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Post by Administrator on Sept 13, 2016 16:58:57 GMT
LAKESIDE have appointed Richard Lawson as their captain for the remainder of the 2016 season. After seeing Andreas Jonsson ruled out through injury, Lawson was the unanimous choice of the Vortex Hammers’ management team to take over the role. The Cumbrian racer will lead the club into their potentially crucial home encounter with Swindon at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Friday (8pm) as they look to sneak into the Elite League play-offs. Co-promoter Jon Cook said: “Richard has been a delight to deal with since joining us, and meeting after meeting he’s out there encouraging his team-mates. “He’s the natural choice and we’re delighted he accepted the position. Hopefully he can lead us into the play-offs in the next few days.” Meanwhile, a delighted Lawson said: “I’m chuffed to bits about leading the Hammers. It’s a great club and as a team we’ll be hoping for the chance on Friday to race ourselves into the play-offs.”
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Post by Administrator on Sept 14, 2016 21:02:51 GMT
REJUVINATED Lakeside can snatch the final Elite League play-off place with a win over Swindon at Arena-Essex on Friday. The Robins were denied the point they needed at Belle Vue on Wednesday night which sets up one of the most dramatic nights in the modern era of British Speedway. Jon Cook's side struggled badly last season but have improved in 2016 with a string of impressive home displays - and one more on Friday will see them join league leaders Belle Vue, reigning champions Poole and third-placed Wolverhampton - who include world champion Tai Woffinden - in a mouthwatering play-off semi-final line-up. Promoter and team boss Cook said: "It's game on now, a play-off for the play-offs! "It's a terrific turnaround from last season, it's back in our hands and hopefully the boys will do the rest!"
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Post by Administrator on Sept 15, 2016 14:11:13 GMT
LAKESIDE captain Richard Lawson is relishing their date with destiny at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Friday (8pm). The Vortex Hammers now know a win by more than six points against Swindon will see them snatch a spot in the Elite League play-offs. They were handed a lifeline when the fourth-placed Robins left Belle Vue empty handed on Wednesday night. With their title dreams still well and truly alive, stand-in skipper Lawson has vowed to "leave it all on the track" in their huge Purfleet showdown. Said Lawson: "I'd just finished my last heat at Sheffield when I saw a text from Jon Cook saying "game on". "The pressure is on both sides I guess, but hopefully the fans will come out and get behind us because it should be a great occasion. "Fortunately the result went our way at Belle Vue, and we'll all be desperate to take advantage of it. "I speak for the team when I say we'll leave it all on the track tomorrow in our efforts to make the top four." The meeting will get underway at the normal time of 8pm, but no junior heats will run as a precaution. Plans are already well in place to counter any potential bad weather, should it happen, earlier in the day.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 16, 2016 6:08:18 GMT
LAKESIDE co-promoter Jon Cook has called on his side to grasp their big opportunity with both hands as they host Swindon tonight (Friday, 8pm). The Vortex Hammers will look to snatch a spot in the Elite League play-offs with a win by more than six points against the fourth-placed Robins. Cook knows it is a do-or-die scenario for his side, with anything less than a win resulting in their season coming to an abrupt halt - but he is confident they will rise to the occasion to keep their campaign alive. Said Cook: “At the end of the day we finished bottom of the league last year, and we were everybody’s tip to finish seventh this year. “Whatever happens, we’re taking the season to the final meeting which is a big achievement after last year. “Fortunately the result on Wednesday at Belle Vue means we’ve got a chance to make the play-offs, and I’ve got total confidence in the boys. “They’ll be fired up and we know what we have to do. We’ve been given an opportunity and we’ll just look to take it with both hands. “If we do manage to make the play-offs then we certainly won’t fear anyone over two legs. A lot of riders view our place as a horrible little track and they don’t enjoy riding there. “We’ll look to use that to our advantage and we would definitely go into the play-offs without any fear.” Lakeside have booked Scott Nicholls to guest for the injured Andreas Jonsson at No.1, whilst Swindon will be at full strength and are led by World Championship contender Jason Doyle. LAKESIDE: Scott Nicholls, Lewis Bridger, Edward Kennett, Richard Lawson, Kim Nilsson, Ben Morley, Lewis Kerr. SWINDON: Jason Doyle, Justin Sedgmen, Rohan Tungate, Josh Grajczonek, Nick Morris, Charles Wright, Stefan Nielsen.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 16, 2016 21:52:29 GMT
JON Cook hailed Lakeside’s “best form of the year” after watching his side waltz to victory in tonight’s Elite League play-off decider against Swindon. The Hammers seized the fourth and final berth with a 58-35 trouncing of the Robins, securing a shot in the end-of-season shootout for the first time in four years. Lakeside’s top guns led the way with guest Scott Nicholls, standing in for Andreas Jonsson at number one, and heat-leaders Kim Nilsson and Edward Kennett the top scorers. The verdict seldom looked in doubt with Jason Doyle and reserve Charles Wright the only visiting riders to claim chequered flags. Hammers will now look to become the first team since Swindon in 2012 to lift British speedway’s top prize the year after finishing bottom of the league table. Cook said: “The boys deserve all the credit, every one of them performed exceptionally. “Understandably, everyone was nervous but as it turned out we produced some of our best form of the year. “We are delighted and can’t wait for the play-off on Wednesday. Over two legs, we feel we can be strong because of our ability at home. “With the strength we have in our six-man team alongside whoever comes in for AJ (Jonsson), I think we have every opportunity to win.” The next job for Cook, who expects to face table-toppers Belle Vue in the semi-final, is to find a suitable and eligible stand-in for the injured Jonsson. “We are likely to use someone who is currently in the Elite League,” said Cook. “There are not many riders out there with the ability to quickly acclimatise to our track. “Kelvin (Tatum) and I have a couple of options and will now start the process of deciding who is best for us. “By Monday, we hope to be in a position to announce what the team will be.” LAKESIDE 58: Kim Nilsson 13, Scott Nicholls 10+3, Edward Kennett 9+2, Lewis Bridger 8+1, Richard Lawson 7+3, Lewis Kerr 6, Ben Morley 5+1 SWINDON 35: Jason Doyle 15, Charles Wright 9+1, Josh Grajczonek 4, Justin Sedgmen 3+1, Rohan Tungate 2, Nick Morris 1, Stefan Nielsen 1 Elite League points: Lakeside 3 Swindon 0.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 19, 2016 14:21:43 GMT
LAKESIDE could be boosted by the return of star No.1 Andreas Jonsson for the second leg of their Elite League play-off semi-final with Belle Vue next Monday. The Swedish star looked set to be ruled out for the remainder of the season after a horrific crash in his homeland on September 6. But he has now informed the Vortex Hammers that a return for the second leg in Manchester is a realistic target. The news means the club have reconsidered their options and will now operate rider replacement to cover his absence in the home leg at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Wednesday (7.30). Should Jonsson not recover in time, Coventry star Krzysztof Kasprzak has been lined up as a guest for the second leg. Co-promoter Jon Cook said: “Kelvin (Tatum) and I have been through all the options, but in truth they are limited. “We were happy with the rider we had lined up but AJ is confident he can make it back, certainly for the final if we make it and more than likely for the second leg of the semi-final, which is terrific news. “Having Krzysztof on stand-by is a strong position to be in, although unfortunately he can’t race in the home fixture on Wednesday due to a Polish commitment. “With Danny King’s preference being to work for TV and riders like Jason Doyle and Niels-Kristian Iversen having averages that are too high, we both felt there wasn’t another rider capable of matching the combined scores of our own guys around the Arena.” Preparations are well underway ahead of Wednesday’s huge Purfleet showdown, with the club producing a special programme to include a race card for the Poole vs Wolves meeting, which will be shown live on a big screen. “It's been a hectic few days and it really feels like we are back in the big time,” Cook continued. “The lads are determined to put on a show and give us something to defend next week. Friday's crowd was amazing given the weather earlier in the day, the atmosphere was incredible and we're all looking forward to more of the same, with a great weather forecast to boot Wednesday.” The club have also added the in-form Robert Branford to their squad under the play-off regulation (subject to BSPA approval) and he will race the away leg in Manchester with Ben Morley retaining his position for the home tie. Paul Hurry will also join Cook on team management duties with Tatum's TV role taking him out of the pits.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 21, 2016 10:29:43 GMT
LAKESIDE Hammers bosses have issued a rally cry to sports fans throughout the region ahead of their play-off semi-final clash with Belle Vue at the Arena-Essex Raceway tonight (7.30). The Vortex Hammers, who finished bottom last year, pinched fourth spot in their final regular league meeting last Friday and now face an Aces side who have moved into a new stadium and finished top of the league. It’s a massive achievement by everyone at the club – and with a third visit of the season from Sky Sports to show the action live, the spotlight once again falls on Essex with speedway at the heart of the sporting community throughout the county and hopefully will stay that way for years to come. Mark Sexton, club Community Liason Manager, said: “We've had excellent feedback from the powers that be on the importance of Speedway to Thurrock and the wider county. “And to have the club back in the national shop window is huge for when the time comes to secure ourselves a permanent home of our own." Jon Cook’s side are aiming for a handy lead tonight to take into Monday’s second leg in Manchester with a place in the Grand Final 30 races away.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 21, 2016 22:01:39 GMT
BOSS Jon Cook insisted Lakeside would not wave the white flag despite a late collapse in Wednesday’s play-off semi-final first leg against Belle Vue. It was a night of tough breaks for the Hammers with Richard Lawson and Edward Kennett dropping points following errors at crucial times. The hosts, reduced to six men with number-one Andreas Jonsson out injured, still led by four points after 12 heats but the Aces needed no second invitation to claim three straight maximums to win 49-41 at the Arena Essex Raceway. Lakeside only mustered four chequered flags all night and having lost by 10 and 34 points respectively in two visits to the National Speedway Stadium in the regular Elite League season, Cook knows the odds are stacked against his side. “Those last three heats killed us off,” said Cook. “After going from four up to eight down like that, it would take a foolish person to back us to recover. “Before that, the teams were pretty evenly matched and we felt we had a slight edge. “I think the wobbles were more to do with the track than any nerves. There was tension, of course, but you would expect that to be the case for both teams and our boys were in good spirits. “I don’t think you can blame the riders at all. They did everything they could and gained seven points from AJ’s first three rides but we couldn’t carry that through to the end and got found wanting. “It will be difficult to come back but speedway is a funny game. You would think Belle Vue might be quite relaxed and we need to be ready to take advantage if that happens. “Without a doubt, the boys will give it their best shot in the second leg. We are not giving up.” Coventry’s Krzysztof Kasprzak will guest for Jonsson in the away leg. LAKESIDE 41: Lewis Kerr 9+1, Richard Lawson 8+2, Kim Nilsson 8+2, Lewis Bridger 7+1, Edward Kennett 7, Ben Morley 2+1, Andreas Jonsson R/R. BELLE VUE 49: Richie Worrall 15+1, Scott Nicholls 13+2, Craig Cook 11, Matej Zagar 6, Steve Worrall 4+1, Max Fricke 0, Joe Jacobs 0.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 25, 2016 14:08:44 GMT
LAKESIDE skipper Richard Lawson insists they will not to go down without a fight ahead of the second leg of their Elite League play-off semi-final at Belle Vue on Monday (7.30). The Vortex Hammers suffered a disappointing 49-41 defeat in the first leg at the Arena-Essex Raceway last Wednesday leaving them up against it. Lawson knows it will require something special from his side to see them progress – but he wants to see them keep battling until the very end. Lawson said: “The pressure is off for us really, so we'll just give it our best and see what we can do on the night. "We're already behind so it will certainly be extremely tough, but we'll definitely give it all we've got from start to finish. "The first leg was tough but it's a new meeting. There's nothing we can do about it now so we'll have to put that behind us. "There's no underestimating the task we have in front of us, but if we can get some points back early on and we all ride well then you never know." The Hammers have drafted in Robert Branford to take the place of Ben Morley at reserve, whilst Chris Harris now guests for injured skipper Andreas Jonsson at No.1. Belle Vue will be at full strength, with Swedish Grand Prix finalist Matej Zagar leading their side. BELLE VUE: Matej Zagar, Steve Worrall, Max Fricke, Scott Nicholls, Craig Cook, Richie Worrall, Joe Jacobs. LAKESIDE: Chris Harris, Lewis Bridger, Edward Kennett, Richard Lawson, Kim Nilsson, Lewis Kerr, Robert Branford.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 26, 2016 15:29:50 GMT
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26:
ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg Belle Vue v Lakeside - OFF Re-staging date: Wednesday September 28 (7.30pm)
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Post by Administrator on Sept 28, 2016 22:11:21 GMT
LAKESIDE saw their Elite League dreams come to an end with a 63-28 defeat in their Play-Off Semi-Final second leg at Belle Vue. The Vortex Hammers travelled to Manchester already trailing by eight points and in need of a miracle to keep their season alive. But they were unable to prevent a heavy loss which saw them on the receiving end of a comprehensive 112-69 aggregate scoreline. It was a tough night for the depleted Purfleet outfit, who took on the Aces without Andreas Jonsson and Lewis Kerr due to injury and illness respectively. Team boss Paul Hurry said: “It was always going to be an uphill task, and Belle Vue are a strong side so we knew it would be tough. "We've gone from the smallest track in the country to the biggest track in the country and I suppose in some ways that showed tonight. "All the boys gave it their best, but it is what it is. The damage was done in the first leg in reality and we unfortunately couldn't overcome that." Guesting No.1 Robert Lambert top scored for the visitors, whilst Richard Lawson, Lewis Bridger and Robert Branford also claimed a race win apiece. But it was ultimately a tough night for the Hammers as they ran 14 last places against the powerhouse Aces. BELLE VUE 63: Craig Cook 14+1, Scott Nicholls 12+2, Matej Zagar 9+1, Steve Worrall 8+2, Richie Worrall 7+2, Joe Jacobs 7+2, Patrick Hougaard 6+1. LAKESIDE 28: Robert Lambert 8, Kim Nilsson 5, Lewis Bridger 5, Richard Lawson 4, Robert Branford 4, Edward Kennett 2, Ben Morley 0. Belle Vue win 112-69 on aggregate
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Post by Administrator on Oct 9, 2016 7:14:51 GMT
LAKESIDE duo Edward Kennett and Kim Nilsson both performed strongly in Saturday’s Elite League Riders’ Championship – but finished frustratingly short of success. Kennett experienced the ultimate agony of being the class of the field during the qualifying races at Coventry before missing out in the Final. The Vortex Hammers star reeled off four wins out of five, including several of the quickest times of the night, dropping his only point in his fourth outing to Robert Lambert. At that stage Kennett and Niels-Kristian Iversen were the meeting leaders, but when they met in Heat 19 Iversen finished last, which left Kennett two points clear of Fredrik Lindgren going into the Final. There might have been two Hammers representatives in the decisive race, because Nilsson was also fast and consistent throughout the meeting with wins in his second and third rides helping him to finish on ten points. But the Swede missed out to Iversen and Chris Harris in the semi-final, meaning he was classified fifth overall. Kennett had first choice of starting position in the Final and selected gate two – but he made his worst start of the meeting at just the wrong time. A fierce battle between the other three riders on the first lap resulted in Wolverhampton rider Lindgren taking the title, ahead of Iversen and Harris. SCORERS: Edward Kennett 14, Fredrik Lindgren 12, Niels-Kristian Iversen 11, Kim Nilsson 10, Chris Harris 9, Danny King 8, Robert Lambert 8, Kyle Newman 8, Paul Starke 7, Nick Morris 6, Patrick Hougaard 6, Scott Nicholls 5, Adam Ellis 5, Sam Masters 5, Rohan Tungate 4, Tom Bacon 2, Conor Dwyer (res) 0. SEMI-FINAL: Iversen, Harris, Nilsson, King. FINAL: Lindgren, Iversen, Harris, Kennett.
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Post by Administrator on Nov 1, 2016 10:40:11 GMT
[i]LAKESIDE HAMMMERS PRESS RELEASE:: :::::::: LAKESIDE Hammers will not compete in the 2017 top flight as negotiations for an extension to the club's rental arrangement with the Arena Essex Raceway are still ongoing. Consequently, the club cannot confirm its place in the League at the BSPA AGM as required by the sports rules and regulations. Co-promoter, Jon Cook, said: "This doesn't mean the end of racing by any means as our talks are cordial and in line with every year's timescale. “However, this year's early AGM and the need for us to look at more weekend dates to avoid the calamitous weekday tunnel toll and A13 road chaos that adversely affected a third of this year's fixtures means we need the right agreement for all parties. "We understand this news will come as a huge shock to fans but our long term need for our own home, and our will to achieve that goal remain as strong as ever. “Once we have details in place we will hold a public meeting to update fans as to our intentions for 2017 and beyond."[/i][/b][/font]
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Post by Administrator on Nov 22, 2016 10:10:16 GMT
Quote from a Lakeside Hammers Press Release November 20 2016: "Jon Cook confirmed that talks were still ongoing and that a fans forum will be set up, hopefully before Christmas, when supporters would be brought fully up to speed on all plans for 2017. Cook also confirmed that team coach Kelvin Tatum would be taking on a larger role at the club from 2017."
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Post by Administrator on Dec 11, 2016 23:38:02 GMT
LAKESIDE Hammers Speedway WILL race into the 2017 season after reaching agreement with the Arena Essex Raceway for the sport to continue at the popular venue. The news ends weeks of uncertainty for anxious Hammers fans and once again speedway will feature as part of a busy motorsport calendar at the Raceway. Now club officials Kelvin Tatum and Jon Cook are ready to travel to the British Speedway Promoters’ Association offices next Tuesday where they are expected to join the National League and renew rivalry with Eastbourne Eagles and take on new derby rivals Kent Kings. Said Cook: “We're pleased to be in a position to get this news out now and we'll hosting a public meeting for fans early in January at the Raceway Tavern.” Tatum, meanwhile, said: “I’m excited about this next episode in the club’s history and I’m looking forward to working with enthusiastic young riders. “We want to help them develop into future stars and after Tuesday we will be pressing ahead with team plans as we look forward to this new challenge.” The club are expected to announce two signings before Tuesday with deals already in place and a full press release will be issued
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