All set for Pairs shot
Peter Kildemand and Nick Morris will fly the R.E.D Bandits, powered by…
Tigers return as we roar back into action
Saturday 13 June, 7pm: R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS v Glasgow Tigers. Cab Direct Championship Buy tickets
Finally! The opportunity to preview some speedway action in the Borders and it’s back with a bang, the mighty Glasgow Tigers – Harris, Howarth and Flint – rolling into town on a revenge mission.
Not only have they already lost at Shielfield Park, a defeat which set them on the road to missing out on BSN Series qualification, but having been dumped out the Knockout Cup by Plymouth, the Cab Direct Championship play-offs remain their only hope for team silverware in 2026.
Two narrow home wins over Plymouth and Workington plus defeat at Scunthorpe means their unconvincing start to the season has continued.
But with three Shielfield specialists and back-up from another former Bandit in Sam Hagon and impressive winter signing Kevin Juhl Pedersen, the Bandits will have their work cut out to repeat the heroics of April.
One positive about what will be a 49-day gap between home meetings is that it has given two key contributors to that 49-41 triumph an opportunity to work their way back to fitness.
Peter Kildemand has recovered from his broken collarbone but Reid Battye is still awaiting the all-clear on his vertebrae injury and Jordan Jenkins has been signed on a 28-day contract to cover the Australian’s absence.
At 43-years old Chris “Bomber” Harris shows no sign of slowing down and recently qualified for the Grand Prix Challenge. His uncharacteristic three-point return – even then his points came via the fastest winning time around Shielfield this season – was a big factor in the BSN Series clash, although Howarth and Flint stepped into the gap left by their skipper’s off night.
The first green sheet averages of the season see Hagon in familiar territory, promoted into the main body of the team early in the season after starting as reserve.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Ag | Pt |
| Poole Pirates | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 160 | 110 | 1 | 7 |
| Scunthorpe Scorpions | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 241 | 209 | 0 | 6 |
| Edinburgh Monarchs | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 143 | 127 | 1 | 5 |
| Plymouth Gladiators | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 135 | 133 | 0 | 4 |
| Glasgow Tigers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 173 | 187 | 0 | 4 |
| Oxford Cheetahs | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 86 | 94 | 0 | 2 |
| Workington Comets | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 172 | 184 | 0 | 2 |
| Berwick Bandits | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 59 | 0 | 0 |
| Redcar Bears | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 117 | 153 | 0 | 0 |
With Kildemand and Jenkins finding their feet much of the Berwick focus will fall on Nick Morris who has filled the Bandits blanks in by successfully guesting for a number Championship clubs and scoring freely with Premiership Leicester and Victor Palovaara who was just two points away from joining Harris in the GP Challenge, missing out by a hairs-breadth at Ashfield.
As always accompanied under-16s go free and in case you’ve forgotten gates open at 6pm, first race is at 7pm with admission by E-ticket or cash on the gate only.
