West London lay down a marker as Eastbourne seal sixth straight crown
Home club take maiden win; Eastbourne’s championship dynasty honoured with a new A22 Inter‑Club Shield as Craig Drescher returns to where it all began.
West London, Sunday 7 September 2025 — The numbers will show Eastbourne wrapped the King of Clubs teams’ title long before a wheel turned at the finale, but the mood trackside at West London was anything but ceremonial. The home club wanted the win on their patch, a statement of intent for 2026, and they got it — a tight, hard‑earned team victory to knock Aldershot back into third overall.
There was romance, too. RC racing legend Craig Drescher — multiple British and European title‑winner — was back at the circuit for the first time in roughly 15 years, representing new series sponsor Associated Electrics (Team Associated) and UK partners CML Distribution. Drescher walked the pitlane, judged performances with a racer’s eye, signed autographs and, before the day’s end, handed out special awards and junior “team drive” contracts. The old master knows talent when he sees it; West London reminds everyone these youngsters know how to win.
Talent Cup — Johnson edges Snashall by tenths, twice
If there was a class that distilled the season’s drama into two five breathless minutes, it was the Talent Cup. Harry Johnson and Chloe Snashall arrived level on points — Snashall nominally ahead on countback with four wins to Johnson’s three — and spent the day heaping pressure on one another with impressive pace.
Johnson banked TQ by winning the first three qualifying rounds, then parked it for the fourth to save tyres — a cool‑headed gamble worthy of a race veteran. It paid out in the smallest of margins when the points were dished out. In Final 1, the pair traded places repeatedly before Johnson won it by 0.31s (17 laps in 3:07.63 to Snashall’s 3:07.94). Outright pace told — Harry’s best was four‑tenths quicker — but nothing between them ever felt comfortable.
That set up a winner‑takes‑all second Final. It was decided by whiskers: 17/3:02.09 for Johnson to 17/3:02.96 for Snashall. The stopwatch said 0.87s; the eyes said “blink and you’ll miss it”. Johnson took the 100 points and the Talent Cup championship, with Oscar Sturt completing the season’s top three.
Drescher, suitably impressed, presented CML special awards and offered team‑drive contracts to Johnson, Snashall and Sturt — then, in a flourish, extended the opportunity to Ellis Wiffen and Poppy Hyde for their performances and promise. It was a fine nod to the series’ purpose: racing that finds and grows talent.
Finley crowned Rookies Cup Champ; Ivan takes first win
Finley Harrison (Eastbourne) did the heavy lifting early in the campaign, arriving at West London with the Rookies Cup effectively done — five wins from eight over the previous rounds had already delivered the title. With the pressure off, the finale offered the chance for fresh names to shine.
They did. Ivan Murphy‑Brown took his first Rookies Cup win in Final 1, a hugely popular result, before the returning Elliot Theobald won Final 2. Harrison added a second and a third to close the champion’s season with due style. Three RC Vision summer‑camp grads joined the grid; Arriz Hussain grabbed third in Final 1 — notably ahead of Theobald — and backed it up with fourth in Final 2. Noah and Harrison completed the top six in both legs — tidy, consistent drives in a busy midfield.
Frontie — Rand sweeps; Young bags the bronze for the season
The Frontie title fight stayed close all season, then Stu Rand (Eastbourne) arrived at West London in full flight. He swept all four qualifying rounds and won both A‑finals for a clean, emphatic round victory — the kind that tends to settle arguments and, here, settled the championship as well.
West London’s Mark Young was excellent value for P2 in both finals, a result that secured third in the championship. Rich Harrison (Eastbourne) completed the season as runner‑up, his consistency — two third‑place round finishes among them — the difference through the year.
Masters — Giddins holds his nerve at home
If anyone felt pressure, it was surely Damian Giddins, long‑time West London racer, nursing a slender season lead over club team mate Dave Ringsell. Their qualifying duel was a study in margins: 19/3:12.24 for Giddens, 19/3:12.64 for Ringell. Ross Dilanda (Aldershot) slotted P3, with Ian Dibble and Andy Hyde (both West London) next, John Williams (Eastbourne) P6.
The finals were decisive and, from Ringsell’s perspective, cruel. In Final 1, Giddins controlled the pace and won; Ringsell chased home for second. In Final 2, incidents found Ringsell while Giddins stayed clean, sealing both leg wins and with them the Masters championship. Dibble’s 5th + 2nd locked third in the championship, and West London locked out the round podium — a 1‑2‑3 for the Londoners.
In the Masters B final, returning stalwart Marlon McCluskey — newly bionic knee and all — took a popular comeback win with metronomic P2 + P2 runs ahead of Peter Neville and Andy Lewis. Kevin Sturt (B‑TQ) couldn’t convert on the day and had to settle for fifth.
17.5 Blinky — Cane converts; Hyde steals the show
The 17.5 Blinky title picture shifted before the drivers' briefing. Championship leader Ricky Copsy (X-ray, West London) was ruled out by family commitments, leaving Ben Cane (Schumacher, 100% Aldershot) a clear road — but not a cruise. West London’s Ash Wiffen (Aesomatix) kept Cane honest all morning, even nicking Q3; Cane still secured TQ with authority.
The finals were decisive. Ben Cane won both legs with measured pace, Wiffen took two seconds, and Tim Hancock (Adur) banked twin thirds. The performance that had the paddock talking, however, belonged to a 13‑year‑old making his first A‑final: Kenny Hyde launched from P8 to P5 in A1, then added an eighth in A2 for sixth overall — a breakout day deserving of a driver‑of‑the‑day nod.
Aldershot’s rising young star, Charlie Johnson, bounced back from his disappointment in not making the A-Final by winning both B-Finals in style from Andy Bass and Max O’Donnell, while Kelvin Hunter, Jay Barguss and Tom Randall swapped podium positions in the C final.
Teams — Eastbourne immortalised, West London win the day
The inter‑club narrative needed its own line in the programme. Eastbourne were already champions — their sixth consecutive teams’ title — and in recognition a new trophy was commissioned: the A22 Inter‑Club Teams Championship Shield, dedicated to the club’s remarkable run.
On the day, though, West London took their first round win of the season, underlining their 2026 intent with contribution drives everywhere you looked: Ash Wiffen (2nd, 17.5 A), Colin Gardner (4th, 17.5 B), Mark Young (2nd, Frontie), Damian Giddens (Masters A winner) with Dave Ringell backing him up, and Poppy Hyde delivering 5th in the Talent Cup.
Eastbourne were second on the day, a costly 10th in the 17.5 B for Daniel Bancroft perhaps the difference, despite strong results from Richard Harrison, Stu Rand, Peter Harridance, John Williams and Chloe Snashall. Adur completed the daily podium thanks to Tim Hancock, Luke Thompson, Kevin Sturt, Peter Neville, Mick Handy and Oscar Sturt, while Aldershot fought to the flag.
The engraved new trophy reads six in a row for Eastbourne; the feeling, as the lights went out on 2025, is that West London have found a gear. On current form you’d be brave to wager against seven for Eastbourne next year — but Sunday suggested the chase might be worth an entry.
Special awards
Special Thanks: Darren Simpson, for race‑directing all five events with calm authority and giving the series real continuity.
Special Thanks: Stu Colby, whose behind‑the‑scenes graft across every round made the show run.
Spirit of KOC “Togetherness” Award: Dave Johnson (father of Harry & Charlie) — recognised for tireless support of his sons and the community spirit that sits at the heart of King of Clubs.
KOC25 RD5 - WEST LONDON - FINALS
Rookies Cup — A Final (Top 3)
| Pos | Driver | Points | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivan Murphy-Brown | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Elliot Theobald | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | Finley Harrison | 5 | 2 | 3 |
FWD (Frontie) — A Final (Top 3)
| Pos | Driver | Points | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stuart Rand | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Mark Young | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Richard Harrison | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Talent Cup — A Final (Top 3)
| Pos | Driver | Points | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Johnson | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Chloe Snashall | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Ellis Wiffen | 7 | 3 | 4 |
17.5 Blinky (Stock) — A Final (Top 3)
| Pos | Driver | Points | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Cane | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Ashley Wiffen | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Tim Hancock | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Masters — A Final (Top 3)
| Pos | Driver | Points | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Damian Giddins | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Dave Ringsell | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| 3 | Ian Diboll | 7 | 5 | 2 |
KOC25 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Teams Championship (Series)
| Pos | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastbourne | 8 |
| 2 | West London | 13 |
| 3 | Aldershot | 15 |
| 4 | Adur | 18 |
| 5 | Colchester | 21 |
FWD (Frontie) — Drivers (Top 5)
| Pos | Driver | Final Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stuart Rand | 598 |
| 2 | Richard Harrison | 586 |
| 3 | Mark Young | 585 |
| 4 | Mark Trinder | 581 |
| 5 | James Snashall | 560 |
Talent Cup — Drivers (Top 5)
| Pos | Driver | Final Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Johnson | 599 |
| 2 | Chloe Snashall | 598 |
| 3 | Oscar Sturt | 585 |
| 4 | Poppy Hyde | 585 |
| 5 | Ellis Wiffen | 578 |
17.5 Blinky (Stock) — Drivers (Top 5)
| Pos | Driver | Final Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Cane | 593 |
| 2 | Ricky Copsey | 588 |
| 3 | Ashley Wiffen | 582 |
| 4 | Ben Moorey | 577 |
| 5 | Andy Travis | 572 |
Masters — Drivers (Top 5)
| Pos | Driver | Final Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Damian Giddins | 599 |
| 2 | Dave Ringsell | 595 |
| 3 | Ian Diboll | 585 |
| 4 | Andy Hyde | 578 |
| 5 | John Williams | 575 |
Rookies Cup — Drivers (Top 5)
| Pos | Driver | Final Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finley Harrison | 599 |
| 2 | Ivan Murphy-Brown | 589 |
| 3 | Elliot Theobald | 397 |
| 4 | Archie Weston | 392 |
| 5 | Luke Buonaiuto | 199 |
