Wessex Wanderer 148 Posted July 23, 2021 Good luck for tonight and the rest of the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barrybishop 896 Posted July 23, 2021 Wow... what a fantastic night... 30 races.... completed... loved it.. absolutely loved it.... here is the meeting report by Rob Dyer. Wightlink Warriors Summer Speedway Spectacular Sees Appleton In Tasty Form The first of Wightlink Warriors Summer Spectacular meetings proved to be master class of track skill from former British Grasstrack Masters Champion Andrew Appleton (pictured) as he scorched to five impressive wins in front of an appreciative crowd at the Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde last night. The return of track sport to the Island was headlined by the first of three rounds of the Island Masters series - a grasstrack meeting on shale – and the twelve riders didn’t disappoint a very healthy crowd as they battled hard to reach the winner takes all Grand Final. On a night of nearly 30 races the Masters meeting also included a gripping six heat development meeting between the Wightlink Wizards and Weymouth Wildcats and a further six heats of races looking to the future and giving the youngster track time in front of an audience. Whilst former Reading and Oxford speedway star Appleton produced lightning starts to earn his wins he did have stern competition from Danish rider Jacob Buckhave and the two served up a terrific race in the Grand Final – indeed the three finals (C, B & A) certainly didn’t disappoint as all the riders gave their all right to the end. Also impressing were Tony Atkin and Rob Fortune whilst Wightlink Warrior Chad Wirtzfeld found plenty of speed to clinch the B Final on the night. As to the Wightlink Wizards, their battle to tame the Wildcats went to the final bend of the final heat and for all the world it looked as if the home team were about to secure the 5-1 result that would have seen them take a win, however with Jamie Sealey well clear at the front, Wroxall based Morgan Williams appeared to tire on the final two corners and slide to the ground allowing two relieved Wildcats riders through for a drawn heat that clinched the meeting 17-19 in favour of the visitors. Mention also for the PeeWee and 125 cc riders who opened the evening and especially to Kye Elliott from St. Helens (IOW) who scored an impressive 7 points to take the ’Les and Lesley (Midland Fans)’ Junior Rider Of The Night award. Warriors’ co-owner Barry Bishop wore a big smile after the meeting as he said, “Wow. What a night 30 races, bags of action both on and off track, super crowd, magic finals. The night had almost everything Martin and I could have wanted and we were so close to complete perfection until Morgan’s slip in the Wizards meeting. I’ve got to say we have worked so hard for this night. We’ve had many battles and we have achieved what we set out do. That is provided affordable family entertainment in a safe and pleasant environment. Right now I’m just a bit speechless and completely shattered but tomorrow we’ll be back at it and I can’t for next Thursday when we can do it all again with the Wightlink Warriors”. Island Masters – Round 1 Result: C Final – Eric Pike, Dean Cutler, David Hollingsbee, Barry Coates B Final – Chad Wirtzfeld, Charley Powell, Mitch Godden, Nigel Coates A Final – Andrew Appleton, Jacob Buckhave, Tony Atkin, Rob Fortune Wightlink Wizards 17 (Jamie Sealey 8, Jamie Evans 6+1, Morgan Williams 3, Eli Meadows 0) Weymouth Wildcats 19 (Bailey Fellows 7+1, James Laker 5, Max Pankhurst 4+1, Sam Peters 3) 13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Halifaxtiger 5,318 Posted July 23, 2021 (edited) Word I have [from two different sources] is that the attendance was slightly up on usual league meetings Edited July 23, 2021 by Halifaxtiger 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris116 753 Posted July 23, 2021 Great to hear that the first meeting went well. Now I just hope that Wightlink/SWR play ball and reinstate the late evening boat and train services to enable me to enjoy the racing and get home afterwards. Good luck to all involved with the Warriors. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lbw 862 Posted July 30, 2021 Hope to see IOW back in the NDL one day soon, I notice in this week's Star that Jason Pipe is now realising that the points limit was too low. U cud say that hindsight is a wonderful thing but Martin & Barry av foresight which is even more wonderful. That's why they look after everyone so well. Keep up the great work all on the Isle 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mac101 1,176 Posted July 30, 2021 2 hours ago, PirateShip said: Hope to see IOW back in the NDL one day soon, I notice in this week's Star that Jason Pipe is now realising that the points limit was too low. U cud say that hindsight is a wonderful thing but Martin & Barry av foresight which is even more wonderful. That's why they look after everyone so well. Keep up the great work all on the Isle jason never said anything to the speedway star they quoted something from a post that he said on another riders racing page and also now has stepped down from his job as NL coordinator Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Halifaxtiger 5,318 Posted July 30, 2021 3 hours ago, PirateShip said: Hope to see IOW back in the NDL one day soon, I notice in this week's Star that Jason Pipe is now realising that the points limit was too low. U cud say that hindsight is a wonderful thing but Martin & Barry av foresight which is even more wonderful. That's why they look after everyone so well. Keep up the great work all on the Isle Doing very nicely at the moment it seems. A friend of mine - who has been going since it opened on the Island - said last night's attendance was the biggest he has seen for 'a very long time'. Anyone else fancy dumping the BSPL.................... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cityrebel 2,960 Posted July 30, 2021 1 hour ago, Halifaxtiger said: Doing very nicely at the moment it seems. A friend of mine - who has been going since it opened on the Island - said last night's attendance was the biggest he has seen for 'a very long time'. Anyone else fancy dumping the BSPL.................... It was a big crowd. It suprised me. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucifer sam 3,953 Posted July 30, 2021 Cracking meeting in front of a bumper crowd. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BobC 664 Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) Excellent meeting all round. How many people are aware of the absolute nightmare they had getting riders there? On Wednesday, Wightlinks new and largest ferry Victoria was put out of action due to a mishap. Almost every rider booking had to be changed, some being switched to Lymington Right up to about 4pm, there were still problems. Fortunately, everyone made it in time. Even on the last ferry back, we were all sat round chatting. Barry? Going around everyone thanking us for coming etc. 28 races on just over 3hrs, including a track repair hold up and 3 x ambulance visits Something for everyone. A complete contrast to your 'normal BSPL' meeting of 15 Hts...... now go home. KIds were involved from start to finish. Barry even apologised that due to holdups, he couldnt hold the kids running race. They are working their socks off to produce something you dont normally see. Breaking the 'established mold'. They are succeeding and Im sure the BSPL are watching everything very closely. Long may it continue. Edited July 30, 2021 by BobC 8 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cityrebel 2,960 Posted July 30, 2021 34 minutes ago, BobC said: Excellent meeting all round. How many people are aware of the absolute nightmare they had getting riders there? On Wednesday, Wightlinks new and largest ferry Victoria was put out of action due to a mishap. Almost every rider booking had to be changed, some being switched to Lymington Right up to about 4pm, there were still problems. Fortunately, everyone made it in time. Even on the last ferry back, we were all sat round chatting. Barry? Going around everyone thanking us for coming etc. 28 races on just over 3hrs, including a track repair hold up and 3 x ambulance visits Something for everyone. A complete contrast to your 'normal BSPL' meeting of 15 Hts...... now go home. KIds were involved from start to finish. Barry even apologised that due to holdups, he couldnt hold the kids running race. They are working their socks off to produce something you dont normally see. Breaking the 'established mold'. They are succeeding and Im sure the BSPL are watching everything very closely. Long may it continue. We were booked on the 4pm from Lymington and came back on the 11pm from Fishbourne. It felt like a chartered speedway ferry! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Great Central 226 Posted July 31, 2021 On 7/30/2021 at 9:49 PM, cityrebel said: We were booked on the 4pm from Lymington and came back on the 11pm from Fishbourne. It felt like a chartered speedway ferry! The 11pm ferry from Fishbourne is very much like a "speedway special". Lots of banter for 40 minutes and then disappear home. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dickie Head 241 Posted August 6, 2021 As the Warriors are no longer a NL team, shouldn’t this topic be closed and re-established in the amateur section or similar? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ch958 2,387 Posted August 6, 2021 10 minutes ago, Dickie Head said: As the Warriors are no longer a NL team, shouldn’t this topic be closed and re-established in the amateur section or similar? no it should be left here to shame the powers that be 6 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,162 Posted August 6, 2021 1 hour ago, ch958 said: no it should be left here to shame the powers that be And keep getting added too.... 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites