Monday briefing

Well not the way we wanted to go into our mid-season break, losing home and away to the Tigers was certainly not in the script.

The fact that Chris Harris, Leon Flint and Steve Worrall ride Shielfield Park well came as a surprise to no-one – ten heat wins between them 36 points tells a tale.

Bomber was unstoppable all weekend – except if you were Drew Kemp that is.

His heat five victory showed nerves of steel as he held on during that last lap. Their heat 15 encounter and the contested decision by referee Gary Allen has been the most watched – and replayed – segment on BSN this weekend.

And it all goes to show that no matter what technology you have at hand, it all comes down to an official’s interpretation and gut instinct at the end of the day.

And, as anyone within earshot of the pits’ telephone on Saturday night will attest, it normally leaves one rider happy and another, to say the least, not. It’s a view backed up by Scott Nicholls and Peter Shroeck from the previous night.

A tough night for two of our guests too who face some dental bills.

Teenager Sam Hagon snapped a tooth – the medics managed to find it and preserve it in milk in case it can be reattached!

Obviously the force of impact to break a tooth is such that, despite passing the concussion protocols, young Sam was withdrawn from the meeting as he was feeling a big groggy and in considerable pain.

He also missed Leicester’s trip to Belle Vue in the Championship on Monday night but was expected to take his place in the National Development League Riders’ Championship on Wednesday night.

Even if it wasn’t on his home Championship track the British under-21 champion would start as favourite, especially with Oxford’s Luke Killeen absent on Championship  duty.

Sam has enjoyed a hugely impressive campaign in 2024. In fact along with Luke Harrison, Ben Trigger and Jake Mulford he has shown that a first season of struggle in the Championship is the perfecting grounding for progress in the second.

Food for thought for some keyboard warriors?

Probably not.

While the Tigers were prowling Shielfield Park, reserve Freddy Hodder was watching it rain in Poland. The European under-19 Pairs final was abandoned after one heat and restaged the next day when a superb performance from Oxford’s Ashton Boughen – 13 points from six rides – helped Great Britain into a three-way tie for the bronze medal. He was pipped by Denmark’s Bastian Pedersen in the run-off.

Freddy didn’t get a ride in the final but picked up plenty of experience over the weekend along with former Berwick Academy and current Scunthorpe reserve Luke Harrison.

Freddy is also in the NDLRC at Wimborne Road on Wednesday – it’s being streamed by PiratesTV if you want to watch – along with former Bullets Jamie Halder, Ace Pijper and Connor Coles.

Jason Garrad would probably have been in line for a call-up for the big night with Oxford Charger Jody Scott expected to replace the injured Adam Roynon – he damaged a shoulder avoiding young Jody at Redcar on Friday – when the Cheetahs face Workington on Wednesday.

Instead he is having further x-rays on what is feared to be a broken wrist. Jason’s another heading for the dentists as a result of his violent off in heat 14. The second knocked out tooth of the night.

Maybe more will consider following skipper Lewi Kerr’s lead and add a gumshield to the list of safety equipment.

Incredible to think that probably more than half in attendance on Saturday can remember a time when riders wore open face helmets and cloth monkey masks while racing. It doesn’t bear thinking about just how bad Jason’s facial damage would have been with a 1980s set-up!

No speedway here at Shielfield for the next four Saturday. When we return to action – at Oxford on July 24 before Edinburgh visit Shielfield Park two days later, there’ll be a new set of green sheet averages in place and the Cab Direct Championship table will give more of an indication of who’s going to the play-offs.

So fellow stattos, enjoy along with a pictorial reminder of the weekend just past.

Rolling averages (20 meetings, season 2022-2024 only)

2024 only (14 meetings, bonus points don’t count in averages)

Great Britain Pictures courtesy: Steve Hone

Bandits v Tigers Pictures: Taylor Lanning