Two’s company – and Mildenhall Fen Tigers (proudly sponsored by Manchetts Rescue and Recovery) are back in action this weekend competing in the National League Pairs, with Jason Edwards partnered by Jack Kingston carrying the hopes of the Suffolk club at Leicester Speedway on Saturday evening (20th. August).

All eight of the 2022 NDL sides are competing in the first Pairs tournament since 2019 with four pairings in each group of four aiming in the first analysis to finish in the top two to progress to the semis – with two sudden death tussles then to follow to decide who will finally get to succeed the now defunct Kent Kings as the division’s Pairs Champs.

The Fen Tigers have been drawn in Group ‘B’ alongside the league’s three new sides this term, Kent Royals, Oxford Chargers and Plymouth Centurions.

All three of the opposing Pairs feature ex-Mildenhall men. The Iwade-based Royals will see their skipper, one-time Fen Tiger Danno Verge partnered by Ben Morley (a winner of this title himself back in 2015).  Morley is also a former NL individual Riders’ Champion and so is Plymouth’s Adam Roynon (a league winner when West Row- based 16 years ago in 2004), who will be partnered by the certainly comparatively inexperienced Ben Trigger up at Beaumont Park. And Oxford go one better in the ex-Mildenhall rider stakes by having not one but two of last season’s Fen Tigers’ NDL winning squad in their Pair: Jordan Jenkins and Sam Hagon!

The other Group sees the Thompson twins (Dan and Joe) of the hosts, Leicester taking their favourite status into the meeting against duos from the three northern based in the NDL: Berwick Bullets, Belle Vue Colts and the Scottish club based at Edinburgh Speedway, Armadale Devils. Armadale have in their Pair the hugely-exciting Lee Complin – enjoying an Indian Summer in his career since his return to the sport earlier this season. The very popular Complin will partnered by either Danny Phillips or Tom Woolley – both very experienced competitors making the league’s bottom side the possible ‘dark horses’ of Group ‘A’.

Berwick have a strong pairing also in former Youth World Champion Kyle Bickley and another vastly experienced campaigner in Greg Blair. Completing the line up are Belle Vue with the Manchester-side somewhat spoilt for choice, perming any two from their top three of skipper Jack Smith and rostrum men from the recent GB U19s championship, Jake Mulford and Harry McGurk.

Confirmed line ups will be available later in the week. This top meeting is being staged at Leicester Speedway on Saturday 20th. August – with a 7.00pm start time.