Big Apple Smash Up - New York, NY
Consolation Heat
Steven Redden, Leo May, Dick Garrett, Joe Ramage, Lynne Higgins, Ben Hadsell, Bob Alexander, Phillip Ruffin, Rob Remaley, John McCrory, Ed Smith, Sam Harbin
Bob Alexander was again a popular figure as he took five hits in the first two minutes and made his day complete by missing his intended target, ending in twelfth place against the barriers, and Ed Smith will have to wait a little longer for his final debut after picking up a slight injury on a hit by Steven Redden.
After four finals in five events Dick Garrett misses his second on the bounce after wedging himself onto a barrier before a hit from Ben Hadsell and a pair from Rob Remaley completed the elimination before six time finalist Remaley stalled out. That sequence of events was the start of five quick exits with Joe Ramage surely conceding his slim championship lead by virtue of a stall, and Lynne Higgins, who has three fifth place finishes this year, taken out by a Redden hit, her sixth of the heat.
With the excpetion of the Frostbite Winter Nationals (6th) Steven Redden only makes a final when Tom Gariepy does, this time Sam Harbin returning after an early hit to finish the job, and John McCrory became entangled on the scenery and freeing himself only to inflict further damage on himself. The final man out was Leo May who had made an appearance in five out out seven events starting in Tampa but misses two in a row for the first time since the start of the season; another stall victim.
Ben Hadsell barely survived his own stall and some fierce pressure from Harbin to reach his fourth final of the year. The Frostbite champion finished third in Tampa and sixth in Idaho so will be hoping for another good performance in New York.
Phillip Ruffin missed the opening five finals before taking ninth place at the Ides of March event, and another five week drought ends with a place in the Big Apple Smash Up finale. He started the consolation heat poorly when Rob Remaley came up on him unnoticed but rallied to take his revenge with two hits and avoid a lot of further trouble.
The final qualifier is Sam Harbin whose best result in his four final appearances was runner-up spot in Arizona. He earned his place with eight hits, two of each going to Redden, McCrory and Hadsell, but his strategy was to steer clear of danger and succeeded in doing so by taking just two hits; one from May and one from McCrory.
Race Result
Q. Ben Hadsell
Q. Phillip Ruffin
Q. Sam Harbin
4. Leo May
5. John McCrory
6. Steven Redden
7. Lynne Higgins
8. Joe Ramage
9. Rob Remaley
10. Dick Garrett
11. Ed Smith
12. Bob Alexander
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