Edward Kennett today insisted his night of Arlington glory was no easy ride.

The 20-year-old from Hailsham was a convincing winner of the British Under-21 Championship, staged at the track he first rode at the age of seven.

Kennett had four wins and a close second in his five heats, then went tapes-to-flag in the final for what was clearly a popular win around the terraces.

Victory sends the Eastbourne Eagles asset, currently on loan at Poole, directly to the world under-21 semi-final.

He also goes to the senior British Championship, along with Wolverhampton's William Lawson and talented Rye House 16-year-old Tai Woffinden, who were second and third respectively.

Ben Barker, who rides for Stoke, was fourth but there was no Sussex showdown in the final after Eagles' Lewis Bridger was excluded from a semi he was dominating at one stage.

A problem with the start gate meant it was 11pm by the time Kennett took the final chequered flag.

But, as he was mobbed by local well-wishers, he admitted success was worth waiting for.

He said: "It's brilliant. I so badly wanted this. I worked hard at it and I'm so happy.

"This was my last crack at it and it was nice to finish on a high.

"It was tough. They are all up-and-coming boys.

"Obviously I'm getting a bit old now but you've got Tai, Ben Barker, they are all pushing their way through.

"They proved it here. I thought Ben Barker was brilliant. He really made it.

"I had a lot of support and I say thanks to them. It was a good night."

Bridger had two wins and three seconds in the heats, from which the top two scorers went straight to the final.

He was one of three riders on 12 points but it was Barker who got to the final under the various tie-break rules.

Coming out of gate four in the semi, Bridger produced a move which had even the Master of Arlington Martin Dugard purring as he cut back inside his three rivals in one sweet swoop on the second bend. He looked a clear winner at that stage but Danny King went down in the scramble for places behind him and a re-run was ordered.

When Bridger tried the same move again, he tangled with Lawson and was excluded.

His consolation is a place in the next set of qualifiers for the world under-21 crown, at Rye House on May 12