SWINDON played host to the Over 40s Veterans British Championships on Saturday.

The weather started off pleasant, with the track in its best condition all season, but little did anyone know what was about to come.

Despite struggling for entries this year, the field looked competitive with no rider having a dream draw with all the riders taking points off of one another at various stages throughout the encounter.

After two heats each, both Mark Whitehead and Steve Harris led the way with Paul Graham, Mark Winwood and Craig Marchant giving chase.

However, the racing was halted twice in a matter of minutes as the heavens opened, threatening to put the meet in danger.

But the drainage at Swindon proved its worth and within 20 minutes of the storm passing racing was able to continue.

Going into the final heats, Whitehead and Winwood finished heat 16 on 18 points apiece to leave themselves with an outside chance of the title.

In heat 17, Harris, taking gate four, knew that a win would seal a fifth veterans title. However, finishing second behind Marchant would lead to a four-man run-off.

As the tapes went up, Marchant attempted to prevent Harris using his home track knowledge to get to the front.

As the race progressed and Marchant got caught trying to make a move going into the third bend, Harris caught them napping and somehow forced himself underneath and to the front to race away to victory.