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Post by Administrator on Dec 19, 2012 8:17:12 GMT
LAKESIDE HAMMERS SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 19th December 2012 THE HAMMERS SEVEN SET FOR 2013 The Lakeside Hammers head into the festive break having completed their team building for the forthcoming season. Having already agreed contracts with Captain Davey Watt, Rider of the Year and No.1 Peter Karlsson, the returning Piotr Swiderski and Lewis Bridger, the Club are delighted to announce the return to the second string and reserve positions of Kim Nilsson, Robert Mear and Richie Worrall. Nilsson will enter his second full season as a Hammer with aspirations to move towards a heat leader position and flew into the Country last week to meet with the Club and start his backroom preparations for what is hoped to be a big year for both rider and club. Fans favourite Mear will continue to concentrate solely on Elite League racing having turned down approaches to Double Up in the second tier of League racing but will be active, along with Bridger, with the Club’s joint training project with Hagon Shocks. Worrall will be the Club’s only Double Up rider, racing as well with Newcastle in the Premier League, and will go straight into the team proper after his first away meeting of the season carrying with him a six point plus average from his tremendous opening campaign with the Club, which was ended early by injury. The Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook commented: "We are delighted to get our men and it’s the seven riders we have wanted since the points limit was passed. We have the bulk of the team that got us into the top two of the table at the time of Lee Richardson's death and who then put in the sterling work immediately after to take the League points that ultimately won us a place in the Play Offs, which for us was a victory in itself. We decided that we wouldn't go out and find a straight replacement for Lee. It would be impossible to do that. Instead we have filled his spot and that of our last season’s Double Up pair of Kauko Nieminen and Stuart Robson, with Lewis (Bridger) and Piotr (Swiderski). We feel that gives us strength in depth, particularly at home, but importantly also at the three or four clubs we have targeted for away wins that are necessary to reach the Play offs". Cook continued: "Having met up with both Rob (Mear) and Kim (Nilsson) over the last week it’s obvious that they hold the Club close to their hearts and both are now at the point of making a big step forward in their averages. Richie (Worrall), of course, was magic for us last season and we are delighted that he sees Lakeside as the Elite team to take his career forward to the unlimited heights he can achieve and we have reached agreement with Scunthorpe, who own his contract, to make him a full asset of the Hammers. Our fans have already given us the thumbs up to our team building so far and I am sure they will welcome the riders returning to complete our seven. It’s been a truly horrendous year for us and we can’t wait to put it behind us and enjoy 2013 together. Festive greetings to all and see you at the Raceway in March."
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Post by Administrator on Jan 8, 2013 17:13:34 GMT
LAKESIDE HAMMERS SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 8th January 2013 THE HAMMERS LAUNCH ELITE SKY SEASON The Lakeside Hammers are delighted to have been chosen to launch the new season of Live Sky Speedway with the news that they will be the first hosting track of the year on Monday 25th March when the League Champions Swindonwill be the visitors. It marks the start of the season for the Hammers, who will stage their Press and Fan night on Friday 22nd March. They will race twice at home on the week of the 25th with the traditional home and away League meetings with Eastbourneon Good Friday 29th March. Jon Cook, the Hammers Co Promoter, commented: "We feel it’s a real honour to have been chosen to launch the year and we are working with our sponsors to make it a night to remember for the fans present and a fitting start to the season of Live Speedway. More details will follow in the weeks ahead as will details of our public practice on the 22nd."
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Post by Administrator on Jan 24, 2013 19:22:20 GMT
LAKESIDE HAMMERS SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE Thursday 24th January 2013 THE HAMMERS ANNOUNCE THEIR 2013 FIXTURE LIST The Lakeside Hammers official Fixture List is out today and the Club’s first live Sky meeting has now been moved back a fortnight as the broadcasters live schedule requirements have changed. It means that the Club are now having a rethink on the opening season plans and will bring fans the details shortly with Friday 22nd March being the first date that supporters will be able to see the 2013 Hammers team on track. The Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook explained: “Obviously, the change in dates is not ideal but we are happy that we will play host to live televised Speedway early in the season. Our plans for 22nd March are coming together and we will again be putting a format in place whereby our fans will get unprecedented access to the track, infield, pits and, of course, the riders, building on last year’s Open Night.”
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Post by Administrator on Feb 4, 2013 8:45:15 GMT
LAKESIDE HAMMERS SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE Monday 4th February 2013 THE HAMMERS WARM UP AGAINST THE PANTHERS The Lakeside Hammers will warm up for the Elite League season with away and home clashes against the Peterborough Panthers on the 21st & 22nd March as both clubs prepare for their respective title challenges. The Hammers home leg on the 22nd March will include an open track and pits for fans between 6pm and 7pm with fans able to walk the Arena Essex track, have a look behind the scenes in the referee’s box, have access to the pits and the Hammers riders for photographic opportunities. Plans will be announced shortly for a limited number of tickets to watch three heats from the centre green during the evening, which is a rare and exciting view of racing. Jon Cook, the Hammers Co Promoter, commented: "With the differing sizes of both venues and with the clubs only meeting once home and away in the League this is a great chance for both teams to get worthwhile racing ahead of the countrywide Good Friday full Elite League programme. We will be incorporating the most popular features of the Open Night success of last season as well and hope the night will provide a firm foundation on which to build the season." Hammers 2013 Season Tickets WILL be valid for this home meeting against the Panthers on Friday 22nd March.
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Post by Administrator on Feb 28, 2013 9:15:18 GMT
LAKESIDE HAMMERS SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE Thursday 28th February 2013 RUGGLES & JEFFERY CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE HAMMERS The Lakeside Hammers are proud and delighted to announce Ruggles & Jeffery Ltd’s continuing support for the Club’s Community Programme. This unique partnership began in 2011 and is, therefore, now entering its third season. Ian Jeffery, Managing Director of Ruggles & Jeffery, commented: “The vision that The Lakeside Hammers have for their work is very inspiring and we’re delighted to be involved again as their Community Partner for a third year.” Mark Sexton, the Hammers Community Liaison Manager, is equally pleased that Ruggles & Jeffery are able to continue developing their involvement and believes that the company is becoming synonymous with the Club and its work in, and with, the community. Mark explained: “The Hammers will continue to make our ‘Kids for a Quid’ initiative a cornerstone of the Community Programme. We believe that ‘Kids for a Quid’ helps to make the Club as inclusive and accessible as possible and Ruggles & Jeffery’s support is vital in ensuring that we can continue to help families with children and youth groups to attend Speedway meetings at the Arena Essex Raceway”. The Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook was delighted to see Ruggles & Jeffery extend their relationship with the Club. He stated: "Ian and his colleagues are a delight to work with and our Community Programme has been hugely beneficial to raising the profile of the Club. This is great news to start the final run in to the new season and we have another extremely exciting announcement to follow next week from our Commercial Department, making for very exciting times for The Hammers". Ruggles & Jeffery Ltd is a leading building contractor and is based in Wickford, Essex. www.rugglesandjeffery.co.uk/
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Post by Administrator on Mar 11, 2013 8:28:18 GMT
LAKESIDE HAMMERS SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE Monday 11th March 2013 HAMMERS NEW TEAM SPONSOR UNVEILED The Lakeside Hammers Speedway team are delighted to welcome Vortex Performance Exhausts to the Club as new Team Sponsor for the 2013 & 2014 seasons. The tie up is the first in Speedway for the Grays based company who have a network of franchised dealers throughout the UK and who specialise in manufacturing an exhaust system that improves engine efficiency and performance. Barry Mead, Managing Director of Vortex, said: “We are very excited to be working with the Vortex Lakeside Hammers, and sponsoring the 2013 & 2014 seasons. We have proven track record in sponsoring successful teams and competitions within the world of motorsport. The Hammers had a very successful season last year, and we strongly believe that they will have even greater success this year.” The Lakeside Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook commented: “This is a massive boost to the Club’s preparations for the year ahead, representing the most significant sponsorship package of our time with the Hammers and being over at least two seasons is a great show of faith in the team and Sport. We are aiming to make this another season to remember and we hope the Vortex Lakeside Hammers will be making all the headlines in the Elite League in the months ahead.” The Essex club, who race at the Arena Essex Raceway, start their Sky Sports Elite League season on Good Friday with a 1pm start against the Eastbourne Eagles but will take to the track for the first time the week before on Friday 22nd March with a warm up match with the Peterborough Panthers when their new look, the now traditional claret and blue race suits, combined with a return of a striking body colour design will be worn by the Hammers riders. Attachments:
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Post by Administrator on Mar 19, 2013 14:19:43 GMT
THE VORTEX LAKESIDE HAMMERS PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 19th March 2013 RICHARD LAWSON TO JOIN THE HAMMERS Richard Lawson will join The Vortex Lakeside Hammers as a new addition to the starting line up as a double up rider in place of Richie Worrall in time for next week's start of the Elite League season. Lawson was surprisingly left without an Elite League place despite an impressive showing for Peterborough in 2012, and joins the Club on loan from Workington where he rides as No.1 and Captain. He will make his Hammers debut on Good Friday, with popular Hammers asset Stuart Robson filling the slot vacated by Worrall in this week's home and away challenges with Peterborough , due to Lawson having prearranged off track commitments to Workington. Hammers co-promoter Jon Cook said; "We are fortunate that Richard was available and he jumped at the chance of joining us. He is a great big track specialist and as such gives us strength at reserve on our travels to compliment Rob Mear's small track skills, whilst he learns the Raceway circuit. He is still in the early seasons of his Speedway career and we are delighted to be able to offer our No.7 spot to another ambitious up and coming English rider.” On Worrall's surprise departure Cook commented "We had dealings with the rider's second agent of the winter and after an unprecedented attempt to renegotiate a contract signed before the end of last season we felt the rider’s heart was clearly not at the Club." Club owner, Stuart Douglas, although delighted to have a rider of Lawson's ability join the team, was disturbed the departure of Worrall. “'I'm very disappointed in the turn of events, but I'm not interested in having a rider at this Club who has no desire to be here, despite happily signing a contract for 2013", said Douglas. "Richie is a very talented young man, but sadly he is receiving less than helpful advice from a third party with a vested interest in prising him away from this Club. We have seen the damaging affect that the agent system has had on English football - I'm really sad to see that this has now entered speedway. The ones who really suffer are our fans, who were hugely excited to see such a prospect ride for the Hammers, and they can justifiably feel let down. I'm not sure I can ever fully explain to them how reprehensible I have found this unpleasant behaviour. It leaves a very unsavoury taste, but we are a very positive Club with good energy and we will not be blown off course by this - it merely strengthens our resolve to do well in 2013.”
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Post by Administrator on Mar 20, 2013 12:00:36 GMT
THE VORTEX LAKESIDE HAMMERS PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 20th March 2013 THE HAMMERS TAKE ON THE PANTHERS The Vortex Lakeside Hammers will open the door on their Arena Essex Raceway to fans this Friday, 22nd March, as they take to the track for the first time this season when they entertain the Peterborough Panthers in the second leg of an Elite Challenge match. Following on from last season’s successful Open Night the Essex Club will again allow their fans, and visitors from the Panthers, the opportunity to see behind the scenes with the track open from 6pm for pits visit, track tour and the chance to visit the Referee’s Box and see the view by which the meeting is marshaled. The Home team will also be available for a photo session at 7pm in their new race suits. Co Promoter Jon Cook commented: "Last year was a great night and this time we have added the competition of a meeting to follow. It seems an unusually long winter and we can't wait to welcome back the fans and enjoy the first action of the season." The Hammers have retained in their line up this season four of the riders that made it through to the Elite League Play Off Semi Finals in 2012. Those riders are:- Australian Davey Watt, who retains the captaincy, veteran Swede Peter Karlsson, who will wear the No.1 race jacket, his fellow Swedish rider Kim Nilsson and Great Britain rider Robert Mear. Joining these four will be Piotr Swiderski, who missed out on last season in this Country through an injury sustained towards the end of 2011 but was a member of the Hammers side that year. In addition the Essex based Club have brought in two new riders for the 2013 season in Great Britain International Lewis Bridger, who has spent the majority of his career at Eastbourne, and recent acquisition British rider Richard Lawson, who will combine his Elite League duties with the Hammers with those for the Workington Comets in the Premier League where he is their No.1 and captain. However, for Friday’s match against the Panthers he will be replaced by Stuart Robson as a guest as Richard Lawson was a prior engagement with the Comets. Stuart Robson has been a member of the Hammers squad of riders since 2009 but will be riding for the Newcastle Diamonds this season in the Premier League. The Peterborough Panthers will be led by Danish International Kenneth Bjerre, who started last season with them following a year away from the club when he rode for King’s Lynn but his season was cut short due to injury. That also meant that he failed to retain his place in the Grand Prix series for this year. He will be joined in their line up by Norbert Kosciuch, who returns to the Peterborough side having been involved with the Panthers since 2010, Australian Dakota North also returns to the club after having had a spell with them in 2011 and Swedish rider Linus Sundstrom returns for his third season with the Panthers. The remaining three riders in their 2013 line up are all new to the club. Dane Kenni Larsen has moved to the Panthers during the winter from Coventry for whom he had ridden for the past two seasons. American Ryan Fisher has performed well for them in the past as a guest as has Danish rider Patrick Hougaard. Fisher spent last season in the Premier League with Plymouth whereas Hougaard joins them from Belle Vue having spent the previous five seasons with the Manchester club. The main action against the Panthers gets underway with the Grand Parade of riders at 7.45pm with the first of the 15 heats due to start at 8pm. The admission prices have been frozen from those of 2012 and remain at £17 for adults, £14 for Senior Citizens, Students and Disabled, £12 for Unemployed and 17 and 18 year olds and children aged 6 to 16 inclusive £3 with children under the age of six admitted free of charge provided they are accompanied by a paying adult. Proof of age or status may be requested. All tickets may be purchased on the night but, alternatively, they are also available in advance online via the Club’s website at www.lakesidehammers.co
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Post by Administrator on Mar 21, 2013 22:10:10 GMT
THE VORTEX LAKESIDE HAMMERS PRESS RELEASE Thursday 21st March 2013 THE HAMMERS OPEN NIGHT CANCELLED The Lakeside Hammers season will now begin on Good Friday, 29th March, as the Club have decided to cancel this Friday night’s challenge match with Peterborough. Having staged a training session today (Thursday) for the entirety of which large parts of the inside of the track where unable to be ridden on and a temporary white line used, the Club have decided in the face of further forecasts of poor weather and near freezing temperatures there is no alternative but to cancel and hope that spring raises its head in time for the start of the Elite League season next week. The session itself saw all of the Hammers team take to the track, except new signing Richard Lawson, as well as Peterborough counterparts Linus Sundstrom, Kenni Larsen & Kenneth Bjerre, who all rode on their own due to conditions. Jon Cook the Hammers Co Promoter explained: "In the current weather situation it was a useful workout even though we couldn't utilise all of the track. It was also day one for our new training partner Russell Paine and well done to him and his helpers for a superbly organised day for the 30+ trainees. We look forward to their next visit when we hope conditions and temperatures are improved". Cook continued: "It's a huge shame for us and all clubs to be encountering this current spell of weather but it's something we can't control and rider safety and the comfort of fans is our priority. We are now planning a further training session for most of the team next Thursday evening from 7pm and fans will be most welcome to attend."
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Post by Administrator on Mar 21, 2013 22:54:49 GMT
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Post by Administrator on Mar 25, 2013 8:34:05 GMT
THE VORTEX LAKESIDE HAMMERS PRESS RELEASE Monday 25th March 2013 NEW ASSOCIATE SPONSOR FOR THE HAMMERS The Lakeside Hammers preparations for Good Friday’s lunchtime Elite League season opener against the Eastbourne Eagles have been given a considerable boost with the addition of Brentwood based tyre and alignment specialists Skidmarques as Associate Sponsors for the 2013 season. The company have stepped up from their initial introduction as advertisers in 2012 and join new Team Sponsors Vortex Exhaust Systems, Community Sponsor Ruggles & Jeffery and the Academy and Training Partners Hagon Shocks supporting the Essex based club. Keith Playell, the Managing Director of Skidmarques Ltd, following their agreement to increase their support of The Hammers in 2013, stated: “Skidmarques are delighted to be able to renew and expand our support for The Lakeside Hammers. As a family run business it is excellent to be associated with a family friendly club with such a loyal following. We look forward to being good advocates for The Hammers and doing what we can to assist the club and riders." A delighted Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook commented: "It's been a phenomenal winter for our Commercial team and they have set the standard for their on track counterparts to follow, starting this Good Friday when we see local rivals, Eastbourne, at our Raceway for the 1pm start."
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Post by Administrator on Mar 27, 2013 8:51:32 GMT
THE VORTEX LAKESIDE HAMMERS PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 27th March 2013 RED HOT EASTER DERBY TO WARM FANS The Lakeside Hammers will be heating up this Friday, 29th March, as they face arch rivals the Eastbourne Eagles in Good Friday track action at the Arena Essex Raceway at 1pm. While temperatures will only warm up slightly by the end of the week the on track action promises to be red hot as clashes with the Eagles are amongst the highlights of the Speedway season, which commences for the Essex based Club with this match. The Hammers are due to practice at the Raceway on Thursday evening ahead of the clash when fans are welcome to attend. All riders will be present with the exception of Davey Watt, who is on a pre-arranged two day training programme in Poland . The Hammers go into Good Friday’s match with new signing Richard Lawson making his debut for the Club at reserve. He will be joined at reserve by Robert Mear. The side will see Swede Peter Karlsson riding at No.1 alongside his fellow countryman Kim Nilsson. Completing the top five will be Davey Watt, fresh from Polish training sessions, Piotr Swiderski and Lewis Bridger, who will also be making his Hammers debut having joined the Club from Eastbourne. Eastbourne make just two changes to the team that competed for the Sussex club in 2012. The first change sees Dane Bjarne Pedersen come back to the club after racing for Birmingham last season where he replaces Finn, and former Hammer, Joonas Kylmakorpi who is taking time away from racing in this Country. The other change sees former Hammer, Adam Shields, the Australian who spent five years in the Hammers colours, replace Lewis Bridger. Shields started last season with Belle Vue but after just five League meetings for the Aces decided to take a break from the Sport. Those returning for the Eagles are Swedish rider Simon Gustafsson, Australian Cameron Woodward, who again captains the side, Finn Timo Lahti, Russian Denis Gizatullin and Lukas Dryml from the Czech Republic. Courtesy of Ruggles & Jeffery children aged six to sixteen will be admitted to this meeting for just £1 under their ‘Kids for a Quid’ initiative. The other admission prices are: - £17 for adults, £14 for Senior Citizens, Students and Disabled, £12 for Unemployed and 17 and 18 year olds and children under the age of six admitted free of charge provided they are accompanied by a paying adult. Proof of age or status may be requested. All tickets may be purchased on the night but, alternatively, they are also available in advance online via the Club’s website at www.lakesidehammers.co
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Post by Administrator on Apr 4, 2013 11:14:13 GMT
THE VORTEX LAKESIDE HAMMERS PRESS RELEASE Thursday 4th April 2013 THE HAMMERS TAKE ON THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS THIS FRIDAY The Sky Sports 2012 Elite League Champions, the Swindon Robins, are in town this Friday, 5th April, as the Vortex Lakeside Hammers Elite League season return to their traditional 8pm start time. The Robins have already made an impressive start to the year taking the Elite Shield from the Poole Pirates and are favourites to retain their League title. The Vortex Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook commented: "It’s a very exciting meeting to kick off our Friday night home season and although it’s still very early in the year for both teams it’s sure to be a very tight and exciting affair. Our boys will need to be on their best form to take the result." The Vortex Hammers line up for the clash against the Robins with the same seven riders who raced to a nine point victory in the home match against the Eastbourne Eagles on Good Friday. That match saw all of the Hammers riders pick up vital points in a good all round solid performance and they will need to repeat that if they are to see off the Robins. Swindon will be led by the Danish former Grand Prix rider Hans Andersen along with his fellow Dane Peter Kildemand. Completing their top five will be former Eastbourne, Poole and Coventry rider Edward Kennett, who joined the Robins over the winter, and the current Australian Champion Troy Batchelor. They will be using the ‘Rider Replacement’ facility for Aussie Nick Morris as he has to ride for his Premier League side, Somerset, who have a home match against Ipswich the same evening. Similarly they will also be missing one of their reserves, Ashley Birks, who will be riding for his Premier League side, Scunthorpe, who are at home to Sheffield. His place will be taken by a guest and the Swindon Management have chosen Steve Worrall, who rides for Newcastle in the Premier League. Their other reserve is Polish rider Kacper Gomolski, who last rode in this County in 2011 when he appeared in the colours of Peterborough. The ‘Kids for a Quid’ offer for the Easter holidays again applies courtesy of Ruggles & Jeffery, which will see children aged six to sixteen inclusive admitted to this meeting against Swindon for just £1. The other admission prices are: - £17 for adults, £14 for Senior Citizens, Students and Disabled, £12 for Unemployed and 17 and 18 year olds and children under the age of six admitted free of charge provided they are accompanied by a paying adult. Proof of age or status may be requested. All tickets may be purchased on the night but, alternatively, they are also available in advance online via the Club’s website at www.lakesidehammers.coThe action gets underway at the Arena Essex Raceway on Friday, 5th April, at 8pm with the Grand Parade of riders scheduled for 7.45pm.
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Post by Administrator on Apr 5, 2013 6:57:43 GMT
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Post by Administrator on Apr 11, 2013 7:35:28 GMT
THE VORTEX LAKESIDE HAMMERS PRESS RELEASE Thursday 11th April 2013 THE HAMMERS TAKE ON THE BRUMMIES THIS FRIDAY The Birmingham Brummies are the Vortex Hammers next opponents this Friday, 12th April, when the two teams meet at 8pm at the Arena EssexRaceway. The Brummies started the year well but slipped to a home defeat on Wednesday against the Swindon Robins, the team who beat the Vortex Hammers last Friday. The Vortex Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook commented: "It’s time to get the season properly underway and with no Davey (Watt) we need all of the team to pull their weight. This meeting is the last home Friday match for three weeks due to the break for the Grand Prix but Sky Sports will be in town a week on Tuesday (23rd April) when the King’s Lynn Stars will be with us. It has, therefore, been decided that the Vortex Hammers will again offer kids admission for just £1.” The Vortex Hammers go into this meeting minus their captain, Davey Watt, who sustained a broken scaphoid in the home match against Swindon. His rides will be covered by using the ‘Rider Replacement’ facility, which will enable any of the remaining six riders to take an additional ride. Birmingham will be led by a former British Grand Prix winner, Chris Harris, who joined the club over the winter from their near rivals, the Coventry Bees. Former Hammer Daniel King captains their side but their three remaining top five team members will all miss the meeting due to commitments with their respective Premier League clubs. Josh Auty will be replaced by Workington’s Australian Rusty Harrison and Ben Barker’s place will be taken by Wolverhampton’s American Ricky Wells whilst the Brummies will use ‘Rider Replacement’ to cover the rides of their Australian Jason Doyle. Their team is completed by German Martin Smolinski and Argentinean born Nicolas Covatti, who will occupy the reserve berths. The ‘Kids for a Quid’ initiative covers children aged six to sixteen inclusive who will be admitted to this meeting for just £1. The other admission prices are: - £17 for adults, £14 for Senior Citizens, Students and Disabled, £12 for Unemployed and 17 and 18 year olds and children under the age of six admitted free of charge provided they are accompanied by a paying adult. Proof of age or status may be requested. All tickets may be purchased on the night but, alternatively, they are also available in advance online via the Club’s website at www.lakesidehammers.coThe action gets underway at the Arena Essex Raceway on Friday, 12th April, at 8pm with the Grand Parade of riders scheduled for 7.45pm.
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