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Post by Administrator on Aug 31, 2011 8:15:55 GMT
NLRC Line-Up: Update
Two rider changes have been advised for Saturday’s National League Riders’ Championship at Rye House, which is being sponsored by nearby Paradise Wildlife Park – the home of the Speedway Museum.
Kyle Hughes’ sidelining with a broken collarbone means that David Mason will have a shot at a second League Riders’ crown a full ten years after he originally tasted success. The much-travelled veteran has enjoyed a real resurgence of form in 2011 following an illness-afflicted 2010 campaign, and becomes the second Hackney Hawk in the field, alongside 2003 event winner Barrie Evans. Scunthorpe/Sheffield star Gary Irving, meanwhile, has decided to take a fortnight’s break from racing to allow his troublesome shoulder and knee injuries to heal. His place will now go to team-mate Richie Worrall, who enjoyed a productive visit to Hoddesdon earlier this week when he was paid for 7 as a Premier League Newcastle Diamond on Bank Holiday Monday. Worrall joins brother Steve – the British U-21 Championship runner-up – in the field, which also includes 1997 League Riders’ titlist Jon Armstrong, recently crowned British U-19 Champion Jason Garrity and Kyle Howarth, whose efforts for the Belle Vue Colts are augmented by an impressive all-inclusive average of 5 ½ with Premier League Edinburgh. Elsewhere, Simon Lambert will be aiming to eradicate a frustrating memory. The Stoke Potter looked set to take the Championship a year ago, only to suffer a last race fall after winning his four previous rides. Lambert, who has become a three-time National League Pairs Champion this year, will be joined on Saturday by “tag team partner” Tim Webster, while there are also places for the beaten finalists from that Pairs event, Todd Kurtz and Jay Herne of Newport.
The revised line-up, not in riding order, is:
Kyle Howarth, Jason Garrity (Belle Vue), Adam Allott, Rob Branford (Buxton), Jon Armstrong (Dudley), Barrie Evans, David Mason (Hackney), Nick Simmons (Isle of Wight), James Cockle (King's Lynn), Cameron Heeps (Mildenhall), Todd Kurtz, Jay Herne (Newport), Richie Worrall, Steve Worrall (Scunthorpe / Sheffield), Simon Lambert, Tim Webster (Stoke). Reserves: Ben Morley and Marc Owen (both Hackney)
Admission is £16 adults, £14 concessions, Over 12s £5, Under 12s Free. Programme £2.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 1, 2011 5:34:49 GMT
Hawks Within an Ace of Unseating Colts
Belle Vue 46 Hackney 44 (National League, Wednesday August 31st 2011) The Hackney Hawks came within four laps of becoming the first National League side to win in Manchester this season only to suffer the heartbreak of a last ditch 5-1. In contention throughout, the Hawks took the lead for the first time at 34-32 thanks to a Heat 11 maximum from Ben Morley and Barrie Evans after Jason Garrity had fallen in the first staging of the race. Belle Vue hit back with a 5-1 of their own in Heat 13, only for Hackney to re-take the lead, at 43-41, with a second maximum – this time from Shane Hazelden and Marc Owen - in the penultimate race. Then, unfortunately, came the Hawks’ final race heartbreak, as Garrity surged around Ben Morley on the third bend to join Kyle Howarth for the decisive result. Hackney at least had the satisfaction of leaving town with a match point for keeping the overall differential to less than 7. Regardless of that last race disappointment, Joint-Team Manager John Sampford was incredibly proud of the team. “To come up here and run them so close was a tremendous achievement. Everyone gave everything they had in every race, and whether it was in a big or small way they all chipped in with points. “It’s also important to look behind Barrie’s (Evans) score of paid 4. He has been running with two engines, and at the moment is waiting for one of them to be returned after it went at Newport. His other engine is not going well, but he’s simply got to get on with what he’s got at the moment. His score wasn’t a reflection of his ability, just his bike. “We’ve not given up on finishing in the top four. We’ve still got two matches to go, at Stoke on the 10th and then at home to Scunthorpe-Sheffield the next day, and we’ll just keep trying to win every race and every match. “We don’t know how the other results will go either. I mean, who would have thought that (bottom of the table) Buxton would go to Dudley last night and win by 15 points?” Hackney scorers: Barrie Evans 3+1 (4 rides) Ben Morley 10 (6) David Mason 7+2 (4) Shane Hazelden 10 (6) Ben Hopwood R/R Brandon Freemantle 1 (3) Marc Owen 13+1 (7) Belle Vue scorers: Kyle Howarth 12+3 (5 rides, maximum) Adam McKinna 6 (4) Karl Mason 9 (4) Byron Bekker 1 (4) Jason Garrity 12 (5) Chris Widman 3+1 (6) Scott Richardson 3 (2) Match Points: Belle Vue 2 Hackney 1
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Post by Administrator on Sept 1, 2011 5:36:16 GMT
NLRC: Howarth Named to Line-Up Jon Armstrong’s unfortunate injury last night (Tuesday) while riding for Dudley had led to a further change in Saturday’s National League Riders Championship field. Fellow Heathen Ashley Morris has been named as Armstrong’s replacement. The 2009 British U-15 Champion will be facing his third national Final of 2011, having already finished 7th in the British U-21 Championship and 5th in the U-19 event. A 7 point Heathen so far in 2011, he was also part of Edinburgh’s Premier League winning squad last term and has ridden at that level with both the Monarchs and Leicester this year. Revised line-up: Kyle Howarth, Jason Garrity (Belle Vue), Adam Allott, Rob Branford (Buxton), Ashley Morris (Dudley), Barrie Evans, David Mason (Hackney), Nick Simmons (Isle of Wight), James Cockle (King's Lynn), Cameron Heeps (Mildenhall), Todd Kurtz, Jay Herne (Newport), Richie Worrall, Steve Worrall (Scunthorpe / Sheffield), Simon Lambert, Tim Webster (Stoke). Reserves: Ben Morley and Marc Owen (both Hackney)
Admission is £16 adults, £14 concessions, Over 12s £5, Under 12s Free. Programme £2.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 4, 2011 8:16:32 GMT
Garrity Wins NLRC at Rye House National League Riders’ Championship (Sponsored by Paradise Wildlife Park) (Rye House, Saturday September 3rd 2011) 1st Jason Garrity (Belle Vue) 2nd Kyle Howarth (Belle Vue) 3rd Jay Herne (Newport) The 2011 NLRC proved to be every bit as competitive as any of its predecessors, and almost certainly the tightest ever in the history of the event. No less than six riders entered the final series of programmed races with a real chance of overall victory, after a further cast list of earlier serious contenders had been whittled away. Ultimately, 17 year old Jason Garrity claimed his second national title of the season after July’s earlier success in the British U-19 Championship to demonstrate that Britain DOES have young talent coming through. The teenager has enjoyed a real roller-coaster ride since winning the national U-15 title in 2008. He was part of Buxton’s treble winning success story last year, and has recently been given a Premier League opportunity with Leicester. The latest chapter in Garrity’s success story was achieved in thrilling, against-the-odds, fashion, as the Belle Vue Colt recovered from a last place finish in his opening ride to go through the rest of the card undefeated and edge home by a point. Fellow Colt Kyle Howarth finished second on 11, just ahead of Newport’s Jay Herne, who won a run-off for third spot against Robert Branford. Branford himself could potentially have won the meeting if his bike had lasted beyond the first bend of Heat 16. There were several additional contenders for “Mr Unlucky”. Todd Kurtz reeled off victories in three of his races, but was also excluded in Heat 9 after locking up on the second bend and bringing down regular team mate Herne and himself, and finished last in his final race when offered a chance to tie Garrity’s 12 points. Richie Worrall – who also finished on 9 points – had his route to success derailed by a Heat 14 exclusion after collecting Ashley Morris in a third bend tumble, while Morris’ own challenge fizzled out when the Dudley Heathen was able to add just 1 point from his final two rides to the 8 he had earlier collected. Finally, Steve Worrall opened like a freight train by winning Heat 1 only to suffer mechanical problems when set for a clear-cut victory in his second outing. A first bend fall in his third race did little to ease his frustration, although he was at least able to sign off on a high with a victory in his last outing. Neither of the two Hackney riders on show was ever really in contention for a major placing, although David Mason’s win in Heat 16 helped to propel the 2011 meeting winner to a respectable 7 points. The night was a long one for colleague Barrie Evans, however. The 2003 titlist suffered mechanically throughout, and withdrew after four rides had yielded just a single point. Rider scorers (all from 5 races, unless stated): Jason Garrity 12, Kyle Howarth 11, Jay Herne 10 (after a run-off), Robert Branford 10, Todd Kurtz 9, Ashley Morris 9, Richie Worrall 9, Simon Lambert 8, Steve Worrall 7, David Mason 7, Jack Hargreaves 6, James Cockle 6, Adam Allott 5, Tim Webster 5, Nick Simmons 4, Barrie Evans 1 (4 rides) Reserves: Ben Morley 1 (1 ride), Marc Owen dnr The Things They Said Here is what the one-two-three had to say when interviewed on the podium at the end of Saturday night’s NLRC at Rye House: Jason Garrity On his recovery from a Heat 4 duck to win the meeting: “I actually made a pretty good start in my first race, but everyone else just bungled up in the bends. That’s Speedway, isn’t it? I did the same thing in the U-19s when I won that. I was excluded in my first race then, and won every other. “You know, I like hard racing and it’s a matter of fact that you can’t expect to go out and have an easy ride; it’s got to be hard. So there it was; it was hard. “Everything is going well at the moment - I was at Somerset last night (riding for Leicester in the Premier League) and got a few points. I just need to keep the focus up for the rest of the season, and then start again in 2012.” Kyle Howarth “It’s been great tonight. I struggled a little at first in terms of gating, but I got a few good gates as the meeting wore on which made a big difference. I didn’t put too much pressure on myself; I just went out there to enjoy my racing. “It’s been great at Edinburgh (in the Premier League) as well. The track has been tremendous, but more importantly I’ve just been enjoying it – that’s the main thing, really – and I want to keep the good work up until the end of the season. And regarding the Belle Vue Colts’ hopes in the run-in toward the National League Play-Off spot? “We’re in with a good shout. We just need to win both our matches in tomorrow’s double header (against Stoke and King’s Lynn) to set ourselves up.” Jay Herne “I haven’t had the best of years, and I hadn’t ridden for two weeks, so I was a bit rusty to come in here. Realistically, I just wanted to get a couple of race wins tonight, so get a run-off for third and then win that was just awesome.” Rockets on the Road: Sheffield The Silver Ski Rockets take to their travels on Thursday (September 8th) when they head to Sheffield for what is probably the most difficult away fixture of their Second Phase programme. The Tigers look set to finish second behind Glasgow in the Premier League this season, and handed the Rockets their biggest defeat of the season – 64-29 - when the two sides met in the Steel City at the end of July. Jordan Frampton was the only visitor to emerge relatively unscathed on that occasion, securing two race wins and just under half his team’s points total, with 14. Sheffield will return the favour when they visit Hoddesdon on Saturday, September 24th. The Tigers were last in town for the Rockets’ opening League match of the season way back on March 26th. On that particular night, a Heat 15 victory by Chris Neath – which also completed a five ride maximum for the Rye captain – gave the Rockets the win by the narrowest of margins, at 46-44. Hawks on the Road: Stoke It’s down to two matches and counting for the Hackney Hawks in their bid for a top four finish, and with it participation in the National League Championship Play-Offs. Next Saturday (September 10th) takes them to top of the table Stoke for what looks a daunting – yet achievable – mission. While the Hawks’ Play-Off hopes have dipped badly with recent defeats both at Newport and at home to Mildenhall, they were lifted again by a fabulous mid-week performance at Belle Vue. Hackney came within an ace of handing the Colts their first home defeat of the season, only to suffer the heartbreak of a final race 5-1 that left the score at 46-44. The Hawks at least had the satisfaction of heading home with only the second match point taken by any visiting side to Manchester this year. Bring ‘Em On: Plymouth (PL) and Scunthorpe-Sheffield (NL) (Sunday, September 11th @ 2pm) The focus at Rye House switches back to League action as both the Silver Ski Rockets and the Hackney Hawks take to the track in a double header fixture at Hoddesdon on Sunday, September 11th. First on the agenda will be the Premier League clash between the Rockets and Plymouth. The Devils belied their lowly position in the table when they were last in town on July 30th, fighting hard all the way before ultimately succumbing 54-41. World Cup star Ben Barker led their charge with 15 on that occasion, with the rider ranked No.1 in the national standings ably backed by American Ricky Wells, the 2009 AMA National Champion, who powered to 11. The same duo were also key contributors to the Devils’ narrow 46-44 success when the two sides met in Devon on Friday. Also set to see action are former two year Stoke Potter Jesper Kristiansen, 2009 Italian national titlist and Grand Prix Wildcard Gino Franchetti, NLRC finalist and former Rye House Raider James Cockle and new addition Justin Sedgmen, who has signed on from Newport to replace the injured Hynek Stichauer. Fifteen heats of Premier League combat will be followed by fifteen more, as the Hackney Hawks’ regular National League programme reaches its climax with a fixture that could yet decide their ambitions of post-season play in the Championship Play-Offs. The opposition will be provided by a side that already looks set to feature in the final four, the combined Scunthorpe-Sheffield outfit. The Hawks will need little reminding of the 66-24 nightmare they endured in Lincolnshire back in May, although the clear focus this time around will be a victory by a “mere” seven points or more in order to secure all three match points. The action starts at 2pm. There will be no additional admission charge for the National League match; standard Premier League prices apply. Forthcoming Fixtures at Rye House Sunday, September 11th Rockets vs Plymouth (Premier League) 2.00pm followed by Hawks vs Scunthorpe-Sheffield (NL) Sunday, September 18th Reserved; National League 2.00pm Saturday, September 24th Rockets vs Sheffield (Premier League) 7.00pm ENDS
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Post by Administrator on Sept 7, 2011 17:14:09 GMT
Just in Case: It’s King’s Lynn on the 18th – and at a Special Price! While the Hackney Hawks are still targeting the outside chance of a top four National League finish – their final position will ultimately be determined by their results at Stoke (Saturday) and at home to the combined Scunthorpe-Sheffield team (Sunday) - promoter Len Silver has announced a fall-back fixture for Sunday the 18th in the event that the Hawks are not involved in the home leg of the Play-Offs on this date. The opposition, instead, will be provided by the King’s Lynn Young Stars in a challenge fixture, and as a special thank you to supporters a flat rate admission charge will apply for adults, seniors and children of just £5. (Children under 7 will be admitted free.) Additionally, Silver has declared his intention to the National League of competing in next season’s competition as the Rye House Raiders, rather than the Hackney Hawks, given the much stronger relevance of the former name to the majority of Hoddesdon supporters. The team to take to the track against the Young Stars will indeed be billed under this title. Further comments on the 2012 direction will appear in the “Lens’ Lines” section of this Sunday’s programme. The meeting on the 18th will start at 2pm. On a separate subject, Rye House will play host to the 6th and final round of the 2011 Pozzani Grand National UK Flat-track Championship on Saturday, September 17th. Practice is at 5pm, with the first race scheduled for 7pm. Admission is: Adults £10, Concessions £8, Juniors (12-15) £3, Kids Free. For further details, please log on to www.shorttrackuk.com.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 11, 2011 7:15:02 GMT
Hawks’ Play-Off Hopes Ended in Potteries Stoke 59 Hackney 33 (National League, Saturday September 10th 2011) Hackney’s outside chance of a Play-Off spot finally came to a resounding halt at Loomer Road. With David Mason a non-starter due to a family illness, the Hawks were forced to operate Rider-Replacement for their missing captain and draft in junior David Holt as a guest for the sidelined Ben Hopwood. Those changes to their team plans made a stiff task against the National League leaders even tougher. It didn’t take long for the Potters to take advantage, as four Stoke 5-1s within the first six races swiftly settled the destination of the match points at 28-8. By Heat 10, Hackney trailed 44-16, but at least stemmed the flow in the closing stages, holding their hosts to a 15-14 score over the remaining races. Shane Hazelden finished the night as the Hawks’ top scorer, with two race wins and 15 points, with his main support coming from Ben Morley, who claimed Hackney’s other two race wins in his paid 9 tally. Joint-Team Manager John Sampford said afterwards, “We really struggled to get to grips with the match until into the second half. Shane (Hazelden) rode really well, though, and Ben (Morley) deserved more than he got, what with a chain snapping in one ride and a fall in another when we had him out as a Tactical. Brandon (Freemantle) was also a little unlucky, with his bike slowing in one of his races. But it was always going to be a big ask against such a strong side.” The result leaves Stoke, Mildenhall, the joint Scunthorpe-Sheffield team and Belle Vue as the four Play-Off qualifiers. The Hawks remain three points adrift of the fourth placed Manchester team, with a much inferior race points difference and the cut-off date for the final four passing tomorrow. The Hawks still have one match remaining, which will be against the Scunthorpe-Sheffield combination as part of a double header at Rye House next Sunday, September 18th). The Hackney match will be preceded by the Premier League fixture between the Silver Ski Rockets and Ben Barker’s Plymouth outfit, which starts at 2pm. Hackney scorers: Barrie Evans 5+1 (5) David Holt (guest) 0 (3) David Mason R/R Shane Hazelden 15 (6 rides, inc 6 as a TR) Ben Morley 8+1 (6 rides, inc 0 as a TR) Brandon Freemantle 5 (7) Marc Owen 0 (3) Stoke scorers: Richie Worrall (guest) 9 (4 rides) Jaimie Pickard 9+3 (5) James Sarjeant 5+3 (4) Tony Atkin 10 (4) Tim Webster 13+1 (5) Ben Read 4+2 (4) Gareth Isherwood 9+1 (4) Match Points: Stoke 3 Hackney 0
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Post by Administrator on Sept 12, 2011 16:25:08 GMT
Double Header Becomes Single Header Sunday’s (September 18th @ 2pm) rescheduled meeting at Rye House – originally proposed as a double header – will now be a single match only, as the Silver Ski Rockets contend with Ben Barker and the rest of the Plymouth Devils in Premier League action. The National League match between Hackney and the combined Scunthorpe-Sheffield team – originally allocated to the Arena-Essex Raceway earlier in the season – will now indeed be staged at Lakeside as a separate fixture.
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Post by Administrator on Oct 4, 2011 16:46:03 GMT
Hawks Finale: Hackney vs Scunthorpe/Sheffield at Lakeside The Hackney Hawks face their final match in that guise this Friday (October 7th @ 8pm) when they host the combined Scunthorpe-Sheffield team in National League action at Lakeside. The fixture was originally allocated to the Essex venue, subsequently switched over to Rye House and has now – after its September postponement – been allocated back to the Arena-Essex Raceway. The six regular Hawks will feature, which means a final opportunity to salute the efforts of Shane Hazelden, Ben Morley, Barrie Evans and the rest of the team. In addition, with Rider-Replacement operating as cover for the injured Ben Hopwood, a No.8 slot will be up for grabs to the winner of an earlier “Vultures Race”. As a special send-off to the Hawks, admission prices will be just £8 for adults and £1 for children, with one of the team’s body colours being given away at the end of the night to the lucky purchaser of a specially signed programme. Although the Hackney name will be no more in 2012, there will be National League speedway at Rye House. Promoter Len Silver has already declared his intention to compete in next season’s competition as the Rye House Raiders, rather than the Hawks, given the much stronger relevance of the former name to the majority of Hoddesdon supporters. (The Raiders were originally Rye House’s National League team from 2002 to 2007, before the side took on the moniker “Cobras” for the period 2008-2010.)
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Post by Administrator on Oct 4, 2011 19:01:43 GMT
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Post by Administrator on Oct 5, 2011 18:59:44 GMT
Wednesday 5th October 2011 FINAL MEETING FOR THE HACKNEY HAWKS AT THE ARENA-ESSEX RACEWAY ON FRIDAY This Friday, 7th October, will see the final appearance of the Hackney Hawks as they face the Scunthorpe Saints in their last National League match at the Arena-Essex Raceway, the home of Elite League club, the Lakeside Hammers. The hawks were brought back into existence at the beginning of this season and shared their home matches between the Arena-Essex Raceway and Rye House Stadium, the home of Premier League side, the Rye House Rockets. It falls on the Arena-Essex Raceway to stage this final match against Scunthorpe, who are in second place in the National League table and three places above the Hawks. Scunthorpe will use their No.8 Stefan Nielson plus they will introduce a couple of junior riders, Conor Dwyer and Ben Holloway, into their side due to injuries and unavailability. They will also utilise the ‘Rider Replacement’ facility for Steve Worrall, who will be riding for Scunthorpe’s Premier League side the same evening. As far as the Hackney Hawks are concerned they will also be bringing in a junior rider into their side for this meeting. That rider will be chosen from a ‘Vultures Race’ that will take place prior to the start of the meeting and will include the best riders from a Training School that will take place at the Raceway during the day. The two expected line-up are (in alphabetical order):- Hackney Hawks: Barrie Evans, Brandon Freemantle, Shane Hazelden, David Mason, Ben Morley, Marc Owen and the winner of the ‘Vultures Race’. Scunthorpe Saints: Conor Dwyer, Ben Holloway, Stefan Nielsen, Lee Smethills, Richie Worrall, Rider Replacement for Steve Worrall and Adam Wrathall. This National League match will get underway at the Arena-Essex Raceway with the first race at 8pm with the Grand Parade of the participating riders at 7.45pm. Special admission prices will apply for this match match. The Standard admission price will be just £8 with no concessions apart from Children aged 6 to 16 inclusive who will pay £1. Children under the age of 6 will be admitted free of charge provided they are accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets for Friday’s match may be purchased on the night from the paybooths or in advance via the Lakeside Hammers website at www.lakesidehammers.co
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Post by Administrator on Oct 6, 2011 16:22:51 GMT
Thursday 6th October 2011 FORMER HAWKS RETURN FOR FINALE A trip down memory lane awaits Speedway fans at the Arena Essex Raceway tomorrow evening, Friday 7th October, as a host of former Hackney stars will be at the track to see off the final meeting for the Hackney Hawks. Already confirmed as attending the meeting are: Paul Bosley, Laurie Etheridge, Alan Jackson, Les (Red) Ott, Alan Sage and Barry Thomas. The match, between the Hackney Hawks and the Scunthorpe Saints, will be the final National League match for the Hawks. The SCB appointed Referee for this match is Chris Gay, who, by coincidence, refereed the last meeting to take place at Hackney’s Waterden Road Stadium, which took place on 30th October 1996 and was between the London Lions and Oxford . Tomorrow is also an important night to for Lakeside Hammers fans as the Club’s Management will be monitoring interest in this National League match with a view to entering a full Young Hammers side into next year’s National League. With that in mind entrance fees have been slashed to just £8 with Children aged 6 to 16 inclusive paying only £1. Children under the age of 6 will be admitted free of charge provided they are accompanied by a paying adult. This final National League match of the season for the Hackney Hawks will get underway at the Arena-Essex Raceway tomorrow evening with the first race at 8pm with the Grand Parade of the participating riders and former Hackney stars at 7.45pm. Tickets for Friday’s match may be purchased on the night from the paybooths or in advance via the Lakeside Hammers website at www.lakesidehammers.co
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Post by Administrator on Oct 8, 2011 7:56:43 GMT
Hawks Fly Out on a High Hackney 52 Scunthorpe/Sheffield 39 (at Lakeside) (National League, Friday, October 7th 2011) The joint Rye House-Lakeside experiment of the Hackney Hawks came to its conclusion with a positive result at a wet and wild Arena-Essex Raceway. Showers during the afternoon and early evening left the circuit greasy and heavy in places, and it was a credit to both sides that the meeting was completed, albeit with no less than 15 falls along the way. It was a rather different looking Hackney team that took to the track for the last time. Barrie Evans was forced to withdraw beforehand due to work commitments, while both the injured Ben Hopwood’s spot and the No.8 position were filled by two riders from a pre-meeting Vultures race. Or rather from two races, as Jack Kingston was the sole survivor of a first heat, necessitating a second race that was won by Mark Baldock. When the match itself got underway, the Hawks jumped into a 7 point lead against a visiting side equally hit by absences. A 5-1 from Kingston and Shane Hazelden in Heat 5 was key here, and although Scunthorpe/Sheffield replied with an identical result in Heat 7, the Hawks restored their points cushion when Marc Owen and Mark Baldock were the only finishers four laps later. The home side then pushed ahead to 38-26, and after a brief scare when Richie Worrall triggered a visiting 7-2 by winning as a Tactical Rider, made sure of the three available match points thanks to victories from Owen, David Mason and Ben Morley in the close-out. Mason and Morley each dropped points in just a single race, while Owen and Hazelden had equally strong nights, in the latter’s case despite blowing an engine and having to push home for a point in Heat 14. The result means that the Hawks have finished fifth of ten teams in the final National League table. While it is the end of the road for the Hackney name, Rye House promoter Len Silver has already announced his intention to run a team at Hoddesdon in 2012 under the previously established Raiders banner, and there is the possibility of a separate Lakeside operation. Joint-Team Manager John Sampford summed up the season as “a bit of a curate’s egg; good in places. Unfortunately, we weren’t good enough long enough…. we were just too inconsistent. The two home defeats cost us dearly, and there were several away matches where we could and should have got a positive result, but didn’t. Our defeat at Newport was a particular blow, but even then we nearly grabbed a win at Belle Vue only to lose out to a last race 5-1.” Hackney scorers: David Mason 12 (5 rides) Barrie Evans R/R Jack Kingston 3 (4) Shane Hazelden 8+1 (4) Ben Morley 11+1 (5) Brandon Freemantle 2 (3) Marc Owen 13 (6) Mark Baldock 3+1 (3) Scunthorpe/Sheffield scorers: Steve Worrall R/R Lee Smethills 3 (4 rides) Richie Worrall 15+1 (6 rides, inc 6 as a TR) Adam Wrathall 7+1 (5) Stefan Nielsen 6+1 (5) Connor Dwyer 6+1 (5) Ben Holloway 2 (4) Match Points: Hackney 3 Scunthorpe/Sheffield 0
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