WEEKEND PREVIEW: Somersham Open highlight of the weekend
This weekend’s cycle speedway action kicks off with the Somersham Open on Saturday which features 2 Open Semi-Finals (where the top 8 scorers will qualify for the Final), and a Veterans Individual as well as a Consolation Final for the Open event.
The action starts at 11am with the first of the Open Semi-Finals which includes 5 riders who will be racing at Somersham for the 1st time, including the Birmingham trio of British Champion Paul Heard, former World No.2 Chris Timms and former European Junior Champion Ricki Johnson. Also making the visit to Somersham for the 1st time are the Hull duo of Matt Elgen and 2019 World Semi-Finalist Nathan Everett. Leon Mower (Gt Blakenham), who has been instrumental in organising this event, will also be riding as will his club colleagues Josh Brooke (2018 British Champion and a former Somersham rider back in 2005), Kristian Mitchell and Adam Cooper. James Porter, Ben Clarke, Luke Dunnungham, Lewis Brinkhoff and Owen Wells will carry the Ipswich colours with Kesgrave’s Noah Woodhouse completing the field
Full line-up
1. Josh Brooke
2. Kristian Mitchell
3. Noah Woodhouse
4. Paul Heard
5. Leon Mower
6. Adam Cooper
7. Ricki Johnson
8. Chris Timms
9.James Porter
10. Matt Eglen
11. Ben Clarke
12. Luke Dunningham
13. Lewis Brinkhoff
14. Nathan Everett
15 TBC
16. Owen Wells
The 2nd semi-final, scheduled for 12.30pm, features 7 riders who will be making their first visit to Somersham, namely Lewis Foxley (Edinburgh), Wil Jeffery (Horspath), Cameron Gill (Coventry), 2015 British Champion Zac Payne (Horspath), Jake Steel (Birmingham) and the Poole duo of Fraser Garnett & Wil Bristowe. Reigning British Under 14 Champion Harvey Young and Adam Peck (Gt Blakenham), current British Indoor Champion and a fromer Somersham rider, also ride, as does Fraser Harris (Ipswich), Torsten Jolly (Kesgrave), Matt Parr (Kesgrave), Ashley Hill (Ipswich) and Kai Gowers.
Full line-up
1. Harvey Young
2. Lewis Foxley
3. Will Jeffery
4. TBC
5. Harley Hammill
6. Fraser Harris
7. Torsten Jolly
8. Cam Gill
9. Adam Peck
10. Matt Parr
11. Zac Payne
12. Kai Gowers
13. Fraser Garnett
14. Wil Bristowe
15. Ash Hill
16. Jake Steel
The Veterans event, scheduled to start at 2pm, features the Leicester brothers Craig, Mark and Nicky Whitehead. Also representing Leicester will be Lukasz Kaczmarek and former World Veterans Champion Craig Marchant. 3 riders who have recently returned to action will also be racing, Toby Millen, Paul Share and Lee Ashman. Poole’s Dave Strong also rides along with the Birmingham duo of Mark Winwood and Paul Timms, both of whom will be racing at Somersham for the first time. Great Blakenham will be represented by Bill Rhodes and former British Veterans Champion Jason Ashford with Steve Hammond & Ray Pyke representing Kesgrave. The line up is completed by former Somersham rider Steve Copping (Norwich)
Full line-up
1. Craig Whitehead
2. Lee Ashman
3. Nicky Whitehead
4. Paul Timms
5. Paul Share
6. Dave Strong
7. Lukasz Kaczmarek
8. Bill Rhodes
9. Mark Winwood
10. Jason Ashford
11. Steven Hammond
12. Mark Whitehead
13. Steve Copping
14. Craig Marchant
15. Ray Pyke
16.Toby Millen
The Open Consolation Final (for the riders who finish outside of the top 8 in the semi-finals) is scheduled to start at 3.30pm with the Open Final, scheduled to start at 5pm, rounding off the action
A reminder for those who are travelling to Somersham that NO DOGS (except Guide Dogs) are allowed on the playing field
Sunday should have seen action in the North-West section of the North & Scotland League with Stockport taking on Astley & Tyldesley but that has been postponed with a re-staging date to be confirmed. Also on Sunday the latest round of the Yorkshire League takes place at Cookson Park, Sheffiled