KENT CTA FIRE KINGS FOCUS ON THE FOURS AND POTTERS
Stoke Speedway host the annual National League Four Team Tournament at Loomer Road this Sunday (18th August at 3.30pm). Kent make their debut in the competition where holders Mildenhall will be all out to retain the title. All eight National League clubs are represented along with Coventry who like the Kings are also making their debut.
After winning the National League Pairs at Mildenhall in June Dudley are many people's favourites for the title, and Heathens riders Paul Starke and Lewis Blackbird will be looking for a major event double after leaving Loomer Road unbeaten by the opposition recently. While Suffolk rivals have been weakened with number One Stefan Nielsen unavailable due to Premier League commitments with Somerset who are riding at Glasgow on Sunday.
Stoke foot of the National League will be hoping for a change of fortune in front of their home fans. Making their debut Coventry Storm recently suffered the loss of Robert Branford through injury and field a relatively inexperienced side although youngsters James Shanes and Luke Crang could cause a few upsets along the way.
Charles Wright heads the Buxton Hitmens' charge and with former Potter Liam Carr in their ranks the Hitmen could easily make waves upsetting the favourites. King's Lynn Young Stars are a very solid looking side for this competition with each rider more than capable of pulling off good results. The Isle of Wight Islanders again are a very solid side even without Tom Perry and are one of the favourites for the title with Adam Ellis making a mark on the League this year.
Finally the CTA Fire Kings make their debut in the competition, with Steve Boxall unbeaten around Loomer Road this year another solid side with Benji Compton, David Mason and Ben Morley looking to be a match for anyone striving for some silverware. It's a tough competition, two rides each and you could be packing up and on your way home so the CTA Fire Kings will need to be on their game to progress into the final.
GROUP A: KING'S LYNN: Lewis Rose, Darren Mallett, Jake Knight, Lewis Kerr. ISLE OF WIGHT: Ben Hopwood, Brendan Johnson, Adam Ellis, Darryl Ritchings. COVENTRY: Luke Crang, James Shanes, James Sarjeant, Oliver Greenwood. MILDENHALL: Josh Bates, Nathan Stoneman, Jon Armstrong, Dan Halsey.
GROUP B: STOKE: Luke Priest, Luke Chessell, Steve Worrall, Kyle Hughes. DUDLEY: Gareth Isherwood, Lewis Blackbird, Paul Starke, Ashley Morris. BUXTON: Ryan Blacklock, Adam McKinna, Liam Carr, Charles Wright. KENT: Benji Compton, David Mason, Ben Morley, Steve Boxall.
NEXT UP AT CENTRAL PARK – POTTER TIME With the season already approaching the sharp end the Stoke Potters return to Central Park in National League action on Monday 19th August. Following their National League Trophy 45-48 win at Central Park last month Lee Smart has since left the club with Steve Worrall replacing him in the number one position.
The Potters like ourselves have found the going tough this season, in fact they are firmly seated at the foot of the League table, since our last encounter they have had an abandoned meeting at home against Mildenhall and took a thumping at home from Dudley 38-50 and a 66-28 further hammering at Monmore Green.
The CTA Fire Kings will be looking to regain the form that saw them achieve their second League win last Monday against Coventry Storm, the Kings will be all out for the hat-trick of home League wins against the Potters with the Kings fielding an unchanged side at 6.30pm Monday evening.
Teams for Monday (Not in riding order):
STOKE POTTERS from: Luke Priest (C), Lee Payne, Kyle Hughes, Steven Worrall, Shaun Tedham, Luke Chessell, Guest TBC, Team manager: Malcolm Vasey
KENT CTA FIRE KINGS from: Ben Morley, Jack Kingston, Benji Compton, Adam Kirby, Steve Boxall (C), Connor Coles, David Mason, Team manager: John Sampford
REFEREE: Paul Carrington
ON THE ROAD
The Norfolk Arena was the venue on Wednesday evening this week for the National League clash against King's Lynn Young Stars where the CTA Fire Kings slumped to a 23 point defeat 58-35.
With only three heat wins, all for Steve Boxall the Kings found the going very tough, solid support from Ben Morley early on with three second places before two lasts and David Mason two seconds and thirds. The rest of the team suffered several falls, and mechanical problems restricting their scores to a disappointing collective 5 points.
Robert Lambert led the way for the Young Stars beaten only once by Boxall in the last heat, the Young Stars piled on the points with only three zero's on their score chart showing how well the Norfolk side rode. With the Young Stars creeping up the League they could be dark horses' for the title on this showing.
JUST A WEEK AWAY TABLE TOPPERS DUDLEY HEATHENS PLUS THE BRONZE HELMET MATCH RACE CHAMPIONSHIP
Kings skipper Steve Boxall will again defend the title for a second time after a successful defence against Lewis Blackbird at the end of July at Dudley. The challenger is Heathens Ashley Morris with the race taking place prior to the National League meeting on Bank Holiday Monday 26th August. The meeting starts at 3.00pm against the League leaders with gates opening at 1.30pm.
BANK HOLIDAY DAY OUT WITH KENT CHROME AND CRUISERS AND THE HEATHENS!
A date for the diary Bank Holiday Monday 26th August featuring Dudley Heathens hotly anticipated visit to Central Park at 3.00pm. As usual on bank holidays gates open at 1.30pm. Prior to this National League encounter, the Kent Chrome and Cruisers Show run by the Swale Petrol Heads Vehicle Enthusiasts Club takes place.
Live music from Gone Country, Johnny Cash Tribute is on stage at midday, back by request after going down a storm last year. Also on stage at 2.00pm are Brothers Grimm, Blues Brothers band, back with a vengeance after a ten year break and The Rockabilly Buskers are also playing.
There will be face painting, Mickey the kid's magician, Vintage Sweets Van, Bouncy Play area, Ice Cream Van, doughnut's, burgers etc. There will also be assorted stalls including army surplus, vintage clothing, DVD's, CD's, an auto jumble plus the hundreds of custom vehicles that attend every year. Swale Hospital Radio will be keeping the whole show together and helping to raise money for local charities. Entrance is £5.00 with kids under 16 free.
WIMBLEDON DONS TO BATTLE FOR JOHN CEARNS CUP NEW DATE!
The Wimbledon Dons were set to battle it out for the John Cearns Cup on Monday 9th September at Central Park at 6.30pm. Coventry Storm took the original fixture due to the call off of the original League fixture and the need to complete League fixtures before the cut-off date. Full line up will be announced shortly.
KING'S LYNN YOUNG STARS 58 KENT CTA FIRE KINGS 35 (National League) Wednesday 14th August 2013
