BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2023/29

Feature photo by: Ian Charles…SHEFFIELD were crowned Sports Insure Premiership Champions after an incredible second leg turnaround against Ipswich at Owlerton. The Tigers trailed by 18-points after the first leg of the Grand Final and therefore needed to break the record for the largest margin ever overturned in the return fixture – which they remarkably did with a 56-34 win.

HERE’S our latest news and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.

SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP NEWSROUND…

TIGERS’ TITLE DELIGHT
SHEFFIELD are celebrating their first-ever top-flight league title after last week’s sensational Grand Final against Ipswich.
The Tigers turned around an 18-point first leg deficit as they won the return 56-34 amidst scenes of celebration at Owlerton.
Manager Simon Stead said: “I’m absolutely thrilled for everyone connected to the club; the management team, our sponsors, track staff, officials and volunteers and of course our supporters.

“They have been absolutely unbelievable all season long but when it mattered most they turned out in huge numbers, made plenty of noise from the off and they shouldn’t underestimate the role they played in helping the boys get it over the line.
“I’m reluctant to single any one rider out as tonight was always going to be about a really solid team performance, and when you look down the scorechart, every single one of them did their bit.
“Both as a rider and a team manager I’ve had some unforgettable memories with this club, but this one is right up there and will stick with me forever.”

WITCHES TAKE THE POSITIVES
IPSWICH promoter Chris Louis remained upbeat about the club’s overall achievements despite their Grand Final heartbreak at Sheffield. The Witches still put silverware in the Foxhall cabinet with their KO Cup success but were denied a league and Cup double by the Tigers’ remarkable second leg comeback.

Louis said: “A few things have happened in the last few weeks and have been said which have been a bit disappointing and disillusioning, but I was very proud to watch Ritchie (Hawkins) take the one to seven from press day through to a play-off final via a Knockout Cup victory. “Every single one of them wore the Witch with pride and I am also proud to have the best fans and biggest support in the country.

“I’m obviously disappointed we couldn’t get the double over the line against a sort of pick ‘n’ mix Sheffield side with one remaining rider in Kyle Howarth, he must be quite proud to have survived it!
“The focus for me is on our team and what they achieved because they achieved a lot, and they did it as a team.”

PANTHERS SAY FARWELL
NIELS-Kristian Iversen was the winner of Peterborough’s Farewell to the Showground event – which came to a premature end after a spectacular crash in the Final.
Iversen escaped with no broken bones but was taken to hospital whilst Ryan Douglas walked away after the two tangled in the last race at the venue, with Iversen awarded victory.

Panthers owner Keith Chapman said: ““It was a bad way for it to end, but these things do happen and I thought the decision by the referee to call the result was the best one.
“It’s a sad night anyway but to have that happen in the last race really makes it worse.
“But Niels was a fitting winner, he’s right back to the old Niels, really back on form and enjoying himself.

“It was fantastic to see so many people here, and let’s hope it shows the Council what they’re going to miss. This is what the people want and maybe it will do some good, who knows?”

ELSEWHERE: WOLVERHAMPTON stage the hugely popular Olympique Individual at Monmore Green on Monday in the penultimate speedway event to take place at the venue.

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP NEWSROUND…

TIGERS TAKE LEAD OF 14
GLASGOW defeated Poole 52-38 in the first leg of the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final – and now need another big performance in Dorset.
The Ashfield side threatened to put the tie out of reach over the first half of Monday’s meeting before the Pirates dug in to give themselves a chance.

Tigers boss Cami Brown said: “We’ve already had a terrific season. We’ve been unbeaten at home in the league and BSN Series. We lost once to Redcar in the KO Cup without Ben Basso.
“We’ve won more meetings away than we’ve lost. The boys have been fantastic to be that good. We’ve been remarkably good this season along with Poole and Oxford.
“But I guess the season will ultimately be defined by whether we score 39 points at Poole.”

PIRATES STILL FIGHTING
POOLE will face 14-point deficit when they host Glasgow on Wednesday looking to complete a hat-trick of titles in the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final.
The Pirates made a disastrous start at Ashfield before pegging the Tigers, although they had no answer to home No.1 Chris Harris who scored a brilliant paid maximum, securing many of his points from the back.

Promoter Dan Ford said: “It’s going to be really tough. Ideally we wanted to keep it under ten, so 14 points is going to be a really interesting match. “We know how strong we are at home, and Glasgow haven’t got the best track record at Poole, so I think we’re in for a hell of a meeting, and it’s one definitely not to miss.
“Glasgow deserved to win the meeting, they definitely deserve to be taking a lead into the second leg. We fought hard towards the end to limit it, but you can’t do anything against Bomber when he’s in that kind of mood – he could have beaten anybody in the World here tonight.”

UP FOR THE CUP
SCUNTHORPE manager Dave Peet was delighted with his side’s victory at Redcar last Friday which sets up a KO Cup Final decider against Poole.
The Scorpions have ended the season in strong form, their one blip coming when a home defeat to the Pirates effectively knocked them out of contention to reach the league Grand Final.

Peet said: “The boys didn’t worry too much about the track tonight. The tracks are often a bit heavy in October and the lads just went out and attacked it.
“We didn’t come here to defend an 18-point lead – we went out to extend that lead even further. The lads were desperate to have another crack at Poole in the Cup Final and now they’ve earnt that.”

DICKSON JOINS BANDITS
STEWART Dickson is the man tasked with moving Berwick up the Cab Direct Championship table next season.
Dickson is to take over as Bandits boss having been a regular spectator at Berwick alongside his late father who asked for his ashes to be scattered at his favourite spot on the seafront at Spittal, less than a mile from the Berwick track.
Said Dickson: “It was his favourite location when we came down to the caravan parks every year and he would also take us to the speedway at Berwick on the Saturday night.

“I always knew that I would be involved in Berwick at some point in my career and I can assure the Bandits fans that this appointment is no second choice/best to Leicester. I’ll be giving my all for both clubs.
“I know the reason they are bringing me in. We have to get away from the foot of the table next season.”

THE WEEK AHEAD… POOLE and Glasgow are separated by 14 points ahead of the second leg of the Grand Final at Wimborne Road on Wednesday… the Pirates then head to Scunthorpe on Friday for the first leg of the KO Cup Final… Birmingham pay tribute to Alan Grahame with Wednesday’s meeting against a Cradley Heathens Select at Perry Bar.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NEWSROUND…

CUP LEAD FOR CUBS
LEICESTER won 49-38 at Mildenhall last Sunday to put themselves in the box seat to retain the NDL KO Cup.
Ashton Boughen scored a 15-point maximum for the Lion Cubs, but reserve Vinnie Foord was one of five riders to be withdrawn from the meeting, and he will miss the second leg due to concussion.

Manager Dave Howard said: “It was a great effort by the guys on a track that was so tricky for both teams, and with both teams losing riders during the meeting.
“It’s disappointing to lose Vinnie for 12 days but thankfully everybody else will be okay for Saturday. Max James’s wrist was hurting him so he felt it best not to take his last ride just in case something happened, and he did well to complete three more rides after his big fall in his first race and gain some good points in those as well.”

TOUGH DAY FOR FEN TIGERS
MILDENHALL boss Jason Gardner is in for a rebuilding job ahead of the second leg of the NDL KO Cup Final on Saturday.
Fen Tigers No.1 Alfie Bowtell and reserve William Richardson were both injured in the 11-point first leg defeat to Leicester, with guest Jody Scott also withdrawn as the home side were reduced to four riders.
Gardner said: “It was a tough afternoon all round.  The track was in good condition but both teams were very unlucky with some nasty falls.

“Credit on our side goes especially to Ben (Trigger) and George (Congreve) who kept battling away and what an impressive 9+2 for Kai Ward who’s improving with each and every ride.
“We send best wishes to the injured riders and hope they aren’t out for too long. Thanks to the supporters for sticking with us on a long afternoon.”

COMETS END WITH A WIN
WORKINGTON wrapped up their first season at Northside with a 54-35 win over Kent, with Connor Bailey scoring a 15-point maximum.
And manager James Denham says the main aims for 2023 have been achieved despite the Comets being unbale to challenge for a place in the Grand Final.

Denham said: “I can’t believe we’re at the end of the season already. The season hasn’t gone the way we had planned of course, but the fans have stuck by us, and they know that this year was just about getting speedway back to Workington, and we’ve definitely done that.
“The lads this season have been brilliant, they have never given in despite any result, and the team spirit has been fantastic all year.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…  LEICESTER will be strong favourites to retain the KO Cup when they host Mildenhall on Saturday with an 11-point lead from the first leg.

ELSEWHERE: WORKINGTON stage the rearranged National Development League Riders’ Championship at Northside on Sunday (2pm) with two representatives from each club taking part.

FIXTURE PICTURE…

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Poole (38) v Glasgow (52) 7.30
ALAN GRAHAME MEMORIAL: Birmingham v Cradley Heathens Select 7.30

FRIDAY OCTOBER 13:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Scunthorpe v Poole 7.30

SATURDAY OCTOBER 14:
NDL KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Leicester (49) v Mildenhall (38) 7pm

SUNDAY OCTOBER 15:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington 2pm

MONDAY OCTOBER 16:
OLYMPIQUE INDIVIDUAL: Wolverhampton 7.30

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 18:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Poole v Scunthorpe 7.30
NDL GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Oxford v Leicester 7.30

FRIDAY OCTOBER 20:
TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30

SATURDAY OCTOBER 21:
NDL GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Leicester v Oxford 7pm

MONDAY OCTOBER 23:
FAREWELL TO MONMORE – WE’LL MEET AGAIN TROPHY: Wolverhampton 7.30