All roads lead to Swingfield in Kent this weekend as the Astra Club host the rerun of the 2025 ACU British Masters 1,000cc Right-Hand Sidecar Grasstrack Championship, and what an epic contest it promises to be!
In both the last two completed Masters back in 2021 and 2022, Mark Cossar had been victorious, making it an incredible seven Masters crowns in total. During the aborted 2024 event, Cossar crashed out, suffering nasty injuries, which had forced him to sit out the first couple of months of the 2025 season. And, so far in 2025, proving just what an ultra-competitive class the 1,000cc chairs really are, there have been six different finals winners. Starting with Matt Fumarola/Andrew Wilson, other podium toppers have included Terry Saunters/Liam Brown, Robbie Simmons/Frankie Courtney, Gareth Winterburn/Billy Winterburn and Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb. Ominously though, and having switched from Suzuki to Yamaha power, Mark Cossar, since his return, has quickly got right back on the pace and bagged three finals wins himself.
Cossar, though, did crash during the aborted first running of the 2025 Masters at Ledbury back in August, losing the services of his regular passenger Carl Blyth in the process with a broken arm. Mark was uninjured himself in that spill and returned to action with another win at Chaddesley Corbett two weeks ago. Partnering him at Chaddesley was Andrew Wilson, who himself had suffered a very nasty injury following a heavy crash during the original staging of the Masters. At the time of going to press, it has not been confirmed if Andi will be teaming up with Mark Cossar at Swingfield, but should this dynamic duo be together again, they will surely start at the Masters rerun as one of the very hot favourites to bag the title.
Although the likes of quality performers Matt Fumarola, Carl Blyth, Wayne Rickards, Michael Austin, Neal Owen and Jason Farwell will all be missing from the Swingfield rerun, there’s still plenty of very fast crews ready to challenge defending Champion Mark Cossar. Included in the entry and coming to the tapes in Kent are, with the exception of the injured Fumarola, all of the above-mentioned finals winners so far in 2025. Having recently switched over to a fuel-injected motor, Saunters looked particularly quick at Chaddesley, along with the always ultra-competitive Whitelam. Full of confidence and the winner of the only completed 1,000cc sidecar heat at Ledbury, Robbie Simmons/Frankie Courtney must surely also be considered as a very serious podium contender!
Continuing with the high-quality theme and always showing plenty of speed, determination and desire to get stuck in, the entertaining Tom Cossar/Ryan Wharton, Will Offen/Ricky Pay and Channel Islands aces Clint Blondel/Stephen Russell, another crew right on it at Chaddesley, are sure to be very hungry for success in Kent. Also ensuring that the 2025 Masters will be red hot are Mick Stace/Terry Madley, Andrew Minard/Lewis Davies, Dale Fish/Jordan Fish, Will Penfold/Freddie Wood, Simon Beaney/Brook Fowler and former Champions, Rob Bradley a four times winner who now has Ryan Barker in the chair and Colin Blackbourn/Carl Pugh two times winner who was last victorious in 2015. Having been reserves in the original staging of Masters, former Champion in 1983 and 1990, Steve Smith, with Gareth Little in the chair, Stef Blyth/Morgan Blyth and Bradley Reynolds/Connor Measor have all now been promoted to the main event and will certainly be looking to take their opportunity to the max as they complete the entry list in Sunday’s rerun!
The Swingfield event also includes solo racing for 500cc and 350cc competitors. In the 500cc Champion of Champions contest, James Shanes and young Charlie Wood look set to meet again after engaging in a couple of epic battles last time out at Chaddesley. Also looking to be in the mix are the likes of Darryl Ritchings, 3rd in the British Masters, Arran Butcher, Eddie Kennett, Ryan Ashcroft, Luke Harris, Jordan Derrick and Eli Meadows, amongst others.
Over in the 350cc class, which incorporates the Stan Luck Memorial trophy, fresh from picking up a gold medal in the World Longtrack Team Championship when representing Team GB, Cameron Taylor travels from Gloucestershire to top the entry, which also includes Ashton Vale, the 2025 250cc ACU British Champion. Better recognised for their performances on a 250cc machine, Liam Cox and Max Derrick also move up onto a 350cc for this event, as does regular GT140’s contender Mark Scopes. More familiar with the 350cc power, Barry Powell, Dave Mears, James Peters, Luke Clifto,n and George Pardoe complete the entry.
So, get along to the Swingfield circuit this weekend, which can be found off the A260 Folkestone to Canterbury Road, CT15 7HF. With racing starting at 1pm, Admission charges are Adults £18, Senior Citizens £15 and Under 16’s FREE
Words and Images by Mike Wood