a first lap fencing to take third from Sam Brett.

Eleven cars lined up for the Gold Roof championship race, Darren Lovelock earning pole from James Taylor, with Sam Brett, Shaun Aldous, Wayne Pottle, Ben Burnett, Ross Featherby, Fred Wade, Riley Pottle, Matt Chance and Adam Ridley being the other qualifiers. Any first lap challenge was ruled out as James Taylor was sent slithering wide out of the first corner, dropping down the field as Darren Lovelock took command, pulling out nearly three quarters of a lap lead in his dominant winning performance. Sam Brett pulled out of second halfway through the 20-lapper and Wayne Pottle came through to take second, with James Taylor ending up third, but a lap behind the flying Mito. Shaun Aldous chased James in fourth, followed by Riley Pottle, Fred Wade, Matt Chance and Ross Featherby, who’d spun out of an early fourth place. Ben Burnett and Adam Ridley completed the finishers.

The Streetstox had two trophy races to go for, with Race Receivers UK sponsoring their final race, in graded order, and this one was much closer fought! Riley Pottle led away but Shaun Aldous was soon in front, chased by James Taylor. James dropped back after clipping the kerb and getting very sideways, but he was soon back on Shaun’s tail and grabbed the lead with a lap to go, only to be immediately spun out by Darren Lovelock. Wayne Pottle emerged from the chaotic last lap to take the flag as the winner, with Darren second and Ross Featherby grabbing third from James Taylor and Shaun Aldous. Fred Wade was next and Ben Burnett just held off Matt Chance and Riley Pottle, with Adam Ridley completing the result.

It was then the turn of the JUNIOR BANGERS, with eight cars now on the grid, and they too had a Gold Cup race, taking it as their first of the day, with the rain just arriving at the end. Connor Broomfield led this all the way, finishing half a lap clear of William Eve as everyone except Connor concentrated on spinning out anything in sight. Samuel Cannon’s Fiesta came home third from Daisy Martin’s borrowed Corsa, while Logan Wick’s crippled Corsa was just about running at the end, unlike Charlie Cook’s Micra, Lewis Taylor’s Fiesta and Jacob Garrett’s Ka.

The second and third races were similar, with Connor and Samuel the only ones running at any sort of speed at the end of race two. Race three started with a five-car pile-up and Connor Broomfield was the only one to complete the distance, with William Eve a lap down in second and Logan Wick at least another lap back, with even Connor taking time out on the way to deliver a few wallops.

Completing the programme were the BACK TO BASICS BANGERS, with a total of 22 cars turning up and 19 making the first race. As the drizzle set in, Chris Wagg’s Astra was the fastest thing on track, and stayed out of trouble, winning from Nick Clayton’s Astra, Danny Elton’s Civic and Steven Willgress’ Fiesta. 14 cars survived for the second race and again Chris Wagg ran away with it, lapping the second place fight between Nick Wheatley’s Meriva, Stuart Meldrum’s Focus and Lewis King’s Fiesta.

Chris wasn’t going to get away with that a third time and, after taking over the lead of the final race (which was to be the Cup race) from Nick Wheatley, Chris found himself heading for the fence with help from the Nissan Note of Martin Broomfield. Nick Wheatley led, got taken out by Harry Clayton and got back in front just as the red flags came out with, for the second day running, Shaun Ward closing the meeting with a spectacular roll in his Vauxhall Meriva! Nick Wheatley took the win with Nick Clayton and Danny Elton collecting the other trophies after what had certainly been an entertaining weekend at Swaffham Raceway.