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ALL thirteen Premier League clubs will be represented at Sheffield in the PLRC on Sunday September 6.Owlerton is once again the venue for what is one of the biggest events of the season, with numerous potential winners in a super-strong line-up.Each club is represented by their top rider with Glasgow, Somerset and Edinburgh both having two men in the field - and the Monarchs duo, Craig Cook and Sam Masters, are both former winners of the event.Peterborough are now to be represented by skipper Ulrich Ostergaard, who is due back from injury in time for the event, with their previous selection Robert Lambert having now left the club.Scunthorpe’s Ryan Douglas was named in the official draw but subsequently suffered injury in the Scorpions’ Premier League trip to Sheffield, and he is expected to be replaced by one of his team-mates.DRAW: 1 Ulrich Ostergaard (Peterborough), 2 Richard Lawson (Glasgow), 3 Nick Morris (Glasgow), 4 Danny King (Ipswich), 5 Steve Worrall (Newcastle), 6 Craig Cook (Edinburgh), 7 Ricky Wells (Workington), 8 Sam Masters (Edinburgh), 9 Matej Kus (Redcar), 10 Thomas Jorgensen (Berwick), 11 Brady Kurtz (Somerset), 12 Jason Garrity (Sheffield), 13 Josh Grajczonek (Somerset), 14 Ryan Douglas (Scunthorpe), 15 Kyle Newman (Plymouth), 16 Edward Kennett (Rye House).*FURTHER news on the Premier League Fours, which was abandoned recently following the serious accident involving Newcastle and King’s Lynn’s Lewis Kerr, will follow in due course.And all ten City Gearboxes National League clubs will compete in the NL Pairs at King’s Lynn on Saturday September 5.*GREAT Britain’s Under-21s saw their World Team Cup dreams ended for another year despite a brave effort in Gustrow, Germany last weekend.Neil Vatcher's quartet, who were without the injured Robert Lambert, put in a determined effort in their semi-final before falling just short of a top two finish which would have seen them progress to the final. Adam Ellis put in a fine showing to top score for GB with 12 points, whilst Josh Bates also added eight including a superb win in his opening ride.Kyle Howarth (7) put in a solid display despite touching the tapes when GB played their joker, whilst Stefan Nielsen fought hard for his three points after earning a late call-up in place of Lambert.Bates said: “We are a bit disappointed we couldn't get through, we all gave it our best shot but it just wasn't quite to be in the end.“We tried our best and I think we can be proud of how we rode. It's a shame we couldn't make it through, but we all learnt a lot and it was a great experience so hopefully we can come back next year and go one better.” BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2015:ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: JASON DOYLEBRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: KYLE HOWARTHBRITISH FINAL: TAI WOFFINDENPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: IPSWICHPREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Abandoned - Further news to followPREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday September 6
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: BIRMINGHAMNATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: King’s Lynn, Saturday September 5NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House, Saturday September 26
BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: Berwick, Saturday September 12
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE skipper Scott Nicholls believes King’s Lynn are the team the Aces need to target if they are to overhaul one of their rivals currently in the top four.Nicholls said: “We are still in a bit of a precarious situation as far as the league table goes though, but a maximum haul against Wolves has really boosted our chances of making the top four.“Swindon seem fairly comfortable so for me our main competition is looking most likely to be King's Lynn, and what we could really do with is for the Robins to go down to Norfolk and get the win. That could do us a massive favour but obviously with what's happened to Darcy Ward things won't be so easy for them. I'm sure that right now though the play offs are the last thing on their mind.”COVENTRY have completed the signing of Kyle Howarth for the closing matches of the Elite League campaign with promoter Mick Horton admitting the Bees needed a boost at this stage of the season.Horton said: “It strengthens the team, the other riders are happy that he’s a good addition, and another factor is that he’ll have a point to prove against Swindon. He rode for them, he knows their track well and the way it’s looking we could be against them in the play-offs.“Stuart (Robson) is a professional and I think he knew it was on the cards. It’s nothing against him at all, but we had some points to play with and things have looked a little stale over the last couple of meetings, so I think the time is right.”KING’S LYNN remain in the thick of the battle for play-off places after their home match against Leicester on Monday was postponed.The Stars need two home wins to secure a top four finish, with the Lions match to be re-staged and Swindon visiting the Adrian Flux Arena on Wednesday.LAKESIDE wrapped up their home campaign with a 40-50 defeat to title-chasing Poole at Purfleet.The Hammers are scheduled to race their final fixture of a tough Elite League campaign when they visit Coventry on Bank Holiday Monday.LEICESTER boss Norrie Allan was relieved to see his side turn around an early six-point deficit to secure a 48-42 win over Wolverhampton at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.Allan said: “We overcame a nervous start and twice found ourselves six points behind. Ten points from Heats 7 and 8 gave us the lead for the first time in the match but we could not quite shake the Wolves off. “Whether we can still lift ourselves off the bottom is still in our hands and with six matches left it is still possible.”POOLE manager Neil Middleditch flew to Poland the morning after the crash involving Pirates asset Darcy Ward - and promoter Matt Ford has thanked the speedway community for their support.Ford said: “Neil has a very strong relationship with Darcy and it is important at times like this that Darcy has as much support as possible around him. Fans will probably not be surprised to learn that Chris Holder deferred his flight plans back to the UK so that he could divert to Zielona Gora to be with his good friend.“There is not much that can be done other than to show Darcy that he has the support of everyone and I have been touched learning of the number of messages that have been flooding in for Darcy since the news began to filter through that his injuries were serious, but that is simply typical of the speedway family and the esteem that the riders are held in within our great sport, a sport that at times can be so cruel.”SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter admits his team’s stunning run of form now pales into insignificance following news of No.1 Darcy Ward’s serious injuries on Poland.Rossiter said: “It's devastating news, and speedway doesn't matter at the moment. We've all been so focused on making the play-offs and winning meetings, then when something like this happens it just brings you back down to earth. “None of that is important really. I think the meeting (on Monday) would have been off anyway with the rain, but regardless of that don't think anyone would have felt like riding. Everyone is just thinking of Darcy and we are hoping he will be OK.”WOLVERHAMPTON completed a disappointing away campaign with a 33-57 defeat at Belle Vue on Monday, making it just four points collected on the road in 2015.Wolves star Ricky Wells said: “It's been a difficult year for us, especially away from home, we've struggled badly and we've all found it hard with how dialled in the home teams are at their tracks."It's been a tough season, but hopefully we can manage to end the season on a high by winning our last two home meetings."
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK continue to linger at the foot of the Premier League table after suffering three defeats in three days.The Bandits suffered a heavy 60-30 loss away at Ipswich and a disappointing 56-37 home defeat to Somerset either side of going down 49-44 at Scunthorpe on Friday.The Scottish outfit are now without a win in their last eight meetings in all competitions.Team manager John Anderson said: “There’s not much of our season left, but I’d like to think we might make a decent stab at a win or two before we shut up shop for the 2015 season.”EDINBURGH gave their table-topping hopes a major boost with a 55-35 home win over Somerset last Friday.It was another dominant performance from the Monarchs at Armadale who are desperate to retain the Premier League title they won in 2014.The meeting against the Rebels saw the return of Sam Masters after a six week lay-off. Masters told the Edinburgh Evening News: “I felt a bit nervous before the meeting but that win in heat seven helped me a lot to settle down; it’s great to be back.”GLASGOW’s hopes of a first place finish suffered a huge blow as they went down 47-42 at home to play-off rivals Somerset.It was the Tigers’ first home defeat in seven meetings and they now find themselves eight-points behind Scottish rivals Edinburgh.Glasgow’s attentions now turn to the Premier League Knockout Cup as they go head-to-head with Newcastle both home and away this Sunday. IPSWICH kept their play-off chances well and truly alive with a 46-44 away victory at Rye House on SaturdayThe Witches currently occupy the final play-off spot and sit nine-points clear of Plymouth.Team manager Phil Hilton said: “All in all it was a good team performance to take the win. “Last league points available have to be secured on Thursday and then it’s a waiting game to see if anyone overtakes us in the table!”NEWCASTLE boss George English praised his track staff following their 61-31 home victory over Redcar.Heavy downpours prior to the meeting had put the fixture in serious doubt, but tireless work was put in as the Diamonds raced to one of their biggest victories of the season.Said English: “They pumped 23,000 gallons of water off the track and they still managed to produce a great racing surface.“It was another comfortable home win that gives us plenty of confidence to take into our big cup match against Glasgow.”PETERBOROUGH new-boy Ben Barker secured a 12-point maximum on his debut during their 51-41 home win against Newcastle.Barker has been out of action for just over two months but showed a usual performance of grit and determination to impress on his debut.Said Barker: “I was pretty nervous coming back from a bad injury but I managed to win my first race which was the target and I got faster and to get a maximum was great.“There were some positive and some negative comments made about the decision to bring me in, but hopefully I showed everyone what I’m about.”PLYMOUTH are targeting a sixth straight home victory when they host Newcastle on Friday.The Devils sit nine-points behind sixth placed Ipswich, but have four meetings in hand over the Witches and know that every single point is going to be crucial.Co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “We still have 17-points to play for and it could be that we will need 13-points.“When we start our final run on Friday we will know just what we need to do. What matters is that it will be in our own hands and we will have everything to ride for.”REDCAR boss Jitendra Duffill has tipped Jonas B Andersen to be a star for the Bears for years to come.The Danish rider has made a big impression since joining the club in June and has quickly become a fans favourite.Duffill told The Gazette: “Jonas has been one of the highlights of the season for me; the lad never gives up, he always gives everything; you wonder where we’d be without him at the moment!”RYE HOUSE slipped to a narrow 46-44 defeat at home to Ipswich on Saturday.In an entertaining meeting, a stunning 18-point maximum from captain Edward Kennett enough to stop the Rockets falling to their fourth home loss of the season.Team manager John Sampford said: “It was a struggle for us apart from Eddie who was head and shoulders above everybody else and leading from the front.“Everybody else had their problems; I’m almost lost for words because there was so much effort going in, but for some it just wasn’t working.”SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey has described next Monday’s home meeting against rivals Sheffield as “huge.”The Scorpions currently sit bottom of the Premier League – something they hope a win over the Tigers can help them avoid come the end of the season.Said Godfrey: “We are again after the points in our quest to avoid that spot while there is local pride on the line too.“The Sheffield fans will be buoyed by their results against us so far this year but hopefully we can spoil the party on what’s going to be a huge afternoon!”SHEFFIELD reserve Arthur Sissis says he is “disappointed” his injury came as he was hitting the best form of his short career.The Australian rider suffered a serious shoulder injury during the Tigers’ away meeting at Berwick just over a week ago and is still unsure how long he will be out of action.Sissis told The Star: “The last few weeks had been really good; after that Cradley match that we had I’ve done well at home getting my fastest time around Sheffield and then I went away with Redcar to Glasgow and scored paid ten-points.“We’ve got three more league meetings and we’ve had our share of injuries but hopefully they can find someone good to replace me and make the play-offs.”SOMERSET boss Garry May has challenged his side to continue their recent spell of good form in their home fixture against Peterborough this Friday.Said May: “After picking up those seven-points last weekend, we have put ourselves back into contention for a second placed finish in the league table so Friday’s match now has even greater significance for us.“The boys are all on a high following last weekend’s superb performances at Berwick and Glasgow and are in no mood to let all that good work go to waste.”WORKINGTON team manager Tony Jackson says home and away wins against Berwick this weekend are “essential” if they are to keep their play-off hopes alive.Said Jackson: “Matches between the two clubs are always very keenly contested and we certainly haven’t forgotten that the Bandits came to Derwent Park back in late May and snatched a draw in our League Cup fixture.“That is the only occasion that we haven’t registered a home win so far this season but we can still make the play-offs if results go our way.”CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE LATEST…
BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury believes his side could take plenty of positive from their 51-42 defeat at Eastbourne on Sunday.The Brummies put in a battling performance against the Eagles before eventually leaving Arlington empty handed - but Drury is now eyeing revenge as the two high-flying sides do battle again in a crucial clash at Perry Barr next Wednesday, September 2. He said: "Naturally we're disappointed to leave with nothing but for me there is a lot we can build on from that performance."If you take away those first two races, it's an admirable effort and has been the difference between us getting something and leaving empty handed."OK there were a few decisions and a few setbacks here and there that played their part but overall we shouldn't be too downhearted."Eastbourne's management have admitted that's the toughest test they've had here all season and now we hope to beat them on our own circuit a week on Wednesday."BUXTON manager Jason Pipe insists they can still make the National League top four despite suffering a 48-42 home defeat at the hands of Rye House on Sunday. Pipe said: "I said following the match against Kent that it was my lowest point as Buxton team boss but I think Sunday has just eclipsed that. "To be honest the last few heats were a farce and it has cost us. That said I still believe we can grab that last Gold Cup spot. We will pretty much have to win all our remaining matches but given our September line up including our new signing I believe we are capable of doing it." COVENTRY Storm boss Laurence Rogers hopes a reshuffle in riding order can help them book their place in the Gold Cup.They have switched the in-form Martin Knuckey into the No.5 spot with Darryl Ritchings moving into the engine room of the side - and Rogers is hoping the move can help ensure they force their way into the National League top four.He said: “Marty has hit a rich vein of form home and away so he’s moving to No.5, and hopefully switching Darryl will help his confidence and see him racking up the points again.“We want to build on the wins over King’s Lynn and Stoke and keep up our challenge for a place in the Gold Cup."CRADLEY manager Will Pottinger could not hide his frustrations after his side slipped to a narrow 46-44 at King's Lynn on Friday to all but end their title ambitions."I suppose a point is better than nothing, but it's disappointing because we dropped a lot of points from scoring positons," Pottinger said. "It was always going to be tough given the riders we had missing, but it's very frustrating because we put ourselves in the positons to win but didn't take advantage."We did well to take it to a last heat decider, but we just fell short in the end. As far as the title goes we always knew we'd be relying on Birmingham to drop points, and that is still the case."All we can do is keep trying to get the best results possible from our remaining meetings and hope we end up with more points than Birmingham and Eastbourne." EASTBOURNE boss Glenn Martin heaped praise on new signing Daniel Spiller after his match-winning performance at Kent last week.The talented youngster struck a spectacular paid 20 point haul at Central Park on his second Eagles appearance before helping them prevail in their top of the table clash with Birmingham on Sunday.Martin said: "It was sensational, no argument. Daniel is an exceptional talent and came within three tenths of a second of claiming the track record in his first ride on the circuit.“He displayed amazing track craft when riding with Marc Owen as they team rode to a couple of 5-1s.”KENT promoter Len Silver voiced his disapproval at the inclusion of Daniel Spiller in Eastbourne's side after a match-winning performance from the youngster condemned the Kings to a heavy defeat on home soil last week.Silver said: “If one accepts that he is eligible to appear in the National League, we feel that he should have been treated the same as the other national champion from another country appearing in the division this year, ironically also an Eastbourne Eagles man, Bradley Wilson-Dean. “Having seven rides and scoring 17 points (paid 20) has had a devastating effect on what otherwise showed every likelihood of being a close match.”KING'S LYNN boss Dale Allitt has revealed how he needs to carefully manage riders during their double-headers. The Young Stars have been forced to stage two meetings on the same night on numerous occasions after being struck by a number of rain-offs, and Allitt told the Speedway Star he must manage his riders cautiously.He said: "It's kind of managing the situation. In theory a rider could have 14 rides at reserve in one night, but you would never want to do that, around our track of all places."It's a case of managing it and trying to keep the riders fresh for the second meeting whilst also getting the best result possible in the first." MILDENHALL promoter Kevin Jolly has spoken of his determination to put together a title-winning team in 2016 after enduring a frustrating campaign.Jolly told the Speedway Star: "Things are going against us this year, but it only makes me want to get it right next time. Already I can't wait for next season."I don't just want to put together a more successful side but one that's going to win the title. Our fans deserve it, they have backed us so well." RYE HOUSE chief Andrew Silver admitted he was frustrated to see his side slip to a narrow 48-44 defeat against high-flying Eastbourne last weekend.He told the Speedway Star: "The guys gave a spirited effort. In hindsight, I think we could have won the meeting as we dropped a few points that we shouldn't have done."You just can't do that against sides like Eastbourne who have strength throughout the team." STOKE skipper Jon Armstrong was delighted to see his side boost their top four hopes with a stunning all-around team effort to edge victory at Mildenhall last weekend.The experienced Potters skipper told the Speedway Star: "The team spirit on the day was great and not one of us is ready to throw in the towel on finding a top four spot before the season is out."We knew what we had to do and we stuck to our job. Everyone chipped in brilliantly and we managed to get six points in front at one stage. It would have been an even better day if we had managed to hold on to that and added a bit more, but it was still a great result and it was a good feeling to see all that hard work pay off."FIXTURE PICTURE…
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Swindon 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v King’s Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 27:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Leicester 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, Sheffield v Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 28:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Plymouth v Newcastle 7.15, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Peterborough 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Kent 7pm, Coventry v Mildenhall (follows previous fixture), King’s Lynn v Rye House 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 29:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Workington 7pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Mildenhall 7.30, Rye House v Cradley 7pm, Stoke v King’s Lynn 7pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 30:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester 3.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Workington v Berwick 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP: Glasgow v Newcastle 1.30, Newcastle v Glasgow 8pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Buxton 3.30BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4: Northside 2pm
MONDAY AUGUST 31:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Lakeside 7.30, Leicester v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Somerset 3pm, Rye House v Plymouth 2pm, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 3pmKENT COUNTY FOUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent 3pmMIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE RIDERS’ FINAL: Scunthorpe (follows PL fixture)
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Eastbourne 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Workington 7.30LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Ipswich v Edinburgh 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Leicester 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30, Plymouth v Berwick 7.15CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Eastbourne (follows EL fixture)CHALLENGE: Somerset Select v Exeter Select 7.30HARRISONS SCOTTISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Rye House 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: King’s Lynn 7.30BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 5: Redcar
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6:PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 5pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Cradley 3pm, Eastbourne v Kent 3.30, Mildenhall v Birmingham 3.30, Rye House v Stoke 3pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Leicester 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Peterborough 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Rye House 6.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8:CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Cradley 7pm