Speedway
Gisborne saloon driver Ethan Cook promised fans before last night's speedway meeting at Meeanee it was going to be a beauty for him and he delivered.
Cook displayed the benefits of some earlier visits to Meeanee this season with a sensational drive in his first heat of the third round in the 21-car Valvoline Speedweek Series. Cook won the 14-car heat from grid eight snatching the victory on the finish line from series defending champion Chris Cowling of Mount Maunganui and third placegetter Josh Boulton of Canterbury much to the delight of the 4800 fans who consider Cook a local because of his regular visits to the Bay.
In his second heat Cook, who started the round in 16th place, finished fourth from grid seven. Cook agreed his earlier visits paid off but said the biggest key to his success was the work Hawke's Bay-based mechanic and Speedway New Zealand president David Jones did on his engine.
Boulton won the top 10 pole shuffle to secure grid one for the 20-lap final which was raced after Hawke's Bay Today went to press. Stratford's Josh Ingram, an impressive rookie in the series, did well to finish third in the shuffle and win his first heat from grid two.