sussex bulldog

According to club website we do not have r/r. Kelsey is riding.

Speedway legend Lee Richardson is remembered on Good Friday when the Eastbourne Eagles begin their 2017 campaign. The IT First Eagles take on the Lakeside Hammers home and away for the Lee Richardson Memorial Trophy. Lee, from Hastings, rode for both clubs and lost his life in a speedway racing crash in Poland. The meeting at the Eagles’ Arlington Stadium, just off the A22 at Hailsham, begins at 7.30ppm. The first leg at Lakeside’s Arena Essex track, near the Dartford crossing, gets under way at 1pm. Eastbourne will be a full strength and led by new captain Georgie Wood. Newcomer Mark Baseby takes the number one race jacket with support from Connor, Coles, Mattie Bates, Kelsey Dugard, Tom Brennan and Charley Powell. Lakeside, who dropped to the National League this season, have a power-packed top two in Ben Morley and Zak Wajtknecht. Support is from former Eagle David Mason, Alfie Bowtell, George Hunter and Nick Laurence. The final team member is due to be announced 24 hours before the meetings start. IT First Eagles chairman Martin Dugard said the two Easter matches were a fitting tribute to Lee, who was loved by fans at both tracks and across Europe. “Lee was as good as the best on his day. He was a great professional and a perfect ambassador for speedway.” Eastbourne team manager Connor Dugard said the club had high ambitions this year and wanted to win the league, having finished second in 2015 and 2016. “We have made it clear what the targets are and we want to get off to the best possible start by putting one over our old rivals. “This used to be the traditional Easter fixture for both clubs and it is great to have back on the calendar. “Our boys are ready and can’t wait to start racing.”

Speedway legend Lee Richardson is remembered on Good Friday when the Eastbourne Eagles begin their 2017 campaign. The IT First Eagles take on the Lakeside Hammers home and away for the Lee Richardson Memorial Trophy. Lee, from Hastings, rode for both clubs and lost his life in a speedway racing crash in Poland. The meeting at the Eagles’ Arlington Stadium, just off the A22 at Hailsham, begins at 7.30ppm. The first leg at Lakeside’s Arena Essex track, near the Dartford crossing, gets under way at 1pm. Eastbourne will be a full strength and led by new captain Georgie Wood. Newcomer Mark Baseby takes the number one race jacket with support from Connor, Coles, Mattie Bates, Kelsey Dugard, Tom Brennan and Charley Powell. Lakeside, who dropped to the National League this season, have a power-packed top two in Ben Morley and Zak Wajtknecht. Support is from former Eagle David Mason, Alfie Bowtell, George Hunter and Nick Laurence. The final team member is due to be announced 24 hours before the meetings start. IT First Eagles chairman Martin Dugard said the two Easter matches were a fitting tribute to Lee, who was loved by fans at both tracks and across Europe. “Lee was as good as the best on his day. He was a great professional and a perfect ambassador for speedway.” Eastbourne team manager Connor Dugard said the club had high ambitions this year and wanted to win the league, having finished second in 2015 and 2016. “We have made it clear what the targets are and we want to get off to the best possible start by putting one over our old rivals. “This used to be the traditional Easter fixture for both clubs and it is great to have back on the calendar. “Our boys are ready and can’t wait to start racing.”

A big IT First welcome to former Eagle Mattie Bates He makes his return to the shale on a 4.86 average and is a rider that team boss Connor Dugard says "still has so much to offer". Eastbourne had to reshuffle the team when news of Adam Extance's retirement due to injury came in. Dugard said: "I could have made team changes and line ups but I did that last year and I didn't want to do it again. None of the team have done any wrong and we have a great vibe and I want to keep it that way. "Mattie is committed. He has experience , as many Eagles fans may recall from his time with us in our first year of National League racing in 2015. "He has the potential to win big heats. Remember in 2015 he beat Rob Branford and Bradley Wilson-Dean in heat 1. Bates said: "It's great to be back. I finished last time with a broken leg, unfortunately. "I like the Eastbourne track and all the management. I'm so geared up for this more than I ever have before. "Better get measured up for my new suit ready for Lakeside home and away on Good Friday."

Indeed it is as shown in the official Eagles website !

Fans forum 1 pm at Arlington on Sunday

Carys Williams Hind with Bryn Williams. 38 mins · London · It is with great sadness to tell you all that my dad passed away last night after a period of ill health. As some of you will already know he was in hospital fighting an infection and despite showing some glimmers of recovery over the past few days sadly his condition deteriorated yesterday. Myself and Andy were with him at the end and he slipped away peacefully and without pain. He was very ill and although we are incredibly sad I believe it was for the best. As you all know, he was an incredibly strong willed character with huge reserves of inner strength but I believe this time it was just too much for him to cope with. I will miss him terribly; we have lost yet another legend this year, a special man, a faithful friend, a devoted speedway fan, and most of all, a wonderful dad. I will post further details once we have set the necessary processes in action; I would appreciate if you can let people know who are not on Facebook who knew him what has happened. Rest in peace, Dad Carys & Andy

Kelsey Dugard is back with the Eastbourne IT First Eagles. He returns after a year way from Arlington riding on the Isle of Wight. Dugard was a member of the Eagles’ inaugural 2015 National League team but missed out on a team slot last year. Eagles’ team manager – and Kelsey’s older brother, Connor, – said: “. I'll be one of the first to admit I didn't think he was up to it at times. I have told him where he's at as opposed to where he thinks he's at. “In fairness I look at his average and it has gone down, however, the league was harder last year and he did ride at number 2 so that was fair enough and he didn't actually crash as much as he did in the previous year. "We have a deal with Kelsey with regards to his fitness and bike maintenance which has been a major problem in the past. However, he has promised us that will change. “He really has to crack on this year and establish himself at this level as riders that started at the same time as him really have progressed massively in the past two seasons." Kelsey said: “"It's great to be back at Eastbourne. I understand what's expected of me this time around. I really enjoyed last year at the IoW with Base (Club number 1, Mark Baseby) and I want to enjoy it again. I look forward to seeing all the fans." Eastbourne have now announced Mark Baseby, Connor Coles, Georgie Wood, Tom Brennan, Charley Powell and Kelsey Dugard. The last signing is due to be announced at the end of this month by the IT First Eagles Management.

Three meetings in three days face the Eastbourne IT First Eagles this weekend. On Friday (September 21) they head to the Sittingbourne track of the Kent Kings for a four-team tournament. On Saturday (September 22) they host the King’s Lynn Young Stars before heading to the Peak District the following day to take on Buxton. This flurry of action comes ahead of a trip to Cradley’s Monmore Green track on Tuesday, September 27, for the first leg of the KO Cup semi-final before heading back to Kent on September 30 for the first leg of the semi-finals league plays offs. Team manager Connor Dugard said: “It is really good that the boys are busy now we are coming to the semi-finals of the KO Cup and the play offs. “We are on a roll and this will help keep it going. We don't want them going ‘cold’ at a crucial point in the season.” Eastbourne are the defending Kent County Fours champions and will look to successfully defend that title on Friday. “Of course, we want to win,” said Dugard. Winning is a good habit to have and we want to establish the upper-hand over Kent before the play off semi-final the following week,” he commented. Team: Kelsey Dugard, Tom Brennan, Ellis Perks, Georgie Wood. Dugard said the Young Stars had threatened at one stage to break into the play offs race but had come up short. “They are a young team from a club where the emphasis is on bringing on riders to potentially step up to the Stars Elite League team. “They have some good racers in their National League outfit and it will be a tough challenge for us, just at a time when we need some hard racing,” he said. Eastbourne welcome back Adam Ellis at No 1 after missing last week's meeting while competing in meetings in the Czech Republic. The racing starts at 7.30pm on Saturday at Arlington. A challenge junior match between Reading and Weymouth will follow the National League and WILL NOT be held before, as had been advertised earlier in the month. September 23: Kent County Fours – away September 24: King’s Lynn (NL) – home September 25: Buxton (NL) – away September 27: Cradley (KOC s/f 1) – away September 30: Kent (NL PO s/f 1) - away October 7: Kent (NL PO s/f 2) – home October 12: King’s Lynn (NL) – away October 15: Cradley (KOC s/f 2) - home

And me too

Christina was the referee !

This has been discussed on Facebook. It is not going to happen. Planners have said it is not sustainable anyway.

Gary is still waiting for a date for his operation which was delayed due to a bad RTI which the hospital had to deal with.

Really glad Ben is fixed up again.

Suspected dislocated shoulder

Really ? I will give him a chance before writing him off !

Luke Harris is the 7th member of the Eagles ! Former British Youth Champion Luke Harris completes the newly revamped Eastbourne IT First Eagles! The three time British Champion joins the Eagles after having been left on the sidelines at the start of the 2016 Season. Harris, 17 from Northolt will ride at the number 2 position for the Eagles in replace of the injured Richard Andrews. Connor earlier on today said "There was a very small pool of riders and I put them into piles and worked out the pros and cons and every time the answer came back to Luke. We believe he will thrive in this atmosphere with the experience of Adam & Jake as well as the passion to win that both Georgie and Ellis show." Luke has been very active in the off season with Poultec riding at Scunthorpe and Kings Lynn. Learning not only on track experience but everything he needs to know off the track and in the workshop. As well as racing in the Scunthorpe amateur meetings. Martin Dugard club chairman said "We tried signing Luke last year but unfortunately he had already gone to Cradley. We feel Luke has a lot of potential and Eastbourne is the club to help him kick on with his speedway career like he has shown on the grasstrack." Everything has finally clicked for us we feel and we can't wait for the season to really get going now after all the terrible news we have had recently! Georgie Wood will take over the role of Club Captain in Richard Andrews absence.

he Eastbourne 'IT First Eagles' can now confirm that they have rebuilt their team for the 2016 season having only completed one league meeting. The Eagles management were forced into the changes after club number 1 Kyle Hughes broke his ankle in a horrible crash at Arlington on the dawn of the season. If this wasn't enough bad news the team were then dealt even worse luck when club Captain Richard Andrews hit the back wheel of Kent rider James Shanes. After a week resting his arm Richard went to the A&E again and was informed he had a broken scaphoid. Leaving club director Connor Dugard in an even harder situation having already dropped Ben Hopwood days before to make way for a potential number 1. The club had signed Ellis Perks to replace Hopwood giving the side an extra 0.86 to gain a higher averaged number 1 to replace Kyle. Today the club can confirm that Adam Ellis will join the Eagles as the clubs new number 1! Adam who has been scoring very highly in the nations top league is a brilliant addition to the seaside club! Connor said: "Adam was the man to complete the puzzle he was the rider I first enquired about and after a bit of time he wanted to join the club! He was by far the best visitor last year and it's great to have him join us! I must extend our thanks to Matt Ford at Poole and Jon Cook at Lakeside for letting us use Adam." Adam said "I'm really excited to be joining Eastbourne. They do the business on and off the track and I'm looking forward to joining them."

I read somewhere that it starts 6.30 for fans

http://www.eastbourneeagles.co/news.php?extend.896

BRITISH Speedway’s third tier is celebrating a major new sponsorship deal for the 2016 campaign. The National League, which this season has been boosted in number to twelve clubs, has secured title sponsorship with long-established tour company Travel Plus Tours. The league will now be known as the Travel Plus National League – and owner James Easter, who has joined Mildenhall in an advisory role this winter, admits he has huge enthusiasm for the sport at this level. Easter said: “Having been involved in the sport for well over 30 years it had always been an ambition to do something like this, and I’m absolutely delighted that we’re going to be sponsoring the National League. “We did the Premier League KO Cup last year, and now with my involvement at Mildenhall I thought this would fit in quite nicely. “We’re determined to help out with the development of young British riders in any way we can, and this is the best way for us to do it. “It’s a really good league. I’ve been to matches at places like Cradley (at Wolverhampton), Birmingham and Mildenhall and I’ve always been very impressed with the standard of the racing. “The atmosphere amongst the riders and fans at Mildenhall’s pre-season event last Saturday was quite staggering, I hadn’t seen anything like it for years, and that really made my mind up about doing this. “We will be getting around as many tracks as possible, not only to promote our products but also to see how the riders are coming along, and we’re all really happy with it.” National League co-ordinator Peter Morrish said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming James and all at Travel Plus Tours as our title sponsors. It’s a big boost for the league. “I’m delighted that we have secured a title sponsorship, and we look forward to working with them throughout what promises to be a very exciting season.”

Home at 12 and away 6.30

Indeed that is what we did at Eastbourne when the official forum was closed by Mr Cook. Thankfully the new promotion at Arlington are keen to embrace the internet even more than the old.

Make a date in your diary: Friday, March 18, for press, practice and fans' forum. Plans for the event are still being developed but the aim is to build on last year's hugely successful event, which combined a corporate event. Last year more than 400 people attended and club director Connor Dugard said the aim was to do it all again - "but bigger and better". Provisional timetable 2pm - Stadium open to business representatives, guests and sponsors. 6:30pm - Stadium open to both sponsors, business' AND SUPPORTERS. Meet the riders watch them practice and have your photos taken. 7:45pm - A fans' forum where Martin, Connor, Glenn, Paul Goldsmith (IT First) and the riders will be present for Q&A on the new season. Following the fans' forum, there will be a staff meeting where new staff will be selected for the coming season. Keep your eyes peeled for more info as we move forward to the event.

According to Connor all 7 are signed up.