(SPEEDWAY 1)
BRITISH Speedway clubs have been working overtime to beat the big freezeand the 2013 season is set to kick-start with a bumper Easter programme over the coming days.Circuits have been brought back into raceable condition after the heavy snowfall of last weekend, and the majority of meetings will now go ahead as planned.The Sky Sports Elite League gets underway on Good Friday with six fixtures taking place, including two home-and-away double headers.2012 play-off qualifiers Lakeside have an early start at home as they face rivals Eastbourne at Purfleet (1pm) before the sides meet at Arlington at 7.45pm. The Hammers hand a debut to GB international Lewis Bridger, who launches his Lakeside career against his former clubwhilst the Eagles are determined to avenge a double defeat in the corresponding fixtures last season.East Anglian clubs Peterborough and Kings Lynn also meet twice on the day, starting at the Showground (2pm) before returning to the Norfolk Arena (7pm).The Panthers collected a six-point haul from their 2012 Good Friday clashes and hand debuts to winter signings Kenni Larsen, Ryan Fisher and Patrick Hougaardwhilst the Stars have made five changes from last year, including the major signing of former Peterborough man Rory Schlein.Midlands rivals Coventry and Birmingham hit the headlines over the winter over the transfer of Ben Barker to Perry Barr, and the Brandon match (8pm) also sees a rapid return for former Bees skipper Chris Harris, who will face new Coventry No.1 Krzysztof Kasprzak in the first race. The Brummies are warming-up for the fixture with an Inter-league clash with Premier League Sheffield on Thursday.Belle Vue have booked recently-acquired club asset Richie Worrall to guest for the unavailable Kauko Nieminen in their lunchtime clash with Wolverhampton (1pm) at Kirkmanshulme Lane, with Grand Prix duo Freddie Lindgren and Tai Woffinden back to spearhead the Monmore sides challenge.The earliest meeting of the day features 2012 Grand Finalists Poole and Swindon, who stage the second leg of the Elite Shield at Wimborne Road at midday, with the first leg taking place at Blunsdon on Thursday evening.Action at Premier League level features the League Cup, with Ipswich and Rye House going head-to-head at Foxhall (2.30pm), whilst league champions Scunthorpe meet Leicester at the Eddie Wright Raceway (3pm) with National League challenge action to follow in a double-header.And in the West Country, Premier League title favourites Somerset take on rivals Plymouth in the first leg of a challenge fixture (7.30pm).
(SPEEDWAY 2)
LUDVIG Lindgren has answered a late call to help out his former club Wolverhampton.The Swede will link up with older brother Freddie in the Wolves side for four meetings after agreeing a short term deal due to the visa issues delaying Sam Masters return to the UK.Co-promoter Chris Van Straaten said: "We would like to thank Ludvig for agreeing to step in and of course he knows the club having raced for us before. He's shown promise earlier in his career and we believe he can do a good job for us. He knows the management and members of the team so it seems a logical decision.Obviously we are just playing a waiting game now with Sam, and it's a difficult situation.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
WORKINGTON will be without winter signing Mason Campton for their opening fixtures of the season against Newcastle over Easter weekend.Campton is still awaiting the all-clear to fly out from Australia and the Comets have booked Simon Lambert (at home, Saturday) and Simon Nielsen (at Newcastle, Sunday) to guest in the Ian Thomas Shield matches.Manager Tony Jackson said: It is unfortunate that we are in this position as we have been pushing paperwork through the system since the first week of the New Year and we are just one small but critical step away right now. However, we are now at the mercy of the Australian end of things and it is simply a waiting game at present, but hopefully another few days will see everything finally cleared.
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY MARCH 28ELITE SHIELD 1st leg: Swindon v Poole 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS CHALLENGE: Sheffield v Birmingham 7.45
FRIDAY MARCH 29:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 1pm, Coventry v Birmingham 8pm, Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.45, Kings Lynn v Peterborough 7pm, Lakeside v Eastbourne 1pm, Peterborough v Kings Lynn 2pmLEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Rye House 2.30, Scunthorpe v Leicester 3pmELITE SHIELD 2nd leg: Poole v Swindon 12pmCOCK O THE NORTH 1st leg: Edinburgh v Berwick OFFCHALLENGE 1st leg: Somerset v Plymouth 7.30, Scunthorpe v Long Eaton Select (follows LC meeting)
SATURDAY MARCH 30:LEAGUE CUP: Leicester v Sheffield 7.30COCK O THE NORTH 2nd leg: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pmCHALLENGE 2nd leg: Plymouth v Somerset 7.15IAN THOMAS SHIELD 1st leg: Workington v Newcastle 7pm
SUNDAY MARCH 31:SPRING TROPHY 1st leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pmIAN THOMAS SHIELD 2nd leg: Newcastle v Workington 6.30
MONDAY APRIL 1:LEAGUE CUP: Rye House v Ipswich 2pm
