sussex bulldog

https://www.eastbourneeagles.co/ now takes you to the new web page which is still under construction.

I have had my own website re-built and whilst it was under construction you would not find it. The new website is secure ( a new requirement ) and mobile friendly. The old site is still in operation but I would assume will be directed to the new one when it is officially launched.

Eastbourne Speedway will stage one of the British Under-21 semi-finals on April 7.The top seven riders will go forward to the final at Birmingham.The other-semi-final is at Newcastle.Line-up for the Arlington meeting is to be confirmed but the Forman IT Eagles have a number of candidates from this year’s team: Tom Brennan, Kelsey Dugard, Jason Edwards and Charlie Brooks.Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley have been seeded direct to the final.Eastbourne open their season with the Forman IT Eagles v the IT First Eagles.The match, which was planned for the end of last season, will now be run in memory of clerk of the course, Malcolm Cole, who died a few weeks after racing in 2017 ended.The IT First Eagles team is set to contain a number of ex-Eastbourne riders and will be on March 24.Earlier in the day the club’s official press and practice session will be held.Sandwiching the opener and the Under-21 semi-final will be a friendly against Kent in the second leg of the Easter Chase on March 31.

From BSPA site Following on from a meeting with the members of the Speedway Control Bureau and Mr Mick Horton, it is with great delight that Coventry Speedway have been given the go ahead to run the Coventry Bees in the National Development League at a temporary home at Leicester for the 2018 season. The members of the SCB wish the Coventry Promotion all the best in their endeavor's to bring the Bees back to Brandon in the near future. http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.33748

Totally agree speedway riders should be paid. Only the top ones make a living out of it but it helps with expenses.

The AGM is on Thursday. Could the announcement follow ?

I emailed Mildenhall speedway but not yet received a reply but it usually does.

Fixture list shows 1st

Eastbourne Speedway’s date with destiny is on Saturday when they face the Belle Vue Colts in the first leg of the National League Play Offs. he IT First Eagles meet the Manchester club home and away to decide who will have the honour of being this year’s champions. Saturday’s match is at Eastbourne’s Arlington Stadium, which is just outside Hailsham, off the A22, and begins at 7.30pm. Eastbourne made it through to the final by finishing in the top four of the regular season and then defeating the Kent Kings in one of the semi-finals – the Colts beating Lakeside at the same stage. The Eagles will welcome back Jake Knight to the team. He was banned from the last two home matches after missing the National League Riders’ Championship at Leicester when he had no equipment to ride. Belle Vue are led by one of the country’s up-and-coming prospects, Dan Bewley, who has wowed crowds across Britain in the last two years with his spectacular style. Eastbourne will be hoping to make it third time lucky when it comes to the league, having finished runners-up in 2015, when there was no Play Off system, and were defeated last year by Birmingham in the Play Off Final. They will be without Charley Powell, who has a prior commitment, and will use a rule, known as rider replacement, to cover his four rides. Tom Brennan (one ride) and reserves Drew Kemp and Mattie Bates are likely to share the other three. Team manager Connor Dugard said before a wheel was turned this season that the Colts would be favourites for the title and accepts his Eagles are underdogs over the two legs – the return fixture is at the National Speedway Stadium next Wednesday (October 18). He said: “We are expecting a great night of speedway on Saturday and hope the crowd really gets behind the lads to create a brilliant atmosphere. “The whole team is up for it and hopefully we can go one better than last year. “Obviously, we want to build a lead to take into the second leg and that’s what will be working to do.” Eastbourne: Josh Bailey, Charley Powell R/R, Georgie Wood, Tom Brennan, Jake Knight, Drew Kemp, Mattie Bates. Belle Vue Colts: Dan Bewley, Kyle Bickley, Lee Payne R/R, Rob Shuttleworth, Jack Smith, Andy Mellish, Luke Woodhull. *Sandwiched between the two play off matches is Eastbourne’s final match of the regular season, away to Cradley, which has twice been postponed.

Well spotted. Mattie does indeed ride at number 7.

Nerves will be jangling at Arlington Stadium on Saturday (September 7) night as the Eastbourne IT First Eagles battle to reach the final of speedway’s National League Play Offs. The shoot-out against Kent begins with the home side two points down after the first leg of the semi-final on Monday at Central Park, Sittingbourne. The winners will go on to meet either Lakeside or Belle Vue Colts to decide which club becomes league champions. A big crowd is expected to watch the match which is truly in the balance. The Eagles have given themselves a great chance by losing the first leg by only two points but are only too well aware that Kent pummelled them 49-40 on their home track in mid September. They are doubly cautious because top rider Jake Knight has been banned from the match after missing the National League Riders’ Championship because he had no bike to use. It means the club will be forced to cover his programmed rides by using the rider replacement rule. All members of the team are eligible to take a ride, including new No 1 Josh Bailey. Eastbourne team manager, Connor Dugard, believes his team will rise to the occasion, just as they did at Kent on Monday. “The boys did a great job there,” he said. “The tie is at the halfway stage. We are ready and and are looking for a big crowd to get behind the boys and cheer us to victory. “We need that Arlington wall of sound.” Eastbourne: Josh Bailey, Charley Powell, Jake Knight R/R, Tom Brennan, Georgie Wood, Drew Kemp, Mattie Bates, Jason Edwards (No 8). Kent: Luke Bowen, Dan Greenwood, Ben Hopwood, George Hunter, Jack Thomas, Bradley Andrews, Anders Rowe. The action begins at 7.30pm. *The Eagles final match of the regular league season at Cradley has been scheduled for October 16.

Any visiting fans for this one ? Should be a big crowd.

Eastbourne face two matches on one night on Saturday knowing that success will see them finish in top spot in this year’s National League. The No 1 slot will not, however, give the IT First Eagles the title. It means they will qualify for the Play Offs to decide the champions and can choose their opponents for the semi-final. First up at Arlington Stadium on Saturday night (7pm start) are the Kent Kings who have stormed up the table with a late run and now must fancy their chances of taking the league pennant in the final showdown. Once that match is done and dusted, the Mildenhall Fen Tigers take centre stage. It all adds up to 30 heats of speedway. Team manager Connor Dugard said: “Two vital home matches that we know will be tough but, if we want to finish top, we have to win both of these matches. It would mean that we would not be looking for wins in our last two away matches, although that is what we will, of course, be aiming to do.” The home riders face a busy night and some could have 12 rides during the course of the evening. “At this time of the year, the boys are super fit from racing. A lot of time is being spent in the workshops this week to try and make sure the equipment is right for such a big night and so much work,” Dugard commented. The top of the National League table is complicated, with a number of matches having been rained off recently, including the Eagles trip to Cradley last Monday which has yet to be rearranged. Fixture picture Belle Vue are top on 44 points with one match to ride. That’s against Eastbourne on the Young Colts own Manchester track on Saturday, September 23. Eastbourne are in second place with 43 points with four matches still to ride. Two of those are this Saturday with the away matches at Belle Vue and Cradley still to come. Kent are third on 39 points with three matches to ride. Their matches are at Eastbourne on Saturday, away at Buxton on Sunday and away at Stoke on September 23. Lakeside are fourth – and sitting in the final Play Off place at the moment – with one match still to ride - also at Buxton on Sunday. Birmingham, the defending champions, are fifth on 33 points and have one away match to ride – away at Plymouth on Friday night. Cradley are sixth on 31 points with two matches to ride – away to the Isle of Wight on September 21 and the match against Eastbourne, on a date to be announced. Mildenhall are seventh on 29 points with four matches to ride – away at Eastbourne on Saturday, home to the Isle of Wight on Sunday, away to Stoke on September 23 and an away match at Plymouth to be arranged. The race for top spot is between the Young Colts, the Eagles and the Kings. If Eastbourne win both matches on Saturday, they will gain six points and it would be impossible for Belle Vue or Kent to catch them. Eastbourne: Jake Knight, r/r for Georgie Wood who is riding for Sheffield in the Championship, Josh Bailey, Charley Powell, Tom Brennan, Jamie Halder, Mattie Bates. Kent: Luke Bowen, Anders Rowe, Ben Hopwood, Dan Greenwood, Jack Thomas, William O'Keefe, George Hunter. Mildenhall: Connor Mountain, Luke Ruddick, Jordan Jenkins, Jon Armstrong, Dan Halsey, Alex Spooner, William O’Keefe

Eastbourne Speedway are chasing down a top place finish in this year’s National League but face some of their biggest tests in the next few home meetings. On Saturday (September 9), their unbeaten record at Arlington in official fixtures since joining the National League is bound to come under severe strain. Lakeside Hammers are the visitors, who are also seeking a top four finish in the league table to qualify for the end-of-season Play Offs. A top place finish, although it does not give the IT First Eagles the championship, remains very much the Sussex club’s aim. It will give Eastbourne a choice of opponents from the other three in the semi-finals. Victories against Lakeside on Saturday and in the following week’s double header against Kent and Mildenhall means their points total would be uncatchable. Lakeside will want to upset the Eastbourne applecart and veteran Paul Hurry is in their side – he was a member of the Eagles’ 2000 Championship team. Team manager Connor Dugard has named a full-strength team for the vital fixture. He commented: “It will be the toughest match of the season so far. But if we are to finish where we want to, we have to beat these teams.” The match starts at 7.30pm. Eastbourne: Jake Knight, Tom Brennan, Josh Bailey, Charley Powell, Georgie Wood, Charlie Saunders, Mattie Bates. Lakeside: Danny Ayres (G), Nick Laurence, P.aul Hurry, Alfie Bowtell, Ben Morley, Alex Spooner, Connor Locke.

Eastbourne have signed Josh Bailey following news that Mark Baseby could be out for the rest of the season. Bailey started the year in the National League with the King’s Lynn Young Stars, who have withdrawn from the league. IT First Eagles team manager, Connor Dugard, said: “Base [Mark Baseby] called me today and the news wasn't what we wanted to hear, unfortunately. “His cast isn't going to be removed until at least the 19th of September and even then that would mean he hasn't used his arm in over six weeks. “To expect him to go and race with six weeks off isn't exactly fair on him. “We had the option of rider replacement but unfortunately that isn't the way to go either. “It only takes for someone to get injured and we would have a major problem. “The team will be glad to know that Base plans on being at a lot of the fixtures. “That is why I'm handing him the vice-team manager spot to help me out. “He has been brilliant like that all season and he deserves to be part of it all.” Dugard said Bailey started the season as Kings Lynn's number 1 and holds a respectable 8.48 National League average. “His recent scores in the Championship show his recent progression and joining a small track will do his career the world of good,” said Dugard. Bailey is not unfamiliar with Eastbourne and grew up on the club’s junior track. He said he could not wait to get going. “It didn't take long for us to come to a deal and I'm really excited to join Eastbourne. “They're in a good position and I would love to help them bring silverware to the club. Im looking forward to meeting the fans and my new team mates this weekend," he said. *Eastbourne ride against Kent on Saturday at Arlington (7.30pm). *There have been changes to the fixture list in September. Details on the fixtures section of the websi