Post by squibby on Sept 3, 2019 12:32:00 GMT
The long-awaited Challenge meeting at NL level between the Gladiators and an Exeter Falcons Select took place at the Coliseum on Friday 30 August.
The Falcons lined up as follows:-
1) Ben Morley
2) Chad Wirtzfeld
3) Henry Atkins
4) Ryan Terry-Daley
5) R/R
6) Saul Bulley
7) Kai Ward
Jon Armstrong was due to ride at Number 5, but he hurt himself following a visit to the fence whilst having a practice at Loomer Road, Stoke. This was balanced out by Gladiators running R/R at four for the absent Nathan Stoneman, who was riding for Somerset Rebels at Redcar. Adam Sheppard and Kris Andrews rode for Plymouth, as of course did brother Richard.
Falcons led with a 4 -2 in heat 1, Chad Wirtzfeld relegating Adam Sheppard to last spot. A 4 - 2 to Plymouth followed, and the meeting see-sawed back and forth, with two drawn heats and two 4 - 2s to each side.Sadly, the heat advantage to Exeter in heat 8 proved to be the last action of the evening, with the scores at 24 - 24.
Adam Sheppard led from the tapes in heat 8, with Chad Wirtzfeld hot on his heels.As Adam exited the fourth bend on the last lap he drifted wide on to the loose stuff, and clipped the kickboard/fence just before the line. This threw him off very awkwardly, and he lay motionless on his back on the shale. After a lengthy period of medical attention, he was taken to Derriford Hospital, but a delay at A&E meant the ambulance and doctor did not return in time, and the meeting had to be abandoned. Happily, Adam has only a broken collarbone, which was good news considering how he fell, and he was able to attend the 90th Anniversary day in Exeter the following day.
There was just one exhibition race by the ' Men in Black ' riding three JAP-engined machines, and these were so evocative of the earlier days of speedway, with their open pipes and raspy sound. How real speedway bikes should sound, and the aroma of Castrol R - heaven !
Scorers for the Falcons :-
Ben Morley 8 ( 3 rides )
Chad Wirtzfeld 4 ( 4 )
Henry Atkins 3 ( 2 )
Ryan Terry-Daley 4 ( 2 )
Saul Bulley 3 ( 2 )
Kai Ward 2 ( 3 )
Adam Sheppard was awarded the win in heat 8 as he crossed the line still holding on to some part of his machine ! He scored 3 from three, with Richard Andrews on 5 from two, and Kris Andrews 3 from four rides.
Welshman Tom Young made a comeback to speedway after at least five years out, and looked competitive, scoring 4 points from two outings.
It was good to see the Falcons racejacket being worn in a full 15 heat meeting again, but a shame that it did not go the distance this time. That's speedway folks!
The Falcons lined up as follows:-
1) Ben Morley
2) Chad Wirtzfeld
3) Henry Atkins
4) Ryan Terry-Daley
5) R/R
6) Saul Bulley
7) Kai Ward
Jon Armstrong was due to ride at Number 5, but he hurt himself following a visit to the fence whilst having a practice at Loomer Road, Stoke. This was balanced out by Gladiators running R/R at four for the absent Nathan Stoneman, who was riding for Somerset Rebels at Redcar. Adam Sheppard and Kris Andrews rode for Plymouth, as of course did brother Richard.
Falcons led with a 4 -2 in heat 1, Chad Wirtzfeld relegating Adam Sheppard to last spot. A 4 - 2 to Plymouth followed, and the meeting see-sawed back and forth, with two drawn heats and two 4 - 2s to each side.Sadly, the heat advantage to Exeter in heat 8 proved to be the last action of the evening, with the scores at 24 - 24.
Adam Sheppard led from the tapes in heat 8, with Chad Wirtzfeld hot on his heels.As Adam exited the fourth bend on the last lap he drifted wide on to the loose stuff, and clipped the kickboard/fence just before the line. This threw him off very awkwardly, and he lay motionless on his back on the shale. After a lengthy period of medical attention, he was taken to Derriford Hospital, but a delay at A&E meant the ambulance and doctor did not return in time, and the meeting had to be abandoned. Happily, Adam has only a broken collarbone, which was good news considering how he fell, and he was able to attend the 90th Anniversary day in Exeter the following day.
There was just one exhibition race by the ' Men in Black ' riding three JAP-engined machines, and these were so evocative of the earlier days of speedway, with their open pipes and raspy sound. How real speedway bikes should sound, and the aroma of Castrol R - heaven !
Scorers for the Falcons :-
Ben Morley 8 ( 3 rides )
Chad Wirtzfeld 4 ( 4 )
Henry Atkins 3 ( 2 )
Ryan Terry-Daley 4 ( 2 )
Saul Bulley 3 ( 2 )
Kai Ward 2 ( 3 )
Adam Sheppard was awarded the win in heat 8 as he crossed the line still holding on to some part of his machine ! He scored 3 from three, with Richard Andrews on 5 from two, and Kris Andrews 3 from four rides.
Welshman Tom Young made a comeback to speedway after at least five years out, and looked competitive, scoring 4 points from two outings.
It was good to see the Falcons racejacket being worn in a full 15 heat meeting again, but a shame that it did not go the distance this time. That's speedway folks!