Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1997
By Tracy Holmes

Chris Penny was unbeaten to win the NZ Champs and this booked his ticket to the Overseas Final. [ Mark Thorpe scored 10 points for 6th place ] However, disaster struck on March 29, Penny's debut for Stoke. He crashed and the subsequent wrist injury kept him out of action for over two months.

Lining up for the biggest meeting of his career, the stage being Odsal, Bradford on June 22. The top 8 going to the Intercontinental Final at Vastervik on the 26th of July. Penny was certainly on a hiding to nothing but he was determined to put up a good fight. And at the end of the day, his two points he felt were to be celebrated. "I think I rode reasonably well" he continued, "I was there and not a million miles away from getting another one or two points, so I'm pleased enough with my first Overseas Final." Well done son !

Heat 1. Boyce, Barker, C Ermolenko, PENNY.

5. S Ermolenko, Tatum, PENNY, Lechky.

9. Havelock, Crump, PENNY. Parker ef.

13. Manchester, Sullivan, Venegas, PENNY.

17. Screen, Wilson, Stonehewer, PENNY.

Kelvin Tatum 14. Joe Screen 14. Sean Wilson 11. Craig Boyce 11. Sam Ermolenko 11. Gary Havelock 10. Ryan Sullivan 9. Dean Barker 9. All qualify.

Jason Crump 8. Chris Manchester 6. Shane Parker 5. Carl Stonehewer 5. Charles Ermolenko 3. Charlie Venegas 2. CHRIS PENNY 2. Karoly Lechky 0.

Mike Faria Q ns. Bobby Schwartz Q ns. Ed Castro Q ns.

Reserves David Norris and Scott Nicholls dnr.

1981 - 1982 - 1983 - 1984 - 1985 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988 - 1989 - 1990 - 1991 - 1992 - 1993 - 1994 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000/01

This article was first published on 15th April 2018