BIG EVENT LATEST…
JACK Parkinson-Blackburn and Tom Brennan secured the British Youth titles at 500cc and 250cc levels respectively last Sunday.Parkinson-Blackburn, who has recently had National League outings for Buxton, became the first rider to win five successive rounds in taking the 500cc title at Rye House to add to the Midland Development League Riders’ crown that he captured last month.14-year-old Brennan, meanwhile, added the 250cc championship to a cabinet that already boasts the 150cc and 125cc trophies. He went through the card for his third round success of the series.The 150cc and 125cc support classes on the day were won by Nathan Ablitt and Dan Thompson.Young Lions chief Neil Vatcher said: “A big vote of thanks to Rye House for re-arranging this fixture after the first date was washed away in July. “We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day this time around, and the riders also deserve credit for cracking through the 39 races in a little over two and a half hours. There was some good racing in all four classes, and every one of the 33 Young Lions out there once again gave 100 per cent.“Particular congratulations, of course, to Tom and Jack. Tom had already won the 125cc and 150cc titles, so he’s completed a hat-trick with the 250cc championship today. Next year, it’s on to the 500cc class for him.“And what can you say about Jack? He’s picked up maximum points from his first five rounds, and no one has ever done that before. It’s a really great achievement.”*THE list of competitors has been announced for the National League Riders’ Champonship at Rye House.The Hoddesdon showpiece takes place on Saturday September 26 with all ten NL clubs represented.LINE-UP (not in riding order): Jon Armstrong (Stoke), Bradley Wilson-Dean (Eastbourne), Max Clegg (Cradley), Liam Carr (Buxton), Adam Ellis (Birmingham), Connor Mountain (Mildenhall), Danny Halsey (Mildenhall), Ben Morley (Kent), Kyle Hughes (Rye House), Rob Branford (Rye House), Lee Payne (Stoke), Zach Wajtknecht (Birmingham), Darryl Ritchings (Coventry), Tom Stokes (King’s Lynn), Danny Ayres (Kent), Marc Owen (Eastbourne). Reserves: Alfie Bowtell & George Hunter.*THE re-staging of the Premier League Fours Final will take place at Redcar on Thursday October 1.Edinburgh, Ipswich, Newcastle and Somerset will compete for the silverware in a full-scale event.The original meeting at Peterborough was abandoned following serious injuries suffered by Lewis Kerr, who is thankfully now recovering at home and has since been able to attend speedway events in a spectating capacity.
BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2015:ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: JASON DOYLEBRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: KYLE HOWARTHBRITISH FINAL: TAI WOFFINDENPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: IPSWICHPREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Redcar, Thursday October 1PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: ULRICH OSTERGAARD
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: BIRMINGHAMNATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: KENTNATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House, Saturday September 26
BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: JOSH BATES
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE have advanced to the Elite League Grand Final for the first time since 2005 - and now face Poole after home and away wins over Swindon in the semi-final.Aces boss Mark Lemon said: “I know for the Belle Vue fans it's been ten years in the waiting to get back into a full-on title clash and hopefully we can go one further and give ourselves something to be even prouder of.“It'd be a real shame to go up against Poole and not do what we're capable of doing, but we know the Pirates will be tough opponents so we'll need to really draw on our full potential if we're to win.”COVENTRY boss Gary Havelock was left to reflect on another play-off exit having lost to Poole in last year’s Grand Final and now to the Pirates in the semi-final in 2015.Havelock said: “It’s really disappointing, because for the majority of the season we were top of the league and everything was going well. But you can’t account for injuries in speedway unfortunately, and I think if we’d had our full team for both legs it would have been a far different story - but that’s all if’s now.“I’ve said to the lads that they need to remember this pain, because they can use it as a motivational force for next year. Hopefully we can do that and come back stronger.”POOLE boss Neil Middleditch praised the all-round team effort as the Pirates qualified for a sixth successive Grand Final by defeating Coventry in the semi-finals.Middleditch said: “The lads did a real professional job tonight. They were sharp out of the tapes and once we had seen off the tactical ride in heat 6 I asked them just to kick on from there. “I was proud of them all tonight, it was a good performance all round. You can't ask for any more than that.”SWINDON manager Alun Rossiter says the mid-season signing of Darcy Ward was the shining light in the Robins’ season - as they reflect on elimination from the play-offs in the semi-finals for a third successive year.Rossiter said: “Darcy really lifted our season. I don’t think we’d have been where we were in the end without him and his performances. I for one take my hat off to him; it was a real pleasure and a privilege to manage him because he was an absolute dream to work with and it’s absolutely gutting that he’s in the situation he’s in right now.“The rest of the boys gave it their best and while I’m disappointed some of them might not have showed up when it mattered most, they’re the ones who’ve been out there racing all season long and everyone has played their part at some point I suppose.”WOLVERHAMPTON boss Chris Van Straaten has cancelled the club’s traditional end-of-season presentation night - admitting they are not in the mood for a party.Van Straaten said: “After our hugely disappointing results on September 7 in our double header against Belle Vue and Leicester we have reached the lowest ebb as a promotion during our tenure at Monmore which goes back almost 30 years. “When we’ve suffered poor results in previous seasons there have been genuine reasons like injuries but this time there’s no excuse – the buck stops firmly with the promotion.”
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
EDINBURGH rounded off their regular league fixtures with a classy 61-32 home win over Berwick.The win at Armadale was the perfect way to keep momentum going for the Monarchs who are in League Cup Final action this weekend.They host Scottish rivals Glasgow this Friday before the return, second leg away on Sunday.GLASGOW boss Stewart Dickson is relishing his side's League Cup Final clashes against rivals Edinburgh this weekend.Said Dickson: "We've beaten them before there, and they've beaten us. They'll be every bit as confident as us but it's who rides the best over the two days - it's that close to call. It might be a pulled chain, it might be an exclusion, you just don't know. But we're desperate to win it, so fingers crossed.""I'll be saying ride to your capabilities and reward our fans that are coming through in their droves with a really good performance."IPSWICH will welcome back former favourite Scott Nicholls for their annual 16 Lap Classic meeting this Thursday.Witches co-promoter Chris Louis said: “We’re delighted Scott has agreed to ride in this prestigious event and I’m sure all the fans will be delighted to welcome him back.“He’s still a class act in the sport and from talking to him I know how determined he is to show he still knows the way around the circuit and to win the big 16-lap Final!”NEWCASTLE complete their Premier League schedule on Sunday with a home clash against Rye House - who are still in with a chance of overhauling the Diamonds in the table if they can secure an away win.PETERBOROUGH fought back remarkably from 12-points down to snatch a last heat decider and win 46-44 in their away leg of their play-off quarter final against Sheffield.The Panthers were inspired by a stunning 18-point maximum from Ben Barker and boss Carl Johnson said team morale played a huge part."We have great spirit and great strength; we always stick together and believe in each other," said Johnson."I can't praise Ben enough but everyone deserves praise though for playing a part in what turned out to be a very good night."PLYMOUTH are gearing up for their play-off quarter final clash with Glasgow.The Devils go head-to-head with the Tigers on October 2 and 4.The southern club snatched a last-gasp place in the end-of-season shoot out after a stunning run of 10 wins from their final 13 league meetings.RYE House expect to have Nikolaj B Jakobsen and Luke Bowen available for their final fixture of the league campaign at Newcastle on Sunday - but Robert Lambert is ruled out, along with Kasper Lykke and Dan Greenwood.Boss John Sampford said: “Robert unfortunately has a broken scaphoid, and is now in plaster for the next four weeks. He is due to return to hospital at that point for a further assessment. Obviously, that could mean a variety of outcomes: he may go back in plaster, have a new lightweight fitting, or require an operationSHEFFIELD could be without No.1 Jason Garrity for their play-off second leg against Peterborough this Sunday.It's the latest of what has been an injury plagued season for the Tigers who will make a late decision on Garrity.Co-promoter Damien Bates told The Star: "We’re still not out of it with Peterborough and if we have to find a guest for Jason next Sunday then that’s how it will be."I’m sure he will try and ride if at all possible but a broken foot is quite a serious injury for a speedway rider."I really cannot believe the injury jinx surrounding this club in 2015."SOMERSET host Edinburgh next Tuesday (September 29) in the first leg of the Premier League Knockout Cup.The Rebels will be looking to take a healthy lead to Armadale to give them the best possible chance of getting their hands on the trophy that they won just two years ago.
CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE LATEST…
BIRMINGHAM are eyeing a memorable double as they look to move a step closer to Gold Cup glory to add to their National League title.The Brummies will take on Cradley in the first leg of their mouth-watering semi-final tie at Perry Barr on Wednesday, and team boss Graham Drury said: “We’ve seen some cracking meetings between Birmingham and Cradley already this season and I think these two cup matches over the next two Wednesday’s will be just as good if not better.“We would love to progress to the Final of the Gold Cup and edge a step closer to yet another trophy to add to our collection, but whatever happens on Wednesday, the tie is only half done and there’s still plenty to do next week.”BUXTON promoter Jayne Moss was disappointed to see them suffer two defeats in quick succession last weekend.A defeat at Coventry was followed by a home loss at the hands of Eastbourne just two days later, and Moss told the Speedway Star: “It was a disappointing weekend. We came away from both matches empty handed and although we knew we couldn’t qualify for the Gold Cup we had still hoped to get some more league points.”COVENTRY are finalizing arrangements to complete their National League fixtures over the coming weeks.The Storm still have outstanding home fixtures with Eastbourne, Mildenhall and Rye House, with dates set to be confirmed in the near future. CRADLEY boss Will Pottinger says they have a point to prove heading into their Gold Cup semi-final tie with Birmingham on Wednesday (7.30).Pottinger said: “We want to prove that we can beat Birmingham, they have the target on their back now being league Champions, so it would be great to get one over on them.“I'm sure we are going to have two very close meetings as no team has got any home advantage over the other, but hopefully we can come away with a win on Wednesday to put ourselves in a good position. “Whatever happens it's going to be two great meetings, we are determined to go into the winter with some silverware so we want to get into the final and end the season on a high.”EASTBOURNE chairman Martin Dugard has revealed how 2015 has been his most enjoyable season after taking over the role over the winter.Dugard told the Speedway Star: “It has been a very draining season, purely for the fast we have wanted to do well.“We could have sat back and done nothing like some clubs do, but we wanted to make it work for the club. It is probably the most enjoyable season I’ve had, even though I’ve worked a lot harder than I ever did when I rode.”KENT will be hoping for a case of third time lucky as they host the Silver Ski Holidays Championship on Friday.The event has twice succumbed to the weather, but with the Kings fixtures now complete they will host an individual event which will feature 12 riders. KING’S LYNN boss Dale Allitt was pleased to end their National League home fixtures on a high with a hard-fought win over Kent at the Adrian Flux Arena.Allitt told Speedway Star: “It was hard work. It was quite a bit disjointed for one reason or another, and for losing Tom (Stokes).“To finish off our home programme with a win was nice though , and it lifts us in the table to sixth.”MILDENHALL promoter Kevin Jolly hailed their thrilling 46-44 win over Rye House at West Row last weekend as “speedway at its very best”. “We all needed something like that, riders and supporters, after a year like this,” the Fen Tigers chief told Speedway Star. “This was speedway at its very best. I think there was a real race in all 15 heats as well as the Bronze Helmet.“Our riders all had long, late trips back after Saturday but you could see the best of all of them in this meeting. If we could have done this with just a bit more consistency we would have been in the top four.”RYE HOUSE manager John Sampford admitted he was disappointed to see his side crash out of the Gold Cup following a 58-31 defeat at Eastbourne on Sunday.Sampford said: “This was the biggest defeat of our three matches in Sussex, and I think it’s fair to say that the boys were trying too hard. You can’t fault their efforts – they desperately wanted the aggregate win - but they were making unforced errors. We suffered no less than seven “fell-excludeds”, and that statistic says plenty.“At least we’ve still got one more bite at the cherry, in the National Trophy Final, in a fortnight’s time. We still have the belief we can do something there. It’s up to us to build a bigger lead from our home leg and then to fix the problems we’ve identified today.”STOKE have two more home matches to complete their season, with clashes against King’s Lynn and Rye House still on the agenda for the Potters.
FIXTURE PICTURE…WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 23:GOLD CUP S/F 1st leg: Cradley v Birmingham 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24:16-LAP CLASSIC: Ipswich 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25:LEAGUE CUP FINAL 1st leg: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30SILVER SKI HOLIDAYS CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent 6.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26:NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House 7pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 6: Northside 2pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Peterborough v Sheffield 5pmLEAGUE CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Rye House 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Buxton 3.30
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28:ELITE LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29:TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 30:ELITE LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30GOLD CUP S/F 2nd leg: Birmingham v Cradley 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 1:PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS FINAL: Edinburgh v Ipswich v Newcastle v Somerset (at Redcar) 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Q/F 1st leg: Plymouth v Glasgow 7.15KENT COUNTY FOURS: Kent 6.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3:NATIONAL TROPHY FINAL 1st leg: Rye House v Eastbourne 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Glasgow v Plymouth 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY FINAL 2nd leg: Eastbourne v Rye House 2pm
TUESDAY OCTOBER 6:RECYCLED AGGREGATE SERVICES OLYMPIQUE: Wolverhampton 7.30
