NICK Laurence won the inaugural Bob Radford Memorial Meeting at Eastbourne.

The match was staged by Reading Races in honour of ex-team manager, Bob Radford.

Currently unattached Sussex rider Laurence used his experience of the Arlington track to keep himself out of trouble as his rivals all faltered.

The first race was stopped when Reading Racers captain Stephen Whitehouse fell on the first bend and found himself excluded.

Laurence made the start in the re-run, but was passed by Eagles reserve Charlie Brooks, with Adam Sheppard third.

The two early pacesetters were back out in heat two, but while Laurence made the gate again and this time held onto it, it was Jamie Bursill who followed him into the third bend.

Brooks found unwanted dirt as he tried a brave outside attack and came to grief, with Rhys Laker unable to avoid him and coming down himself.

Laurence again triumphed in the re-run with Bursill second and Laker struggling at the back.

Sheppard, on the comeback trail after two years on the injury list, made the gate in heat three, while behind him Whitehouse and Bursill threw everything at each other until Whitehouse slipped off, leaving a two-man finish, with Laker having sat the race out while checking a shoulder he hurt in his heat two fall.

Heat four was called back twice with Bursill moving at the start on both occasions, the 17-year-old subsequently being given a 15-metre handicap.

With Whitehouse continuing his nightmare with another fall, Bursill caught up with Sheppard only to fall himself while attempting to execute a pass.

Meanwhile, Laurence all-but wrote his name on the trophy as he won the heat untroubled.

With Brooks withdrawing from the meeting due to his injury, Laurence sealed the win by leading Sheppard home again.

Another three-man race began in heat six where Whitehouse crashed into the air fence, leaving Bursill to grab his first race win.

Radford, a respected speedway journalist, administrator and team manager, led Reading to the league title in 1973 and enjoyed a long association with the club.

Result: Nick Laurence 11, Adam Sheppard 8, Jamie Bursill 7, Rhys Laker 4, Charlie Brooks 3, Stephen Whitehouse 0.