Rob Woffinden Memorial Meeting

[Scunny Stag 72]

From scunthorpespeedway.com

 

Scunthorpe Speedway are delighted to announce that one of the club’s legends, Rob Woffinden (pictured above with son Tai and wife Sue), who died of cancer aged just 47 in January, will be honoured with the first staging of the Rob Woffinden Memorial Meeting on Friday 8th October. The meeting will see six of the Jotun Paints Scunthorpe Saints riders in a sixteen rider field race over twenty heats. It is expected that some of the Team Viking touring side will extend their stay in Britain to take part whilst three former Saints’ riders, Kyle Howarth, James Sarjeant and Richard Franklin are hoping to race.

 

Promoter Rob Godfrey, who counted Woffinden as a close friend, is happy to be able to honour one of the most popular guys to have graced the sport. “In Kenny Smith and Rob Woffinden we have two of the sport’s great personalities linked to this club and it was so cruel that they died so young. Just like Kenny, Rob was loved by so many in the sport and it is great to be able to honour them both over the next few weeks. Rob’s widow, Sue, is going to present the trophies and I’m sure there will be a few tears shed around the stadium on the 8th as we run this meeting in honour a truly great man”.

 

The six Saints riders lined-up to take part are Gary Irving, Steve Worrall, Scott Richardson, Ashley Birks, Adam Wrathall and Richie Worrall whilst 2009 Saints’ riders Kyle Howarth, James Sarjeant and Richard Franklin are expected to compete. Howarth’s participation does depend on Somerset not arranging a meeting that night but he is keen to ride whilst Swedish riders Jonas Messing and Robin Bergqvist plus Danes Jonas B. Andersson, Thomas Jorgensen and Patrick Tarp are all to be invited to ride. The field will come together over the next few days but one thing can be guaranteed; there will be sixteen young riders hoping to become the very first winner of the Rob Woffinden Memorial Trophy. Godfrey added “I’m sure it is going to be a great meeting. The National League boys are so keen to progress in the sport and some of the Team Viking riders are undoubtedly looking for Premier League places next year. It is sure to be keenly fought and with our track I’m sure we’ll see some outstanding racing as usual”.

 

This week the action at the Eddie Wright Raceway is on Saturday night (2nd October, 7pm start time) when the Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions take on the Somerset Rebels in the second leg of the Young Shield Quarter-final. The first leg is at the Rebel’s Oak Tree Arena on Friday night (1st October).

[June 203]

Thats a nice gesture by Mr Godfrey to stage this meeting in memory of Rob......To have the youngsters riding is tribute to Rob (Wuffy) who was very often at Scunny raceway helping the young ones.....Looks like being a good nights racing and for many of us a tearful one. that'll be 2 on the trot!

[montie 1,273]

Great that this meeting is happening,should be good,after being entertained by the saints all season,will be nice to see them pitched against each other and against the team viking chappies

[Scunny Stag 72]

From www.scunthorpespeedway.com

 

Friday night sees Scunthorpe Speedway salute one of the sport’s most popular characters at the Eddie Wright Raceway. An exciting mixture of riders line-up to honour Rob Woffinden, the former Scunthorpe rider, who died of cancer in January. Woffinden first rode for his hometown side in 1978, aged just sixteen, and was a member of the side for all bar one season through to the club’s closure in 1985. Then, in 2006 he returned from Australia to bring his 15-year old son, Tai, back to ride for the Henderson Insurance Scorpions in the National League.

 

It is the club’s National League side who form the basis of Friday’s field with six of the sixteen rider field. Gary Irving, who had Premier League experience with the Scorpions and Redcar this season, is perhaps the pre-meeting favourite but he is unlikely to have things his own way. His Jotun Paints Saints team-mates Ashley Birks, Scott Richardson, Adam Wrathall, Richie Worrall and Luke Chessell all know the fastest way around their home track whilst they are joined by two 2009 Saints’ riders in Richard Franklin and James Sarjeant and 2008 Saint Ricky Scarboro. Many eyes will be on the Danish duo of Thomas Jørgensen and Patrick Tarp, with 20-year old Tarp, who rides for Holstebro in the Danish 1st division, is set to drive over from the continent especially for the meeting whilst 18-year old Jørgensen (pictured), who rides in the Danish Superleague for Brovst, looks set for a Premier League team place in 2011.

 

It had been hoped that a couple of Swedish Elite League riders, Jonas Messing and Robin Bergqvist, might have been able to ride in the meeting but instead it seems one or both may make it over the Kenny Smith Memorial meeting on Friday week (15th October, 7.30pm start). Buxton’s Australian Robert Branford, who has had an impressive debut season, young Scot Greg Blair, who is looking for another opportunity in the Premier League, Rye House’s 16-year old Ben Morley, who made his debut in the higher league with two points against King’s Lynn tonight, and 17-year old Jack Hirst, who has claimed some experienced scalps in the club’s amateur meetings, take the number of teenagers in the field to ten whilst completing the field is only the second rider (Scarboro being the other) who is older than 22. Still young and improving, 24-year old Lewis Dallaway (who along with Branford) looks like claiming a National League title with Buxton whilst at reserve Conor Dwyer and David Holt bring the teen count to twelve.

 

With twenty heats and several potential winners of the trophy Promoter Rob Godfrey believes the meeting is going to be a thriller. “You look at the riders and there are six or eight who could win it whilst any one of them could finish well up. You have to look at Gary (Irving) and Ash (Birks) but don’t write off the rest of the Saints. Then of course you have the two Danes. Thomas (Jørgensen) looks pretty useful whilst Patrick Tarp isn’t travelling all the way back to make up the line-up. He, like so many of the lads, wants to impress and win a Premier League space. Greg Blair, Ben Morley and Robert Branford have impressed on our track whilst I’m sure Richard Franklin and James Sarjeant feel they have a point to prove after joining Dudley last winter”.

 

“What is for sure is that they will do Rob proud. He would have loved to have been here for the meeting and I guess in so many ways he will be. Sue (Rob’s widow) has agreed to present the trophies and I’m sure there will be a few tears shed as we honour a great man. Let’s hope we get a decent turnout and we can make this an annual meeting”.

 

The action gets under way at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday (8th October, 7.30pm start time) whilst at the same time the Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions are down in the South West taking on the Somerset Rebels in the second leg of the Young Shield Quarter-final. The side won the first leg by a colossal 70-20 and barring a complete disaster should progress the semi-finals. The Scorpions line-up is (English unless stated): David Howe, 2. Viktor Bergström (Sweden), 3. Steve Worrall (covering for Tero Aarnio who is riding in the Swedish Playoff Final), 4. Carl Wilkinson, 5. Magnus Karlsson (Sweden), 6. Jan Graversen (Denmark), 7. Jay Herne (Australia – guest cover for the injured Jerran Hart).

[markm 8]

just like to thank every one at scunny for last night great night.

 

many thanks

ben morley

[montie 1,273]

top meeting last night,there is something fantastic about these youngsters racing,just a shame a few more didnt turn up to see them

 

Fair play to Tommy for winning the meeting and getting on the pa to tell everyone he had signed,great to see

 

Ben Morley really looked quite a talent,would love to see him ride for the saints next year!!!

 

For the rest,Irving was as entertaining as ever and Richie Worrall,WOW,i could watch him all day!!!!

 

Hope the injured lads are ok

[gypilgrim 0]

top meeting last night,there is something fantastic about these youngsters racing,just a shame a few more didnt turn up to see them

 

Fair play to Tommy for winning the meeting and getting on the pa to tell everyone he had signed,great to see

 

Ben Morley really looked quite a talent,would love to see him ride for the saints next year!!!

 

For the rest,Irving was as entertaining as ever and Richie Worrall,WOW,i could watch him all day!!!!

 

Hope the injured lads are ok

 

Holding the baby last night so I couldn't make it.

 

Hope that Tommy is "all that", it will be interesting to see how he gets on in the Kenny Smith meeting next week when he will face a better field.

 

Richie has a great style, really like him and Steve. Noticed that he was the only rider to beat Tommy last night .

Edited October 9, 2010 by Exiled Cuda

[waco 1,026]

Exciting meeting.. The danes look real talents particularly Thomas Jorgensen who has signed for the Scorpions and Patrick Tarp who will surely secure a team place somewhere next season if he wants one ..Ben Morley after breaking a primery chain in his second ride and then changing his gearing reeled off 3 great wins to secure the runners up place on the rostrum also looks a fine prospect..Others who had their moments and some bad luck included Ashley Birks ..Gary Irving.. Greg Blair..Scott Richardson..and Richie Worrel the only rider to defeat Thomas Jorgenson A very well put together meeting that deserved a far better turn out..Well done Rob Godfrey and all at Scunthorpe....

[chopper 88]

Hope the injured lads are ok

 

Thanks for your concern, i can confirm Robert has an injured shoulder, how bad we arent sure, but hes hoping to ride Sunday.

This was a result of his first fall when someone couldnt avoid him and collected his shoulder.

The second fall was a result of the shoulder, he felt that he could ride(typical 16 yr old) but when he got to turn three his shoulder

gave way and he coulndt hold the bike.

 

Cheers Chopper