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THE list of competing riders for the Perryman’s British Under-19 Championship at Berwick on Saturday September 12 has been named.GB Youth boss Neil Vatcher has confirmed selection has been based on the top 15 available riders based on 2015 averages, along with a place being reserved for the 2015 British Youth Champion as a Wild Card.Vatcher said: “As there are no semi-finals for this event, this seems to be the fairest way. The Final certainly does have a feel-good factor about it, with it being wide open and almost any of the 16 riders would fancy their chances of getting on the rostrum.“I am delighted with this exciting line-up, as all 15 riders have achieved a National League average whereas in previous years this competition has been made up of a number of three-point riders.“Berwick will be a great venue for this event, as the big wide open spaces of Shielfield Park will without doubt produce some fantastic racing amongst these Young Lions.“This event is certainly one to put on the calendar, not only for Berwick supporters but any supporters from the North of England and Scotland, as many of these Young Lions will be making their first visit to Tweedmouth - and it’s a great opportunity for British Speedway supporters to see many of these future stars for the very first time.“I can remember my first British Under-19 Final at Scunthorpe about five years ago, and the quality of the racing literally took my breath away, as all 16 riders give it 100 per cent - so this is a meeting not to be missed.”BRITISH UNDER-19 CHAMPIONSHIP - QUALIFYING RIDERS: Josh Bailey (King’s Lynn Young Stars), Josh Bates (Wolverhampton/Sheffield), Alfie Bowtell (Rye House Raiders), Liam Carr (Berwick/Buxton), Max Clegg (Edinburgh/Cradley), Nathan Greaves - if fit (Cradley), Danyon Hume (Rye House Raiders), Ryan Kinsley (King’s Lyn Young Stars), Connor Mountain (Mildenhall), Michael Neale (Cradley), Ellis Perks (Cradley), Danny Phillips (Stoke), Luke Ruddick (Mildenhall), Zach Wajtknecht (Birmingham), Alex Wilson (Birmingham), Winner of 2015 British Youth Championship.The Young Lions Management would like to thank Perryman’s Buses and the Speedway Riders Association for sponsoring the event, Berwick Speedway for agreeing to host it and the BSPA for their continued support for British Youth Speedway.
(SPEEDWAY 2 - FRIDAY REVIEW)
PLYMOUTH closed to within two points of sixth-placed Ipswich with two matches in hand following their 54-38 Premier League win over Rye House at the St Boniface Arena on Friday.The Devils are now in a strong position to push for a top six finish to earn a place in the play-offs, with matches against Redcar and Scunthorpe to come next week.Manager Lee Trigger said: “It was another good team performance with all the boys getting at least one paid win.“Edward Kennett was very good for the Rockets, winning five of his six races but he did not have any back-up while we had only two races in which one of our riders failed to score. It was good to get a convincing win and score 50-plus points again.”Morten Risager was top-scorer for the Devils with 12+3, whilst Kennett’s bumper 19-point haul was exactly half of the Rockets’ total.Rye House promoter Len Silver said: “Edward was absolutely outstanding, and dropped his only points when he missed the gate entirely in Heat 11, had to come from last place and ultimately only lost out on the victory by a tyre’s width on the line.“We put up a real fight, and were worth more than the 38 points we got. We were beaten by the better team overall, but we put up a really good fight.”Meanwhile Edinburgh are in a strong position to reach the League Cup final after a 56-34 win over Ipswich in the first leg of their semi at Armadale.Monarchs captain Craig Cook lowered his own track record to 54.0 and Kevin Wolbert was unbeaten from six rides as he finished with 17+1.Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “I didn’t feel we were at our best, but fortunately we saw the best of Craig Cook and Kevin Wolbert, and we finished strongly.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 - SATURDAY PREVIEW)
LEICESTER boss Norrie Allan insists his side are still pushing hard to avoid the Elite League’s wooden spoon as they prepare to host King’s Lynn on Saturday.The Stars won 51-39 when the teams met in Norfolk on Thursday and both require several guests once more with Aaron Summers, Carl Wilkinson and Dan Greenwood stepping in to cover the various injury absences in the Lions’ team.The visitors call up Anton Rosen as a 6.00 Premier League guest with Vaclav Milik racing in the European Championship, whilst Richard Lawson and Adam Ellis stand in for injured duo Robert Lambert and Lewis Kerr.Allan said: “I predict it is going to be another close match. King’s Lynn need the points to keep their play-off chances alive and we need a win to move closer to catching up with Wolverhampton who are one place above us in the league table. “It may come down to whose guests perform the best on the night as the deciding factor.”In the Premier League, Sheffield will look to consolidate their position in the top six when they visit Berwick.The Tigers have called on Craig Cook to guest for Simon Stead at No.1 with Liam Carr making another appearance at reserve for the home side in place of Richard Hall.Berwick chairman John Anderson said: “The racing should be first-rate. Sheffield are bright and entertaining visitors and there is a full programme of junior racing after the main event. “The weather forecast is fine and after a three-week break, we should all be thirsty for some track action.”Sheffield boss Jack Lee said: “There are certain away meetings we have to look at and target points – this is one of them.“The way the lads have kept the play-off push going is brilliant considering everything we’ve been up against and hopefully we can go to Berwick and get a result. I still think we’re looking good for the play-offs but we’re not taking anything for granted.”Meanwhile Workington look to extend their unbeaten home record this evening when they entertain Redcar at Derwent Park, although the Comets go into the meeting with both Rusty Harrison and Kyle Howarth on the injured list.Boss Tony Jackson said: “Rusty is still having problems with his shoulder while Kyle is still ruled out today following his crash at Derwent Park last Saturday, so we will be operating rider replacement for Rusty while bringing in Richie Worrall as a guest for Kyle tonight. “Richie scored plenty of points against us last weekend in all three of our matches, two of which he rode against us as a guest, so hopefully he can continue that good form this evening. “Ironically tonight will also see him go up against is brother, as the Bears have brought in Steve Worrall as a guest for the injured Lasse Bjerre.”Eastbourne have confirmed new signing Daniel Spiller will make his debut as they visit Rye House in the City Gearboxes National League.Spiller was originally to take the place of Kelsey Dugard for the visitors, but he has in fact replaced Matt Bates in their team declaration as Bates could need knee surgery, so Dugard continues in the team.Tom Woolley comes in as a guest in the Eagles’ top five with rider replacement also in operation as Richard Andrews and Georgie Wood are on the sidelines.Eastbourne chairman Martin Dugard said: “It has been a stressful couple of days but now we look forward to seeing one of the most exciting young talents in world speedway riding in the colours of the Eagles.”
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SATURDAY AUGUST 15:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Sheffield 7pm, Workington v Redcar 7pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Eastbourne 7pm, Stoke v Cradley OFF
SUNDAY AUGUST 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Workington 5pm, Newcastle v Berwick 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm, Mildenhall v Stoke 3.30PEUGEOT INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow 3pm
MONDAY AUGUST 17:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v Leicester 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Eastbourne 6.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 18:PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Ipswich 7.30
