Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare / CTA Direct Cycle Speedway rounded off their 2002 outdoor season with the staging of their Club Individual Championships under the Gin Pit floodlights. Members of British Cycling's Talent Team also took part, with the fast grippy conditions providing some good racing.

A & T skipper Damien Hack won all his five races to record a 20 points maximum score and retain his title. His nearest challenger was comeback rider Matthew Helme, who won his first four races. The top two met in heat 17, with Helme chasing hard for 3 laps before Hack pulled clear on the last lap to win. Three riders tied for 3rd place, and an exciting run-off was held. A & T's Rob Longworth put in a terrific race to pass British U-16 Track Champion Matthew Crampton on the last bend, to secure 3rd place overall. Four A & T riders - Matthew Helme, Rob Longworth, Roy Heslop, David Greenough - recorded their personal best times.

Astley & Tyldesley Club Individual Championship results:

Damien Hack (A & T) 20, Matthew Helme (A & T) 19, Rob Longworth (A & T) 17, Matthew Crampton (Talent Team) 17, Chris Furber (BCF) 17, James Griffin (Talent Team) 15, Roy Heslop (A & T) 14, David Greenough (A & T) 13, John Nuttall (A & T) 12, Alix Chester (Talent Team) 11, Chris Heslop (A & T) 10.

Damien Hack also won the U-19 category, Matthew Helme the U-16 category and Rob Longworth the U-13 category.

Damien Hack competed at Bury in the Chairman's Cup meeting. A fall 2nd time out when rammed off by Bury's Dave O'Callaghan saw him forced to borrow bikes for the remainder of the match. Despite this he finished 2nd in his group of 12 riders, dropping just 2 points, to qualify for the semi-finals. Another 2nd place in his semi-final saw him qualify for the final. The first attempt at the final saw Ben Scranage of Bury excluded for jumping the start. Hack made the start in the re-run to take the lead. On the pits bend, Bury's Steve Muff rammed Hack off his bike, with both riders ending up on the deck in an untidy heap. Astonishingly referee John Burston didn't stop the race, with Sandwell's Jack Hibberd afforded the luxury of three celebration laps to win the final unopposed. For the record Muff finished 2nd, with Hack 3rd. A controversial end to the match, with many observers left wondering what happened to the rule whereby riders were excluded for ramming opponents off their bikes.