with Team Partners
and supported by
Contact below for details:
The Speedway Office,
Oak Tree Arena,
Bristol Road,
Highbridge,
Somerset,
TA9 4HA
|
Rebels Ready For Young Shield Date With The Potters
26th September 2009
The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels are raring to go for the first leg of their Young Shield tie against the Stoke Potters on Saturday, with the second leg being staged at the Oak Tree Arena on Friday 2nd October.
Ideally, Somerset will be looking to come away from Staffordshire with a win under their belts, but barring that then they will want to restrict Stoke from building up any sort of lead with which to defend in next Friday’s return fixture.
Unfortunately the Rebels will be without the services of Emil Kramer who, despite a week of intensive treatment and physiotherapy, has failed to recover from a back injury sustained in the Mark Lemon Testimonial Meeting held at the Oak Tree Arena last Friday.
The only facility open to the Rebels will be to use rider replacement to cover for Kramer’s absence, all the remaining six Somerset riders being eligible to take a ride.
Additionally, Kramer has also been forced to withdraw from Sunday’s Premier League Riders’ Championship that is being held at Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium.
The Rebels will also be without reserve Nick Simmons for Saturday’s visit to Loomer Road as he is appearing in the National League Riders’ Championship being held at Rye House the same evening, Bournemouth’s Mark Baseby will be guesting for the Rebels in Simmons’ absence.
Teams;
Stoke: 1) Jason Bunyan; 2) Tom P Madsen; 3) Klaus Jakobsen; 4) Lee Complin; 5) Robert Ksiezak; 6) Craig Branney; 7) Jesper Kristiansen; Team Manager – John Woolridge
Somerset: 1) Steve Johnston; 2) Simon Walker; 3) Jari Mäkinen; 4) Rider Replacement – Emil Kramer; 5) Cory Gathercole; 6) Justin Sedgmen; 7) Mark Baseby |
Fixture Amendments PART 2
23rd September 2009
YOUNG SHIELD
1st Leg: (AWAY)
26th September - Stoke
2nd Leg: (HOME)
2nd October – Stoke
Please note that the Rebels now have NO home meeting on Friday 25th September |
Rebels Decide On Young Shield Opponents
21st September 2009
The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels have chosen the Stoke ‘Easy Rider’ Potters as their opposition in the 1 st round of the 2009 Young Shield Competition, the Rebels staging their home leg of the tie on Friday 2 nd October. As yet a date has yet to be agreed for Somerset’s away leg of the tie at Stoke.
As a consequence, this means that there will be NO speedway action at the Oak Tree Arena this coming Friday (25 th September), the home leg of the Young Shield tie against Stoke on October 2 nd being the Rebels next home meeting.
The full Young Shield Draw;
Somerset v Stoke
Workington v Berwick
Redcar v Scunthorpe
Sheffield v Rye House
STOP PRESS!!
Amendment To Premier League Table
Following a ruling by the BSPA in respect of the Premier League Match between Glasgow and Redcar held on 13th September, the result of that meeting has been subsequently amended in favour of an away win for Redcar.
The additional league points Redcar gain as a result of this amendment now places them above the Rebels in the Premier League, Redcar now finishing in 5th place on 44 points with Somerset moving down a position to finish in 6th place overall.
|
Rebels Finish 5 th In Premier League
20th September 2009
A week after completing their own fixtures in Speedway’s Premier League, the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels were tonight confirmed as finishing in 5 th place after the two teams that could have moved above them in the table, Workington and Sheffield, both lost their final league fixtures of the season, this after the speedway pundits had consigned the Rebels to the lower reaches of the table in their pre-season predictions.
Although agonizingly just one place outside a top four finish that would have qualified them through to the end of season promotion play-offs, it does mean that the Rebels are the first seeds for the Young Shield, a knock out competition for those clubs that finish in places 5 th – 12 th in the Premier League.
By virtue of their top seeding, it means that Somerset have first ‘pick’ as to their opponents in the first round of the Young Shield, their choice of opposition having to be made from those clubs that finished in places 9 th – 12 th, namely Rye House, Scunthorpe, Stoke and Berwick, and an announcement to that end will be made as soon as the decision has been made and dates for the matches, which are decided on an aggregate home and away basis, have been agreed.
Somerset fans are urged to keep an eye on this website and in the local press for further news. |
| All Roads Lead To The Oak Tree Arena For Star Studded Speedway Testimonial Meeting
12th September 2009
Arguably the greatest ever line up of riders ever seen at the Somerset Speedway’s Oak Tree Arena will take to the track next Friday (18th September) for Mark Lemon’s Testimonial speedway meeting.
Lemon, who first came to these shores from Australia in 1990 and subsequently rode for the Somerset Rebels in 2003, has assembled a field that will have the mouth’s watering of all true speedway fans.
The meeting will take the format of an Australia v Rest of the World team match over 15 heats, the Australian side being led by no less a rider than the two times World Champion and run-away leader of the current Grand Prix Series, Jason Crump.
And if that is not enough, also riding for the Australian septet is another of the current Grand Prix stars, and ten-time Australian Champion, Leigh Adams. Adams is the current track recorder holder at Somerset, he setting the record of 56.08 seconds at Paul Fry’s Testimonial Meeting at the start of the 2007 season.
Add to that the likes of Australian World Cup rider, Adam Shields and Adams’ Swindon team-mate, Travis McGowan together with the vastly experienced Jason Lyons as well as Lemon himself, and the Aussie septet has a formidable look about it, especially when you complete the side with no other than Somerset’s very own number 1 rider, Steve Johnston.
Whilst one might be forgiven for thinking that the Australian line up will be more than a match for any team, the Rest of the World side look every bit as strong as their Aussie counterparts, especially given that they are led by the 2007 Danish Champion Hans Andersen who will be making his Oak Tree Arena debut come Friday’s meeting.
Andersen is also one of the riders currently gracing the World Championship Grand Prix Series, and has been a member of the Danish side that won the World Team Cup in both 2006 and 2008.
If Andersen is one of the current Grand Prix Stars, then Tai Woffinden is surely one of the future, the Wolverhampton youngster earning rave reviews in his debut season riding in the Elite League, this after two highly successful seasons in the Premier League with Rye House, during which time he showed on more than one occasion his liking for the Oak Tree Arena.
As Woffinden starts to make his impact on the both the British and World scene, a rider who can definitely claim to have ‘been there, done it and got the medals’ is Peter Karlsson, a team-mate of Woffinden’s at Wolverhampton, and is another of the participants who will be making his first ever appearance at the Oak Tree Arena on Friday when he lines up for the Rest of the World septet.
Like Karlsson, another rider of vast experience is ex-British Champion Joe Screen who currently plying his trade with Elite League Poole, this after a long and distinguished career that has seen him grace many a club including Belle Vue and Bradford.
Two more of the World’s up and coming speedway stars line up for the Rest of the World in the shape of England’s James Wright and Denmark’s Kenni Larsen, who rides alongside Lemon for Newcastle in the Premier League.
Finally, just as the Australian side has Somerset Rebels representation, so does the Rest of the World side, the ever popular Emil Kramer rounding out their septet.
Star studded teams such as these deserve legendary names to act as their team mangers, and that is just what they have got. The 1993 World Champion and Sky Sports pundit Sam Ermolenko is at the helm of the Rest of the World side, whilst pitting his wits against him will be ex-Bristol Bulldog and the 1976 World Championship Bronze medallist, Phil Crump, who can also boast spells with Newport and Swindon during his glittering career.
The meeting can also boast an equally impressive Guest Of Honour list, it being headed by the 1950 and 1953 World Speedway Champion, the ex-Wembley star Freddie Williams, who is joined by the ex-Newcastle, Hull and Stoke rider, Tom Owen.
The special Guest Of Honour though is a world class performer in his own branch of sport, the ex-Australian cricketer and current captain of Somerset County Cricket, Justin Langer. A cricketer of the highest quality, Langer’s opening test partnership with Matthew Hayden was one of the most successful opening test cricket partnerships of all time, and earlier this year he became the highest scoring Australian batsman in English domestic cricket.
With such an array of talent on show and racing at the Oak Tree Arena, which is widely regarded as one of the best speedway tracks in the country, then the fans are surely in for a night of top quality action and entertainment.
Mark Lemon Testimonial Meeting
Oak Tree Arena, Somerset
Friday 18th September, 7.30pm
Teams
Australia – 1) Jason Crump (Belle Vue), 2) Jason Lyons (Birmingham, 3) Adam Shield (Lakeside), 4) Steve Johnston (Somerset), 5) Leigh Adams (Swindon), 6) Travis McGowan (Swindon), 7) Mark Lemon (Newcastle) – Team Manager; Phil Crump
Rest of the World – 1) Hans Andersen (Denmark & Poole), 2) Joe Screen (GB & Poole), 3) Tai Woffinden (GB & Wolverhampton), 4) Emil Kramer (Sweden & Somerset), 5) Peter Karlsson (Sweden & Wolverhampton), 6) James Wright (GB & Belle Vue), 7) Kenni Larsen (Denmark & Newcastle) – Team Manager – Sam Ermolenko
|
Simmons Declares Himself Fit After Sheffield Spill
Friday 11th September 11am
The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels were relieved to hear that Nick Simmons has declared himself fit to ride in their final home Premier League match of the season against Scunthorpe tonight.
Simmons took a terrifying looking fall in heat 2 of the Rebels match at Sheffield last night, his handlebars snapping as he headed full throttle into the third bend of the Owlerton Stadium, which is widely acclaimed as the fastest speedway track in the country.
After quite lengthy on track treatment, Simmons was able to walk unaided back to the pits, but was withdrawn from the meeting on medical advice with damage to his coccyx being the initial diagnosis.
However after a night’s rest, Simmons has today contacted Rebels team manger to say that he is fit enough to take his place in the Rebels line in tonight’s match at the Oak Tree Arena against Scunthorpe.
“If Nick had been unfit to ride then our only option would have been to bring in a National League rider as a guest replacement, so to receive the call from Nick this morning to say that he is fit enough to ride is a real boost.” Said Bishop |
Rebels Face Two Vital League Matches In As Many Days
Tuesday 8th September
The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels will wrap up their 2009 Premier League campaign with two matches in as many days, the results of which could have a huge bearing on whether or not the Rebels qualify for the end of season play-offs.
First up for Somerset is a trip on Thursday evening to Sheffield who, like the Rebels, are also vying for one of those top four play-off positions. The Rebels will almost certainly need a win at Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium if they are to stand any realistic chance of finishing in the top four in the Premier League which would confirm they place in those play-offs.
The chase for those top four places in certainly hotting up, and with King’s Lynn and Birmingham almost assured of the first two places in the league, there are still at least half a dozen teams that contesting for those final two places.
Should, however, it prove in the final analysis that the Rebels do miss out on the play-offs, they will still have qualified for the Young Shield which is a Knock Out Competition contested by those clubs that finish in 5th-12th in speedway’s Premier League.
With the Young Shield, the team that finishes in 5th place in the Premier League will have first pick of who they wish to face in 1st round of the competition, with the 6th placed team getting the next choice and so on, which will still make Friday’s visit to the Oak Tree Arena of the Scunthorpe Scorpions of vital importance as the Rebels will want to finish as high up the Premier League table as possible to give themselves as wide a range of clubs to ‘pick’ from.
The Rebels are aiming to be at full strength for both of these matches, they being hopeful of having Simon Walker back in the line up, the Bristolian having been out of action for the past few weeks due to a hand injury.
Scunthorpe will come to the Oak Tree Arena for Friday's match minus two of their riders, the Swedes Magnus Karlsson and Viktor Bergstrom. Karlsson is required by his Swedish club for a play-off match and as his absence comes under the agreement between the British and Swedish Federations, Scunthorpe have been granted a guest facility, Birmingham's Tomasz Piszcz coming into the Scorpions side in place of Karlsson. Additionally, Scunthorpe will be operating the rider replacement facility for Bergstrom who is sidelined with a wrist injury that he sustained in the Scorpions recent Bank Holiday Monday victory over King's Lynn.
If Simon Walker's wrist injury has not responded sufficient to treatment in order to take his place in the Somerset line up, the Rebels will also employ the rider replacement facility, all the Somerset riders bar Steve Johnston and Emil Kramer being eligible to take Walker's rides.
Teams (not in riding order)
Somerset Rebels - 1) Steve Johnston (8.93); 2) Emil Kramer (8.58); 3) Cory Gathercole (7.43); 4) Simon Walker or rider replacement (5.19); 5) Jari Mäkinen (5.00); 6) Justin Sedgmen (4.51); 7) Nick Simmons (3.20)
Scunthorpe Scorpions - 1) Tomasz Piszcz (guest) (8.35); 2) David Howe (8.25); 3) Carl Wilkinson (6.57); 4) Rider replacement - Viktor Bergstrom (4.80); 5) Simon Lambert (4.63); 6) Ritchie Hawkins (4.46); 7) Jerran Hart (3.78)
|
Somerset Duo Qualify For Riders’ Championship Meeting
2nd September 2009
The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels will be one of only two clubs with two representatives in the prestigious Premier League Riders’ Championship which is to be held at Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium on Sunday 27 th September
Steve Johnston and Emil Kramer will fly the Rebel colours at the meeting at which the top rider of each of the 14 teams that make up the Premier League, plus the next two highest-scoring riders in the league, will contest the Championship.
The meeting is staged over 20 qualifying heats, with each rider facing everyone of the other 15 that make up the field, the top two points scorers going directly through to the Grand-Final, with the next four highest points scorers battling it out in the semi-final, the top two from that proceeding on to that winner take all Grand-Final.
The full line up (not in riding order);
Michal Makovsky (Berwick), Tomasz Piszcz (Birmingham), Ryan Fisher (Edinburgh), Shane Parker (Glasgow), Darcy Ward (King’s Lynn), Tomas Topinka (King’s Lynn), Kenni Larsen (Newcastle), Leigh Lanham (Newport), Ty Proctor (Redcar), Chris Neath (Rye House), Magnus Karlsson (Scunthorpe), Ricky Ashworth (Sheffield), Steve Johnston (Somerset), Emil Kramer (Somerset), Jason Bunyan (Stoke), Kevin Doolan (Workington) |
Rebels Look Back on a Succesful Weekend
Monday 1st September 2009
The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels had a successful weekend as they look to make the end of season promotion play offs with a home win over Birmingham last Friday, and followed that up with an away victory at Newport on Sunday, their first away win the Premier League this year, it coming just at the right time as the Rebels enter the final straight as far as their league campaign is concerned.
To make it into the play-offs, Somerset need to finish in the top four in the league table, and they are handily placed to do so in 5th place with 36 points, the same total as the two clubs immediately above them following today’s Bank Holiday matches.
The Rebels will be looking to keep themselves in contention when Newport visit the Oak Tree Arena on Friday [4 th], and although they languish at the bottom of the table, that will count for nothing as they will looking to exact revenge for Sunday’s home defeat by Somerset, their local rivals.
Although the new September average will come into force for Friday’s match, they do not affect the Somerset line up, so both Just Sedgmen and Nick Simmons will continue at reserve, from where they picked up a total of 19 points in Sunday’s win over Newport.
For the visitors, the new averages will see Chris Kerr move out of a reserve berth and into the main body of the team, with James Holder making the move in the opposite direction.
Speak of Friday’s match, Somerset captain Steve Johnston said that the side must not let last week’s good work go to waste;
“The Wasps will be coming to the Oak Tree Arena on Friday looking for revenge after our win at their place on Sunday, so we must remain fully focussed on what we need to do come Friday’s match.”
“We have put ourselves in a good position as far as making the play-offs are concerned, so we must not let all our hard work go to waste with any silly slip ups in our remaining matches, starting with Newport’s visit on Friday.”
Somerset are hopeful that Simon Walker will be sufficiently recovered from a recent wrist and hand injury to return to the line up for Friday’s match, after which the Rebels make the long trek north for the following evening’s re-arranged match against Edinburgh that fell victim to the weather last month.
Provisional Teams [not in riding order]
Somerset; 1) Steve Johnston (8.93); 2) Emil Kramer (8.58); 3) Cory Gathercole (7.43); 4) Simon Walker (5.19); 5) Jari Mäkinen (5.00); 6) Justin Sedgmen (4.51); 7) Nick Simmons (3.20
Newport; 1) Leigh Lanham (10.16); 2) Jonas Andersson (7.00); 3) Jordan Frampton 6.96); 4) Paul Fry (5.83); 5) Chris Kerr (5.25); 6) James Holder (4.74); 7) Kyle Newman (3.00) |
Rebels Announce New Signing
Wednesday 26th August 2009
The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels are pleased to announce the signing of the 2007 Finish under 21 Champion, Jari Mäkinen, who joins the Rebels as a 28-day injury replacement for fractured collar-bone victim, Tom Brown.
The 19 year old, who hails from Hämeenkyrö in Finland, and is a King’s Lynn asset, rode for Mildenhall in the Premier League last year but suffered an ankle injury early on in the season which hampered his scoring returns, he finally returning to his homeland after competing in just 12 official matches for the Fen-Tigers, though crucially only 10 of those counted towards the calculation of his riding average.
As he had not completed the 12 official matches necessary in order to obtain a full average, Mäkinen comes into the Somerset side on an assessed 5 point average, which will therefore see their young Aussie recruit, Justin Sedgmen, move into one of the two reserve berths alongside Nick Simmons.
With the Finnish speedway season almost at an end, there are no perceived fixture clashes that would deny Somerset the use of Mäkinen, and he has already shown his commitment to the Rebels by ordering two new bikes which he will use for his Somerset meetings.
Additionally, Mäkinen is planning to travel to the UK a day ahead of what will be his official Somerset debut against Birmingham this Friday so that he can arrive at the Oak Tree Arena well ahead of the match when Phil Pickering, Emil Kramer’s mechanic, will assist him with his bike set ups in preparation for the meeting, plus it will allow Mäkinen a chance to have a good look at the track that will be his home base for at least the next month.
Speaking of Mäkinen’s signing, Somerset Promoter Debbie Hancock feels that they have a rider with great potential, and is one that can definitely do a job for the Rebels;
“Jari comes to us highly recommended, but in saying that, I don’t expect him to hit the ground running right from the very start. Although he rode for Mildenhall last year, Jari is a King’s Lynn asset and I would like to thank Jonathan Chapman for co-operation in agreeing to loan Jari to us as injury cover for Tom Brown.”
“I am sure that the Somerset crowd will give Jari a very warm welcome to the Oak Tree Arena, but what they must bear in mind is that although, by virtue of his assessed average, he will immediately slot into the main body of the team, he is, effectively, coming into the side as a replacement for Tom who was a reserve rider.”
“Of course the added benefit of this is that it will see Justin Sedgmen move into one of the two reserve berths where he could be a real trump card for us as the season rapidly reaches its climax.”
Jari Mäkinen- Fact File
Full name – Jari Aulis Mäkinen
Date of Birth – 13 June 1990
Place of Birth – Hämeenkyrö, Finland
Lives in – Sasi (Finland) & Hultsfred (Sweden)
Family – Mum (Anita), Dad (Rauli), Sister (Eija) & Brother (Jarmo)
Riding Honours – 2007 Finnish under 21 Champion
UK Career – Mildenhall (2008)
2009 Clubs – Paholaiset (Finland), Örnarna (Sweden), Outrup (Denmark), Stal Gorzow (Poland)
Website – jarimakinen.eu |
BRENDAN OUT OF ICU - WANTS TO RIDE TONIGHT!
12.30pm Tuesday 25th August
Information courtesy of I.O.W. Press Officer Bryn Williams
Yes more great news today concerning the condition of the injured teenage Wightlink Islander team member has come via a phonecall from dad Dave. who's at the Southampton General Hospital with mum Jan, a few minutes ago.
"They're moving Bren out of intensive care today, he'll be bypassing what they call the high dependency unit as it were," he said," and moving him into a 'normal' ward, Ward D we're told and all that appears to need to sorted is the fact that he apparently has a partially collapsed lung as a result of all the tubes he had in him.
"That's not a real problem we're told and will be sorted with a bit of physio and the the plan is to transfer him to Poole Hospital as soon as they can so he's nearer home and some might joke they will be wise to do so as speedway riders are not noted for being model patients!
"And after further recuperation in Poole General, they'll allow him come home and hopefully that won't be too long happening.
"He's in very good spirits and I can tell you he's just cheekily asked Jan if she thinks the doctors would let him ride this week and added to make sure the Isle of Wight management keep his team place open for him as he himself intends to be back sooner rather than later!" |
SIMMONS RETURNS FOR REBELS
10pm Monday 24th August
The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels were today buoyed by the news that injured reserve, Nick Simmons has declared himself fit to ride after missing the two weekend matches against Rye House, and will take his place in the Somerset side for their trip to King’s Lynn on Wednesday (26th).
Providing he has no adverse reaction to the bruised back that he suffered as a result of a fall whilst riding for the Isle of Wight last Thursday, Simmons will then line up for Somerset again on Friday (28th) when they entertain the very much in-form Birmingham Brummies in a re-arranged Premier League match.
The news on Simon Walker, who aggravated an wrist injury in last Friday’s home win over Rye House, is not quite so good, however, as a further visit to hospital today revealed that he has fractured a knuckle bone in his little finger, which will definitely keep him out of the Somerset side for Wednesday match at King’s Lynn, and will undertake a late fitness test on Friday before deciding whether the damaged finger is sufficiently healed for him to ride against Birmingham.
Somerset will operate rider replacement for Walker at King’s Lynn and the same again should he prove to still be unfit for Friday’s home match against Birmingham.
With Tom Brown still on the sidelines due to the fractured collar-bone he suffered as a legacy of a fall in Somerset’s home match against Redcar earlier this month, the Rebels have booked Kyle Hughes from National League side Plymouth as a guest replacement for Brown in Wednesday’s match at King’s Lynn.
Somerset are, however, hopeful of announcing a new signing for Friday’s match against Birmingham, who will come into the Somerset side, initially at least, as a 28-day injury replacement for Brown, and with 5.10 points to play with as far as the averages are concerned, the rider in question will slot into the main body of the team, thereby allowing Justin Sedgmen to move into the other reserve berth alongside the returning Simmons.
“Whilst the rider has agreed to join the Rebels, and we have notified the authorities of our intention to re-declare our side, we do not want to release the name of the rider at this stage, just in case there are any last minute hitches.” Said Steve Bishop, the Somerset team manager.
“He has, however, already arranged to purchase two new bikes, such is his commitment towards joining the Rebels, and while we do not expect him to necessarily hit the ground running, he has great potential and should settle quickly into the team, the Oak Tree Arena being the type of track that should suit his riding style.”
Somerset Rebel
versus
Birmingham Brummies
Friday 28 th August
Teams – not in riding order
Somerset – 1) Steve Johnston (8.89); 2) Emil Kramer (8.52); 3) Cory Gathercole (7.69); 4) Simon Walker (or rider replacement) (5.20); 5) A N Other (5.00); 6) Justin Sedgmen (4.08); 7) Nick Simmons (3.02)
Birmingham – 1) Tomasz Piszcz (8.03); 2) Jason Lyons (8.00); 3) Rusty Harrison (6.29); 4) Ludvig Lindgren (6.25); 5) Richard Sweetman (6.21); 6) Lee Smart (4.33); 7) Jay Herne (3.75) |
"I'M HUNGRY" - BRENDAN SPEAKS!
12.45pm Monday 24th August
Information courtesy of I.O.W. Press Officer Bryn Williams
Yes it's more good news we bring you here this Monday lunchtime following on from our previous update last night that stated that 17 years old injured teenage speedway star Brendan Johnson had been woken from his induced coma, had been taken off of life support systems in the ICU unit at Southampton General Hospital and was breathing unaided.
His dad Dave has just phoned to tell us that upon awakening this morning and spotting him and his mum Jan sitting at his bedside, their son's first words to them were, "I'm hungry!"
"Obviously he was a bit confused," said Dave, "but soon came to realise what was going and after muttering those words asked about the crash itself as he remembers nothing about it at all and how his bike was!
"He's still very tired, has a way to go yet and so needs to rest a lot still, but it's been all good news for us over the past twenty-four hours and hopefully that good news will continue unabated.
"Jan and I are going for a cuppa right now but before I go can I, on behalf of Bren, Jan and myself once again pass on our grateful thanks to everyone who sent us messages of support either by phone, text messges or via the various websites, speedway forums, radio stations etc."
So more good news indeed and once doctors in charge of his treatment are satisfied that the oxygen levels in his blood etc are back to normal, it is expected that Brendan will be moved out of the ICU unit and can hopefully look forward to being allowed home in the not-too-distant future.
|
SOMERSET REBELS FUTURE ASSURED
12.30pm 24th August 2009
After the announcement last Friday morning that the current Promoter, Dave Pavitt could not continue at Somerset Rebels due to financial reasons, the long term future of Somerset Speedway was quickly secured after two frantic hours.
Landlord Bill Hancock’s Daughter, Debbie, will take over as Promoter at the club with the approval of the BSPA, and ex-Rebel rider, Steve Bishop, will take over the position of team manager.
The long term future of the club has been secured by a consortium of well established local businessmen, including Oak Tree Arena landlord, Bill Hancock.
A spokesperson for the consortium stated that all those involved have been Rebel supporters for a number of years, and had no qualms in supporting Bill Hancock with his long term development plans & vision for Somerset Speedway.
The new management team did not have time to rest before having to put on its first home meeting against Rye House some 6 hours later.
The Oak Tree Arena, the home of Somerset Speedway, has over its short ten years of establishment, grown from a speedway track in a Farmer’s field to what is widely regarded as one of the best purpose built speedway arenas in the country, being voted ‘Best Prepared Track’ by the Speedway Riders’ Association at the end of last season.
Only last week saw further investment of over £20,000 on tarmacing the car park roadways and internal Arena walkways, and the commissioning of architects to draw up plans to put forward to the Local Authorities for a proposed new covered seated stand.
After the meeting last Friday against Rye House, the new Management structure was explained to a packed clubhouse of supporters, with pledges to continue the development of the stadium facilities for the benefit of both the supporters and riders. |
IT'S GOOD NEWS SUNDAY!
Information courtesy of I.O.W. Press Officer Bryn Williams
'We are absolutely delighted to bring you the news that the whole speedway world, has been waiting for and that is that Wightlink Islanders' teenage speedway star Brendan Johnson was taken off the life support systems that have been aiding him in the ICU at the Southampton General Hospital where he was airlifted to following his crash in last Thursday's home National Trophy match against Mildenhall'
'Brendan's father took time out from the vigil he and wife Jan have been maintaining at their son's bedside at the hospital to impart the news to us in a phonecall earlier this evening, and you couldn't fail but to notice, as you might well expect, the sheer unadulterated joy and relief in the tone of his voice as he asked us to pass on the information to everybody.'
"The team of doctors treating him took the decision this morning to gradually bring him out of his induced coma," he said, "and reduce his dependency upon the various systems that were aiding his breathing and other functions to zero.
"Naturally as they proceeded to do so all Jan and I could do was hope upon hope that nothing would go wrong and I cannot describe my feelings when the doctor told me that all the various tubes etc had been removed and that Bren was breathing unaided other than to say that it felt that a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and I know Jan felt the same.
"That feeling of both joy and sheer relief when they imparted the good news to us was simply indescribable as I'm sure everyone can appreciate and can I just once again thank all our friends and everyone within this great sport of ours for all their support.
"Hopefully they'll be more good news in terms of Bren's progress in the morning as he continues his road to what hopefully will be a complete recovery but he needs to rest right now and Jan and I can certainly rest more easily."
|
NO REAL CHANGE - BRENDAN STILL 'CRITICAL BUT STABLE
Saturday 22nd August (PM)
A further phonecall has been received tonight from Brendan Johnson's dad Dave in which he has informed us that there has been no real change in his speedway racer son's condition throughout today.
He remains in a 'critical but stable' condition in the ICU at Southampton General Hospital where he has been receiving specialist treatment since being airlifted there following his crash in the final heat of the Wightlink Islanders home National Trophy victory against Mildenhall on Thursday.
He is still under heavy sedation on life support systems with the doctors treating him feeling it is best for him to remain in the induced coma at this time rather than to attempt to bring him round.
In an earlier phonecall today Dave had brought us the news that those doctors had warned he and wife Jan that their 17 year old son's road to recovery may be a longer one than they had initially hoped that would have involved them bringing him out of the induced coma today.
"The doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital have been brilliant," said Dave, "and Jan and I know that they are doing what's best for Bren and will continue to be guided by them."
Hopefully Brendan will have a good night and we would hope to bring our next update on his condition in the morning.
END
Information courtesy of I.O.W. Press Officer Bryn Williams |
Rebels out to 'De-Fuse' the Rockets
19th August 2009
Following their victory over the Workington Comets last Friday, the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels have a Rye House ‘double’ this weekend with the Hertfordshire side providing the opposition at the Oak Tree Arena this Friday [21st], the Rebels then making the return trip to Hoddesdon the following evening.
Friday will be the third time that Rye House have visited the Oak Tree Arena this season, the previous two matches in the Premier Trophy and the KO Cup both seeing the Rebels emerge victorious 49-41 and 53-37 respectively.
The Rockets have opted for a solid looking line up this year rather than having an out and out number 1 rider, there being less than three points between their top rider, Robert Mear, and the rider currently at 7th spot in their averages, Tommy Allen.
Rye House have recently welcomed the return to the side of Joe Haines who has been out of action since crashing heavily in the World under 21 Championship Quarter-Finals earlier in the season which forced him to miss the Rockets KO Cup tie against Somerset back in June.
Another Rocket who has had his injury problems this year is their aforementioned number 1, Robert Mear, a hand injury sustained whilst riding for Lakeside in the Elite League being the problem, bringing to a temporary halt to what had been a tremendous start to the season for the England under 23 International, which, like Haines, resulted in him missing the KO Cup tie with the Rebels.
As far as the Rebels are concerned, they will still be without fractured collar-bone victim, Tom Brown, and have yet to name who will be replacing their ‘Welsh Wizard’, the club looking into the possibility of signing a rider as a 28-day injury replacement as temporary cover for Brown.
Friday 21st August, 7.30pmOak Tree Arena
Teams [not in riding order]
Somerset:
1) Steve Johnston (8.89), 2) Emil Kramer (8.52), 3) Cory Gathercole (7.69), 4) Simon Walker (5.20), 5) Justin Sedgmen (4.08), 6) A N Other (3.30), 7) Nick Simmons (3.02)
Rye House:
1) Robert Mear (7.65), 2) Chris Neath (7.32), 3) Joe Haines (7.02), 4) Linus Sundström (6.62), 5) Luke Bowen (6.44), 6) Andrew Silver (5.17), 7) Tommy Allen (4.85) |
Rebels Hit By Brown Injury Blow
8th August 2009
Somerset Rebels joy at collecting another 3 Premier League points at the expense of Redcar in last night’s match at the Oak Tree Arena was tempered with the news that they will be without their Welsh Wizard, Tom Brown, for the next few weeks at least following a very nasty looking crash in heat 7 of the meeting.
Rebels general Manager David Croucher confirms; "Tom had a really awkward fall coming into turn 3 when his bike threw a chain, and has suffered a fractured collarbone as a consequence." “In spite of his 3.30 average, Tom has been banging in 6 points a meeting at the Oak Tree Arena most weeks, and is going to leave a big gap in the line up.”
“Nick Simmons stepped up to the plate from the other reserve berth and had a superb night, but we need to run a 7 man team and a search is now on for a temporary replacement for Tom.”
“Doctors have suggested 3 to 4 weeks, and Tom hopes to be back in two, but we shall have to see.”
“First priority is finding a guest for our league meeting on Wednesday against Birmingham meeting at Perry Barr and we will take it from there." |
Rebels 10th Anniversary Meeting Postponed
3rd August 2009
Following a rain off after Heat 3 last Friday’s match against Birmingham at the Oak Tree Arena, Somerset Rebels General Manager, David Croucher, has announced that the 10th Anniversary Meeting scheduled for Friday August 14th, has had to be postponed.
"There will be many disappointed people, and that includes myself, but we have no choice.”
“We shall run against Workington in the Premier League on that date now in order to ensure that we complete all our League fixtures in advance of the cut off date of 19th September.”
“At this moment we have no re-arranged date for the 10th Anniversary Meeting, but will announce one when we know that our other commitments have been fulfilled."
Rebels To Lead Bears A Merry Dance?
3rd August 2009
Following the abandonment of last week’s fixture after just three heats due to the rain, the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels will be looking to pick up a further three Premier League points at the expenses of this Friday’s [7 th] visitors to the Oak Tree Arena, the Redcar Bears.
The Rebels will also, no doubt, be looking for revenge for the 11 point defeat they suffered in their recent visit to Redcar, and three league points from Friday’s match will keep Somerset handily placed for an end of season Play Off place.
Redcar are a mixture of experience and youth, the latter coming to the fore with their number 1, Australian Ty Proctor, who took over the number 1 race-jacket from Gary Havelock, the 1992 World Champion finding himself out of the top spot in the Redcar averages for the first time since the club were formed in 2006.
Further evidence of the experience within the Bears ranks comes in the form of Carl Stonehewer and German Robbie Kessler, Stonehewer having joined Redcar at the start of the season after being released by Workington, with whom he had ridden since the Comets were re-formed in1999.
The Redcar top 5 is rounded out by Ben Wilson, the 2006 British under 21 Champion who, like Stonehewer, is in his debut season with the Bears after spending almost his entire career prior to that with Sheffield.
The Redcar reserve berths are almost a microcosm of the team as a whole, with youth being represented by the young Australian Arlo Bugeja, whilst his reserve partner is the experienced Stuart Swales who is making his speedway comeback at the ‘tender’ age of 34 after a number of years out of the sport.
Somerset have named a full strength line up for Friday’s match, but with the new August Averages now taking effect, it will see Justin Sedgmen move back into the main body of the team and Nick Simmons replacing him in one of the two reserve berths alongside Tom Brown.
Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels versus Redcar Bears
Friday 7 th August, 7.30pm
Oak Tree Arena
Teams [not in riding order]
Somerset; 1) Steve Johnston (8.89), 2) Emil Kramer (8.52), 3) Cory Gathercole (7.69), 4) Simon Walker (5.20), 5) Justin Sedgmen (4.08), 6) Tom Brown (3.30), 7) Nick Simmons (3.06)
Redcar; 1) Ty Proctor (8.32), 2) Gary Havelock (7.28), 3) Carl Stonehewer (6.68), 4) Ben Wilson (6.53), 5) Robbie Kessler (6.09), 6) Stuart Swales (4.00), 7) Arlo Bugeja (3.00) |
|
|
|
|
