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GREAT Britain’s representatives in the World Under-21 semi-finals have been confirmed.Newly-crowned British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates will travel to Pocking, Germany on Saturday May 21, with Adam Ellis racing at Czech Republic venue Pardubice on May 20. Great Britain’s representatives at the Belle Vue semi-final on May 21 will be Robert Lambert and Max Clegg, and track reserve places at that meeting have been allocated to Nathan Greaves and Jack Smith.Amongst the other top finishers from the national event at Sheffield on Thursday, Jack Parkinson-Blackburn is ineligible for the World rounds as he is still just 15 years of age, whilst Zach Wajtknecht and James Shanes are already committed to International meetings on semi-final weekend.GB Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “With only four guaranteed places to make the World Under-21 Finals, none of these semis will be easy - in fact, every race will be massive. “But I really have every confidence that after having Stefan Nielsen representing Great Britain at the World Finals last year, we will again have a representative this year, and all being well maybe more than one.“I looked long and hard at the track reserves for Belle Vue and have decided to take Nathan Greaves and Jack Smith, as I believe this will be great experience for them, and hopefully their turn will come to compete in the finals in the not too distant future.“The success of many young riders progressing to a higher level surely can not be too far away, based on the evidence of the British Under-21 Final. “The big story, of course, is all about Josh Bates not only winning his second title, but actually now being the holder of two British Titles at the same time, after also clinching the British Under-19 Championship at Berwick back in September.“But looking down the list, there are many success stories coming out of this British Final, and the excitement of seeing riders like Jack Smith and especially 15-year-old Jack Parkinson-Blackburn competing against the likes of Bates, Robert Lambert and Adam Ellis really does get the adrenalin flowing.”
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RYE House gave their chances of League Cup progression a boost with a 51-41 win at Plymouth on Friday.Edward Kennett scored a full 15-point maximum for the Rockets, who now need to await the results between the Devils and Somerset before the group is resolved.Jack Holder scored 14+1 for the home side, including winning a tactical ride, but promoter Ashley Taylor felt their lack of recent racing had been a major factor.He said: “In the circumstances the result was to be expected. Rye House have some small track specialists in their team and they helped provide us with some good, competitive racing.“At least our riders now know what they have to do and it is a case of sharpening up a bit with more track time.”Rye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “It was another awesome performance from the boys again tonight. We had that feeling during the track walk that we could get this sort of result tonight. I told them then that the Plymouth track was no different to our own, and to get stuck into it.“That’s exactly what they did, hitting the opposition from right off the start and keeping it going. Everybody from one to seven rode his heart out, and you can’t ask for more. Edward was unbelievable, but they were all heroes.”
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RYE House and Peterborough clash in a Premier League local derby on Saturday.The Rockets have already won the only meeting to take place in the competition so far, when they beat Ipswich last week, and the match against the Panthers will feature a return to Hoddesdon for Nikolaj B Jakobsen, who rode for Rye last year.Rockets boss Peter Schroeck said: “We’ve got such a good feeling within this club. Consistency is the key in this league, and it’s what this team is about.“We’re 100 per cent ready. The boys don’t fear anybody. They believe in themselves and each other. It’s the perfect attitude within the club.”Panthers caretaker manager Dale Allitt said: “It is always important to a start a competition in the best way possible and hopefully we can do that tonight.“Rye House have already had some good results this season, but we possess guys who have proved they can ride this track effectively. If we perform as we can, and as a team, we have an excellent chance of getting a result.”In the League Cup, Berwick will be without Anders Mellgren for their home clash with Edinburgh at Shielfield Park.The Swede has been ruled out for up to a month after suffering a pre-season fall, having attempted to ride through the pain barrier ever since.The Bandits operate the rider-replacement facility this weekend as both sides look to make up ground on Glasgow.Berwick skipper Kevin Doolan said: “We have to take the threat of them coming here very seriously indeed, but I'm hoping we can see them off and maintain our very real intention of progressing to the semi-finals.”Edinburgh reserve Max Clegg said: “Berwick on Saturday should be a good one, tough but I believe we can come away with a win.”Workington face Newcastle at Derwent Park with the Diamonds sweating on the fitness of Tero Aarnio due to his knee injury.Matej Kus misses out for the visitors due to national recall as they launch their League Cup campaign.Newcastle manager George English said: “We go to Workington full of confidence after our good pre-season and we are confident that we can put in a good performance and get a result.“The League Cup is a competition that we have won in the past and we very much want to be competitive in it this year. It is important to get off to a good start and we look to do just that on Saturday.”In the Travel Plus National League, fierce rivals Eastbourne and Kent clash in a meeting put back a week following last Saturday’s rain-off.Kings boss Len Silver had criticised the timing of that postponement, whilst the Eagles now field their revised line-up including new signings Adam Ellis, Ellis Perks and Luke Harris as they look for a very different outcome to the challenge matches between the clubs on Good Friday.Eastbourne director Connor Dugard said: “We are determined to put matters right when it really matters with league points now up for grabs.“Since then we have been practising and been busy in the workshops. We think we have found the problems and ironed things out.“Kent have made an excellent start to their season but our job is put the Kings back in their place and re-establish superiority over our nearest rivals.”Kent boss Chris Hunt said: “With the Eagles having strengthened by the inclusion of Adam Ellis and indeed there being a total of four changes from the side we took on in Eastbourne’s last home match, this is certainly looking like it’s going to be a close match this time around. “Much depends, I feel, on how our reserves shape up: 5-1s in all our matches so far in heat 2 has really set us up nicely and it would be good to keep that run going; and if our middle order can outscore Wood and Perks. We are relishing the challenge.”
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SATURDAY APRIL 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Peterborough 7pmLEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Workington v Newcastle 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry OFF, Eastbourne v Kent 7.30
SUNDAY APRIL 17:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Berwick 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm, Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3.30CHRISTIAN HENRY TESTIMONIAL: Newcastle 3pm
MONDAY APRIL 18:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30
