HOME INTERNATIONAL: Ireland teams announced

It’s Home International weekend coming up and the team news is in! Let’s find out who’s racing for which country, starting with Ireland…

Ireland co-managers Steve Copping and Gary Colby have announced their squads for the Home Internationals at Great Blakenham on Saturday 7 July.

Steve Copping comments: “The Over 40’s team will be as follows (not in riding order): Paddy Wenn, Phil Widdas, Phil Hemming and my co-manager Gary Colby. The legend that is John Murphy is a doubt, so there is a strong possibility I will have to step in and complete the line-up like I did last year at Bury when Phil Widdas broke down en route.

“We have had to make two changes to the Junior team which rode last year at Bury, both of which are due to the riders concerned now over the age limit. Ciaran Collins, Jimmy Wassall and Kieron Alton will line up once again and completing the squad will be Scott Colby, son of my co-manager Gary, and hopefully Jimmy Wassall’s brother Ronnie.

Leon Mower leads the Ireland charge. Photo by Andrew Davison.

“The Senior team shows one change from last years match at Bury with Leon Mower, Aaron Herbert, Harley Hamill and Jonjo Slaughter lining up once again with Craig Norton completing the line up.

“Jonjo will no doubt be looking to erase the memories of last year’s match at Bury where he crashed out of the match in his third ride with soft tissue damage, whilst Craig has been included on the basis that he has been riding extremely well for Norwich this season.”