Workington Comets
The American Dream
Words by John Walsh, Photography by Paul Robinson
Workington Comets will not start the 2011 season until Saturday, April 2 - but there's a special treat for Cumbrian speedway fans very early in the campaign.
The American Dream Team - almost annual visitors to the UK these days - will be riding at Derwent Park on April 16. It's part of a double header when the Comets will be riding against Redcar Bears in the Premier League.
Comets owner Keith Denham said: "I'm delighted to have sorted out a date with the Americans because I know they will provide top class entertainment. I'm not sure of the team which will be racing against them but it will include some talented young riders from this country."
"It's a big day for us with two matches being served-up in a double header and I'm sure it will be worth the effort in putting it on."
"This is a major boost for Workington Speedway as we will be hosting a match featuring young talent who are keen to impress on the bigger stage. The team to face the US will primarily consist of Premier League reserves and Conference League riders."
"I'd like to see Gary Irving in the team and see how he goes around Derwent Park, but we're also open to suggestions from fans as to who they'd like to see in the line-up."
"The format of the event is still being negotiated and further details and line-up will be announced in due course, however I can confirm our own American Kenny Ingalls, will form part of the US team. The match will either be a 12 or 15 heat format but as yet, I can't confirm."
The Workington track staff have been getting back into action on Saturday mornings at Derwent Park, carrying out important maintenance work before the track itself gets the full treatment in the build-up to April 2 and the visit of Scunthorpe Scorpions.
The Comets completed their line-up by re-signing their former reserve Charles Wright and already fans are predicting a major challenge for title glory.
The team put together by owner Denham and team manager Tony Jackson looks as strong a septet as Workington have had in their history, both pre 1999 and since.
The quality of the side - James Wright, Richard Lawson, Tomas Topinka, Peter Kildemand, Rusty Harrison, Kenny Ingalls and Charles Wright -is pretty clear and if Workington can avoid the dreaded injuries there is no reason why they can't be challenging for honours.
As the team looks strong, the fans have rallied to the cause and as a consequence a new Supporters Club is up and running. The new Supporters Club plans fans forums on a regular basis during the season and they have already made plans for a series of early away trips.
The first will be on Saturday, March 12 to the Ben Fund Bonanza for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund meeting at Scunthorpe when Workington will be represented by James Wright.
Following on from the Comets press and practice on Saturday, March 26 - which is deliberately being staged from 10-00am - the Supporters Club will be running a bus to Berwick for Adrian Rymel's farewell meeting.
There's also a trip to Redcar on Thursday, March 31 for the challenge match against the Bears and then into the season proper they plan a ‘mini tour' to Ipswich and Scunthorpe on April 14 and 15, back in time for Saturday's double header at Derwent Park.
A Force To Be Reckoned With
Words by John Walsh
Workington Comets are gradually putting together the team they hope will be a force in the Premier League next year. Four of the first five to sign-up are coming back again after pleasing performances in 2010 while the fifth is a household name in the Premier League.
Tomas Topinka has joined the Comets after a long association with Kings Lynn Stars, although he has been a popular guest for the Comets on several occasions - particularly in 2008 when they went on to win the Young Shield for the first time. The Czech Republic star is joining Workington on a loan deal after the Stars opted to move up to the Elite League.
Club owner Keith Denham said: "When I spoke to Tomas it was clear that Workington was his preferred choice of clubs for 2011. His enthusiasm for the Comets and their supporters is well known and I'm sure he will prove to be a valuable member of the team for next year and we extend a warm welcome to him".
Topinka became a big hero with the Comets fans when he guested on a regular basis for them when they first won the Young Shield in 2008, although he didn't actually figure in the winning second leg at Berwick. He has always ridden Derwent Park well and is regarded as one of the smoothest and most stylish riders in the Premier League.
The 36-year-old is a Czech republic international, who also figured in three world championships including the 2003 Grand Prix series.
There's widespread delight among Comets fans at the capture of Topinka, as well as the return of Danish Under-21's international Peter Kildemand.
Kildemand, dubbed the Spider for his leggy style of riding, had always been on Workington's wanted list but doubts surfaced when he seemed to intimate he wanted to switch to Newcastle.
Comets boss Keith Denham had complained that his rider had been tapped by the Diamonds but since then Kildemand had asked if he could return to Derwent Park for 2011. If Newcastle or anybody else had wanted to use Kildemand next season they would have had to pay a transfer fee as Denham insisted he was not going to loan him out.
Denham said: "Internet rumours were that Peter was going to ride for Newcastle and that because they had signed Derek Sneddon this was no longer an option for him. However I can categorically state that there was no truth in this rumour, nor was it ever an option.
"As Workington hold his contract then he could not have ridden anywhere in the UK without our consent. Any team who wanted him to ride would have had to pay a substantial fee to buy his contract."
The owner went on: "He has never been unhappy during his time at Workington and I feel that he was perhaps a bit naive in his understanding of the rules and ramifications of his British speedway contract and the alleged terms offered by Newcastle may have turned his head, without thinking of the potential consequences."
"However the lad has come back to Workington and we look forward to him continuing to improve his average and also provide us all with some of the most exciting speedway moments we have witnessed for many years."
Kildemand returns on a 6.35 average and joins Tomas Topinka (7.64), Rusty Harrison (6.92), Richard Lawson (5.25) and Kenny Ingalls (5.07) which left Denham and his team manager Tony Jackson 11.27 for the last two riders.
Comets Could Bid For Title
WORKINGTON have been widely tipped to be strong candidates for Premier League honours this season - and the Comets have made a confident start.
The 59-37 home win over Scunthorpe might have been predictable but it was the follow-up success against Sheffield Tigers by 55-37 which raised more eyebrows. Sheffield are no mugs and will be challenging for a top four slot, so the manner of Workington's victory sent out a strong message to the rest of the Premier League. It was the first time in four outings this season that Sheffield had failed to pick up a point.
It's also been encouraging for owner Keith Denham to see 1,000-plus crowds for both opening matches; well up on last season and at a time when Workington Reds and Workington Town RL are attracting gates of around 400. Denham had been fairly confident of a big show for the 2011 season after he and team manager Tony Jackson had put together what most people regarded as the strongest line-up the Comets had ever assembled but they did suffer a late blow when American Kenny Ingalls was unable to race because of problems with the leg he broke towards the end of last season. He has to have another operation which might make things better for him in the long run.
"We haven't discounted Kenny at all. Hopefully he will be able to get back riding again after his surgery. I think it all revolves around the rod he had inserted when he originally broke the leg at Berwick last year," said Denham.
To cover Ingalls Comets used Carlisle-born-Kendal-based Gary Irving whose father Michael rode for the Comets in the 1980s. He's done enough to suggest he could be a steady inclusion at reserve.
The Comets have four matches at Derwent Park this month and the fans can't wait for the clash on the 21st with Ipswich Witches, who until this season were plying their trade in the Elite League. Ipswich were installed as pre-season favourites to win the Premier League, although early back-to-back defeats for the Witches against Somerset, home and away, have raised question marks.
Edinburgh, and Rye House, will provide solid tests around Derwent Park, while the Comets should feel confident of beating Redcar over two legs in the Knockout Cup after a 48-42 Challenge win on Teesside at the end of March.
June should be equally demanding because Comets face home and away League encounters with Somerset, early conquerors of Ipswich, face their first-ever matches with new boys Leicester Lions and also have a tough test at Edinburgh.
FIXTURES - May 7 Edinburgh (H); 12 Redcar (A - KOC); 14 Redcar (H - KOC); 20 Plymouth (A); 21 Ipswich (H); 28 Rye House (H); 30 Rye House (A).
June - 3 Edinburgh (A); 4 Somerset (H); 11 Leicester (H); 12 Leicester (A); 17 Somerset (A); 18 Plymouth (H).
Comets focus firmly on title
Words: John Walsh
WORKINGTON Comets owner, Keith Denham, has been enjoying the view - from the top of the Premier League!
Early season form has taken the Comets quickly to top spot and increased belief that this could be the year the team finally lands the league title. Denham said: "We are where we want to be but the trick is to be still out in front come September / October time. "I was always optimistic when we finished putting the team together and that has been borne out by the results. But we can't afford to drop our standards and provided we can keep riding in the same frame of mind I think we will be fine."
Team manager Tony Jackson is desperate to win the title this season and dedicate the triumph to former promoter and team manager, Ian Thomas, who died earlier in the year. Jackson said: "It was Ian's Holy Grail and he never managed to land the title. I think he was impressed with the team we had put together this time and to do so in the year of his death would be a fine tribute to the man who first brought the Comets to Workington in 1970."
But it hasn't all been plain sailing for the Comets and the management has already made one ruthless decision they felt would improve the team's scoring potential. Gary Irving, who had stood in so impressively for American Kenny Ingalls when he was making a longer than expected recovery from injury, was eventually handed a team place with Charles Wright the unlucky reserve who made way.
"There are times in this sport when you have to be ruthless. It doesn't matter how nice a guy is and popular with the fans, if he isn't scoring enough points then his place isn't guaranteed.
"That applies to everybody in the team. We are determined to win the league this season, or get as near to it as we possibly can," said Denham.
The Comets have not escaped injuries completely this season as skipper Tomas Topinka has been laid low for nearly three weeks after suffering concussion in a bizarre fall, at Edinburgh.
Topinka was on the parade lap before the meeting when he collided with Ingalls' mechanic. He was thrown from the bike and unable to ride in the meeting. It was diagnosed with concussion and he was not due to return until the end of the month.
Two Workington riders have also progressed in the qualifying rounds of the Grand Prix, trying to earn a place in next season's event. James Wright and Peter Kildemand have each reached the semi-final race-offs when a top five finish would put them into the final Grand Prix challenge.
Workington were the first team from below the top tier of British speedway to produce a rider for the Grand Prix - Comets legend Carl Stonehewer.
Flying finish for Comets as they
chase league and cup double
WORKINGTON Comets are still chasing a Premier League and Knockout Cup double as the season enters its final two months.
But with the wettest season for some time Workington are among a host of clubs having to try and play catch-up with the fixtures.
“I honestly can’t remember as many rain-offs as we’ve had this year. We have had great difficulty in re-arranging matches on suitable and available dates,” said team manager Tony Jackson.
Typical of the frustration felt by Comets riders, management and fans was the week-end of the Premier League Fours, a competition the Comets have won on a number of occasions,.
On the night before Workington staged a Premier League match against Edinburgh Monarchs but it was abandoned midway through after torrential rain left the track looking like the Derwent river, not just Derwent Park.
That will have to be re-arranged and so too will the final of the Fours which was staged at Leicester but was also abandoned because of the rain.
Workington had qualified from their semi-final and will now contest the final along with Ipswich, Leicester and Somerset in a 16-heat contest. It will be back at Leicester on a date still to be announced.
The Comets are up there challenging for the League title and have reached the semi-final of the Knockout Cup where they take-on Newport Wasps home and away.
“There’s still a long way to go, even though we have reached September, because so many matches have had to be re-arranged. With such a lot of matches to be fitted in and time running out we are going to be very busy in the closing weeks fitting everything in.
“That makes it hard for both the rider and his machinery and the pressure really mounts,” said owner Keith Denham.
Workington, as usual, have had more than their share of injuries and on many occasions throughout the season have not been able to field their chosen one to seven.
Peter Kildemand and Kenny Ingalls have been the worst affected, but Tomas Topinka and James Wright have also had to miss-out on key matches.
Popular Australian Rusty Harrison has somehow managed to keep going although he’s been riding through the pain barrier with a knee problem which just has had no time to heal.
“I don’t know how Rusty has managed at times because he’s been in a lot of pain, yet he’s not only kept going but he’s scored very good points for us.
“Garry Irving has also been in the wars, taking knocks from some really heavy falls, but he’s battled on. So all things considered it’s been a great effort to stay in touch behind Sheffield and Glasgow at the top of the table,” said Jackson.
The one rider who has not been troubled by injury has been Richard Lawson and he’s been one of the most consistent scorers for the Comets, taking his career a step forward with some outstanding performances and his fastest-ever time around Derwent Park.
MATCHES IN SEPTEMBER: 3 Ipswich (H); 8 Ipswich (A); 10 To be arranged (H); 11 Newcastle (A); 16 Plymouth (A); 17 To be arranged (H); 24 Knockout Cup (H); 29 Sheffield (A).
