03 02 10 STEPHENS OPENER MEETING ON HOLD

[Tim]

STEPHENS OPENER MEETING ON HOLD
By Plymouth Speedway ~ Wednesday 3rd February 2010
PLANS to launch the Plymouth speedway season with a meeting for Devils skipper Seemond Stephens have been put on hold. It had been intended to stage an attractive meeting at the St Boniface Arena on Easter Saturday and a number of Elite League riders had expressed their willingness to turn out for the popular Cornishman. It seems, however, that the necessary permission from the sport’s ruling authorities has not been forthcoming. Because of that, plans for the meeting have been shelved pending an application for Stephens to stage a meeting sometime in 2011.

It is now expected that Plymouth will open their season at the St Boniface Arena on Good Friday evening, April 2, and club chairman Mike Bowden is hoping it will be a challenge fixture against the exciting American Dream Team, although that has still to be confirmed. Meanwhile, Bowden has been asked by the BSPA to retract comments which appeared in the local press suggesting that the Devils might look to join the Premier League for 2010 in place of Leicester, who have failed to take their expected place in the competition this season.

Bowden has issued a statement saying: “Due to my misunderstanding of the rules to get into the Premier League, I should like to apologise to Plymouth supporters for possibly giving the wrong impression in the article, which appeared on November 7. I now know that the Speedway Control Bureau cannot grant entry to the Premier League. It has to be done by the BSPA and all its members at the annual general meeting. I can assure all supporters that I am now working on the Plymouth application to be admitted to the 2011 Premier League.”

Meanwhile, preparations for this season’s National League campaign are well advanced and track staff are invited to a meeting at the Novotel Hotel, Plymouth, on Friday February 12. The staff meeting starts at 7pm to be followed at 7.45pm by a Supporters’ Club meeting featuring appearances by skipper Seemond Stephens and fellow Cornish rider Mark Simmonds.

The Devils boss will also welcome volunteers for working parties to assist in sprucing up the St Boniface Arena on Saturday February 20 and again on Saturday February 27. Bowden says there are only a few spaces left for programme advertising and anyone interested should contact him on 07729-278569.