Selwyn_Times: January 24, 2024

Selwyn Times Wednesday January 24 2024
34
SPORT
Douglas misses out on Pabst full-time seat
ON TOP:
Lincoln
motor racing
driver Jacob
Douglas
on the top
step of the
podium at
Portland
International
Raceway,
Oregon last
year. PHOTO:
USF2000
• By Daniel Alvey
UNITED STATES-based
Lincoln motor racing driver
Jacob Douglas has missed out on
a full-time campaign in his next
step on the road to IndyCar.
Despite performing well in
the first pre-season test for
USF Pro 2000 at Indianapolis
Motor Speedway in October, the
18-year-old was not given a fulltime
seat with Pabst Racing.
Pabst has instead opted for
American drivers Jace Denmark,
Christian Brooks and Simon
Sikes to fill their line-up.
Douglas had an almost
perfect finish to the USF 2000
championship with two wins
and with maiden poles and
back-to-back wins at Portland
International Raceway, Oregon,
in September.
When contacted by Selwyn
Times he declined to talk until
his 2024 plans are set in place.
On social media, however, he
hinted at retaining a connection
with Pabst.
“Although 2024 is going to
look a bit different to plan A
and I won’t be in a full-time
campaign with Pabst Racing,
I am looking forward to
continuing the work we started
last year and getting ready to get
back on track with them as soon
as possible,” Douglas said.
T20 top spot a ‘long shot’
for Darfield team
• By Sam Coughlan
DARFIELD MIGHT have won
both their T20 matches at the
weekend, but coach Shannon
McAleer says making the final is
still a long shot.
Darfield beat Lincoln and Oxbridge
in two closely contested
Canterbury Country premier
competition matches to lift them
to a respectable fourth on the
table.
But with five rounds to go,
McAleer is not banking on making
the top two.
“We’ve had a loss already, and
based on the strength of the
other sides, I don’t think we’ll
make a final there,” he said.
First-placed Sefton have four
wins from as many games while
Weedons have won all three of
theirs, plus a bye, to sit second.
It’s a similar story in the 45
over one-day competition where
Darfield are fourth as well, but
McAleer said the team was aiming
for success on that front.
“In the one-dayers we hope to
make the top four, that’s the goal
SCORING: Darfield opener Jesse Frew drives against
Cheviot at Darfield Domain earlier in the season.
PHOTOS: SHANNON MCALEER
we set ourselves at the start of
the season,” he said.
In the one-day competition,
the top four finishers will play in
the semi finals at the end of the
season.
Said McAleer: “History would
suggest that it doesn’t really
matter where you finish in that
top four, as long as you’re in the
semis you have a chance.”
The fourth round of the T20
competition takes place this
Friday evening with the one-day
competition being played on
Saturday.
Darfield will play Cheviot on
Friday, while other Selwyn-based
teams in action are Lincoln,
who host Ohoka, and Weedons
who travel to Tai Tapu to take
on Peninsula-Harbour, while
Leeston-Southbridge have the
bye.
On Saturday, the four Selwyn
teams will play each other in the
10th of 14 rounds in the oneday
competition, with Darfield
hosting Weedons and Lincoln
travelling to take on Leeston-
Southbridge.
McAleer says playing two days
in a row has its challenges.
“It’s a good thing we only have
Henry Pratt (left) and
skipper Ryan Hughes
change the field.
one game on the Friday because
the double-headers we play are
very hard on the body.
“For this weekend, one T20
Friday night, and the boys are
just gonna have to back up,
they’re just gonna have to suck it
up on Saturday and get on and
do it, and every team is in the
same boat.”
• A full list of fixtures can
be found at playhq.com
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