09-11-00 Party On
With the season now at an end (bar the indoor) clubs will be having agms and winding down with their end of season dos. Gt Blakenham's presentation evening is on November 25, and details can be obtained from Ivan Pike. On November 18 Colchester will stage a similar event. Mail me for contact details.
25-10-00 Reduced Fees
Four cycle speedway clubs will benefit from reduced club affiliation fees for 2001. Birmingham, Exeter, Newport and Stoke all supported the BCFís recruitment campaign by encouraging new members to join their clubs. As a result they will benefit from a discount on their BCF club affiliation fee in 2001.
25-10-00 Award for Gt Wakering
Gt Wakering CSC has received a grant from Rochford District Council to update facilities at Gt Wakering Sports Centre. Improvements will include concreting the track perimeter and pits area and upgrading the safety fence.
22-10-00 Rules Review
The Rules Review sub-committee met in Birmingham recently to carry out a comprehensive examination of cycle speedway rules and to realign these with the bylaws and technical regulations of the British Cycling Federation. Most of the proposed changes relate to safety and rider exclusions. In due course the BCFís Competitions Directorate will issue the revised rules which will be discussed at the national cycle speedway conference in Manchester on 26 November.
16-10-00 M&N Play-off (from Mike Hack)
Astley & Tyldesley & Sandwell travelled to Wolverhampton for their final match of the 2000 outdoor season on Sunday, in the Midlands /
North League Division 2 Play-Off, with the league title at stake.
After 4 races Sandwell opened up a 6 points
lead, before A & T skipper Damien Hack pulled out a great win over England International Richard Lloyd. Sandwell struck back to take the next three heats and at the interval held a commanding 46-33 lead. In the 2nd half, A & T held their own, but the match was already over, and Sandwell
held on for a comfortable 83-66 win and the league title for the 2nd year running.
There was none of the controversy of the previous year, when Sandwell won
the final match over A & T by 1 point, and the Wednesfield club provided both a fine track and referee. This time round, Sandwell's teamwork was much
better. For A & T, Damien Hack was in brilliant form, losing only to Lloyd, with Martin Phillips also riding well.
22-9-00 Financial Boost
Somersham Stars are pleased to report they have received a donation from Lindacre, the Land Rover dealers, who were keen to support a local team. The financial boost, particularly important for one of the sports' smaller clubs, will go towards improving facilities at the Somersham track which are suffering from wear and tear.
25-8-00 Norfolk Delight
After a splendid holiday weekend for cycle speedway in Norwich, Norfolk, it was a fairy tale ending with both national championships going to local riders. Well done to all the Norwich based clubs for their efforts in hosting an excellent event, and the riders for putting on such an exciting show in a simply thrilling finale. Full results
25-8-00 Disciplinary Action
Nigel Wragg (Leicester & Scotland) has been suspended from all cycle racing from 14 August 2000 until 31 May 2001 following a disciplinary hearing of the Board of the British Cycling Federation which found him to be in breach of the Federation's Anti-Doping Regulations on 18 June 2000. The rider admitted to having used amphetamines prior to the Home International event at Stoke-on-Trent.
21-8-00 Non-Event
Yesterday's Premier League Stoke v Wednesfield clash turned into a non-event after the visitors failed to have a full side together for the start. Wednesfield had previously requested a later start time, but Stoke declined due to rider commitments.
The problem was largely due to the British Veterans which had taken place the day before in Scotland and some riders were still travelling back at the official 14:00 start time. Eventually it was agreed that Stoke would be awarded the win but confusion still reigned over the B team match, which Wednesfield were keen to race, but in the end only challenge races were held. There were 28 riders, but only Paul Bird and Scott Docherty from Wednesfield.
Stoke's James Allcock was particularly disappointed. "It was confirmed with Roger Ellis that we would claim both races
for failing to turn up on time and within a reasonable time. After this was confirmed we had a junior race which included the two
riders from Wednesfield just to use the track after so much effort was put in to the preparation." he reported.
21-8-00 MN2 Finale Approaches
Astley & Tyldesley entertained Hull in the final match of the
Midlands / North League Division 2 needing to win the match to ensure they at least booked a play-off place.
Hull took the lead in heat 2, but A & T took over in heat 4 and never lost it. The father and son duo of Mike and Damien Hack top scored for A & T with fine support from Martin
Phillips and Russell Holland. Andy Schofield was the visitors best rider, with good back up from
Andy Moody and Rich Pawson.
Meanwhile, Sandwell were beating Sheffield. So there will be a play-off match for the Midlands/North League
Division 2 title between Astley & Tyldesley and Sandwell at a neutral venue in October.
14-8-00 BTC Switch
With Wednesfield having qualified for the Finals day of the British Team Championship will now be
staged at the North's Regional Centre, Astley & Tyldesley, on Sunday 17th September. The first
semi-final, at 12 noon, sees East London take on Southampton, followed by Wednesfield versus Poole
in the other semi-final, at 1.30 pm. The final is scheduled for a 4 pm start.
Within a week of receiving confirmation of staging the event, Astley & Tyldesley have moved
smartly to secure a sponsor for the event. The club are delighted to announce that the Bolton
Evening News and their sister paper, the Leigh Journal, are jointly sponsoring the event. Both
publications regularly provide good coverage of Cycle Speedway and this is their first venture
into sponsoring our sport.
As well
as having changing rooms, showers, toilets and car parking, the Astley & Tyldesley venue also
possesses permanent seating for 200 spectators, covered pits, floodlighting, mains electricity,
water points for track watering, full range of hot and cold catering at a dedicated refreshments
cabin, St. John Ambulance personnel, club house and licensed bar. With a reputation for providing exciting
racing all the facilities that
one would expect of a British Final venue are provided.
The club are apleased to announce that they have received a grant from the Wigan Council Community Chest to fund landscaping around the site perimeter. The work is likely to take place later this year.
11-8-00 Title Race Hots Up
The South East region's leagues are now coming to a climax and the top runners and also-rans can be identified.
In SE Division 1 Hawbush have continually set the pace and having yet to lose a match, its difficult to see who can stop them retaining their title. Mathematically they can be caught but the real battle is likely to be for second - any team except Somersham could finish as runners-up.
In Division 2 Hethersett have surely wrapped it up. They need just one more win and it's difficult to see them losing against bottom of the table Gt Wakering. Again, the runners-up spot is closely fought, but Kesgrave look favourites.
The Norfolk & Suffolk league is perhaps the least predictable, where Hethersett v Eaton is the key match. If Eaton do win this tricky clash then they become favourites for the league, but if they don't, and Kesgrave beat Spixworth at home as expected, then the Kestrels will take the title. If Kesgrave should slip up then Hethersett come into the frame but they need to win all their remaining matches.
01-8-00 Woodhouse Wins
SOUTHAMPTON'S Shaun Woodhouse swept to victory in the national under-19s individual cycle speedway
championship.
He dropped just one point in the final at the Astley & Tyldesley track in Manchester.
Unbeaten in his first four rides, he went into his last race knowing second place was all that he needed to lift the title, and that
was where he finished. Full scores
30-7-00 Looking Ahead
Bury will stage the 2001 British Final. The sports prestige event was last staged in the north of England in 1996 but Bury have never hosted the final. "Bury are very honoured to stage the Individual Final next August and are already beginning their preparations." reported the club's John Whiting.
30-7-00 Broken Collarbone
Bury's Steve Muff suffered a suspected broken collarbone during the Bury v Leicester division 2 match. Muff was dicing with Leicester's leading light Steff Whitehead when the crash happened, but the home side were always in control and ran out comfortable winners, with Rob Pearce, Ben Scrannage and Derek Garnett all riding well.
Leicester got revenge though in the division 1 match. A very strong visitors side won easily, despite missing some key riders, and Dave Hemsley, on his
first visit, and Nigel Wragg were unbeaten. Paul Dyson scored well for the home side who never gave up.
25-7-00 Euro 2000
Last week saw most of the top British riders descend on Rawicz, Poland for the European individual championships
which Leicester's Dave Hemsley won with 18 points out of a possible 20.
Hemsley finished one point ahead of Poole's Pete Young, who took second place after beating Poland's Damien Wozny in a
run-off. Southampton's Polish international Tomasz Szwajorek rode extremely well to finish in fourth place on 15 points. Weekend scorers
14-6-00 Top Award for Mick Harley
Congratulations to Mick Harley who has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal, equivalent to our MBE, in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. Mick will receive this coveted award for his services to cycle speedway and his contribution to the youth community in South Australia.
5-6-00 Millenium Trophy
Leicester CSC is staging a highly prestigious meeting on Sunday 25 June to celebrate both the Year 2000 and 50 years of cycle speedway in Leicestershire. The Millennium Trophy, a five-a-side team competition, will be contested by six of the sportís top teams including European champions Rawicz from Poland, British champions Wednesfield and Premier League champions Stoke. Southampton, Poole and the host team Leicester complete the line-up. Racing gets underway at 3pm. There will also be a Caribbean band, bouncy castle and other attractions; the day will conclude with a disco. There will be over £800 worth of prizes on offer thanks to joint sponsors, the Millennium Festival Awards for All and Leicester Promotions.
5-6-00 British Finals Weekend
The Spixworth Motel, Crostwick Lane, Spixworth is the venue for the 2000 British Finals Weekend reception and draw evening on Sunday 27 August. The reception will take place at 7.30pm with the draw for the final taking place around 8pm. Entry will be free to all. Meals and a licenced bar will be available.
The Spixworth Motel also offers quality accommodation at competitive rates. Single occupancy rooms are £34.50, double and/or twin rooms £44.50 and triple occupancy is £54.50. The price includes complimentary full English breakfast.
Further details are available direct from the motel or from the organiser Glen Norton. People wishing to book rooms can ring the motel direct on 01603 898288 asking for Mary and mentioning cycle speedway finals.
5-6-00 Fans call for rematch
Controversy reigned at the Gt. Wakering v Hethersett South East Div 2 fixture and Gt. Wakering fans are calling for a rematch.
It seems some refereeing decisions didn't go Gt Wakering's way in the first few heats and things boiled over in heat 5 when eledgedly a Hethersett rider was not excluded for firstly going through the tapes and secondly for hooking. In the 3rd rerun Wakerings Tom Hughes was excluded for taking the opposition wide and a dsgusted Hughes took no further part in the meeting.
Clearly upset that Hethersett backed the referee one fan said "we look forward to seeing the match rerun with a different referee and the managers banned from the pits for inciting and bring the name of CYCLE SPEEDWAY into disrepute." The matter has now been forwarded to the league committee.
18-4-00 Transfers go through
Several cycle speedway clubs and riders' plans were thrown into disarray when rider transfer requests were discussed by the British Cycle Speedway Commission (BCSC). The Commission decided to block all nine transfer requests on the grounds that to grant them would not be in the best interests of the sport.
However, amidst the expected controversy, the BCSC quickly changed their decision after discussions with the BCF. The following transfers have been authorised, but the BCSC will subject the issue to further scrutiny during the year:
Stephen Davies-Ward (Stockport to Tameside), Frank Finnigan (Stockport to Stoke), Lee Galley (Oxford City to Southampton), Derek Garnett (Stockport to Bury), Graham Johnston (Stockport to Stoke), Dave Murphy (Horspath to Poole), Ashley Rhodes (Stockport to Bury), John Whiting (Stockport to Bury), Leon Yelland (Norwich to Wednesfield).
23-3-00 Individual entries
Entry forms for the British Individual Championships in all age categories have now been distributed. Riders wishing to enter should contact their club secretary if they haven't yet got a copy.
All the information needed is on the simple single form which covers all the events. But note the different entry deadline dates and fees (increase on last year) for each competition.
19-3-00 First meeting of year
Today is the date of the first official fixture of 2000: Birmingham v Sandwell
14-3-00 John Murch
The world of cycle speedway is sad to report that former Southend star John Murch has died.
John, who was 68 and a great-grandfather, was the first rider to captain England. He scored 12 points in the 1949 international at Rayleigh where England easily defeated Scotland.
14-3-00 Stockport drop out
Stockport dropped down from the Premier League, having battled gamely against the odds last season, but the showcase competition's loss is the British League North's gain.
Pragmatic as ever, Stockport supremo, Pete Ward, sees the competition as a good way to re-stock and ensure that Stockport will continue to run, albeit at a more modest level, rather than be forced to fold because of a lack of suitable riders.
Recent seasons has seen the North Fours' become very competitive and has seen the fully-fledged senior clubs, such as Tameside, Heckmondwike and Bury battling for the top places.
The Northern Junior League, includes an 'all come, all ride' feature and enables clubs who are most active at junior and reserve team levels, to do well by just tracking as many riders as possible. With this formula, a club can theoretically survive or be formed with just one rider, thereby not permitting the sometimes devastating nature of the sport as riders go to the top clubs in search of glory.
14-3-00 Merger with British Cycling Federation moves on a-pace
A radical change made to administration of the sport has involved the closer workability between the British Cycle Speedway Council (BCSC) and the British Cycling Federation (BCF).
The BCSC has now been formally suspended, pending formal completion of the merger with the BCF, and the new British Cycle Speedway Commission has been established to act as a sub-committee on the BCF.
This now means that the BCF rules and regulations will be combined (where sensible and appropriate) to cycle speedway rules and form part of the BCF publications.
13-3-00 Gt Wakering team takes shape
Gt Wakering are pleased to have signed Tom Hughes and Scott Buchan again for the coming season. Tom is a Veteran of 30 years in the sport now aged 43, while Scott, 15, will start his first fullseason at the club.
20-1-00 British champ could miss out on trip Down Under
