Thanks to Bryn for this latest news from the Wightlink Islanders. Ed
The Wightlink Islanders were scheduled to contest their final National Trophy match, and indeed there final match of the 2012 season, at Stoke yesterday afternoon.
Having enjoyed Saturday night’s end-of-season party with the fans at Smallbrook on Saturday evening, they travelled up to the Potteries intent on ending on a victorious note.
Rain halted play again
On arrival Stoke promoter Dave Tattum and ex-rider Nigel Crabtree were battling hard to get the Loomer Road circuit into a raceable condition but sadly with persistent heavy rain sweeping in again, and given that riders’ safety is the prime concern of everyone, any hope of the match going ahead had gone.
So the elements were the only winners unfortunately and the unanswered question at the moment is whether or not, given that the official end of the British Speedway season is this Wednesday (October 31st), the meeting will now be staged.
As soon as we have any news in regard to that point, then we will issue same immediately.
Plenty of winners on Saturday afternoon though
Indeed there were plenty of awards handed out to deserved winners as Wightlink Islanders’ riders, management and supporters let their hair down on Saturday evening at their End-of-Season party in the Premier Lounge at Smallbrook Stadium.
The riders though had to stick to soft drinks as they were scheduled to race away at Stoke in that National Trophy match yesterday but despite that certainly showed some deft moves on the dance floor as the disco started after both the buffet and award ceremony.
Whilst not all the 2012 squad could attend because of other racing commitments etc, each and every one of them were winners in the fans’ eyes and all received / will receive an engraved memento to mark their service to the club this year.
Ben Hopwood was the deserved winner of both the “Rider of the Year’ award and that of the ‘Riders’ rider of the Year’ whilst Danny Stoneman picked up two awards as well, one presented by Micael Richardson & co as the ‘Best supporting rider’ and the other from the Supporters Club to mark his achievement of being the highest bonus points scorer over the course of the league season.
And finally, although back home in France Adam Ellis will be the recipient of the ‘Best Newcomer’ award from Kay Richardson and will no doubt pick up that award when he returns to Smallbrook for the start of next season having sent a message that was read out stating that he’s very much looking forward to that!
All-in-all a really good night to bring the curtain down on the Wightlink Islanders 2012 speedway season.
Image: Lee Jordan under CC BY 2.0
