The 2010 Rebels Team Line Up Confirmed
28th November 2009

In front of a packed Oak Tree Clubhouse, the Somerset Rebels named the five riders that will be joining the previously announced Ritchie Hawkins and Sam Masters to complete the team’s 2010 septet.

Returning from the 2009 side will be Emil Kramer, the fans’ Rider of the Year, and Cory Gathercole, together with Gathercole’s Australian compatriot, Jay Herne, who started last season with the Rebels, but left mid-season and joined the Birmingham Brummies.

The first of the two new riders to the Somerset roster are 25 year old Tommy Allen, who was a member of the Rye House side that won the Premier League Championship in both 2005 and 2007, and has always shown a liking for the Oak Tree Arena on his visits to Somerset with the Rockets.

Finally, the Rebels are delighted to be able to announce that the vastly experienced Shane Parker will be joining Somerset after spending the last six seasons with Glasgow, Australian Parker being consistently amongst the top riders in the Premier League during that time.

“I am really pleased to have signed to ride for Somerset,” Parkers told the fans, “the move away from Glasgow, where I had six very enjoyable seasons, has given me a fresh challenge, as well as a home track somewhat nearer to where I live, and I cannot wait for the season to get under way.”

The full 2010 Somerset Rebels line up (in average order);

1) Emil Kramer (8.42), 2) Shane Parker (8.15), 3) Cory Gathercole (7.69), 4) Sam Masters (5.00), 5) Ritchie Hawkins (4.52), 6) Tommy Allen (4.42), 7) Jay Herne (3.81)

Season Tickets Interest Free Payment Scheme
18th November 2009

The club are now offering purchasers of 2010 season tickets the opportunity before December 3rd 2009 to pay for season tickets over 4 months interest free.

Hopefully this will give more Somerset fans the chance to watch the Rebels next year at discounted rates.

Mark Saunders said today "As the new management, we have already decreased the price of admission for 2010 and allowed more children free admission but we are aware that we are not continuing the loyalty scheme by the previous promoters. The new interest free scheme for season tickets will hopefully compensate some supporters for this.
We felt the old loyalty scheme, slowed down the flow through the turnstiles at peak times, and also meant that supporters had to retain tickets for four meetings to get the discounted rates."

Based on only 26 meetings per season* the reduced cost to season ticket holders is as follows:

Adults - £11.15 per meeting , plus free programme

OAP / Students ** - £9.03 per meeting, plus free programme

Juniors ** - £3.46 per meeting

Any extra meetings over 26 are an added bonus to season ticket holders

Season tickets this year are transferable if you can’t attend a meeting

Season ticket holders on the above scheme will also receive the following added benefits:

10% Food and Drink Loyalty Discount (Speedway Race Nights Only)
10% Discount on their first purchase of the season from the Rebels
Track Shop ( excluding Speedway Star )

For one performance only, season tickets will be honoured for a special ‘Party on the Green’ entertainment event to be held during the summer at Oak Tree Arena ( subject to planning approval) full details will be available of this event early 2010.

Rebels Release Steve Johnston
16th November 2009

After discussions with last year’s skipper, Steve Johnston, as a result of which terms for next season could not be reached, the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels have released the rider to find an alternative club.

Steve was purchased last season as a Somerset asset, and a contract with the previous promoting company Somerset Promotions Ltd, was agreed for a further two years. However the new promotional company OTA Promotions Ltd could not come to agreement on personal terms with the rider.

Debbie Hancock Somerset’s promoter has stated the Steve has done a wonderful job for us this season for which we are all extremely grateful, and has left the club on amicable terms, and would always be welcomed back to Somerset even if riding for the opposition.

The new Somerset promotional team are in final negotiations and hope to complete their 2010 team building by this week. Full details of signed riders will be announced for the Somerset 2010 team at the S.R.E.F Charity Event on Friday 27th November at the Oak Tree Clubhouse, when it is hoped at least two riders will be in attendance.

Speedway Promoters To Maintain Status Quo for 2010
16th November 2009

This weekend’s annual conference of British Speedway Promoters’ Association has, in the main, decided to maintain the status quo with regards to the rules and regulations for the new speedway season that will commence in March 2010.

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels will, however, be facing a new side in 2010 with the news that Leicester are to return to the speedway world after an absence of some 27 years, their application to join the Premier League being unanimously accepted, thereby bringing the number teams competing in the sport’s second tier to 15.

Somerset will have an early opportunity to face the Premier League ‘new boys’ as Leicester have been included in the Rebels Premier Trophy group, Newport, Rye House and defending champions, King’s Lynn completing the group.

The Rebels have been given a bye in the 1st round of the Premier League Knock Out Cup, and will meet the winners of the Birmingham v Sheffield in the 2nd round of the competition.

2010 Premier League News;

· Membership to increase to 15 teams with the addition of Leicester
· Points limit for team building to remain at 42.50 points per team
· The points structure for meetings will remain the same in 2010, namely;
· Home win by 7 or more points = 3 points
· Home win by up to 6 points = 2 points
· Home draw = 1 point
· Home defeat = 0 points
· Away win by 7 or more points = 4 points
· Away win by up to 6 points = 3 points
· Away draw = 2 points
· Away loss by 6 or less points = 1 point
· Away loss by 7 or more points = 0 points
· The season will commence with the Premier Trophy Competition. The 15 teams will be divided into three groups of 5 teams, the winners of each group will automatically qualify for the semi-finals with the highest points scoring runner up from the three groups also qualifying for the semi-finals
· Premier Trophy Groups
· Group 1: Rye House, King’s Lynn, Newport, Somerset, Leicester
· Group 2; Berwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Workington, Newcastle
· Group 3; Stoke, Birmingham, Sheffield, Scunthorpe, Redcar
· The League programme will see each team face each of the other 14 teams once at home and once away. The team who finish top of the League after the completion of the fixtures will be crowned 2010 Premier League Champions
· The top 4 teams will then qualify for the Promotion/Relegation quarter-finals, the winners of that then facing each other to determine who will meet the lowest placed Elite League team in the Promotion/Relegation play-off final.
· Teams that finish in league places 5th-12th will contest the Jack Young Shield, which will be run on a straight knock out basis
· The Knock Out Cup will be contested by all 15 teams in the Premier League, the ties being decided on an aggregate score basis over two legs;
· The KO Cup 1st Round Draw is as follows;
· Birmingham vs Sheffield, Scunthorpe vs Newcastle, Leicester vs Redcar, Rye House vs Edinburgh, Glasgow vs Kings Lynn, Berwick vs Newport, Workington vs Stoke.
Bye: Somerset (will face either Birmingham or Sheffield in round 2).
· The trial of tactical gate positions used in the 2009 Premier League KO Cup Competition was deemed to be unsuccessful and will not be retained for 2010, as a consequence their will be no tactical options available to teams in the 2010 competition.

Other Significant Decisions;

A new quieter silencer will be introduced for 2010 to comply with F.I.M. requirements.
After many years of lobbying by some "traditionalist" promoters, the white helmet colour will return to replace green for a visiting rider, so visitors will now be more easily identified, wearing white or yellow while the home pairing remains in red and blue.
Venues and dates for the Super7 series of meetings will be announced on 29th January 2010

SAM MASTERS WINS NEW SOUTH WALES UNDER 21 CHAMPIONSHIP

Sam wins with the help of his mechanic Jason Doyle...more details soon.

Welcome Home Ritchie
12th November 2009

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels have not let the grass grow under their feet as far as team building for 2010 is concerned as hot on the heels of announcing Sam Masters as their first rider signing for the new season comes the news that after 2 years away, Ritchie Hawkins will be returning to the Oak Tree Arena to ride for the Rebels.

A member of the historic 2005 Somerset quartet that won the Premier League Fours Championship, the Rebels first trophy at Premier League level, Hawkins last rode for Somerset in 2007, but although his name was first on the team roster for the 2008 campaign, serious injuries sustained whilst riding at an indoor meeting in Germany in the January put paid to his season before a wheel had been turned.

He made a return to the track with in 2009 Sheffield, which whom he started his speedway career in 2000, albeit with their Conference League side, but a wrist injury saw him sidelined part way through the season, and upon his return to fitness he joined Scunthorpe.
“I am really pleased to be returning to ride for Somerset,” said Hawkins, “I enjoyed my stint with Scunthorpe, and I know that they would have liked me to have stayed with them for 2010, but the lure of Somerset was too strong, it’ll be just like coming home for me and I cannot wait for the new season to start!”

Rebels Announce First Signing For 2010
11th November 2009

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels have made their first signing for the 2010 season, the rider in question being the young Australian prospect, Sam Masters.

18 year old Masters, who has already qualified to come to ride in the UK, has been signed by Somerset as a club asset, and will be living in the Somerset area for the forthcoming season.

Somerset won the race for Masters’ signature ahead of five other clubs who were courting the youngster, despite these clubs being able to offer him better personal terms than those being tabled by the Rebels.

His father, Peter, who will accompany Sam to the UK for the early months of the new season, stated that is was not a question of money, but instead what was best for Sam’s career, future and welfare was the deciding factor as to which club his son would be signing for.

After looking at the all the options available and discussing the matter with a number of riders with an intimate knowledge of riding in the UK, Somerset quickly became his first choice club and after some quick negotiations terms and contracts were exchanged and signed.

Somerset Promoter, Debbie Hancock, was quick to praise Sam and his family over the way the negotiations were conducted;

“We are all over the moon to have Sam coming to Somerset and he is the first young rider the club has actually signed to its asset base for many years. His whole family’s approach to the negotiations we had with them to ensure that Sam was going to the right club for his long term future and not just for any short term gains was certainly refreshing.”

“Sam has already shown his commitment towards riding for the Rebels next season by purchasing two new rolling chassis and engines to bring with him to the UK, and I am sure that like myself, all Somerset fans will be following his progress in Australia this winter with keen interest.”

“His signing has been, in part, thanks to a new scouting operation that Somerset has put in place in Australia to identify the best new crop of young riders that are starting to appear on the speedway scene, and hopefully this new initiative will bear fruit for the Rebel over forthcoming years.”

The rider himself was delighted with the move, ex-Rebel Jason Doyle playing no small part in Masters’ decision to join the Rebels as he exclusively reveals to the club website;

“I was surprised when Somerset asked me to ride for them, and I would like to thank Jason Doyle as I believe he was behind the signing in recommending me to them. I have only heard good reports about the Rebels and feel privileged to be coming to ride for them. I’m really looking forward to 2010, I can't wait, a big part of my dreams has come true!”

With Somerset’s team building for 2010 now under way, fans will not have to wait long before finding out who else will be donning the Rebel colours next season as Debbie Hancock explains;

“We are planning to announce at least another two of our rider signings for the 2010 season at a Charity Evening being organised by the Somerset Riders Equipment Fund (SREF) at the Oak Tree Clubhouse on Friday November 27th, so I would urge Somerset fans to get their tickets and come along to find out who those riders are!”

Tickets for the event are priced at £5 each and can be purchased from the Oak Tree Clubhouse or Diane Phillips, all the proceeds from the evening going to local charities and SREF.

Sam Masters – Fact File

Name – Sam Masters
Date of Birth – 23/5/91
Place of Birth – Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Speedway Achievements :

• New South Wales Under 16 Champion (125cc); 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07
• Australian Under 16 Championship (125cc); 2nd (2003/04), 3 rd (2004/05), 4 th (2005/06 & 2006/07)
• Australian Under 16 Champion (350cc); 2006/07
• New South Wales Under 21 Championship; 4th (2007 & 2008)
• Victorian State Championship; 3 rd (2007)
• New South Wales State Championship; 5th (2008)

Í

No sooner has the 2009 speedway season come to a close than the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels are able to announce their season ticket and admission prices for the new season that will commence in March 2010, and the good news for Somerset fans is that these will be lower than for 2009.

Season Tickets (Proof of age/status may be required for certain categories);

• 10% Food and Drink Loyalty Discount (Race Nights Only) 10% Discount on their first purchase of the season from the club track-shop
• For one night only, season tickets will be honoured for a special ‘Party on the Green’ Event to be held during the summer (this event being subject to planning approval)

Car Parking - £1.00.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SEASON TICKETS WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE ON-LINE...Watch this space for more details.

Rebels End Of Season Challenge
13th October 2009

This Friday (16th) will see the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels end their 2009 season with a challenge match against a strong looking side that will be under the leadership of the Australian team manager and ex-Poole legend, Craig Boyce.

‘Boycie’s Boys’ will be headed by Ipswich’s Great Britain star, Daniel King and Poole’s Steve Boxall and will include three ex-Rebels, namely Mark Lemon, Jay Herne and Danny Warwick, with Birmingham’s Richard Sweetman and Isle of Wight’s Ben Hopwood completing the septet.

This meeting match replaces the previously advertised challenge match between an Australian Select side and a team representing the Rest of the World, this down to the non-availability of some of the riders originally booked to ride in that meeting, as Rebels Promoter, Debbie Hancock, explained;

“A change of fixtures for some other clubs meant that we had to re-think our original plan for the end of season meeting, which will also mean that the fans will be able to see the 2009 Rebels in action as a septet for a final time this year.”

“When we originally planned the match, a number of fans expressed their disappointment that they would not be able to see the team in action again before the end of the season, so a combination of this together with some of the original riders booked to ride now not being able to make it on Friday does mean that we will be tracking the 2009 Rebels as a full septet to bring down the curtain on the season.”

“Additionally, both Tom Brown and Brendan Johnson will be attending the meeting, which will mean that all of the 2009 Rebels will be at the Oak Tree Arena come Friday night.”

Also on Friday, voting slips will be handed out to the fans in order that they can vote for the 2009 rider awards that will be made at the club’s Presentation Night on Friday 30 th October. The three categories are for the Rider of the Year, Most Improved Rider of the Year and Most Entertaining Rider of the Year.

Somerset Rebels
versus
Boycie’s Boys

Challenge Match

Friday 16 th October, 7.30pm

Oak Tree Arena, Highbridge

Team Line Up’s (not in riding order)

Somerset Rebels: 1) Steve Johnston, 2) Emil Kramer, 3) Cory Gathercole, 4) Simon Walker, 5) Jari Mäkinen, 6) Justin Sedgmen, 7) Nick Simmons – Team managers; Steve Bishop and Garry May

Boycie’s Boys: 1) Daniel King (Ipswich), 2) Steve Boxall (Poole), 3) Mark Lemon (Newcastle), 4) Richard Sweetman (Birmingham), 5) Jay Herne (Birmingham), 6) Danny Warwick (Bournemouth), 7) Ben Hopwood (Isle of Wight) – Team managers; Craig Boyce and Neil Vatcher

Rebels To End Season In Style
6th October 2009

Although the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels competitive season may have come to an end with their early exit from the Young Shield, the club intends to end to season as a whole in style with a specially arranged challenge match on Friday 16th October with an Australian Select side taking on a team representing the Rest of the World.

Further details of the two line up’s will be announced within the next few days, but both teams will contain riders from the 2009 Rebels side, giving the Somerset fans a final opportunity to see their favourites in action this year.

Fans are reminded that there is NO meeting at the Oak Tree Arena this Friday (9th) and to look out for further details for what promises to be a very special meeting with which to end the season on the 16th.

STOP PRESS: Latest news from the Somerset management. .

Rebels Hopeful of Kramer's Return
2nd October 2009

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels are hopeful that Emil Kramer will be fit enough to return to the Rebels line up for their home 2^nd leg tie against Stoke in the Young Shield, Somerset looking to pull back a 9 point deficit from the 1^st leg in order to book a semi-final place in the competition.

Kramer was forced to miss last Saturday’s 1^st leg meeting between the two sides after jarring his back whilst competing in the Mark Lemon Testimonial Meeting at the Oak Tree Arena, and there were fears that he would be forced to also miss tomorrow night’s all important 2^nd leg.

But with the injury responding favourably to intensive treatment, the 29 year old Swede is more hopeful of a return, although a final decision will not be made until after a late fitness test ahead of the match itself.

Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels Cory Gathercole has been named in the Australian under 25 team for their ‘one-off’ test match against Great Britain under 25’s at Ipswich on October 15th.

The call-up is testament to the excellent season that Gathercole has been having this year with the Rebels, the 22 year old having his best season in the UK since he first arrived on these shores some three years ago to ride for the Isle of Wight.

The full line up’s;

GREAT BRITAIN: Edward Kennett (Coventry), Ben Barker (Coventry), Lewis Bridger (Eastbourne), Danny King (Ipswich), Tai Woffinden (Wolverhampton), James Wright (Belle Vue), Joe Haines (Rye House).

AUSTRALIA: Chris Holder (Poole), Darcy Ward (King’s Lynn), Rory Schlein (Coventry), Cameron Woodward (Eastbourne), Troy Batchelor (Ipswich), Ty Proctor (Redcar), Cory Gathercole (Somerset).

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels require victory by at least 10 points when Stoke visit the Oak Tree Arena this Friday [2^nd October] in the 2^nd leg of their Young Shield Quarter-Final tie in order to progress through to the semi-finals of the competition.

Despite being without both Emil Kramer and Nick Simmons for last Saturday’s 1^st leg encounter at Stoke’s Loomer Road circuit, the Rebels fought an heroic rear-guard action to come away from Staffordshire just 9 points in arrears, with  Steve Johnston scoring a superb 18 points, Cory Gathercole and Justin Sedgmen supporting their skipper well with 14 and 9 points respectively.

Whilst the Rebels welcome Nick Simmons back into the side for Friday’s match, it is not certain at this early stage of the week as to whether Emil Kramer would have recovered sufficiently from his back injury to also return to the Somerset line up, if still unfit then the side will operate the rider replacement facility as cover, all the Somerset riders being eligible to take Kramer’s rides.

Friday’s match will be the third time this season that Stoke have visited the Oak Tree Arena, and although they lost on both of those occasions, in fact Stoke have yet to win in 13 previous visits to Somerset, they were close fought affairs, and the Rebels can take nothing for granted ahead of what promises to be an exciting night of action as the Rebels look for that 10 point win that will take them through to the Young Shield semi-finals and stay in with the opportunity of ending the season with some silverware.

Teams (not in riding order)

Somerset: 1) Steve Johnston; 2) Emil Kramer; 3) Cory Gathercole; 4) Simon Walker; 5) Jari Mäkinen; 6) Justin Sedgmen; 7) Nick Simmons

Stoke: 1) Jason Bunyan; 2) Lee Complin; 3) Klaus Jakobsen; 4) Robert Ksiezak; 5) Tom P Madsen; 6) Jesper Kristiansen; 7) Craig Branney