NEWS: Hawks start preparations for 2016

Hethersett Hawks have now had two early training sessions in preparation for what promises to be an exciting season for the Club starting on March 20th. Not only will the Club be celebrating its Golden Jubilee – a special day of events is planned for Saturday May 21st – but also the Club will be taking part as a team on foreign soil for the first time – contesting the European Club Championships in Ostrow, Poland over the early May Bank Holiday weekend.

Members at the Annual Meeting held recently also heard of a new sponsor coming on board and the Club will be making an announcement early in April. With this arrangement new racing jerseys will be introduced. All Club Officers and Committee members were re-elected to continue their good work in 2016.

The Club will again contest the South East League with teams in Division 1 and Division 2, both of which will add fixtures against Sussex side Hellingly Lions for the first time. The transfer window threw up a couple of surprises with last year’s top scorer and team manager Lee Grange moving back to Norwich Stars for family reasons which the Club respects and acknowledges his efforts while with the Hawks.

Former top scorer Oliver Riley, who took a year out in 2015, has also transferred to Norwich while Suffolk based Richie Williamson, who only raced a handful of matches in his two-year stay with the Hawks, has moved to Suffolk Club Great Blakenham.

On the credit side former British Finalist Lee Smith has moved to Hethersett. Lee now lives and works in Peterborough after starting his career with Sandwell and having spells with East Park and Birmingham. He will bring a wealth of experience to the team. The “B” team manager Katie Adams is also looking to build on last season’s improvement by including some of the recent recruits, mainly from the Attleborough area.