THE start of the M4 Karting Cirencester & District League season has been overshadowed by the news of hard-working league president Mike Smith’s recent stroke and we wish him every good wish for a full recovery.

Division One champions CHQ United had started the season with a comprehensive win over Siddington Sports Veterans in the Champions Cup.

The side went on to beat Oaksey 5-2 but not without a scare or two.

Oaksey were twice a goal up through Jake Pegler and Phil Hall’s penalty, their lead partly due to some intelligent defending, but after the break 10-man CHQ turned the screws to score four times.

Siddington Sports visited newcomers Highworth Town Development. The young home side scored six goals in 15 second-half minutes to come from 4-1 down to beat Sports 7-4.

Poulton beat Beeches 11-1. Beeches were up against it from the start, with three players withdrawing shortly before the match.

Jake Lewis scored first for Beeches on 10 minutes but their lead was short-lived. The highlight of the game was John Dawson's five goals for the visitors.

Two new clubs to the league met with Malmesbury Vics Reserves visiting highly-rated Intel and will have been happy to come away with a two-all draw, while South Cerney – another fancied side this season – inflicted Lechlade’s second successive loss with an 8-1 home win.

In division two, newcomers Wroughton Town Reserves won 5-4 at relegated Stratton United to make it six points from two matches. The visitors went two up but allowed Stratton to pull back the deficit before securing the win. Sherston drew 3-3 in their home game with South Cerney Reserves while Siddington Sports Vets and Oaksey shared four goals. Ashton Keynes started their season with a 5-2 win at Lechlade Reserves with strikes from Ryan Ellison, Steve Gleed, Alex King and Scott Smith (2).