Category: Bears News

Ben Barker has made a very speedy recovery from his domestic fall and will be riding at Berwick tonight for the S.G.Petch Bears.
Promoter Kevin Keay said:

“With Bens previous spinal injuries we were concerned about his situation but Ben has been given clearance to ride and has been on the phone constantly to make sure he can be included at Berwick tonight. We look forward to having a full 7 rider side and look forward to a tough match against the Bandits”.

Berwick Bandits Speedway
STADIUM SECURITY UPDATE

Following the attack at the Manchester Arena this week, when 22 lives were tragically lost and many injured, plus the updated change in the ‘terror threat alert’ across the UK to ‘critical’, new guidelines have been issued to all stadiums in the UK in order to ensure the safety of customers, fans and of staff.

So with immediate effect, along with other stadiums and arenas in the UK, Shielfield Park Stadium is to put in place additional security measures and bag checks, these being carried by persons as they approach or come into the stadium.

Stadium Management advise that if anyone refuses to allow their bag or bags to be searched by Stadium Security/Stewards, they will be REFUSED entry into the Stadium.

It is therefore requested for safety and convenience that fans take this into account and arrive early (Gates open 6pm) if that is at all possible and consider not bringing in bags at all or bring only essential items in small bags. Customers are reminded that there is a wide range of food and beverages on sale within the Stadium at reasonable prices, so there is no need to bring large bags containing items like flasks and own prepared or pre-purchased food items and in the interests of security they would ask that people desist from doing so.

The club remind fans of stadium guidelines on bringing food and drink into the stadium, this contained within ‘Admission Details’ each week on Page 4 of the Meeting programme.

The club and visiting club, Redcar, will hold a minute’s standing silence before we start the racing tomorrow, Saturday 27th May, as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives on Monday and to their friends, families and the City of Manchester and invite all fans and staff to join them.
The club remind everyone attending sporting meetings and other events across the country in the coming days, weeks and months that vigilance is necessary in these times.

Redcar SG Petch Bears returned to winning ways with a comfortable 51-42 victory over the Scunthorpe Scorpions at the Media Prima Arena on Thursday night.

It was a great team effort from the Bears, who were missing Ben Barker due to an accident suffered at home on Thursday morning. Our best wishes go to Ben, who spent Thursday in hospital. The meeting started off with a minutes silence to pay respects to the victims of the tragic incident in Manchester on Monday night.

The meeting itself started off fairly close, and indeed after heat 3 the scores were still level. After that the Bears, aided by a superb home debut by Danny Ayres, took control of the meeting and after 11 heats held a commanding 16 point lead. A tactical ride victory for Lewis Kerr helped close the gap for Scunthorpe, but they ultimately left themselves with too much to do to come away with a league point.

For the Bears, Ayres made a superb start to his career on Teesside with an excellent 8+2 which included a win in his first ride. The returning Ellis Perks rode like he had never been away for a superb 10+1 and Charles Wright also returned from injury to top score with 12. For Scunthorpe, Lewis Kerr top scored with an excellent 14+1 with Michael Palm Toft scoring 11.

The Bears are next in action away at Berwick on Saturday, before facing Glasgow back at the Media Prima Arena next Thursday.

 Redcar = 51

1. Jason Garrity 3, R, 2, 3, 2, F = 10
2. Fernando Garcia 0, 3, 2′, 0, = 5+1
3. Charles Wright Fx, 3, 3, 3, 0, 3 = 12
4. Jonas B Andersen 1, 1, 2′, 2 = 6+1
5. Ben Barker R/R (DA 1, CW 3, JG 3, EP 0 = 7)
6. Danny Ayres 3, 1, 2′, 1, 1′ = 8+2
7. Ellis Perks 2′, 3, 3, 2, 0 = 10+1
8. Ryan Burton DNR

Scunthorpe = 42

1. Michael Palm Toft 2, 2, 2, 3, 2 = 11
2. Carl Wilkinson 1′, 0, 1 = 2+1
3. Lewis Kerr 3, 1, 3, 6!, 1′ = 14+1
4. Ryan Douglas 2′, 0, 1, 0 = 3+1
5. Josh Auty 2, 1′, 1, 1 = 5+1
6. Tero Aarnio 1, 2, F, 0, 1, 3 = 7
7. Josh Bailey 0, 0, 0 = 0

Redcar SG Petch Bears promoter Kevin Keay will again appear on BBC Tees Sports show this evening., looking ahead to the Scunthorpe meeting this Thursday. This will be broadcast at around 6:45pm.

Redcar SG Petch Bears will look to get back to winning ways this Thursday, as they take on Scunthorpe Scorpions at the Media Prima Arena with a prompt 7:30pm start.

Injury hit Bears suffered defeat at home to Workington last time out, losing their 100% home record in the process. Bears manager Jitendra Duffill was disappointed, but is keen not to panic:

It was obviously very disappointing to lose at home last week against Workington. I said before the meeting that we were vulnerable as we have been decimated by injury. In those situations it is essential to have a high scoring reserve which we did not have. I have to congratulate Workington who took advantage and were the better team on the night. However,  it is still early in the season and I see no need to panic as things are starting to look much brighter.  

One of those bright spots is the return of Ellis Perks this week. The young Brit, arguably the most impressive number 7 in the league so far this season, had been sidelined after a crash whilst riding for Rye House but will return for the Bears on Thursday. He will be joined at reserve by new signing Danny Ayres, who replaced Richard Hall this week. Duffill believes the side now looks much stronger:

This week we see Danny Ayres make his debut for us and the return of Ellis Perks. I think we look much stronger as a result and if Danny can produce the form I believe he is capable of we will have a very strong reserve pairing. The options available to me during the meeting will keep our top 5 on their toes as I won’t hesitate to give them extra rides if it is likely to score us more points.

Scunthorpe arrive at the Media Prima Arena having endured a tough start to the season, but have a number of riders in their side who go well around the Teesside track. Josh Auty and Carl Wilkinson are both ex-Bears, and they are led by Michael Palm Toft at number 1. New signing Tero Aarnio also takes his place at reserve for the Scorpions, he impressed in the Julie Lewis Memorial meeting earlier in the season. Duffill is looking for his side to get the maximum 3 points:

I’d like to welcome the Scunthorpe Scorpions and their supporters this week. I’m sure they will be keen to make amends for our victory there earlier in the year and they certainly look stronger with the addition of Tero Aarnio. Tero is a very strong rider to have at number 6 and he could make life very tough for us. We can’t afford to drop any more points at home so we need to make sure we perform as expected and come away with 3 league points.

Redcar: Jason Garrity, Coty Garcia, Charles Wright, Jonas B Andersen, Ben Barker, Danny Ayres, Ellis Perks
Scunthorpe: Michael Palm Toft, Carl WIlkinson, Lewis Kerr, Ryan Douglas, Josh Auty, Tero Aarnio, Josh Bailey

Redcar SG Petch Bears will now visit Edinburgh in Championship action on Friday 9th June. This was due to take place on August 25th.

Redcar SG Petch Bears battled hard, but fell to a 48-42 defeat to the Workington Comets at the Media Prima Arena on Thursday night.

The Comets came to Teesside full of confidence, and with a side full of riders who ride the Media Prima well and proved just too strong for the Bears on the night. Team GB international Craig Cook led the Comets superbly with 13 points, with great support from ex Bear Ty Proctor and Matt Williamson.

For the Bears, Ben Barker was again excellent and top scored with 14 points, only losing out to Craig Cook in the final heat. Jason Garrity gave good support with 10+1 and Jonas B Andersen scored 7. 

The meeting started with Workington getting their noses in front early, giving themselves a four point lead after 5 heats. Despite getting heat wins through Barker and Garrity, the Bears struggled to fill the minor places meaning heat advantages were hard to come by and the Comets retained a lead throughout the meeting. A Comets 5-1 in heat 12 through Proctor and Williamson pretty much sealed the victory for the Cumbrians, despite the ‘Suicide Squad’ efforts of Barker and Garrity in heats 13 and 15.

The Bears are next in action on Thursday 25th May, at home against the Scunthorpe Scorpions.

Redcar Bears = 42

1. Jason Garrity – 2,3,3,1,1* = 10+1
2. Fernando Garcia – 0,0,2,1 = 3
3. Charles Wright – 0,2,1*,F = 3+1
4. Jonas B Andersen – 2,0,2,3 = 7
5. Ben Barker – 3,3,3,3,2 = 14
6. Richard Hall – 2,0,0,0,0 = 2
7. Tom Bacon (Guest) – 1*,1,(RH-0),1 = 3+1

Workington Comets = 48

1. Craig Cook – 3,3,2,2,3 = 13
2. Mason Campton – 1,1,3,1* = 6+1
3. Ty Proctor – 3,2,2,3,0 = 10
4. James Sarjeant – 1,1*,0,2 = 4+1
5. Thomas Jorgensen – 2,2,3,0 = 7
6. Matt Williamson – 3,1*,1,(RS-0),2*,1* = 8+3
7. Robert Shuttleworth – 0,0,(MW-1),0,(MW-1*) = 0

Redcar SG Petch Bears promoter Kevin Keay will appear on BBC Tees Sport this evening to give an update on the latest Bears news and look ahead to the meeting against Workington this Thursday. He is due to be on around 6:45pm.

We can also announce that Card Payments will now also be available within the stadium.

After a weeks break, this Thursday sees the Redcar SG Petch Bears return to the Media Prima Arena as they take on the Workington Comets in Championship action (7:30pm start prompt.)

It has been a tough couple of weeks for the Bears, with injuries and other commitments taking their toll resulting in away defeats at Glasgow and Sheffield. Ellis Perks will again miss the meeting following his nasty crash at Poole, sustaining a suspected hairline fracture of his kneecap and strained medial knee ligaments. Peterborough’s Tom Bacon will guest in his place, with the rest of the team back to full strength. 

Bears manager Jitendra Duffill admits that losing Ellis is a big blow:

Ellis is probably the worst rider we could have lost to injury as he is riding about 3 points above his 2.38 average. Finding guests is proving to be extremely difficult. I approached every single rider named in a Championship or Premiership declaration that was eligible to guest for Ellis at Glasgow and not one of them were available. I’d like to thank Shelby Rutherford for standing in for Ellis as it was looking like we were unable to field a side at all at one point. We are much weaker without Ellis and to be honest we are a completely different team in his absence.  Until he returns we can only try and make the best of a difficult situation.

The match will also provide Richard Hall an opportunity to say his goodbyes to the Redcar fans, and to put himself in the shop window, as he rides his last meeting for the club. Hall will be replaced by Danny Ayres from next Thursday meeting.

Workington come to the Media Prima Arena with a strong looking side, and one with riders that have had excellent meetings here in the past. Team GB International Craig Cook leads the Comets, and both Thomas Jorgensen and Ty Proctor know the quickest way around the MPA. And down at reserve Matt Williamson is having an excellent season. Duffill is certainly wary of the threat posed:

Workington’s top 3 of Craig Cook, Thomas Jorgensen and Ty Proctor all have very good records around the Media Prima Arena and our top 5 will have to work hard again to outscore them. We need a big performance from them again if we want to maintain our 100% record at home in the  SGB Championship, something that is vital for us to do if we are to make the play offs later in the season. The oppositions trump card could be Matt Williamson at reserve and I’d like Richard Hall to show us all what he is capable of by outscoring him. We all know that he is more than capable of doing that. I keep reminding all of our riders every week that if they outscore their opposite number then we will come away with a victory.

Tapes up are at 7:30pm, we hope to see as many you as possible!

Redcar: Jason Garrity, Coty Garcia, Charles Wright, Jonas B Andersen, Ban Barker, Richard Hall, Tom Bacon (guest)
Workington: Craig Cook, Mason Campton, Ty Proctor, James Sarjeant, Thomas Jorgensen, Matt Williamson, Rob Shuttleworth.

The S.G.Petch Bears have today informed Richard Hall that he is to be released from his contract at the end of the week and will be replaced in the Bears line up by Danny Ayres.
The Bears have not taken the decision lightly but with Richard not having produced the form he is capable off and the prospect of missing Ellis Perks for a length of time the club have taken the decision that a change was needed. The move was compounded by the pending changes in averages and having to accommodate the possible return of Tobias Busch.
The Bears management would like to put on record their thanks to Richard for his efforts this season and hope that with his new reduced average he may find a spot at another club very soon.
Promoter Kevin Keay said ” It’s not nice having to inform a rider he is to be released. Richard has always given his best but his gating has let him down and always made point scoring more difficult for him. He still has the ability to turn his form around but we simply had to make a change now if we are to strengthen the side due to the current regulations . He has shown some improvement in the last two away matches on the larger tracks but his form around Redcar has been disappointing so it is with some regret we have to release Richard. Personally I have found Richard a straight forward guy to deal with and wish him well for the future.
Thursday’s meeting against Workington will be Richard’s last meeting to showcase his talents to other club’s.
In signing Danny I think we have a rider who will come in and score points straight away and the fans will see yet another ‘ showman’ at the Media Prima Arena. He is a very exciting capture and should fit in well with the characters we already have in the side”.
Danny Ayres will make his debut for the Bears against Scunthorpe a week on Thursday in a redeclared Bears line up.