SPEEDWAY - FOURS GLORY FOR PANTHERS
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BSPA Press Office
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PRESS BULLETIN FROM THE
BRITISH SPEEDWAY PROMOTERS' ASSOCIATION PRESS OFFICE
Telephone: 0700 349 6748 - E-mail: pressoffice@speedwaygb.co
Date: Sunday August 6, 2017
PETERBOROUGH were crowned 2017 SGB Championship Fours Winners in front of a bumper crowd at their home circuit on Sunday.
On a day of thrilling, breathtaking action at the East of England Arena, the hosts scraped through from the first Semi-Final, before running out comfortable victors in the Grand Final.
Semi-Final 1 saw Sheffield progress as winners after an enthralling three way tussle with the Panthers and Workington who eventually missed out on qualification by three points after being in close contention throughout.
The second Semi-Final saw Ipswich coast through courtesy of a lightning start where they secured ten points from the first four races. But the rest of the action went right down to the wire.
With Stuart Robson winning Heat 10, that would have been enough to send Newcastle through as runners-up. But when he was passed by Ipswich's Justin Sedgmen, it meant that Redcar had secured enough points to pip them to the post.
With the way they had performed in their semi-final, Ipswich were strongly fancied to go all the way - but they would run out last in the four team Grand Final.
Hosts Peterborough defied the odds and pulled together when it mattered most.
Chris Harris added to his two Semi-Final race wins to complete a full event maximum, whilst Panthers skipper Ulrich Ostergaard also went through the card in the Grand Final.
Late replacement Simon Lambert contributed well too while Paul Starke sealed the silverware with two races to spare.
Whilst delighted to see his own side lift the trophy, Peterborough Promoter Ged Rathbone insisted British Speedway was the overall winner.
"All of the riders gave it their all and the racing was absolutely fantastic all day long," Rathbone said.
"We're used to it week in week out here at Peterborough but as you saw today it's a race track that the riders love to race on.
"They were chopping back to the inside, blasting around the outside, it was just great and we're so happy.
"We had a full grandstand, which holds 2,200 people, we had a packed back straight, people crowding on the bends - the turnout was phenomenal.
"We had a meeting that flowed with very little track work and I'm delighted with how today has gone.
"There's been doom and gloom surrounding of late but today has once again shown how tremendous British Speedway really is.
"Meetings like this are what our sport is all about and we're delighted.
"From a Peterborough point of view it's quite surreal really - but that one's for the supporters."
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP FOURS, Peterborough
SEMI-FINAL 1
SHEFFIELD 16: Josh Grajczonek 5, Kyle Howarth 4, Todd Kurtz 4, Josh Bates 3.
PETERBOROUGH 14: Chris Harris 6, Ulrich Ostergaard 5, Paul Starke 2, Simon Lambert 1.
WORKINGTON 11: Thomas Jorgensen 5, Mason Campton 4, Ty Proctor 1, Craig Cook 1.
SCUNTHORPE 10: Jake Allen 5, Lewis Kerr 3, Josh Auty 2, Michael Palm Toft 0, Ryan Douglas (res) 0.
EDINBURGH 9: Erik Riss 5, Ricky Wells 2, Theo Pijper 1, Josh Pickering (res) 1, Max Clegg 0.
SEMI-FINAL 2
IPSWICH 18: Rory Schlein 6, Justin Sedgmen 5, Cameron Heeps 4, Danny King 3.
REDCAR 13: Charles Wright 5, Ben Barker 3, Jonas B Andersen 3, Jason Garrity 1, Ellis Perks (res) 1.
NEWCASTLE 12: Steve Worrall 6, Stuart Robson 3, Ludvig Lindgren 3, Ashley Morris 0.
GLASGOW 9: Richard Lawson 3, Aaron Summers 3, Nike Lunna 3, Dan Bewley 0.
BERWICK 8: Kevin Doolan 5, David Howe 2, Jye Etheridge 1, Dany Gappmaier 0, Luke Ruddick (res) 0.
FINAL
PETERBOROUGH 28: Chris Harris 9, Ulrich Ostergaard 9, Simon Lambert 5, Paul Starke 5.
REDCAR 18: Charles Wright 7, Jason Garrity 6, Ben Barker 3, Jonas B Andersen 2.
SHEFFIELD 16: Kyle Howarth 6, Josh Grajczonek 5, Todd Kurtz 3, Josh Bates 2.
IPSWICH 10: Danny King 6, Rory Schlein 2, Cameron Heeps 1, Justin Sedgmen 1.
(SPEEDWAY 1)
BRITISH Speedway's deputy chief Rob Godfrey has revealed how Sunday's Fours turnout at Peterborough was the biggest in the modern era.
Thousands flocked to the East of England Arena and enjoyed a sensational afternoon of racing with the host club pulling off a stunning win.
And Godfrey, who owns Scunthorpe Scorpions, says the event was a massive success.
“The turnout was amazing,” he said. “I think we were all taken aback by the amount of fans at the venue, particularly when you consider a lot of the background to the event with all the controversy.
“It shows that British Speedway is very much alive and kicking and we have one of the most passionate and loyal group of fans anywhere in Europe.
“As an association we are delighted with the success of the event. We worked hard to promote it despite the well documented problems in the build-up, some of which were of our own making.
“But we offer our sincere thanks to the fans, the riders, sponsors and all the helpers and track staff who helped make the event what it was.
“Our congratulations to Peterborough on their success, Chris Harris and the moves he pulled off were worth the admission money alone.”
The Association have also confirmed a new date for the Championship Pairs which will now be at Sheffield on Sunday October 8 at 5pm.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
PETERBOROUGH star Paul Starke was delighted to clinch the club’s first major honour in over a decade at Sunday’s SGB Championship Fours.
Starke delivered the winning ride in Heat 10 of the Final as the Panthers overcame Redcar, Sheffield and Ipswich in an event which had featured all ten sides in the league.
Their last trophy had come back in 2007 with the season-opening Elite Shield following on from an unforgettable Elite League triumph the previous autumn.
Starke said: “It takes a good team to win an event like this and we had one today.
“We stuck together, we got the points we needed and now have the silverware to show for it.
“I was frustrated not to have contributed more points, so it was great to go out and wrap it up in style with a heat win.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins admitted his side had missed a major chance for silverware in the SGB Championship Fours at Peterborough.
The Witches dominated their semi-final and looked clear favourites for the Final – but they finished a distant fourth as the hosts triumphed ahead of Redcar and Sheffield.
Hawkins said: “We were superb in the semi-final and it was perfect really. We were qualified with two heats to go and we looked so good from the off.
“In the Final we went from one extreme to the other. We were never in it in the Final, and never looked like being in it either. We were well beaten having been the best team after the semis.
“I can’t put my finger on why, obviously the track changed throughout the day but we have so much experience between the four riders that it shouldn’t make a difference. It is the same for everyone and we went from being really good to being quite bad to be honest.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
LAKESIDE boss Kelvin Tatum hailed the burgeoning partnership between Ben Morley and Paul Hurry after Lakeside toppled National League leaders Eastbourne 49-41.
The Hammers pair produced a maximum in Heat 15 to maintain the side's perfect record after eight home league meetings and become the first team to deny the Eagles any kind of yield from a league match this season.
Morley collected a 15-point maximum with Hurry contributing 10+4, whilst Eagles reserve Matt Bates carded 13+3 and Tom Brennan added 10+1.
Tatum said: “Ben has been fabulous. He really held the team together and played a proper captain’s role in the same way he did against Birmingham.
“Paul Hurry weighed in very nicely in Heat 15 too, it was a terrific finish to deny Eastbourne a league point. Those two really have clicked recently and we needed that at the back end of the meeting.
“We started strongly but to their credit, Eastbourne came back at us quite well. They’re not an easy team to get the better of so I was delighted to remain unbeaten at home and send away a rival with nothing.”
Eastbourne boss Connor Dugard said: “We battled hard and there was great spirit, as always, in the pits.
“It was a good meeting but we were really one man short, unfortunately, using rider replacement. Nevertheless, we are not too disappointed with the result in the circumstances.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
WOLVERHAMPTON skipper Fredrik Lindgren says his side are out for revenge when they host Poole at Monmore Green tonight (Monday).
The hosts saw their unbeaten run on their own circuit ended by the Pirates last month after Kyle Howarth crashed out in his second ride.
And while the Monmore men will operate rider replacement for Aussie ace Sam Masters, who is out with a collarbone injury, Lindgren believes team spirit will help them in their quest for another three SGB Premiership points.
Said Lindgren: "We were really unlucky to lose out to Poole a few weeks ago. If Kyle hadn't had that crash then I don't think they'd have had much chance.
“So we want to put things right against them on Monday and keep adding points to the table.
"Even after a difficult few results, the team have stuck together and we showed against Somerset what we are capable of. We just need to all keep chipping in and we would definitely like a bit of revenge of Poole on Monday.”
The Pirates are unchanged from the team which lost at Belle Vue last week, and promoter Matt Ford has underlined the need to arrest their recent below-par run.
Ford said: “Things haven't changed in so much as we face another tough night on the road needing to try and recover some form. The aim is still to secure a place in the play-offs and we are presently holding fourth place.
“The three sides ahead of us are beginning to put some distance between us but we need to put our poor run behind us and try and put some more points on the board.
“We did it three weeks ago with six of the seven riders that will be riding for us this time around so we have to believe that we can do so again.”
Meanwhile King’s Lynn host Somerset in tonight’s BT Sport televised fixture at the Adrian Flux Arena.
The Stars trail fourth-placed Poole by six points but do have three matches in hand – whilst the Rebels could overhaul the hosts with an away win.
The Stars hope to be back to full strength after Robert Lambert sat out this weekend's fixtures due to injury. Nicklas Porsing will return to the side in place of Simon Lambert at reserve.
Lynn newcomer Tomas H Jonasson said: “I know we have a lot of work to do, and we were disappointed to lose against Swindon. But it was the first meeting for some of us, and I think we’re all going to work hard together to try and move up the table.
“We want to put a good run together and do the best we can, starting by hopefully winning against Somerset and getting some confidence building in the team.”
Rebels boss Garry May said: “We will be going to King’s Lynn looking to build on Friday’s excellent home win over Belle Vue, and it is one which we will looking to win and add further league points to our tally and move us further up the Premiership table.
“Both teams have a very different look about them since we met at their place back in March, so this should be an interesting match-up for the BT Sport cameras to broadcast.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
KENT host Mildenhall in a potentially crucial National Trophy fixture at Central Park tonight (Monday).
The visitors will secure a place in the Final by avoiding defeat, whilst if they take a point (for losing by fewer than seven points) they will force Kent to win at Eastbourne in the final group match.
If Kent win tonight by seven or more points, the equation moves slightly in their favour as a draw at Arlington would then be sufficient to progress.
The hosts again bring in Ben Morley to guest for the injured Luke Bowen at No.1, with rider-replacement in operation for Nathan Stoneman.
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY AUGUST 7:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Somerset 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Kent v Mildenhall 6.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 8:
CHALLENGE: Isle of Wight v Reading NDL Select 7pm
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Rye House v King’s Lynn 7.30, Somerset v Wolverhampton 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Plymouth 7.30, Cradley v Isle of Wight 7.30 (at Birmingham)
THURSDAY AUGUST 10:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Poole v Rye House 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Workington 7.30
Results Sunday August 6, 2017
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP FOURS, Peterborough
1 Peterborough 28 (Chris Harris 9/Ulrich Ostergaard 9)
2 Redcar 18 (Charles Wright 8)
3 Sheffield 16 (Kyle Howarth 6)
4 Ipswich 10 (Danny King 6)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Lakeside 49 (Ben Morley 15)
Eastbourne 41 (Matt Bates 13+3)
National League points: Lakeside 3 Eastbourne 0
