Riding in only his third ever event, novice motorcycle rider Phil Blackmore finished an amazing second and first.

Competing on his Suzuki GSXR1000 in the 750-1300cc novice class at Snetterton, in Norfolk, the 34-year-old Billington rider finished runner-up in Saturday's main race and then went one better in Sunday's event.

"I only started racing this year," said Phil. "My first event at Croft didn't start very well. I fell off on the warm up lap, although I did manage to get back on and finish the race.

"I managed to get some laps at a very wet Mallory Park, but the bike broke down, which meant I also missed Brands Hatch a week later.

"Then I got married to Victoria and that meant I missed Cadwell and Mallory, so then it was Snetterton last week".

"I qualified 28th overall for the races. In Saturday's race I just managed to get some slick tyres on as the track was drying and finished second novice getting my first trophy.

"Then on Sunday again I started 28th. In the first of the day's two races I got a great start and was up to eighth place out of the 40 riders, but someone fell off on lap three and the race was red flagged.

"At the restart I rolled on the start line and got a 10-second penalty. I managed to finish 15th overall, but with the penalty was classified 31st, so that meant that I started 31st in the final.

"The 10-lap final was tremendous. From almost the back of the grid I worked my way up to 12th by the end of the race and was the first novice home.

"I was well happy and now I am second in the novice championship."

Phil will be hoping to repeat his efforts when he competes at Donnington Park in a couple of weeks.

Supporting Phil's racing are Blackmore Bulk Haulage from Altham, Stuart Tyldesley Butchers of Whalley and Central Garage, Clitheroe.