The Mildenhall Fen Tigers team – proudly sponsored by Manchetts Rescue and Recovery - take to the track for the first time this season at West Row on Easter Sunday (17/4) taking on a Poultec Select side comprising some of the nation’s top young talent.
The Poultec College scheme, based in Dereham, Norwich and at King’s Lynn Speedway track gives training to young British Speedway riders in a range of skills, both on and off the bike and in the important connected worlds of media and business. One of the leading forces behind the scheme is Team GB joint team manager Olly Allen and the former Peterborough, Ipswich and King’s Lynn rider has brought together a septet for Sunday which will give the Fen Tigers a major challenge as the hosts prepare for the defence of their National Development League [NDL] title.
From the 2021 NDL champions return Jason Edwards (who has had a great start to this campaign with that maximum winning performance last Sunday, qualifying in imperious style for another GB U21 Final), hugely popular local discovery Sam Bebee and the Yorkshireman Luke Muff. They are joined by Ryan Kinsley who returns to his spiritual home and skippers the team, Alex Spooner and Josh Warren. With a week to go before facing an NDL Knock-out Cup semi against Kent Royals, there’s still one spot to fill in the side and joint team managers of the 2022 Fen Tigers, the vastly experienced Malcolm Vasey and his apprentice Jason Gardner use the Rider Replacement facility to cover in this challenge match.
Four of the septet riding in Poultec colours will be facing Edwards in that GB U21 Final later in their year: there are included two sets of siblings, the McGurk brothers from Bradford, Harry and Sam; and the Thompson twins, Dan & Joe who ride for Leicester Lions. The McGurks were both in action in last week’s individual meeting of course and so have already shown they can be a threat around the West Row circuit. The Thompsons meanwhile were seeded straight through to the Final and have three Youth national tiles between them.
Joining the two fraternal pairs in the Poultec Select side are another rider for whom this be a second West Row meeting of the season already, Kai Ward; and two teenagers plying their racing trade in 2022 as Belle Vue Colts’ team mates of the McGurks in the NDL, Archie Freeman and Freddy Hodder.
And as befits the fact that the match takes place on Easter Sunday, the Supporters Club will be holding a Children’s Easter Egg Hunt! Youngsters wanting to join in the fun should go and see Di & Linda at the Supporters Club table in the main grandstand by 2.30pm to collect the question sheet. There are six prizes on offer and every child taking place will receive a Creme Egg!
Gates open at 1.30om with the on track egg-citement on this holiday weekend getting underway at 3pm on Easter Sunday 17th. April.
Track address: Mildenhall Speedway, Hayland Drove, West Row, Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 8QU.
Track ‘phone number (on meeting days only): 01638 711777
