Thanks to Bryn for this update from the Wightlink Islanders Speedway team. Ed
The Wightlink Islanders travel to Stoke tomorrow (Saturday) for the first leg of the home and away Wightlink Shield encounter against the Easy Rider Potters very much aiming to to get their new season off to a winning start. It matters not to them, or our management duo of Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd, that they will have the advantage of knowing exactly what is required of them for an aggregate win in the return at Smallbrook on April 30th, as they’ve very much set their sights on winning both matches as Shepherd explained.
“A win tomorrow at Loomer Road will very much serve notice on both Stoke, and all other of this year’s National League sides, that the team we’ve put together is the strongest the Isle of Wight have ever had at this level, and that they’ll be going flat out to win every match they ride in together.
“You can never guarantee at this stage what is actually going to happen over the course of a full season especially in terms of riders sustaining injuries which obviously can knock all the best laid plans for six so neither Chris nor myself are taking anything for granted.
“But take it from me,” concluded our joint promoter, “we and the seven Wightlink Islanders will be travelling to Stoke tomorrow determined to come away with a win under our belts to show all other clubs that we will be a real force to be reckoned with this year.”
Two of our team were on opposing sides in Suffolk last night
Wightlink Islanders team mates Adam Ellis and Tom Perry found themselves racing against each other for their respective Premier League sides at Foxhall Heath Stadium, Ipswich last night.
Both are combining riding for ourselves in this year’s National League with holding down PL reserve berths, Adam riding for Ipswich and Tom for Somerset, and it was Adam’s Witches side who came out on top last night on their home circuit by 51 points to 44 when their respective teams clashed in the League Cup competition up there in Suffolk.
Adam was in sparkling form with his six points from four rides not only resulting from him finishing second behind partner Cameron Heeps in heat 2 for a maximum 5-1 advantage over Tom who finished third, but also him winning heat 14.
Tom meanwhile, who finished with four points, was hard-worked by Somerset team manager Garry May who pressed him into service in six races in total after Rebels No.2 Stephen Davies crashed out of the match in spectacular heat 11 crash.
Draw for the British under 21 final
The BSPA Press Office have issued the draw for the British Under 21 Final, featuring three 2013 Wightlink Islanders, being staged by Dudley at their Monmore Green circuit and scheduled to take place on Tuesday April 23rd and it is as follows:
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL DRAW: 1. Jason Garrity (Rye House), 2. Oliver Greenwood (Coventry Storm), 3. Robert Branford (Unattached), 4. DARRYL RITCHINGS (Isle of Wight), 5. Ashley Morris (Workington/Dudley), 6. Max Clegg (Dudley), 7. Ben Morley (Kent), 8. Josh Bates (Scunthorpe/Mildenhall), 9. Stefan Nielsen (Somerset/Mildenhall), 10. Kyle Howarth (Poole/Workington), 11. Matt Williamson (Buxton), 12. TOM PERRY (Somerset/Isle of Wight), 13. DANNY STONEMAN (Isle of Wight), 14. James Sarjeant (Coventry Storm), 15. Dan Greenwood (Dudley), 16. Joe Jacobs (Glasgow/Coventry Storm). Reserves: 17. Shane Hazelden (King’s Lynn Young Stars), 18. Liam Carr (Unattached).
NOTE: We’ll be circulating a full press release previewing the above meeting in detail next week.
Quiz night next Tuesday
Our hardworking Supporters Club stage their next Pairs Quiz in the Premier Lounge at Smallbrook Stadium next Tuesday (April 16th) starting at 7:30pm with admission being £2 per person – so fans get swotting!
Image: Courtesy of Ian Groves: Left to Right: Kevin Shepherd (co-promoter), Tom Perry, Darryl Ritchings, Danny Stoneman, Ben Hopwood (on bike), Byron Bekker (Capt), Brandon Freemantle, Adam Ellis, Chris Hunt (co-promoter)
