Sunday 18 July 2004
TEAM ARTDEANS SWINDON SPROCKETS 53
Conference League
| Malcolm Holloway | 3 | X | 3 | 1 | 2* | - | - | 9(1) |
| Chris Johnson | X | N | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Mark Thompson | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | - | - | 15 |
| Danny Warwick | 2* | 0 | 2* | 3 | - | - | - | 7(2) |
| Trevor Harding | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | 12 |
| Daniel Harding | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 |
| Nathan Irwin | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2* | - | 9(1) |
WIMBLEDON
| Barrie Evans R/R | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Matthew Wright | 1* | 2 | 2* | 0 | - | - | - | 5(2) |
| Wayne Broadhurst | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 7 |
| Gavin Hedge | 0 | 1* | 0 | 1* | - | - | - | 2(2) |
| Mark Burrows | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | - | 11 |
| Andre Cross | 1* | 3 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | 5(1) |
| James Clement | 2 | 1* | 1* | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11(2) |
| Ht 1: (Awarded) Holloway, Broadhurst, Wright, Johnson (f,ex), No Time | (3-3) |
| Ht 2: Irwin, Clement, Cross, D. Harding, 70.99 | (6-6) |
| Ht 3: Thompson, Warwick, Broadhurst, Hedge, 69.96 | (11-7) |
| Ht 4: T. Harding, Burrows, Clement, Irwin, 69.45 | (14-10) |
| Ht 5: Thompson, Wright, Clement, Warwick (f,rem), 70.52 | (17-13) |
| Ht 6: (Re-Run) Cross, Irwin, Burrows, Holloway (f,ex), Johnson (f,ns), 72.15 | (19-17) |
| Ht 7: T. Harding, Broadhurst, Hedge, D. Harding, 69.52 | (22-20) |
| Ht 8: Clement, Wright, Irwin, D. Harding, 71.14 | (23-25) |
| Ht 9: Thompson, Warwick, Burrows, Cross, 69.61 | (28-26) |
| Ht 10: Holloway, Broadhurst, Irwin, Hedge, 69.36 | (32-28) |
| Ht 11: T. Harding, Burrows, D. Harding, Wright, 70.40 | (36-30) |
| Ht 12: Thompson, Irwin, Cross, Broadhurst, 69.90 | (41-31) |
| Ht 13: T. Harding, Burrows (TR), Holloway, Clement, 69.67 | (45-35) |
| Ht 14: Warwick, Clement (TR), Hedge, D. Harding, 71.08 | (48-40) |
| Ht 15: (Nominated) Thompson (b), Holloway (r), Burrows (y), Clement (g), 69.93 | (53-41) |
Programme changes:-
Ht 1: R/R Broadhurst
Ht 8: Harding replaced Johnson
Ht 10: Irwin replaced Johnson
Ht 11: R/R Burrows
Ht 13: R/R Clement; TR Burrows (Double points)
Ht 14: TR Clement (Double points)
The Team Artdeans Sprockets raced to their third successive victory in what was a terrific advert for speedway against a strong-looking Wimbledon side. The win was fully merited too, since they lost the services of Chris Johnson in a frightening heat six pile-up. The remaining teamsters performed heroically, particularly maximum men Mark Thompson and Trevor Harding, who were well supported by Malcolm Holloway, Nathan Irwin and Danny Warwick.
Played out in front of a crowd swelled by a large contingent of travelling Dons’ supporters, the main match began with a sweet tapes-to-flag success for a resplendent looking Wellie, complete with new boots! Meanwhile, Wayne Broadhurst held off the challenges of Johno, until the tall-in-the-saddle racer unfortunately spun and fell on the second bend of lap three, taking a hefty knock to the shoulder in the process.
The reserves’ heat can only be described as speedway Heaven. James Clement initially led from the gate, while Irwin moved into second place around the car park turn. A game of cat and mouse developed, with Clement riding the perfect line to repel the thrusts of Irwin. However, on lap four, Irwin squeezed right up by Clement on the back straight, barely inches away from the safety fence. The pair raced neck-and-neck into the pits bend, before Irwin decisively cut-back exiting turn four to take the verdict on the line. Classic speedway indeed and much appreciated by a knowledgeable audience.
Tommo and Danny Boy gated ahead in heat three and while the former sped away to notch the first of five straight successes, his partner was involved in a real ding-dong with Broadhurst. The Wimbledon skipper launched himself underneath entering the third bend of lap three, only for Span to immediately re-take the position on a fast outside line. The two again traded places over the final lap, but it was Warwick who made it a Swindon ‘fiver’ by rigidly sticking to his preferred path.
Trevor Harding took a classy win over Buzz Burrows in heat four, but the real scrap went on behind. Clement and Irwin were at it again, with the Don having to battle to hold third spot. Irwin made a last-ditch effort off the last bend and with Clement looking the wrong way, caught him completely unawares by bursting outside. In a race to the line, it was the visiting rider who just held on by the smallest of margins. Thompson and Warwick reacted quickest in heat five, only for the latter to hit a slick patch and fall on the second corner. Tommo went on to collect the win and with the points shared, the score stood at 17-13 in favour of the Team Artdeans Sprockets.
The aforementioned heat six took two attempts to complete and it was somewhat fortunate that the first running didn’t result in serious injury. This saw Johno emerge ahead from a packed first corner, with Wellie bustling into second spot entering the back straight. Holloway subsequently took up the lead, while Burrows darted into second place on lap two. The race ended abruptly when Wellie lost control after hitting a slick patch on the pits bend of lap three. The Swindon captain hit the deck, with Johnson riding into his stricken colleague and alarmingly taking off. The closely following Andre Cross then hit Holloway and after he too was sent flying, ended up in a tangled melee with Johno. The lofty racer had taken a clout on the leg and this, added to his earlier fall, saw him understandably withdraw from the rest of the meeting. With Holloway excluded and Irwin coming in for his incapacitated team-mate, Cross took the victors flag in the re-run as the Dons registered their first advantage of the night.
Following an evenly split seventh race, Clement and Matthew Wright combined to not only give Wimbledon a 5-1, but also the lead at 25-23. That doesn’t tell the full story though, as the battling Irwin chased all the way to the line, very nearly catching Wright. Heat nine saw Tommo and Warwick link together for maximum points over Burrows, their styles in total contrast to each other; Thompson resembling a road racer, while Warwick sat bolt upright on his steed. That restored Swindon’s lead and they went further ahead in heat ten, courtesy of a 4-2 from the battle-scarred Holloway and the tenacious Irwin.
The Harding brothers made the start in heat eleven, but while Trevor tried to help his sibling, Burrows took the opportunity to nip by. Trevor took up the chase and gradually reeled in the all-action Don, before powering by off the fourth bend of lap three for a fine win. Tommo tore away to win heat twelve, while the excitement went on in the tussle for second place. Right up by the fence, Irwin was blocked by Cross on the back straight, but a big handful of throttle saw the popular racer oust his opponent in front of a spellbound grandstand crowd.
With Swindon 41-31 ahead, Wimbledon team boss Dingle Brown elected Burrows for a tactical ride, but the move was thwarted when Trevor Harding raced away to complete a fine four-ride maximum. Brown tried again in the penultimate race, but again his tactics bore little fruit for the Dons, with Warwick streaking to victory from Clement.
Eight-points up and in the luxury zone, Thompson and Holloway finished a wonderful night in fitting fashion, linking from the tapes for a 5-1, with the Essex boy posting his second successive maximum at Blunsdon.