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Post by Administrator on Sept 8, 2009 15:19:10 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 2nd September 2009 HAMMERS TARGET THIRD AFTER PLAY OFF QUALIFICATION
The Lakeside Hammers will celebrate qualification for the Sky Sports Elite League Championship Play Offs this Friday (11th September) when local rivals Ipswich visit in the last League match of the season. The Hammers place in the final four was confirmed on Monday night when Peterborough only took one point from their visit to Belle Vue leaving the Panthers unable to finish above the Essex based Club even if they were to win their final meeting away at Poole, such is the superiority of the Hammers race points advantage.
Now the Club’s Promoters Stuart Douglas and Jon Cook are targeting a win on Friday to place the team in a fine third place position in the final table and send the team into the Play Offs full of confidence.
Co Promoter Jon Cook commented: "It was certainly an exciting night of Speedway on Monday watching Coventry lose at Eastbourne and then getting updates direct from Belle Vue, which fortunately for me and Stuart were ahead of the TV coverage. We both allowed ourselves mutual congratulations but now the really hard work starts as we need to fine tune our home performance and track set up in readiness for whoever awaits in the Play Offs".
Team Owner Stuart Douglas continued: "Everyone at the Club should be rightly proud of our combined achievements over the last three seasons. To lift ourselves from rock bottom to fifth in year one and now have two consecutive Play Offs finishes would have been beyond our dreams at the start of 2007. "There are signs that this year’s team is coming into top form at just the right time and we believe we could be the first team outside of a top two finish to take the Play Off title. A win this coming Friday is a must and to add a second top three finish in two years is what this team deserve. It took Swindon 42 years to achieve their top spot I think we can safely say after three we are on course to beat that schedule". Friday’s home match against Ipswich sees just one change in the Hammers line-up to the side that defeated Eastbourne last Friday. Andrew Silver, the Hammers guest last week, is replaced by Birmingham’s Rusty Harrison at reserve as Robert Mear and Phil Morris, the Hammers doubling up pair, both remain out injured. The Ipswich side will see Polish rider Robert Miskowiak move up to No.1 following the introduction of the latest averages. The Pole missed the original attempt to stage this meeting two weeks ago due to illness. Australian Troy Batchelor, GP rider Scott Nicholls and Daniel King complete the Witches top five with German Tobias Kroner still ruled out due to injury. They will use the ‘Rider Replacement’ facility to cover his rides whereby Batchelor will be able to take an additional ride with the remaining three rides being covered by the reserves. At this stage the Suffolk club have only named one reserve in Dawid Stachyra. The second reserve will have to be a guest as they will not be able to use either one of their doubling up rider Kozza Smith (injured) or Carl Wilkinson (riding the same evening for his Premier League side Scunthorpe) nor their No.8 Jerran Hart (also riding for Scunthorpe). The action gets underway on Friday at the Hammers Arena-Essex Raceway at the usual start time of 8pm.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 13, 2009 9:27:07 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Saturday 12th September 2009 HAMMERS CLAIM THIRD PLACE AFTER VICTORY AGAINST IPSWICH
Friday evening saw the Hammers race to a nine point win over local rivals the Ipswich Witches at their Arena-Essex Raceway. That victory confirmed that the Essex based Club have finished their League campaign in third position and, therefore, claim a place in the Play Offs, which ultimately will decide who will lift the League Championship. Friday’s win saw a good all round team performance from the Hammers riders. Finns Joonas Kylmakorpi and Kauko Nieminen led the scoring with paid 13 points and paid 11 points respectively. They were well supported by Jonas Davidsson with paid 10, Lee Richardson (paid 9), Adam Shields (8) and Stuart Robson (paid 7). Australian Troy Batchelor top scored for the Witches with 15 points with their Grand Prix rider Scott Nicholls providing the major support with 11 points. Swindon, who finished top of the table, have chosen Coventry as their Play Off semi final opponents, which means that the Hammers will face Wolverhampton. These semi’s will be contested over two legs, home and away. Wolverhampton have chosen to stage their home leg first. That will take place at their Monmore Green Stadium on Monday 21st September with the Hammers due to stage the second leg at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Monday 28th September. Lakeside Hammers boss, Stuart Douglas, expressed himself as 'very satisfied' having seen his team secure a superb 3rd place finish in the 2009 Sky Sports Elite League. "Last season we were mixing it up with Poole, this season with Wolves and Swindon, all big, well established speedway teams," said Douglas. "It confirms to me that the work done by Jon Cook and all the riders since we came in is paying dividends. The object is to cement The Hammers as a Play Off team each and every year, and I'm very satisfied that we are well on course to achieving that aim, and we've done it whilst keeping the Club on a stable financial footing which is a hugely impressive feat." Stuart Douglas enthused on the news that the Hammers now face the Wolverhampton Wolves in the title chasing Play Offs by stating: "Wolves are a formidable outfit this season, but I have enormous faith in our lads - their 'never say die' attitude is fantastic - and I think we are in for a right old ding dong battle of a semi final. I would like to put on record my thanks to all our riders, to Team Boss Jon Cook and to the Hammers faithful, who are turning out in hugely impressive numbers each week to cheer the team on. Together, I reckon we can go all the way." The meeting on 28th September against Wolverhampton will be the next home meeting for the Lakeside Hammers
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Post by Administrator on Sept 18, 2009 8:48:37 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Thursday 17th September 2009 HAMMERS TRAVEL TO WOLVES IN FIRST LEG OF PLAY OFFS
The Lakeside Hammers will stage the second leg of their Sky Sports Elite League Play Off Semi Final against Wolverhampton at their Arena-Essex Raceway on Monday 28th September. Before then the Essex based Club travel up to Monmore Green, the home of the Wolverhampton Wolves, this coming Monday, 21st September for the first leg. The Hammers go to Wolverhampton minus a regular No.6 as both of their doubling up riders, Robert Mear and Phil Morris, are currently injured. Lakeside Hammers Team Manager, Jon Cook, has been busy studying the averages and current form of riders in the Premier League who have an average of six points or less who could come into the Hammers line-up as a guest for this important first leg. After due deliberation Jon Cook has chosen Edinburgh’s 21 year old Australian, Aaron Summers. The Australian is in his third season with the Scottish club. He will ride at reserve and will wear the no.6 race jacket. The remaining members of the Hammers team are due to line up in their usual riding order, which will, therefore, see them donning the following race numbers:- 1. Lee Richardson, 2. Joonas Kylmakorpi, 3. Kauko Nieminen, 4. Jonas Davidsson, 5. Adam Shields, 6. Aaron Summers, 7. Stuart Robson. The Hammers in the past couple of years have performed well at Monmore Green. In 2008 they won on both occasions. The ‘A’ League fixture saw them win by seven points and they followed that up with a four point victory in the ‘B’ fixture. This season the Hammers lost both of their earlier League encounters, by 11 and 7 points, but they did keep the scores close until the strong Wolverhampton pairing of Swedes Peter Karlsson and Fredrik Lindgren took control in heats 13 and 15. The two matches will be keenly contested and the eventual winners will go on to face the winners of the other Semi Final involving Coventry and Swindon. In addition to the Play Offs the Hammers still have the Elite League Knockout Cup Final to contest. At present, they are still awaiting the outcome of the Semi Final between Belle Vue and Coventry. Jon Cook has already been in talks with these promotions and both have agreed that the eventual winners of that Semi Final will visit the Arena-Essex Raceway for the first leg of the Final on Friday 9th October. If Coventry make the Final the second leg will take place at their Stadium on Friday 23rd October. If Belle Vue are to be the Hammers opponents in the Final the date for the second leg has still to be confirmed. With the Cup Final and the League Play Off Semi Final, plus the possibility of the Play Off Final, there is still plenty of top class Speedway for the Lakeside Hammers fans to look forward to before the season finally comes to a close.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 23, 2009 14:23:26 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 23rd September 2009 FANS FAVOURITE’S CALL TO ARMS The Lakeside Hammers Speedway star of the Play Off final first leg, Jonas Davidsson, believes the tie is far from beyond his team and with a little help from the Lakeside Supporters Monday could just be the greatest night in the Club’s history.
JD stated: "We, as a team, know we owe it to the fans to give our all on Monday and if they can help by creating the sort of atmosphere we experienced for the Swindon match last month and the semi last year against the Robins, a meeting I watched from the sidelines, then with the crowd behind us and a good start in the early heats anything is possible."
Davidsson continued: "We had a good team meeting in the changing rooms at the end of the night and we feel Jon's change to the riding order gives us the best opportunity to gain the heat advantages we need."
The Hammers will change the team order to reunite Davidsson with Captain Adam Shields to create what they hope will be a sledgehammer pairing to take those needed advantages and move Kauko Nieminen to a holding role at number 5.
Team Manager Jon Cook explains this change by commenting: "We have to try something major to give ourselves a chance and by bringing Adam and JD back together along with the Lee Richardson/Joonas Kylmakorpi pairing we feel that with 6 rides combined they should be able to score advantages in the majority of those races, such has been the success of those pairings at home this season. "The most important role falls to Kakke (Nieminen) who has been superb of late at home and who I know is desperate to make up for a night to forget on Monday. He has been told to make sure that his heats are at the very worst shared, something I think he can do, and with Stuart Robson at reserve, giving every rider, JD excepted, a lesson in just what kind of guts and determination is required for a meeting of this magnitude then we are ready to throw the kitchen sink at Wolves in our efforts to make the Final".
Wolverhampton fans will be out in force with coach trips arranged from the Black Country and with the Hammers having experienced large crowds over the summer season the meeting promises to be a great spectacle for the Elite League. Further great news for fans attending next Monday’s fixture at the Arena-Essex Raceway is that a giant screen will relay pictures of the other semi final meeting direct to the Raceway and it’s also hoped highlights of the crucial relegation meeting at Belle Vue will be shown.
Normal admission prices apply and Hammers Season Ticket holders will be admitted as per normal League events. Those wishing to avoid queuing on the night are advised to purchase their tickets online at the Hammers official website at www.lakesidehammers.com and after having parked in the main car parking areas should enter via the gates at the top of the drive.
Final team news and the full lineups will be released on Friday.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 25, 2009 12:39:18 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Friday 25th September 2009 FANS BONANZA AS HAMMERS AIM FOR PLAY OFF COMEBACK The Lakeside Hammers are primed and ready for action as they set out to defeat Wolverhampton at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Monday (28th September) to continue their quest for League glory.
Both teams will show changes to their riding order and the Hammers will delay a decision at number six until the weekend. The Hammers Captain, Adam Shields, moves to number 3 and Kauko Nieminen switches to 5. The Wolves will operate Rider Replacement for the injured Peter Karlsson at number 3 with Adam Skornicki racing at 5.
It promises to be a night not to miss for Hammers and Wolves fans with added bonus of a giant TV screen on the fourth bend relaying all the action direct from Swindon v Coventry and the Hammers Management have reacted to star rider Jonas Davidsson’s ‘Call to Arms’ by reducing the price of air horns to just £1 for the meeting.
Wolverhampton Season Ticket holders will be able to claim a free programme on the night from the Speedway Office, an offer that was open to their Lakeside counterparts at last Monday’s leg up at Wolverhampton. It is suggested that fans from both clubs wishing to avoid queuing at the turnstiles purchase tickets on line at HYPERLINK "http://www.lakesidehammers.com" www.lakesidehammers.com and after having parked in the main car parking areas should enter via the gates at the top of the drive. They should bring with them a copy of the emailed confirmation of their ticket purchase.
Teams: Lakeside Hammers: 1.Lee Richardson 2.Joonas Kylmakorpi 3.Adam Shields 4.Jonas Davidsson 5.Kauko Nieminen 6.To be confirmed 7.Stuart Robson.
Wolverhampton: 1. Fredrik Lindgren 2.Nicolai Klindt 3.Rider Replacement for Peter Karlsson 4.Tai Woffinden 5.Adam Skornicki 5.Chris Kerr 7.Tyron Proctor.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 28, 2009 19:11:03 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Monday 28th September 2009 AARON CONFIRMED AT NUMBER SIX FOR THE HAMMERS The Lakeside Hammers will give young Aussie Aaron Summers a second opportunity for Play Off glory. With both reserves, Robert Mear and Phil Morris, out of action for the rest of the season and Rye House’s Andrew Silver still struggling with a neck injury, the Hammers have a limited choice and have plumped for the Edinburgh rider.
Summers was practising ahead of the meeting in the company of Fellow Australian and Hammers captain Adam Shields along with Stuart Robson and it is hoped that this experience of the Arena-Essex Raceway will stand him in good stead for this evening’s meeting.
The Hammers Co Promoter and Team Manager Jon Cook states: "Aaron suffered from a tapes offence in his first ride last Monday up at Wolverhampton but was not off the pace and he is the best option available. If he can nick a couple of points it could make all the difference, although in truth it’s his senior colleagues who hold the key in this important match and they are all, to a man, determined to make amends for last week". The action gets underway this evening in the 2nd leg of the Play Off Semi Final against Wolverhampton at the Arena-Essex Raceway at 7.30pm. Those with sat nav who are unsure of the location of the Raceway the postcode is RM19 1AE. Parking at the Raceway is free and those wishing to avoid possible queues at the pay booths are still able to book in advance via the Hammers website at HYPERLINK "http://www.lakesidehammers.com" www.lakesidehammers.com The Club have asked that supporters turn up as early as possible this evening with the main gates to the parking areas opening around 5.30pm. Admission prices are £15 for adults, £11 for concessions (Senior Citizens, Students and disabled), £10 for unemployed and £3 for children 6 to 15 with children under 6 free. Proof of age and or status will be required. Supporters present at the Raceway will also be able to watch the other Semi Final between Swindon and Coventry plus heats from Belle Vue and Ipswich on a large screen situated by the third and fourth bends.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 28, 2009 19:11:29 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Monday 28th September 2009 AARON CONFIRMED AT NUMBER SIX FOR THE HAMMERS The Lakeside Hammers will give young Aussie Aaron Summers a second opportunity for Play Off glory. With both reserves, Robert Mear and Phil Morris, out of action for the rest of the season and Rye House’s Andrew Silver still struggling with a neck injury, the Hammers have a limited choice and have plumped for the Edinburgh rider.
Summers was practising ahead of the meeting in the company of Fellow Australian and Hammers captain Adam Shields along with Stuart Robson and it is hoped that this experience of the Arena-Essex Raceway will stand him in good stead for this evening’s meeting.
The Hammers Co Promoter and Team Manager Jon Cook states: "Aaron suffered from a tapes offence in his first ride last Monday up at Wolverhampton but was not off the pace and he is the best option available. If he can nick a couple of points it could make all the difference, although in truth it’s his senior colleagues who hold the key in this important match and they are all, to a man, determined to make amends for last week". The action gets underway this evening in the 2nd leg of the Play Off Semi Final against Wolverhampton at the Arena-Essex Raceway at 7.30pm. Those with sat nav who are unsure of the location of the Raceway the postcode is RM19 1AE. Parking at the Raceway is free and those wishing to avoid possible queues at the pay booths are still able to book in advance via the Hammers website at HYPERLINK "http://www.lakesidehammers.com" www.lakesidehammers.com The Club have asked that supporters turn up as early as possible this evening with the main gates to the parking areas opening around 5.30pm. Admission prices are £15 for adults, £11 for concessions (Senior Citizens, Students and disabled), £10 for unemployed and £3 for children 6 to 15 with children under 6 free. Proof of age and or status will be required. Supporters present at the Raceway will also be able to watch the other Semi Final between Swindon and Coventry plus heats from Belle Vue and Ipswich on a large screen situated by the third and fourth bends.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 29, 2009 16:11:01 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 29th September 2009
HAMMERS PROMOTERS DISAPPOINTED WITH DEFEAT AGAINST THE WOLVES
Lakeside Hammers promoters, Stuart Douglas and Jon Cook, have expressed their disappointment at the elimination of the Hammers from the Elite League Play Offs at the semi final stage following their defeat to Wolverhampton on Monday evening. "With the benefit of hindsight, letting the heart rule the head when it came to team changes in August was perhaps the wrong decision, but there is no point bleating on about it now" said Jon Cook. "Stuart and I are bitterly disappointed - we both felt very positive about our chances - but we still have a very prestigious trophy to win this season, and our job is to move forward and re-motivate the riders to prove that we weren't wrong in our team selection and to win the Cup." Stuart Douglas was quick to praise the opposition by stating: "Whilst I felt we didn't do ourselves justice, one or two riders excepted, it's important to acknowledge that we were beaten by an extremely strong Wolves team. "Missing their talisman figure of Peter Karlsson, and with their number 1, Fredrik Lindgren, not on top form, you have to give credit to their second strings who really bagged this meeting for them. We will learn from this, for sure." Calling on his many years' experience in the Sport, Jon Cook felt a perspective has to be applied to the disappointment. "In the three years that we have been at this Club, we have finished 5th, 2nd, and 3rd respectively in the Elite League. That is pretty consistent given the Club's previous placings at the foot of the table. It shows we are moving in the right direction, and, obviously, we will be looking to make that final step and finish top, if not next year, then as soon as we possibly can." The next action for the Hammers at the Arena-Essex Raceway will be on Friday 9th October when they stage the 1st leg of the Elite League Knockout Cup Final. At present their opponents are not known as the Belle Vue Aces and the Coventry Bees have still to meet in the 2nd leg of their Semi Final. That is scheduled to take place at the Aces track in Manchester on Monday 5th October.
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Post by Administrator on Oct 6, 2009 16:27:52 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 6th October 2009
HAMMERS AIM TO FINISH ON A HIGH
The Lakeside Hammers intend finishing the year on a high when they stage their final home meeting of the 2009 season this Friday, 9th October, at their Arena-Essex Raceway. They take on the Coventry Bees in the 1st leg of the Elite League Knockout Cup Final. Initially there were plans to stage a further home meeting on Friday 16th October against Premier League club, the Rye House Rockets, but following the success of the Rockets in the Young Shield competition these have had to be shelved. The Rockets now have to travel to Scunthorpe that evening for the away leg of their semi final tie. Unfortunately, despite looking for alternative opposition, no suitable opponents could be found plus the unavailability of the Hammers Raceway after 16th October has resulted in this Friday’s meeting becoming the final time that the Hammers will race on their home track this year. The 2nd leg of the Elite League Knockout Cup will take place at Coventry’s Brandon Stadium on Friday 23rd October but the Hammers fans will have the opportunity of seeing their team in action between these two legs of the Final as a Hammers team will travel to Hoddesdon on Saturday 10th October to take on the Rye House Rockets. It is going to be a busy evening at the Hammers Raceway this Friday as, in addition to the 15 heats of action in the 1st leg of the Cup Final against the Bees, there will also be a six heat, four a side match involving riders on vintage bikes in the famous colours of the Hackney Hawks and the Romford Bombers. These meetings will be followed by fireworks and the traditional end of season farewells from the riders. The presentation of the Hammers ‘Rider of the Year’ will also be made. In view of these additional races the veterans will commence their meeting at 7.15pm with the Cup Final following on at 8pm. Normal admission prices will apply, which are:- Adults - £15, Senior Citizens, Students and Disabled - £11, Unemployed - £10, Children 6-15 - £3 with children under 6 free. A further Press Release will be issued on Wednesday giving details of the two teams who will contest the Cup Final plus the Hammers side who will be at Rye House on Saturday.
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Post by Administrator on Oct 8, 2009 7:23:32 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 7th October 2009
HAMMERS NAME THEIR TEAMS
The Lakeside Hammers have today named their team for the important 1st leg of the Elite League Knockout Cup Final against the Coventry Bees, which takes place at the Hammers Arena-Essex Raceway this coming Friday 9th October. The new rider averages for October have come into force for this meeting but that has not affected Team Manager Jon Cook’s top five. He has, however, decided to move Adam Shields back to the No.5 position with Kauko Nieminen reverting to No.3. With both of the Hammers doubling up pair of Robert Mears and Phil Morris still both injured Jon Cook has needed to bring in a guest replacement. Initially he had hoped that Rye House Rockets rider Andrew Silver would have been able to come in as he did for the Hammers League match against Eastbourne at the beginning of last month but, following a crash that resulted in Silver missing meetings for the Rockets, those plans had to be shelved. Australian Aaron Summers, who rode in both of the Play Off Semi Finals, cannot be used as his average has now increased and is too high. The rider that Cook has chosen to come in at the No.6 reserve position for the Hammers is 31 year old Dane Tom P Madsen. He is an experienced rider having ridden in this Country for over 10 years in both the Elite and Premier Leagues. Currently he rides for the Stoke Potters in the Premier League and has raced on many occasions around the Arena-Essex Raceway. Coventry have named their usual line-up that includes Great Britain international and current Grand Prix rider Chris Harris, fellow Brits Oliver Allen, Ben Barker, Jordan Frampton and Edward Kennett plus Australian Rory Schlein and New Zealand born Ricky Wells who now races on an American licence. The Cup Tie is scheduled to commence at 8pm but for those fans arriving at the Arena-Essex Raceway early there will be, at 7.15pm, a four a side, six heat match involving veteran riders representing the Hackney Hawks and the Romford Bombers who are two former well known clubs who used to race in the East London and Essex area. Following Friday’s action at the Arena-Essex Raceway a Hammers team will compete on the following evening, Saturday 10th October, for the M25 Trophy against Premier League side, the Rye House Rockets, at their Hoddesdon track. The side that will represent the Hammers in Saturday’s meeting will include three of the present Hammers team, Joonas Kylmakorpi, Kauko Nieminen and Stuart Robson, two Hammers owned riders, Henning Bager, who currently is out on loan to Elite League club Peterborough, and Jerran Hart, who is gaining experience with Premier League side Scunthorpe, a former Hammer, Paul Hurry, who is riding in the Elite league for Swindon, plus Jamie Courtney, who competes in the National League for the Rye House Cobras but who has also in the past acted as a mechanic for Hammers riders.
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Post by Administrator on Oct 9, 2009 16:46:42 GMT
URGENT - TONIGHT’S MEETING POSTPONED Friday 9th October 2009
HAMMERS CALL OFF THEIR CUP FINAL TONIGHT
Tonight’s Cup Final between Lakeside and Coventry has been cancelled due to wet weather.
The club have taken the decision early to prevent fans from both teams from making a fruitless journey to the Arena-Essex Raceway after early afternoon rain and a forecast of heavier spells of rain continuing past 9pm.
The meeting will be restaged on Wednesday 14th October with an 8pm start time with Friday 16th October reserved in case that meeting also falls victim to the weather.
The Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook states: "Obviously we don't want to run a Cup Final in conditions that make its staging touch and go and with the added problem of having to vacate the Raceway for their Firecracker’s preparations after 16th October we feel with the long range forecast excellent for next Wednesday and iffy again for next Friday that this is the best course of action. "Hopefully we have saved fans of both teams from inconvenience tonight and we can all enjoy an occasion fitting of a Final next week". The Club, in addition to using the services of a professional personal weather forecaster, have used the following weather websites in making the decision to call off this evening’s meeting:- accuweather.com, bbc.co.uk/weather, metcheck.com, meto.gov.uk/weather, pitchcare.com, raintoday.co.uk and uk.weather.com.
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Post by Administrator on Oct 12, 2009 12:42:39 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Monday 12th October 2009
‘ROBBO’ RELISHING BEES CLASH
The Lakeside Hammers now face the Coventry Bees this Wednesday, 14th October, in the Elite League Knockout Cup Final First Leg at the Arena-Essex Raceway. One rider relishing the challenge of the Club winning its first ever top League silverware is Stuart Robson, himself a former Bee, who has become a firm fans favourite with the Essex faithful in his comeback season after two years away from the Sport. Robbo commented: "I have enjoyed ever bit of my time with the Hammers this season and the fans have been great. It’s going to be the last chance for the present Hammers team to show how much we want to bring trophies to the Club and we are determined not to fail". The first race on Wednesday will be at 8pm but early arrivals at the Raceway will be able to enjoy the sounds and sights of yesteryear as the vintage bikes of old take to the track for a four a side six heat Romford v Hackney challenge at 7.15pm. The Hammers co-promoter Jon Cook explained: "We intend to finish the season in style with extra fireworks, ‘Rider of the Year’ presentation and the traditional rider farewells and it will be far more enjoyable if we are doing that after obtaining a decent lead to take up to Coventry next week." Explaining the decision to race this important meeting on a Wednesday Cook continued: "This is the last week of stadium availability and we felt it prudent that, under those circumstances, we raced on the Wednesday with Friday as a back up in case of further weather problems. Happily it looks like that wont be the case as the forecasts we are now getting show that we should be in for a fine day on Wednesday".
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Post by Administrator on Oct 14, 2009 7:58:42 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 14th October 2009
HAMMERS HOPING FOR FINAL HURRAH
The Lakeside Hammers go into their final home meeting of the 2009 season tonight when they take on the Coventry Bees in the Final of the Elite League Knock Out Cup. Having missed out on a crack at the Sky Sports Elite League title to eventual Champions, the Wolverhampton Wolves, Hammers promotional duo of Jon Cook and Stuart Douglas are hoping for a determined and powerful start to the meeting. 'Wolves have shown us how that building a big lead in the first leg of a Final has proven to be a knockout blow.' said Douglas. 'Our aim is to hit Coventry fast and hard to stamp some authority on the meeting. "As this will be our last outing in a pretty successful 2009 campaign, I would really like to give the fans something to cheer about. In return, I'd love to see a big crowd come to support the boys tonight - it's not every week you get to see your team in the Cup Final.' Jon Cook was quick to echo the sentiment. 'This year’s team has been a great one to manage and we want to sign of with a trophy for the fans.' he said. 'Hammers fans have waited a long time to see some silverware and tonight provides a perfect opportunity to get one hand on the Cup. We need all the lads to be on song, and the crowd, too, can play a massive part in that.' It is going to be a busy evening at the Hammers Raceway tonight as, in addition to the 15 heats of action in the 1st leg of the Cup Final against the Bees, there will also be a six heat, four a side match involving riders on vintage bikes in the famous colours of the Hackney Hawks and the Romford Bombers. These meetings will be followed by fireworks and the traditional end of season farewells from the riders. The presentation of the Hammers ‘Rider of the Year’ will also be made. In view of these additional races the veterans will commence their meeting at 7.15pm with the Cup Final following on at 8pm. Normal admission prices will apply, which are:- Adults - £15, Senior Citizens, Students and Disabled - £11, Unemployed - £10, Children 6-15 - £3 with children under 6 free.
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Post by Administrator on Oct 21, 2009 6:00:10 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 20th October 2009
HAMMERS UP FOR THE CUP BUT JK MISSES OUT
The Lakeside Hammers hope to secure the Club’s first ever senior league silverware this Friday, 23rd October, when they take a big 23 points lead to Brandon Stadium, the home of the Coventry Bees, for the Elite League Knockout Cup Final second leg. All roads from Essex will lead to Warwickshire as the team’s faithful supporters are expected to turn out in force to cheer their team on to victory. The Hammers named the same team that beat the Bees, with Dane Tom P. Madsen continuing at reserve but will now operate ‘Rider Replacement’ for their longest serving rider, Finn Joonas Kylmakorpi, after the rider decided, after consultation with the Club, to undergo an operation on Monday in Sweden to take metalwork out of his elbow. The facility will give an extra ride to the Hammers Captain Adam Shields and Kakke Nieminen plus a ride each for the reserves. The Hammers Co-Promoter and Team Manager Jon Cook commented: "In normal circumstances this would be a major blow to our hopes but, in all honesty on this occasion, it’s probably to our advantage. "Joonas has been a shadow of his normal self away from home of late and last week he even struggled at home with his fitness. He has ridden with screws holding his elbow together for longer than recommended and they have worked loose now, hence his operation on Monday. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see the JK of old on his return. "In the meantime we need to go to Coventry in a similar frame of mind to that which Wolverhampton adopted for the Play Offs, namely to win rather than defend our lead. ‘Rider Replacement’ gives us a host of options during the night and the team are doubly determined to finish the season with the silverware I believe their efforts over the entire season deserve."
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Post by Administrator on Oct 24, 2009 19:12:08 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Saturday 24th October 2009
THE HAMMERS – 2009 ELITE LEAGUE CUP WINNERS
The Lakeside Hammers secured the Club’s first ever senior league silverware last night when they lifted the Elite League Knockout Cup at Brandon Stadium, the home of the Coventry Bees,
All roads from Essex, Kent and East London led to Warwickshire as the Hammers supporters turned out in force to cheer their team on to victory. Having won the 1st leg by 23 points at their Arena-Essex Raceway the Essex based Club knew that they just needed to ensure that the Coventry Bees did not eat into the lead too quickly in the away 2nd leg but the travelling fans early concerns were not justified as the Hammers team went on to not only defend the lead but to win on the night 49-41 to extend their winning margin to a very impressive 31 points. The turning point in the meeting came in heat eight when the Hammers were six points down on the night. Kauko Nieminen took the ‘Rider Replacement’ ride for the injured Joonas Kylmakorpi and sped from the tapes to beat Coventry’s Ben Barker who had already recorded two heat victories. Nieminen’s partner, Stuart Robson, held of Josh Auty to give the Hammers a 4-2 heat advantage. That appeared to spur on the Hammers riders even more with the remaining seven heats seeing them outscore the home team by 12 points, which turned a deficit of six points after heat seven into an eventual eight point victory on the night after the 15 heats of racing. In what was a good all round team performance the Hammers were superbly led by their captain, Adam Shields, who amassed 16 points from his six rides to add to his unbeaten 14+1 from the home 1st leg. The Cup was presented to the Hammers captain in front of their enthusiastic travelling supporters who had made themselves heard all evening over the large number of home supporters at the Brandon Stadium. After the celebrations were over the Hammers promotion plus their captain had a few words to say about their first major trophy win at the top level of the Sport in this Country. Co Promoter and Team Manager Jon Cook commented: " This is a piece of Hammers history, to bring home the club's first Elite League silverware. The damage was really inflicted when the team put in such a superb performance at home which meant we had some very specific tactics tonight. Putting Kauko (Nieminen) out in heat 8 was the turning point of the match - from there on our confidence was flying. I am so pleased so many Hammers fans travelled to see this moment." Co Promoter and Club owner Stuart Douglas stated: "I'm overwhelmed by the occasion, and I'm so pleased for all the lads and for Jon. Coventry are one of the biggest names in Speedway, so to win both legs is a phenomenal achievement. I'd like to thank all the Hammers fans that made so much noise, and all the Coventry supporters who showed so much generosity. For me it was unforgettable night." Adam Shields, the Hammers Australian captain, said: "It was a great night. To lift the trophy with an away win on the track was the icing on the cake. We knew we had a good team, and unlike last season when we fell away at the end, this year all the lads came good at the right moment. It's a very proud moment for me to be skipper of this team". The Hammers supporters will have the chance of seeing the team with the Cup this coming Wednesday, 28th October, at 8pm when they will be in the Raceway Tavern at their Arena-Essex Raceway. The riders will be presented with their individual awards for winning this major trophy at this event. It will be open to all fans and entry will be free of charge.
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