Bellars, Dalton & Evans Take The Cups; Lee Takes The Glory

by Stuart Lee

Two of the defending Clubman Cup champions were able to go back-to-back, with Fletcher Bellars and Lochie Dalton claiming wins on Sunday in KA3 Junior and KA3 Senior Light classes respectively.

Mitchel Evans however was able to dethrone defending champion Alastair Lee in the KA3 Senior Medium final.

But it was Lee who won the bragging rights with a win in the KA3 pro race where 22 of the Light and Medium drivers entered at the pro weight between both classes.

Nathan Zuj ahead of Bradley Hobden, KA3 Light. Zuj shared the kart with Alastair Lee who won the Feature race (pic – LKC/Examiner)

Bellars won the final of KA3 Junior after an enthralling race where William Blair caught the leader with around 3 laps to go only to be challenged by the third running Ethan Wyllie who also looked strong in the mid race. However Bellars was able to withstand the pressure and claim the win ahead of Wyllie and Blair.

In KA3 Senior Light, Dalton got the early jump and like Bellars looked to have the race in his control, however a fast finishing Callum Bishop caught and passed Dalton with 2 laps remaining. Dalton showed his skill however and was able to retake the lead and claim win number two ahead of Bishop and Hobart’s Brad Hobden in third.

KA3 Senior Light winner Lachlan Dalton ahead of Logan Dixon (pic – LKC/Examiner)

The KA3 Senior Medium final was also an enthralling final with Evans leading early, then Lee taking over with Evans and Spreyton Brody Appleby a close third at mid race Evans retook the lead with Appleby following thru relegating Lee back to third. At the chequers Evans took the win ahead of Lee who got past Appleby in the closing Laps.

Spot of bother for Michael Jones (pic – LKC/Examiner)

The Feature KA3 Pro race at the end of the day saw 22 of the 25 KA3 Senior drivers enter – the pro weight of 159kg is half way between the weights for light (149kg) and Medium (169kg). A random grid draw for the 21 lap race saw Ulverstone’s Johnah Slater on pole alongside Hobart’s Campbell Logan, with a few of the more fancied drivers spread down the grid.

Slater led the opening lap from Logan with Lochie Dalton 3^rd. Dalton however moved to the lead from lap 2, but soon after a gentle sprinkle of rain started which produced an amazing race. As the rain fell it became evident that it was going to be a survival of the fittest. Dalton relinquished the lead on lap 10 with Mitchel Evans taking control, meanwhile Alastair Lee was making his way forward grabbing 3^rd on lap 11. Lee caught Dalton with 5 laps remaining as he was making the pass for 2^nd both Dalton and Lee passed Evans who had on off from the now very wet track. Lee went on to take the win ahead of Dalton and Callum Bishop who had started out of grid 13. In all, only 11 drivers finished, with around 6 stuck in the wood chips at one corner.

Cadet 12 winner Denzil Sargent shows Cameron Jeffrey the way (pic – LKC/Examiner)

The Phil Goss Memorial was also presented on the day to the best preformed driver Over 40, with Shane Stonehouse being presented with the Phil Goss Memorial Trophy during presentations.