09 03 10 COMETS LINE-UP COMPLETE FOR 40th ANNIVERSARY

[Tim]

COMETS LINE-UP COMPLETE FOR 40th ANNIVERSARY
By Workington Speedway ~ Tuesday 9th March 2010
Workington Comets have completed the line-up for the 40th Anniversary meeting on Saturday, March 27th (6-30pm start). Former Comets whiz-kid Joe Haines and popular guest Mark Lemon will make-up the field of twelve in the 15-heat formula. Kauko Nieminen, James Wright and Rusty Harrison, plus the 2010 septet for the Comets are the others involved in what should be an intriguing individual contest.

Team manager Ian Thomas said: “In a perfect world we would have had a 16-strong field and 20 heats but we were concerned about the time we would get finished. The transport problems locally since the bridges came down has been massive and that’s why we are starting at 6-30pm. But with the last train out of Workington round about 8-45pm we didn’t want to add to the problems with a 20-race formula. I also have to ay that we anted, if possible, to use riders who were signed Comets in their carers. Unfortunately Simon Stead, Adrian Rymel and Kevin Doolan are all riding on the night of the anniversary event. After that we widened it to include guests who have ridden on several occasion for the Comets. None has done more meetings than Tomas Topinka but he is also riding on the 278th. That left an opportunity to say thanks again to Mark Lemon who filled-in for us at the end of last season and did so well, being part of the team which retained the Young Shield.”

The new Comets are set to get-together for the first time on Saturday afternoon at Derwent Park for the annual press and practice which will start at 12 noon. That will be followed at 7-30pm by a meet the team night in the Derwent Lounge. At that event tickets for the Lou Sansom chat show in the Washington Central on Friday, March 26th will be on sale, priced at £5 each.

Workington’s new Dane Peter Kildemand is expected into Britain on Wednesday after he has been warming-up for the new season in Croatia. He went there for practice with the Danish international squad and in a telephone call to Comets owner Keith Denham says he is really excited about the prospect of riding in the British Premier League.

“We had John Branney in France and Peter Kildemand in Croatia, so it shows how seriously the guys are taking this season and how far they are prepared to travel to get some practice,” said Thomas. There have been concerns all around the country about the state of the tracks due to the frost and snow. The frost, in particular, has been a hazard, getting deeper into the ground than normal. Thomas said: “We are confident everything is going to be fine with the track for our press and practice session. Likewise we fully expect to be ok for the start of the season with our back to back challenge matches against Redcar Bears.”

The Comets travel to Redcar on Thursday, March 18 and host the return at Derwent Park on Saturday, March 20 (6-30pm), the opening home meeting of the new season. Press representatives attending Derwent Park on Saturday, March 13 will have ample opportunities for photographs and interviews from 12 noon onwards.