Norfolk rider made for success

I first interviewed Robert Lambert when he was 15.It was a name I’d heard as a result of being around speedway circles. Everyone was talking about this wonder kid who was going to ride for the King’s Lynn Stars as soon as he turned 16. But naturally, there was also some scepticism.Teenage talents are a pound-a-penny across many areas, especially motorsport, and a huge chunk never make it. But with Lambert it always felt different.He won five of his six races on debut for the King’s Lynn Young Stars, the senior side’s feeder team at the time. Promising performances in Germany before he could race in Britain’s top-flight further cemented his reputation as one of the hottest prospects.And once he got into the Elite League, it didn’t take long for Norfolk’s finest to start showing his class.Those who watched him then knew he had all the talent in the world and if he remained injury-free, and well-advised, had the potential to go to the very top.However, success isn’t dished out freely and once Lambert joined the speedway elite in the Grand Prix scene, he was forced to bide his time. Sensational performances didn’t always result in big GP points or victories that looked like they might happen mid-meeting. Even as a wildcard or substitute, before he qualified for a full-time slot in 2021, the Foulsham-raised racer showed enough – but couldn’t quite get over the line.Yet you always thought it was going to be a matter of when, not if, and becoming a Red Bull athlete seemed to take his chances to the next level.That promise finally turned to gold on Saturday when Lambert won his maiden Grand Prix. It may have been somewhat overshadowed by Bartosz Zmarzlik clinching his fifth world title on the same night, but it certainly wasn’t in these parts.Speedway fans in Norfolk, especially those who follow Lynn, were in celebratory mode. After all, he’s one of our own. It was the 10th time he’d reached a final and the fifth occasion this season he was in the battle for GP glory.That’s a bigger achievement than most will ever enjoy. Yet Lambert isn’t most riders. At 26, he should be heading for a podium finish across the whole series given he’s 10 points ahead of third-placed Freddie Lindgren going into the final round on September 28.What can’t be changed is the fact Lambert has already tasted huge triumphs on an international stage already.A two-time Speedway of Nations world champion, a European title-winner as well as a British crown and a string of under-21 titles under his belt.Yet world championship individual honours are what riders crave most. Lambert was always destined to be a star – now he’s closer to shining brighter than ever. n Running is, so often, an individual pursuit.People chasing times to better themselves or locking horns with fellow competitors to be the first across the line. There might be team work in training, but when it usually comes to a race day, it’s every person for themselves.One event that bucks that trend is the iconic Round Norfolk Relay. You may have seen people out running, with support cyclists, around the county’s boundary doing it across the weekend.Teams tackled a distance of 198 miles, divided into 17 unequal stages, and carried their baton from Saturday morning all the way through to Sunday. The effort and dedication of those participating, or offering support – as well as the volunteers and marshals – is really inspiring; especially for those tackling legs in the early hours of the Sunday.Some of the times and efforts posted were truly phenomenal. At the time of writing, a winner hadn’t been declared – but in my mind everyone involved in this heartwarming event is a true champion anyway.n ‘The slow death of the screamer’ was the headline.The BBC last week published an in-depth report crammed with stats that suggested long-range goals are becoming a rare species in top-flight football. Having grown up on a diet of memorable Tony Yeboah and Paul Scholes belters, it’s fair to say that the art of shooting from distance has sadly decreased.Football is all about possession, xG stats and the tactical side of the game these days.While it can be fascinating to watch, and all sport evolves, it does take away the raw beauty of watching someone smash a ball in at speed from 25-plus yards out.Thankfully, Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran was keen to dispel the trend when he lashed home his side’s winner against Everton on Saturday. The noise in the stadium said it all. That little gasp turns into an unhealthy roar that comes from deep within. Nobody saw it coming and everybody not connected with Everton loved it.’If you don’t shoot, you don’t score’ doesn’t seem to be a philosophy that is touted in the modern game. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if Duran’s super strike restarted it?Goals from distance are never forgotten; quite apt really as I was only talking the other day about the three that King’s Lynn Town scored in the same game during a 3-0 play-off win against Weymouth in 2018.