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Post by Administrator on Apr 27, 2014 18:38:03 GMT
The Big Build-Up: British Semi-Final The staging at Rye House of the second British Championship Semi-Final is now just a few short days away. The dateline is this Wednesday, with a 7.30 start. At stake: a guaranteed place in this year’s British Final for the top seven finishers. On show: the reigning World Champion, defending national titlist and former Silver Ski Rocket Tai Woffinden. Also gunning for glory: 2014 Rockets Steve Boxall, Jason Garrity and Testimonial star Luke Bowen. Representing nearby Elite League Lakeside: World Cup Lion Lewis Bridger, the Hammers’ Rider of the Year for 2013 Richard Lawson and British U-21 runner-up Adam Ellis. Also in the field: 2013 Cardiff GP reserve Josh Auty, Peterborough’s Lewis Blackbird and Premier League Riders’ Champion Ollie Allen. Rye House team manager John Sampford will be in his charges’ corner, and believes that all three are capable of qualifying for The Big Night at Wolverhampton on June 16th. “It’s a very good field, but particularly around their own track anything is possible for our riders. Based purely on their current form, Luke and Steve probably have the best chance, but we all know what Jason is capable of, and also what he achieved in last year’s championship when he finished seventh.” Sampford is also looking forward to meeting up again with Tai Woffinden, having team managed the World Champion back in 2007 and 2008. “Tai was so easy to work with back then. I just had to say “Out you go boy and win the race for me”! I’m really looking forward to seeing him back, and although he has faced a difficult start to this season, he should have no problems qualifying on Wednesday; he can effectively ride Rye House with his eyes shut.” Full Line-Up: 1. Tai Woffinden, 2. Adam Ellis, 3. Lewis Bridger, 4. Richie Worrall, 5. Steve Boxall, 6. Ollie Allen, 7. Josh Auty, 8. Lewis Blackbird, 9. Richard Lawson, 10.Ritchie Hawkins, 11. Carl Wilkinson, 12. Jason Garrity, 13. Luke Bowen, 14. Ashley Birks, 15. Leigh Lanham, 16. Stefan Nielsen. Please note that standard Premier League admission prices will apply for this event, while the programme will now be priced at Rye’s standard £2.00 level.
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Post by Administrator on May 1, 2014 6:40:24 GMT
Her Majesty Expects, Silver Delivers Rye House promoter Len Silver – also, of course, a former rider, England team manager and Wembley World Final track preparer – has been awarded for his outstanding services to motorsport by being invited to attend a Royal Garden Party given by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Silver, who will be joined for the occasion by his former wife and Rye House co-promoter Hazal Naylor, will enjoy his Big Day on Tuesday, June 3rd, and says, “I am extremely proud and privileged to have received this invitation. It is the next best thing to a knighthood or CBE. He also quipped: “I have a lot more to give to the sport, though. When I get to a hundred, I expect another message from the Queen!” Many, many congratulations on this fine award, Len.
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Post by Administrator on May 1, 2014 6:43:21 GMT
Woffinden Wins Big in British Semi British Semi-Final (Rye House, Wednesday, April 30th 2014) 1st Tai Woffinden 15 2nd Steve Boxall 11 3rd Lewis Blackbird 11 World and national champion Tai Woffinden proved a clear cut above the rest in Wednesday’s British Semi-Final at Rye House – and there was further cheer for Silver Ski Rockets supporters as Steve Boxall and Jason Garrity also made it through to the British Final to be staged at Wolverhampton on June 16th. Two year former Hoddesdon star Woffinden went through the card to finish with an immaculate fifteen point maximum. He was headed by Carl Wilkinson for the first lap and a half of Heat 9 before storming past, but was otherwise untouchable, also recording the two fastest times of the night in what was a key confidence builder to what has been a troubled start to his 2014 season. The 23 year old said afterwards, “I am really pleased with the way things went tonight and to win races again. It’s always good to come back here to Rye House – it’s one of my favourite tracks – and I really appreciate the warm reception I always get. I’m really looking forward to the Final and the chance to defend my title.” Rye’s favoured son will be joined at Monmore Green by two current Rockets in Steve Boxall and Jason Garrity. Boxall’s 11 point haul was enough to win him second place on the night as his three race victories gave him the nudge on count-back against three other riders with the same points tally, and he also produced the race of the meeting as he somehow found a way past Richie Worrall on the very last bend of Heat 20 to take the chequered flag. He was clearly beaming afterwards when he said, “I am absolutely delighted with the way tonight went. This is my first British Championship, so to get through to the Final is a just a dream come true. I had a good first race, and it just all went from there as I felt so sharp out of the gate. “It’s the best I’ve ridden since my big crash at Peterborough (on the opening night of March 18th), and I really felt good again on the bike. Things are on the up again!” Jason Garrity was the second Rocket to qualify, recovering from a second race duck to finish with 9 points and the final automatic qualification place. June’s Final will mark his second appearance in The Big Night, following last year’s sensational seventh placed finish. It proved a more difficult night for Luke Bowen, who tigered for every point but finished down the field on 5. The Harlow Flyer was also involved in the most frightening moment of the evening when drawn off the inside gate in Heat 5. Bowen lifted at the start of the race and veered across the first bend – remarkably avoiding the two riders on his immediate outside but collecting Richard Lawson who was riding off gate four. Bowen suffered a race exclusion for the stoppage but the carnage could easily have been much worse. Woffinden, Boxall and Garrity will be joined on June 16th by Lewis Blackbird, Lewis Bridger and Richard Lawson – Blackbird was awarded third place on the night on the count-back of heading home his two adversaries when the three met in Heat 11, plus Richie Worrall. Stefan Nielsen finished eighth after an absorbing run-off with Leigh Lanham after both had finished on 8 points, to earn himself prime consideration for one of the two Wildcard spots available for Monmore Green. It was a battle of youth-versus-experience as the double U-19 Champion came from the back against the 36 year old veteran and then held his position despite constant pressure from the Sheffield Tiger. Nielsen had one slightly fortunate moment earlier in the night when Joe Jacobs – a last minute addition to the field for the sidelined Adam Ellis – was excluded for bringing him down in Heat 18. Jacobs argued that Nielsen had slowed, giving him nowhere to go, but the call went against him and Nielsen went on to secure what proved to be two vital points in the re-run. Full meeting result (all from 5 rides unless stated): 1 Tai Woffinden (Wolverhampton) 15 2 Steve Boxall (Rye House) 11 3 Lewis Blackbird (Eastbourne/ Peterborough) 11 4 Lewis Bridger (Lakeside) 11 5 Richard Lawson (Lakeside/Redcar) 11 6 Richie Worrall (Belle Vue/Ipswich) 10 7 Jason Garrity (Coventry/Rye House) 9
(All qualify for the British Final at Wolverhampton on Monday June 16th).
Other scorers: Stefan Nielsen 8 (after run-off), Leigh Lanham 8, Ritchie Hawkins 6, Carl Wilkinson 5, Luke Bowen 5, Joe Jacobs 5, Josh Auty 4, Ashley Birks 1, Oliver Allen 0 (3 rides), Ben Morley 0 (reserve, 3 rides).
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Post by Administrator on May 2, 2014 8:49:13 GMT
Preview: Rockets vs Peterborough The Silver Ski Rockets see SUNDAY afternoon action for their home fixture of the Bank Holiday weekend as they round off their League Cup programme against East Anglian rivals Peterborough. The meeting starts at 2pm. Subject to tonight’s (Friday’s) results, the match could yet decide who will top the Southern group and ensure qualification to the competition’s semi-finals: the visiting Panthers currently need one match point in order to guarantee that progress. Recognised for their top-end strength, they will bring with them no less than three riders currently boasting 9 point-plus averages from their fixtures to date in American World Cup international Ryan Fisher, captain Ulrich Ostergaard and 2010 U-21 World Cup winner Lasse Bjerre. Their middle order looks equally powerful in former Grand Prix star Ales Dryml and Lewis Blackbird, who really impressed with a third place finish in Wednesday’s British Semi-Final appearance at Rye, while the reserves comprise Joe Jacobs – who also had his moments on Wednesday - and Oliver Greenwood. The Rockets eased home 56-37 when the two sides met at Hoddesdon in the East Anglia Cup back in March, and also edged the Panthers around their own circuit in the first League Cup meeting between the pair, but team manager John Sampford recognises that achieving win No.3 will be no easy task. “Peterborough are a very different kettle of fish from their last visit, and they are coming back with a full side this time after having to operate Rider-Replacement for Blackbird and call on a National League guest for Jacobs when they were last here. “They could also need the right result to clinch top spot in the group, which would be an obvious motivating force. “But although we can’t qualify, we will certainly be riding for more than local derby pride, knowing we need to be building up for our home and away Knock-Out Cup matches against Glasgow the following weekend. “Steve Boxall was back to his best on Wednesday, and Jason Garrity will also be boosted by making the cut for the British Final. He’ll also be down at reserve with the new averages taking effect, and he’ll be keen to use that spell to really push his figures up. “Luke moves the other way into the main body of the team, but he’s earned it and will be determined to keep that early momentum going.” Rye House team: Luke Bowen, Steve Boxall, Jason Bunyan (captain), Jason Garrity, Edward Kennett, Simon Lambert, Mathieu Tresarrieu Peterborough team: Lasse Bjerre, Lewis Blackbird, Ales Dryml, Ryan Fisher, Oliver Greenwood, Joe Jacobs, Ulrich Ostergaard (captain)
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Post by Administrator on Sept 29, 2014 9:19:41 GMT
RYE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE: Halsey Wins NLRC National League Riders’ Championship (sponsored by Paradise Wildlife Park) (Rye House; Sunday, September 28th 2014) 1st Danny Halsey (Mildenhall) 2nd Steve Worrall (Cradley) 3rd Ben Morley (Kent) Mildenhall captain Daniel Halsey produced the best display of his career to shock the rest of the field and win the National League Riders’ Championship in the most dramatic fashion in the 2014 season finale at Rye House. The 26 year old, who actually started his career at the Hertfordshire circuit as a Raider back in 2005, reeled off four straight victories following an early defeat by Ben Morley to lift the crown with 14 points - a point clear of pre-meeting favourite Steve Worrall - but that simple statistic tells little of the story of the flow and emotion of his success. The key turning point in Halsey’s favour came when he headed home Joe Jacobs, the previously unbeaten Worrall and Dan Greenwood in a pitched battle of the early front-runners in Heat 9. Another success, this time over the pacey veteran Jon Armstrong in Heat 14, left him needing one more victory in his final outing in Heat 20 to clinch the title – but even that did not come without its moments of drama. First to take centre stage in the decider was Worrall’s Cradley team mate Paul Starke, who went down unassisted on the first bend to earn himself a disqualification and build the tension another notch for the re-run. Take-2 didn’t disappoint either, with race leader Halsey hounded relentlessly by the third Heathen in the field, Max Clegg, until the 17 year old Yorkshireman went for a gap that simply didn’t exist on the third and fourth bends. The Fen Tiger held his nerve – and line – with Clegg left on the brink of an exclusion for crossing the inner white line and also out of contention after effectively being clamped down. It was a controversial end to a fantastic afternoon’s display from Halsey but one certainly not reflected in his tone when the celebrations started afterwards. “Today has been a long time coming. I’ve been one of the favourites for this event a couple of times in the past, but today I was far from it, so I was able to come here with no pressure. “The track suited me a little bit, especially as it slickened off, and I strung together some really good starts. “I wasn’t happy when the red light came on in the first staging of my last one, but when I came back into the pits my team told me to put my head down and not think about anything but getting focussed for the re-run, which I won in a real tussle. “I want to thank all the Mildenhall supporters who were here this afternoon. They make this sport worth doing, and they made a difference today.” Hot pre-meeting favourite Worrall, meanwhile, was left to rue that pivotal Heat 9 encounter that saw his title hopes divert south. The Merseysider left himself with too much too do after being left at the back of the field on the first turn, and although able to work his way past Dan Greenwood, was not quite able to catch Joe Jacobs, let alone Halsey. Rye House asset and Kent King Ben Morley took third spot in a dramatic run-off with Jacobs, coming from the back with a third lap surge and then claiming an unopposed victory when his rival fell in the same spot a lap later. 1997 event winner Jon Armstrong was the pick of the rest with his fifth placed finish, but there was little joy for the other previous titlist on show, as Benji Compton visibly struggled prior to his withdrawal due to a migraine attack. Dan Greenwood – a late call-up for knee ligament victim Oliver Greenwood – enjoyed the bookend of wins in his first and last outings, with an 8 point total. Points scorers (all from 5 rides unless stated): Daniel Halsey 14, Steve Worrall 13, Ben Morley 12 (after run-off), Joe Jacobs 12, Jon Armstrong 9, Dan Greenwood 8, James Cockle 7, Marc Owen 7, James Sarjeant 6, Luke Chessell 6, Max Clegg 6, Paul Starke 6, Ben Hopwood 5, Danno Verge (reserve) 3, Tom Woolley 3, Aaron Mogridge 2, Benji Compton 0 (3 rides) Finally, the NLRC organisers would like to once again publicly thank the sponsors who made this meeting possible. In addition to main sponsors Paradise Wildlife Park, the prize money for the top three finishers was kindly sponsored by the Rye House Go-Kart Circuit, the trophies and medallions by the BSPA, the programme by Willow Print, insurance by the Doodson Group, special awards by King Silencers and track materials by Rye House Speedway. The race sponsors were Crawford Engineering, Hagon Shocks, the Speedway Star, Chalfont Coaches (Southall), Jaybea Designs, A10 Timber, Dave Jessup Racing and Champion Products. Our thanks to all.
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