- Rob Dyer
Meeting Preview - Eagles v Warriors (NL) & CRUK Relay News
It’s a busy September Saturday for the riders and supporters of the Warriors speedway club with on-track action for the team at Eastbourne and a charity relay race for the fans backing the Cancer Research UK IOW Relay at the Andrew Younie Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde.
The Warriors hit the road for the final time in 2018 as they head east to Sussex to face the Eagles in the second part of a double header meeting that also features Stoke Potters. Warriors include Max Clegg and Nathan Stoneman as guest riders in the absence of Alfie Bowtell and Ben Morley who are on Championship duty at Rye House whilst the home side, who must win both meetings if they are to stay in play-off contention, will be without Mark Baseby and Charley Powell who are both away on holiday.
Early team news for Saturday:
Eagles – Georgie Wood, Kelsey Dugard, Rider Replacement for Mark Baseby, Jason Edwards, Tom Brennan, Ethan Spiller, Charlie Brooks.
Warriors – Max Clegg, Danno Verge, Scott Campos, Chris Widman, Nathan Stoneman, Jamie Bursill, Shaun Tedham.
Back in Ryde, a gallant group of speedway supporters have joined forces to form the ‘Wonder Warriors’ and they will be taking turns to pound the Smallbrook shale in the Cancer Research IOW Relay. Hundreds are expected to attend this huge fund raising event which spans a twenty four hour duration from noon on Saturday. There is still time to join in and the Wonder Warriors would be delighted to welcome more team members. Online pre-registration is recommended – simply search Cancer Research UK Isle Of Wight Relay and follow the links to enrol or donate.
Warrior’s co-promoter Barry Bishop, a man all too familiar with the effects of this condition, hopes to attend both events and said, “Good luck to everyone representing our club on Saturday. Our match at Eastbourne is going to be another really tough night on their tight track. We will be giving it our very best shot and as we do so we will be thinking of the Wonder Warriors back at base doing amazing things for a fantastic cause”.
Injury Update: There is good news about Development League rider Stephen Whitehouse, whose heavy fall forced the abandonment of Warriors final home meeting last week.
He was released from hospital on Tuesday and after a night with the Whitlock family on the Island, is now back home in the Midlands. Fortunately the leg injuries sustained were not as bad as first feared, but Stephen did require an operation last weekend to repair some hernia damage. Stephen and his relatives have been quick to thank all the medical staff who attended to him and are indebted to the many, many fans that have sent ‘Get Well’ messages or visited Stephen during his hospital stay.