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Post by Administrator on Jul 3, 2009 16:50:06 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Friday 3rd July 2009
KIDS FOR A QUID ALL SUMMER LONG AS RYE HOUSE FIXTURE IS SHELVED
The Lakeside Hammers return to Elite League Speedway action later this month will be even more warmly welcomed by the legions of young Hammers fans as the Club have announced a summer holiday long reduction in children’s admission to just £1. The ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme will run from the age of 16 years down to 6 with those under 6 free of charge and will be in place for all six fixtures starting from 24th July’s clash with Swindon.
The Hammers Co Promoter Stuart Douglas stated: "Kids are not just the future of Speedway they are today’s fans too and it’s great to see so many youngsters enjoying the action at the Raceway and chasing around for autographs both before and after the match. By introducing this offer for the holidays we hope even more families can enjoy the spectacle of Speedway in our weekly run throughout the summer break."
More good news for the Club’s young fans is that they can enjoy free entry on Monday July 20th when the star studded Poole Pirates visit in the Sky Sports Elite League B fixture, as part of the National 80th Anniversary of League racing celebrations.
Meanwhile the Club have shelved plans to run an Inter League Challenge against Rye House next Friday, meaning the next fixture at the Arena-Essex Raceway will be the visit of Poole.
Co Promoter Jon Cook commented on this change in plans by saying: "We feel that as a Promotion we have a good contact with the thoughts and views of our fans and it’s obvious that this fixture at this stage of the season is of little interest in the current economic climate. We scheduled the meeting with the best of intentions and would like to thank Len at Rye for his help, but it’s better to admit this was a mistake now. At the right time and right team strengths a meet with the Rockets would certainly be something we would consider in future."
The gap in the Hammers home fixtures is frustrating for Management and Fans alike with Joonas Kylmakorpi, Jonas Davidsson and Kauko Nieminen all unavailable this Friday due to World Championship commitments, plus the Club would also be without Davidsson next week and they are unable to line up opposition prior to Saturday’s Speedway World Cup opener after the original meeting against Wolverhampton was moved forward for TV and the World Cup in full flow on Friday 17th. It is good news, however, for Stuart Robson who aggravated his long standing hand injury last weekend in France. The Hammers popular reserve has his hand in a small cast and will be 100% fit for the return to racing for the visit of then Pirates on the 20th July.
Cook commented further by saying: "This gap in our fixtures is annoying for all but it’s manor from heaven for Stuart. His hand has been a problem since the first week of the season and to be able to rest and recover means we will see a fully fit Robbo for the first time this year on our return and with a Play Off place within our grasp that is excellent news."
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Post by Administrator on Jul 7, 2009 17:05:20 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 7th July 2009
HAMMERS PREPARE FOR A BUSY PERIOD
The Lakeside Hammers are away to the current Sky Sports Elite League leaders, the Swindon Robins, this Thursday 9th July in an important League match. The Hammers fans will then need to wait until Monday 20th July for their next home League match following a period of almost a month without racing at their Arena-Essex Raceway due to the recent staging of the British Grand Prix in the Millennium Stadium Cardiff and the Speedway World Cup, which takes place over the next week. The match on 20th, against the Poole Pirates, starts a very busy period for the Club, which sees them due to race three home and two away League matches in the space of just 12 days. On 24th July they face the Robins again but this time at the Arena-Essex Raceway. The next day, Saturday 25th, they then travel down to the Sussex coast to face the Eastbourne Eagles. The following Monday, 27th July, in a change of fixture, they now are away to the Coventry Bees in a match that is scheduled to be shown live on Sky Sports. The busy end of July period ends on 31st with another home League match for the Hammers, against the Belle Vue Aces. As stated by the Club in its last Press Release on Friday 3rd July youngsters will be able to see these three home matches at reduced rates. On 20th July, for the Poole match, all children up to the age of 16 with be given free entry and then for the matches on 24th and 31st children aged from 6 to 16 will be charged an admission fee of just £1 with children under the age of 6 being allowed free entry. Jon Cook the Hammers Team Manager and Co-Promoter states: “These six League matches to come in July will all be important for the Club. We are currently in fourth place in the League table, equal on points with Coventry, but above them due to our better racing points differential. It is vital that we win these three home meetings, along with the further four in August, and pick up points from the three away matches if we are to finish the League campaign in the top four, which will give us a place in the League Play Off’s. July will see us complete our away League matches so with a further four home matches to come during August our fate is in our own hands. Cook concluded: “I would like to confirm to our supporters that even though our away match against the Coventry Bees has been brought forward from Friday 21st August to Monday 27th July the Bees will still be coming to our Raceway on Saturday 22nd August.” Thursday’s match away at Swindon will once again see the Hammers line up without Stuart Robson, who re-broke a finger in a meeting in France recently. His place will be taken by Jason Lyons, who rides for Birmingham in the Premier League. Lyons scored paid nine points when he replaced Robson in the match away at Belle Vue at the end of last month that saw the Hammers come away from Manchester with one League point. Hammers riders Jonas Davidsson and Kauko Nieminen have been in fine form on an individual level recently and that has seen them both qualify for the Grand Prix Challenge Final, which is due to take place at Coventry on 18th September, from which the top three riders on that night will gain automatic qualification to the 2010 Grand Prix Series.
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Post by Administrator on Jul 10, 2009 15:53:29 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Friday 10th July 2009
COOK PRAISES TEAM EFFORT AS PLAY OFF’S BECKON
Lakeside Hammers Team Manager Jon Cook praised his team after one of the shock wins of the season as the Essex based team became the first side to leave Swindon with League points last night.
The Hammers, who won against a weakened Swindon Robins team in the KO Cup in June, had travelled to Wiltshire confident of being the first club to take the extra point from the League Leaders but in an eventful meeting that saw them take the lead as early as the second heat a superb team effort gained all three Sky Sports Elite League points and sent the title favourites crashing to their first home League defeat of the season.
Cook said on Friday morning after having had time to reflect on what happened down in Wiltshire: "It really was a great night for the Club, definitely the best of the season so far, and I can't praise the boys enough for their efforts both on and off the track last night. Even those not hitting the scores were active in helping team mates prepare for races and that’s the sort of spirit that will take us into the Play Off’s and after last night we have to believe that we won't be there just to make up the numbers." Looking at the Play Off picture Cook continued: "We have seven home and two away matches remaining, giving us a clear advantage over Peterborough who have ridden four more at home than us. If we can target another away win and only have the odd slip up at home then a top four place will be ours. I still believe Swindon are the class team of the League and if they finish top then I would expect them to take advantage of the 8 point handicap and try and take us out at the semi final stage. "That will suit us fine as their track, as it is now, run slicker but with excellent overtaking options, is probably our favourite in the League."
The Hammers return to their Raceway for two meetings in a week after the completion of the Speedway World Cup. Poole visit in Sky live action on Monday 20th and then Swindon will be seeking revenge on Friday 24th.
Cook commented further by saying: "These are probably our toughest two home challenges remaining and anything more than 3 points at the end of the week will be a sure sign that we are up to the task of not just making the Play Offs but the final as well. Poole lost by only a point on their last visit to us and as for the Swindon, they are sure to want to repeat their superb performance at our Raceway in the Cup when, if Leigh Adams had been present, they may well have won at a canter. "We will have excitement all the way and our deliberate policy of having weekly Speedway throughout the summer holidays added to the fantastic manner in which our team have reacted to our first home defeat against Wolves that saw us claim eight points from the following three away matches, means our fans are in for a late July and August to savour".
The Hammers are dropping all Kids admission prices for aged 16 down to 6 to just £1 for the remaining League fixtures with all Kids being admitted free of charge for the Sky live meeting on 20th July as part of British Speedway's celebration of 80 years of League racing.
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Post by Administrator on Jul 15, 2009 10:55:35 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 15th July 2009
HAMMERS TO BE AT FULL STRENGTH FOR THE VISIT OF POOLE
The Lakeside Hammers next home meeting will take place at their Arena-Essex Raceway on Monday 20th July when they take on the Poole Pirates in a Sky Sports Elite League fixture. The Essex based Club have issued a Official Statement regarding the involvement of Hammers riders Lee Richardson and Jonas Davidsson in this important fixture following their Polish clubs re-arranging a match on the same day. The Statement reads: “The Club are pleased to confirm that Lee Richardson, as an ACU licensed rider, will be racing for the Lakeside Hammers and not in Poland next Monday 20th July. We are also grateful to SVEMO (The Sports governing body in Sweden) for recognising that our meeting against Poole takes priority for their licensed rider Jonas Davidsson as it had been arranged several weeks in advance of his Polish club’s re-arranged match following the initial proposed staging being rained off. Both riders will be needed if we are to maintain our push for a minimum fourth place finish this season against the new look Pirates.” Richardson and Davidsson both ride in Poland in addition to their commitments with the Hammers. Richardson rides for Czestochowa whilst Davidsson is with Bydgoszcz. These two Polish clubs meet on 20th at Bydgoszcz in this hastily re-arranged match but it will be pleasing for all Hammers supporters to hear that both of their stars will be riding in the Sky Sports Elite League match against Poole. In addition to Richardson and Davidsson the Hammers expect Stuart Robson to return to the side following his finger injury sustained whilst racing in France. With Welshman, Phil Morris, lining up alongside Robson at reserve the Hammers will go into this vital match at full strength. Poole have named their recent signing, Hans Andersen, in their line-up despite the Dane missing the opening round of the Speedway World Cup. He is part of a strong top four for the Pirates that also includes another Danish World Cup rider Bjarne Pedersen, Australian World Cup rider Chris Holder and Great Britain international and former World U-21 Champion Joe Screen. Completing their top five is Daniel Davidsson, who is the brother of Hammers star, Jonas. At reserve they have brought in their new signing Steve Boxall, a former Rye House rider who was born in Kent plus Ben Wilson who doubles up with Redcar in the Premier League. The action on Monday 20th July gets underway at the Arena-Essex Raceway at 7.30pm and younger supporters are reminded that everyone up to the age of 16 will be allowed free entry to this important Sky Sports Elite League encounter against the Poole Pirates.
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Post by Administrator on Jul 17, 2009 11:34:21 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Friday 17th July 2009 HAMMERS CAPTAIN INJURED WHILST REPRESENTING HIS COUNTRY
The Lakeside Hammers Speedway Club have today confirmed that their captain Adam Shields faces up to a month on the sidelines after breaking his collarbone in last night’s World Cup Race Off, which took place at Leszno in Poland. The Australian will know next Tuesday whether he will require an operation to speed up the healing process.
The Hammers Team Manager Jon Cook commented on hearing this news from Shields by stating: "Very obviously this is a huge blow to both Adam and the Club. We will have to operate Rider Replacement in his absence and his drop to third in the averages makes that a real challenge to still achieve results but I am sure we will see the rest of the team stepping up to that challenge. We have set our hearts on a Play Off place and we have some room for error in the run in thanks to our last few away meeting results and, with Adam's record of being a quick healer, we would expect to be able to keep our aspirations alive until he returns". The Hammers next action, which gets underway at 7.30pm, will be at their Arena-Essex Raceway next Monday, 20th July, when they take on last season’s League champions, the Poole Pirates, in a Sky Sports Elite League match. The Club are delighted to announce that, once again, The Royal Navy will be providing their support for this meeting. Children up to the age of 16 will be allowed into this important match free of charge.
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Post by Administrator on Jul 17, 2009 15:54:50 GMT
URGENT PRESS UPDATE Friday 17th July 2009
HAMMERS MOVE TO REPLACE THEIR INJURED CAPTAIN
The Lakeside Hammers have moved quickly to replace injured Captain Adam Shields by signing Polish star Piotr Swiderski. Piotr will join the team in time for the live Sky match at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Monday 20th July against Poole and he will race in all the Hammers matches during a busy period at the end of the month with the exception of the away match at Eastbourne on the 25th July when he is required for the Polish Final on a day when his new team mate Jonas Davidsson is also absent for his national Swedish Final. Danish star Bjarne Pedersen and the use of Rider Replacement will complete the team for the trip down to the Sussex coast. Swiderski has been a proven scorer at Lakeside in the past and will have the added support of equipment loan from Lee Richardson to test against his own in practise at the track ahead of his debut.
The Hammers Co Promoter and Team Manager Jon Cook commented on the Club’s new signing by saying: "Once I learnt that Piotr (Swiderski) was still available both Club owner Stuart Douglas and myself thought we should move quickly to replace Adam (Shields). We have learnt the lessons of the early season injury to Joonas Kylmakorpi when we waited and waited for him to return to fitness to the detriment of the team. Piotr is a quality rider and we think our Raceway will prove to be a great stamping ground for him, with most of our remaining fixtures being at home, whilst Adam has time to recover his fitness over the next month or so. Lee (Richardson) has kindly offered the use of one of his engines, which is set up for our home track, so we are attempting to cover all angles to make this move a success. The change is subject to BSPA approval but we don't anticipate any problems with that, or Adam's return to the team for the Knockout Cup Final and, hopefully, the Play Offs". The Hammers face last season’s Sky Sports Elite League Champions, the Poole Pirates, on Monday 20th July where the action will get underway at 7.30pm. This vital meeting for the Hammers will, once again, have The Royal Navy as the major sponsors for the evening.
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Post by Administrator on Jul 29, 2009 5:27:04 GMT
SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN POSTING THIS (PERSONAL REASONS FOR DELAY)> HOWEVER, IT DOES GIVE THE REASONS FOR LAST FRIDAY (JULY 24) MEETING CANCELATION. - ADMINISTRATOR, JULY 29.
PRESS RELEASE Thursday 23rd July 2009
LAKESIDE V SWINDON FRIDAY 24.07.09 MEETING CANCELLED
This Friday’s (24th July) Sky Sports Elite League fixture between the Lakeside Hammers and the Swindon Robins has been postponed after the agreement of both clubs. After an approach from the Swindon management, who have several riders caught up in a fixture clash with Poland, the Lakeside Promoters readily agreed as the weather forecast for tomorrow is very poor and the team are clearly off form at present. There is no suggestion that any of the Swindon riders would not have been present at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Friday. The Hammers Co promoter Jon Cook states: "After consultation with our counterparts at Swindon we are happy to put this meeting back to when neither team has fixture issues. Swindon have had to balance the good relations they have with their team against the need for another away win whereas for ourselves, after Monday's horror show against Poole, I think this move makes sense, especially as we have another mixed bag of weather forecast for Friday and both Jonas Davidsson and Piotr Swiderski have National Finals to prepare for on Saturday. I apologise to our fans for any inconvenience caused but by announcing the news early we hope to have prevented anyone from making a fruitless journey." The Hammers will return to action next Friday, 31st July, against former favourite Krzysztof Kasprzak and his Belle Vue Aces and will extend the BSPA's ‘Kids for Free’ promotion to this meeting. This had already operated on this past Monday's live Sky match against Poole.
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Post by Administrator on Aug 5, 2009 21:08:29 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 5th August 2009
THE HAMMERS TAKE ON THE LEAGUE LEADERS
The Lakeside Hammers take on the leaders of the Sky Sports Elite League, the Swindon Robins, at the Hammers home circuit at the Arena-Essex Raceway this Friday, 7th August, at 8pm. The Hammers are currently in fourth place in the League table with all their remaining five matches to be raced at their home Raceway. Only the top four at the end of the League campaign progress into the Play Offs, which will ultimately decide who will be the 2009 League Champions. Last season the Essex based Club fell at the last hurdle when losing out to the Poole Pirates in the Play Off Final. This year the Pirates appear to be well out of contention for a top four finish with Swindon and Wolverhampton leading the way. It is likely that the Hammers will be fighting for one of the remaining two places along with Coventry and Peterborough. Wins in all of the remaining home fixtures for the Hammers will, therefore, be vital if they are to claim one of the Play Off positions. Friday’s match against Swindon will not be easy for the Hammers despite having already knocked the Wiltshire club out of this season’s Knockout Cup competition and also having beaten them twice at their Abbey Stadium. On those occasions the Robins were not at full strength due to either injuries or rider unavailability. This Friday’s match, however, is expected to see a strong Robins side visit the Arena-Essex Raceway and they will, no doubt, be looking for revenge. Their only change will see a guest at reserve to replace their doubling up duo of Ryan Fisher and Mark Lemon, who are both required to race for their respective Premier League Clubs. Their official No.8, Cory Gathercole, is also unavailable due to Premier League commitments. The Hammers will go into the match with some renewed confidence following last Friday’s win against the Belle Vue Aces. That win saw a return to form of the Hammers two Finnish riders, Kauko Nieminen and Joonas Kylmakorpi. Nieminen followed up that performance by winning his National Title the following day back in Finland. The Hammers destiny is very much in their own hands at the moment and, with the support of their large band of loyal fans, they will be looking to win all of their remaining fixtures, although they may still be able to achieve their goal by not claiming the maximum points available to them in all of their remaining five fixtures. Friday’s match will see the introduction of the ’Kids for a Quid’ scheme, which will give children between the ages of 6 and 16 admission to our meetings during August for just £1. Children under six will continue to receive free entry provided they are accompanied by a paying adult.
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Post by Administrator on Aug 14, 2009 17:35:48 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Friday 14th August 2009
THE HAMMERS TAKE ON THE ACES THIS EVENING
The Lakeside Hammers take on the Belle Vue Aces in an important Sky Sports Elite League match at the Hammers home circuit at the Arena-Essex Raceway tonight, 14th August, at 8pm. The Hammers are currently still in fourth place in the League table, level on points with fifth placed Peterborough, with all their remaining four matches to be raced at their home Raceway. A win by at least seven points this evening against the Aces would be sufficient to move the Essex based Club up into third place above Coventry on a superior difference between race points scored and conceded. Following on from last Friday’s superb victory over League leaders, the Swindon Robins, the Hammers will go into this evening’s meeting in confident mood although they are fully aware that the Aces are likely to provide stern opposition even though they are at the bottom of the table. When the Aces last visited the Arena-Essex Raceway at the end of last month they made the Hammers fight for every point and they will undoubtedly use that experience to good affect this evening. Since their last visit the Aces have strengthened up by the signing of Polish former Grand Prix rider Tomasz Chrzanowski. This signing means that James Wright now drops down to reserve to form a potentially strong pairing with former Reading rider Ulrich Ostergaard. The Hammers are forced to make one change from last Friday’s match against the Robins as Robert Mear is unavailable due to a Premier League commitment with Rye House. His doubling-up partner, Phil Morris, also has a Premier League commitment with his new club, Workington, so the Hammers Team Manager, Jon Cook, has drafted in William Lawson. The 22 year old, who was born in Scotland, started this season with Berwick in the Premier League but has recently moved on to Glasgow. He is a former Edinburgh rider who, in 2007, started the year as a member of the Wolverhampton Elite League side. Tonight’s match will see the ’Kids for a Quid’ scheme in operation, which will give children between the ages of 6 and 16 admission to the meeting for just £1. Children under six will continue to receive free entry provided they are accompanied by a paying adult.
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Post by Administrator on Aug 15, 2009 21:47:01 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Saturday 15th August 2009
THE HAMMERS HIT SIXTY
A blistering team performance saw The Lakeside Hammers hit 60 points as they put Manchester's Belle Vue Aces to the sword at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Friday evening.
The victory saw the Club move up into third place in the Sky Sports Elite League in the crucial run in to the end of season Play Offs, leapfrogging Coventry, coincidentally the next visitors to Essex next Saturday night.
The Hammers co-promoter, Stuart Douglas, was upbeat about the team's prospects. "If we can ride as a team like that, then I believe we are capable of beating anyone." said Douglas. "I'd like to think that the lads are riding into form at just the right time, and if we can go into the Play Offs in tune and without injury then we can go one step further than last season, which is win the whole thing."
Fellow co-promoter, Jon Cook, was equally ebullient. "Two weeks ago, Belle Vue gave us a closely fought battle, but tonight out boys just stepped up another notch - it's not so much that the Aces underperformed, but much more that we were on scintillating form, and we witnessed some great Speedway," commented Cook. "Jonas Davidsson was a class apart, and the team riding of Joonas Kylmakorpi and Lee Richardson was superb. We now need to take this form into next Saturday's encounter with Play Off rivals, Coventry." The next action at the Arena-Essex Raceway for the Hammers is when they face the Coventry Bees in a vital Elite League fixture on Saturday 22nd August. Once again the ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme will be in operation whereby children between the ages of 6 and 16 will be able to witness top class Speedway for just £1. Children under 6 will be allowed entry free of charge. The action will get underway at 7.45pm with the parade of riders. A big crowd is anticipated for this match with many Bees supporters expected to make the trip down from the Midlands. Supporters are, therefore, requested to arrive at the Raceway as early as possible to avoid queues at the pay booths. The gates will open at 6pm and there are large free car parking areas at the Raceway. This is a match that could prove to be highly significant in ultimately deciding the eventual Play Off places and is a fixture that fans from both clubs are eagerly looking forward to.
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Post by Administrator on Aug 18, 2009 13:17:51 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 18th August 2009
THE HAMMERS PREPARE FOR SATURDAY’S BIG MEETING
The Lakeside Hammers move away from their traditional home Friday race day for this Saturday’s vital Sky Sports Elite League match against fellow Play Off hopefuls, the Coventry Bees. With four teams qualifying for the end of season Play Offs the top two positions already appear to be claimed by the Swindon Robins and the Wolverhampton Wolves. The Robins currently lead the table on 66 points with the Wolves just one point behind them on 65 points. There is then an 18 point gap to third position, which is held by the Hammers on 47 points. Saturday’s opponents, the Coventry Bees, are also on 47 points but the Hammers have a superior race point’s difference. Then, just one point behind them, on 46 points, are the Peterborough Panthers. The Hammers and the Panthers have just three remaining matches whilst the Bees have four. The Hammers hold a slight advantage over their two closest opponents as their three remaining matches are all at home whereas the Bees have two matches at home plus two away and the Panthers remaining three matches are all away from home. Given the closeness of these three teams, who are all vying for the two final two Play Off places, Saturday’s match against the Bees takes on great significance. It is vital, therefore, that the Hammers claim the win to improve their chances of reaching the Play Offs, which ultimately will decide the destination of this season’s League Championship title. Coventry have announced their line-up for this important match showing they are at full strength and include British GP rider Chris Harris, Team GB World Cup rider Edward Kennett, British riders Ben Barker and Oliver Allen, Australian International Rory Schlein, young New Zealander Ricky Wells and Filip Sitera from the Czech Republic in their side. The Lakeside Hammers promotion have decided to keep their side the same as the one that roared to a superb 27 point victory over the Belle Vue Aces last Friday. This will allow the promotion further time to decide on just what to do when their Australian Adam Shields return to fitness after breaking a collarbone in this year’s World Cup whilst competing for his Country. Therefore, young Scot William Lawson will once again be brought in as a guest at reserve as the Hammers doubling up riders, Robert Mear and Phil Morris, both have Premier League commitments, which take priority. The Scot performed well against the Aces, winning his opening race and impressed the Hammers promotion with his performance. He is able to race for the Hammers in this match as it takes place on Saturday. If the fixture against the Bees had taken place on the normal Friday race night the rules would not have permitted him to ride. The ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme will be in operation for this meeting whereby children between the ages of 6 and 16 will be able to witness top class Speedway for just £1. Children under 6 will be allowed entry free of charge. The action will get underway at 7.45pm with the parade of riders. A big crowd is expected for this match with many Bees supporters likely to make the trip down from the Midlands. Supporters are, therefore, requested to arrive at the Arena-Essex Raceway as early as possible to avoid potential queues at the pay booths. The gates will open at 6pm and there are large free car parking areas at the Raceway.
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Post by Administrator on Aug 27, 2009 9:42:42 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Thursday 27th August 2009 RICHARDSON RETURNS FOR CRUCIAL LOCAL DERBY
The Lakeside Hammers will welcome back stand in Captain Lee Richardson on Friday night as the team battle for three more crucial Sky Sports Elite League points. Richardson crashed out of last Saturday’s meeting with Coventry but has recovered from rib and shoulder injuries in time to return this week. Also back in the line-up is popular reserve Robert Mear after a string of fixture clashes with his parent club Rye House.
The rest of the Hammers top five remains unchanged for the local derby against an Ipswich team led by Scott Nicholls riding in preference to undertaking GP practise.
This is likely to be the last meeting of the current team line up as Captain Adam Shields continues his return to race action on the continent this weekend in Poland and, subject to fitness, will return for next week’s clash with his former team, Eastbourne, at which time the Hammers will have to make at least one change to accommodate their popular Aussie. Joining Nicholls in the Ipswich team on Friday will be Australian Troy Batchelor, who joined the Witches mid season after having been released by Swindon, Poles Robert Miskowiak, who rode for the Witches last year but has only recently rejoined the Suffolk club, and Dawid Stachyra, plus former Hammer and GB rider Daniel King. With both of their doubling up riders (Kozza Smith and Carl Wilkinson) plus their official No.8 (Hammers asset Jerran Hart) being unavailable due to either injury or other commitments for their Premier League sides the Witches management have booked in Sheffield’s Josh Auty as a guest at reserve. The final member of their squad, German Tobias Kroner, is injured and may not ride again this season. The Witches are looking to bring in a replacement but it looks unlikely that this will happen in time for Friday’s match so they are expected to cover the German’s rides by utilising the ‘Rider Replacement’ facility. This will allow Miskowiak to take an additional ride with the two reserves covering the remaining three rides. Friday’s action gets underway at the Arena-Essex Raceway for this vital League clash against Ipswich at 8pm. Once again the Club will be running the ’Kids for a Quid’ scheme whereby children between the ages of 6 and 16 will gain admission for just £1. Children under 6 will be free if accompanied by a paying adult.
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Post by Administrator on Aug 29, 2009 13:00:43 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Saturday 29th August 2009 HAMMERS PROMOTION PRAISE THE FANS AND STAFF
Lakeside Promoters Stuart Douglas and Jon Cook have called upon Hammers fans to keep the faith after their meeting last night fell victim to the weather. Both Promoters were far from happy with the decision of match referee Phil Griffin and the Captains of both teams not to continue with racing after an hour’s hold up which , following a heavy downpour flooded the Arena-Essex Raceway, had seen track staff work furiously to remove the wet surface and relay the track. Jon Cook commented after the abandonment: "We have to respect the decisions taken but that doesn't mean we are happy with them and I can only again place on record my thanks to the fans for their patience in waiting and to our quite brilliant team of track staff for their efforts. Both were deserving, at the very least, seeing a couple of heats run but just before the track inspection the match referee told me that’s what would happen. I wasn't privy to his conversation with the team Captains but obviously their argument was convincing. We have raced in far worse track conditions than that this season and, as a team that has taken more than its fair share of injuries over the years, I would have been the first to say if that track was dangerous. I don't believe it was at all."
Stuart Douglas also made comment stating: "We have worked tirelessly over the past three seasons to build a Club to be proud of and this is potentially our most damaging night, all from circumstances beyond our control. The combined attendance for last night’s match and our meeting the previous week against Coventry was just short of 4000 people. "That is the kind of figures we could only have dreamt about in the past and I hope our terrific fans will understand that nights like last night are not the fault of this Club and they will continue to support us over these exciting weeks ahead."
Fans who were at last night’s meeting can use their re-admission tickets at any of the Hammers remaining home fixtures for this season including the Play Offs, should the team qualify, and the KO Cup Final. Those needing refunds can claim their money back by returning their tickets to the Speedway Office at: Lakeside Hammers Speedway, Arena-Essex Raceway, A1306 Arterial Road, Thurrock, Essex RM19 1AE.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 2, 2009 16:05:45 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 2nd September 2009 HI HO SILVER RETURNS TO THE HAMMERS
The Lakeside Hammers will turn to one of the Club’s legendary riders to overcome an injury crisis at reserve this Friday in the local derby clash with Eastbourne at the Arena-Essex Raceway. Andrew Silver, who has made a successful comeback to Speedway racing after an absence of 15years, will be filling for the injured Phil Morris and Robert Mear.
Silver's return is sure to evoke memories of long term fans from the two seasons when he was virtually unbeatable for the then 2nd Division team and became one of the very few riders from a lower division team to represent his Country back in the time when England raced test series.
Both Mear and Morris are expected to be doubtful for the start of the Play offs, and are certainly out of next Friday’s last Sky Sports Elite League match against Eastbourne when Birmingham’s Rusty Harrison will fill the number 6 berth.
The Hammers Co Promoter and Team manager Jon Cook commented on the implications following the injuries to their doubling up pair by saying: "Both Robert and Phil have been important members of this year’s squad and its a blow not to have them around but it opens opportunities for others and it will be great to have Andrew back at the Club this week at a time when he is hitting peak form. We had hoped to add William Lawson to our squad but with a counter offer on the table he felt it only fair that he waited until next season before making a return to the Elite League, thus keeping his options open, a view which I agree with wholeheartedly, but unfortunately for us on the new monthly averages his figure now precludes him guesting for us."
Just who Andrew Silver lines up with on Friday has not been decided as Skipper Adam Shields has now completed three matches abroad and is chomping on the bit for a return to the Hammers team. The Aussie is due to meet up with Cook and Team owner Stuart Douglas later today (Wednesday) with an announcement to follow. This Friday’s important home League match against the Eastbourne Eagles starts at the usual time of 8pm. The ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme continues whereby children aged 6 to 16 can watch this meeting for just £1. Those supporters who hold re-admission tickets following the abandonment of last Friday’s home match against Ipswich may use their tickets for this meeting (or one of the Hammers remaining home fixtures).
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Post by Administrator on Sept 3, 2009 9:03:45 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 2nd September 2009 CAPTAIN SHIELDS RETURNS FOR FRIDAY’S DERBY
The Lakeside Hammers charge towards Play Off qualification has been given a boost with the news that Captain Adam Shields has been recalled to the team for this week’s important home match with Eastbourne.
Shields was injured racing for Australia in the Speedway World Cup in July but has made a return to action in both Sweden and Poland and will now return to the Hammers team.
Making way for the Aussie will be Piotr Swiderski who was signed on a short term contract.
The Hammers Co Promoter and Team Manager Jon Cook commented on the return of Shields by stating: "It will be great to have Adam return to the line up as I know he has been itching to be back for a fortnight now and was a little frustrated that we waited until he had returned to racing on the continent. He will return to the team in the number 5 position, which has been problematic this year and will, hopefully, spearhead us on to success in the Cup Final and help guarantee our Play Off qualification."
On Swiderski Cook said: "It has been a genuine pleasure to deal with both Piotr and his mechanic Paul and I hope that this is not the last time he represents the Hammers. I have made an initial enquiry to Trevor Swales as to whether Peterborough would be interested in selling his contract on and I am sure it’s a conversation I will have again with the Panthers owner Rick Frost at this year’s BSPA AGM once we know the various requirements for team building. Piotr was disappointed, obviously, but he has enjoyed his time with us and I hope we can include him in one of our latter fixtures, perhaps the London Riders Championship, so that the fans can show their appreciation of his efforts".
Lakeside still need three point wins in both of their remaining home fixtures to guarantee Play Off qualification without relying on defeats for Peterborough and Coventry on the road.
The Hammers team for Friday is, therefore:- Lee Richardson, Joonas Kylmakorpi, Kauko Nieminen, Jonas Davidsson, Adam Shields, Andrew Silver & Stuart Robson. Eastbourne include in their squad Australians, Davey Watt & Cameron Woodward, British International Lewis Bridger and Lukas Dryml from the Czech Republic plus three Swedes - Ricky Kling, Simon Gustafsson and Daniel Nermark. However, there is a possible question mark over the fitness of Nermark, who was involved in a crash at Coventry on Monday, and Gustafsson will miss the meeting due to him taking part in the FIM Team Speedway Junior World Championship Final, which takes place in Gorzow, Poland on Saturday. This Friday’s meeting starts at the usual time of 8pm. The ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme continues whereby children aged 6 to 16 can watch this meeting for just £1. Those supporters who hold re-admission tickets following the abandonment of last Friday’s home match against Ipswich may use their tickets for this meeting (or one of the Hammers remaining home fixtures).
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