Swales: It’s an open contest!
Redcar co-promoter Jamie Swales believes tomorrow’s Julie Lewis Memorial meeting will be a closely contested affair across both the qualifier and the main event. The 22 heat bonanza gets underway with tapes up at 7:30 at the ECCO Arena.
Swales thinks the supporters are in for a tight, entertaining meeting, ” The format means that the highest averaged heat leader (Danny King) gets last pick whilst the lowest averaged heat leader (Leon Flint) gets first pick from the qualifiers so that lends itself to a tight affair. In saying that, I also think Leon (Flint) stands a decent chance, if his team can pack into 2nd and 3rd in each race they will win the meeting.”
Swales believes this meeting gives the 6 “Agilia” Bears the opportunity to test out some set-ups, ” The great thing about this meeting is that the boys can try some different things out without the pressure of it being a league meeting. Sometimes it’s hard to see if things are working as you’d like them during practice so racing in a meeting like the Julie Lewis is the best time to try out different things.”
Swales also explained the absence of the 7th Bear, Jake Mulford, ” Jake has another racing commitment in the south of France, he was back in the UK for 2 meetings this week and then he was straight back out for another meeting in France.”
The cheery co-promoter also confirmed the rules for the meeting, with a slight tweak to the 2021 format, ” In the main event, the reserve must take at least 1 ride as in previous years but in this year’s event there will be no final with the winner being decided by the points scored across the 2nd half of the event.”
Swales is also hopeful of a good turnout for the meeting with admission being reduced to £15 for adults, ” I am hoping for a good crowd this Friday, we have put together a decent field, we have extra heats than normal and we always put on a good show regardless.”
The qualifier has star attractions including the recently crowned British Women’s Open Champion Celina Liebmann in her first mixed gender event in the UK whilst Jake Turner (recently released from Plymouth) makes his debut at the ECCO Arena. Meanwhile, Bears men Jason Edwards, Danyon Hume & Connor Bailey will be hoping to get the better of their boss, co-promoter Jade Mudgway who is also dusting off his kevlars tomorrow night!
The 5 heatleaders who will join in the action after the qualifier include Redcar’s Charles Wright, Danny King and Erik Riss whilst Berwick’s Leon Flint and Belle Vue’s Norick Blodorn are also set to compete.
The meeting is run in memory of the much loved former office manager Julie Lewis.The Qualifier will start the meeting with a 12 rider individual, packed with Cab Direct Championship riders all aiming to finish in the top 5 to secure their place in the Main Event. All is not lost for those finishing lower down the line as positions 6 to 10 will head into the Main Event as reserves.
Five seeded Heat Leaders await their partners in the Main Event, a pairs meeting taking on a 4,3,2,0 scoring system. The battle commences over 10 heats with the winners being the team with the highest points from the main event.
The Qualifier
Danyon Hume (Redcar & Ipswich)
James Pearson (Plymouth & Belle Vue Colts)
Ben Trigger (Plymouth & Mildenhall
Jason Edwards (Redcar)
Celina Liebmann (Unattached)
Jake Turner (Unattached)
Connor Bailey (Redcar & Workington)
Josh Warren (Mildenhall)
Elliot Kelly (Workington)
George Congreve (Mildenhall)
Sam McGurk (Workington)
Jade Mudgway (Redcar)
The main event
Danny King (Redcar & Ipswich)
Erik Riss (Redcar & Ipswich)
Charles Wright (Redcar & Belle Vue)
Norick Blodorn (Belle Vue)
Leon Flint (Berwick & Wolverhampton)