OXFORDSHIRE born and bred Jason Garrad scored his first maximum as Oxford Chargers completed the double over Edinburgh Monarchs Academy.

Chargers, the reigning National Development League champions, began the defence of their title with a dramatic 45-44 victory at Armadale Stadium on Friday night, with Jody Scott the last heat hero.

Chargers then backed that up with a 51-36 win at Oxford Stadium on Sunday afternoon, despite conceding a 5-1 in the first heat, when Luke Killeen reared and fell while clear at the front.

However, it was the only time that Edinburgh took a heat advantage all afternoon.

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Oxford took the lead with a 5-1 from Scott and Ashton Vale in Heat 4, while three 4-2s between Heats 5 and 9 extended the lead to eight points.

Scott and Killeen clinched the meeting with a 5-1 in Heat 13, as Scott led, while Killeen got past both Max Perry and Connor Coles at the end of the first lap, before then showing great maturity and skill to shut out Perry.

Garrad completed his full house in Heat 14, while Scott also won his opening four rides, and was only denied a maximum by Coles, who won Heat 15.

Vale, making his home debut for the Chargers, was also one ride away from a paid maximum, before dropping a point to Dayle Wood in Heat 12.

As well as Garrad, another local rider in the Chargers side was Wayne Hutt, the assistant track curator at Sandy Lane.

He has previously competed in second halves at Oxford, mostly back in 2006 and 2007, but this was his league debut.

The 40-year-old, a popular figure at Oxford Stadium, picked up a point in Heat 1, following Killeen’s exclusion.

Oxford Mail:

Garrad said: “I’m really happy to score a maximum in my first home meeting of the season. I should have scored more at Edinburgh on Friday, but I fell and was excluded after a good start in my third ride up there.

“It’s awesome to score a maximum for my hometown club around here. It’s where I watched speedway as a kid. I knew I could do it and now I’ve proved it.

“I didn’t come back last year to stop at National League level. If I could get up into the Championship that would be nice, and to get as far as the Premiership would be a dream.

“At 36, I’m a bit older than most, but I believe the opportunities are still there and it is possible to ride speedway until your forties. I’m pushing forward and working hard at it the whole time.”