Post by admin on May 20, 2008 17:52:46 GMT 12
by DEREK BARCLAY
One of the most traumatic periods in the 13 year history of the Sittingbourne Crusaders Speedway club is the back-drop to the opening home Conference League match of the season at Iwade’s Old Gun Site on Sunday (25/5).
Having lost experienced team members Mark Baseby and Andre Cross to ankle injuries (the latter’s clean break in a defeat down at Weymouth meaning he is likely to be out all campaign), nothing could have prepared the club for the awful news filtering in from Folkestone two weeks ago concerning new signing Barry Burchatt.
The 20-year-old from Badgers Mount was competing in the Champions of Champions grasstrack event at Swingfield when he was involved in a sickening collision leading to serious internal injuries. Still in critical condition in Ashford Hospital with damage sustained to ribs, spine and lungs, the whole club’s thoughts are with the brave Sevenoaks speedster.
“Barry was so looking forward to appearing at last for his home county club, prepared to travel long distances to double up with us and his Premier League side, Workington. Our thoughts and prayers are with Barry for a full recovery and with his family and friends as they support Barry and themselves through such a difficult time”, said the Fenced Inn Crusaders’ team boss Chris Hunt.
Having to turn attention to on-track matters, next up is a first visit to the Old Gun Site (based just off the Old Ferry Road outside Iwade) of the Redcar Cubs; and Hunt is cautiously optimistic that his outfit can deliver the first league points of the season.
“Redcar come to us top of the division but man for man we feel we can mount a realistic challenge. Our skipper Dean Felton is in superb form; and though he’s had a few mechanical problems, Jerran Hart is basically firing on all cylinders already. Harland Cook has been deceptively valuable too with his points scoring and if Harland is in confident mood – as he was down at Plymouth winning the GB Under 21s qualifying round – he can be our match winner”.
Two new faces will figure for the Kent side. Joining from Boston is Crowborough’s Nathan Irwin, returning to the track he first rode a Speedway bike on. Nathan is unique in British Speedway for being profoundly deaf but has battled his way to a position of prominence in the Conference League since making his debut for Peterborough back in 19989 including a win in an all-star field at King’s Lynn the year before last, annexing the David Nix Memorial Trophy. In contrast to Irwin’s ten plus years experience, 20 year old Dan Berwick from Rochester is a Speedway rookie hoping to translate his grasstracking experience onto the shale.
Much will depend for the homesters on how New Zealand starlet Alex Cunningham fares: the 20-year-old from that nation’s South Island having struggled to date and now being pitched in against fellow Kiwi riding for the side from the north-east, Jade Mudgway.
The action gets underway at 12 noon.
One of the most traumatic periods in the 13 year history of the Sittingbourne Crusaders Speedway club is the back-drop to the opening home Conference League match of the season at Iwade’s Old Gun Site on Sunday (25/5).
Having lost experienced team members Mark Baseby and Andre Cross to ankle injuries (the latter’s clean break in a defeat down at Weymouth meaning he is likely to be out all campaign), nothing could have prepared the club for the awful news filtering in from Folkestone two weeks ago concerning new signing Barry Burchatt.
The 20-year-old from Badgers Mount was competing in the Champions of Champions grasstrack event at Swingfield when he was involved in a sickening collision leading to serious internal injuries. Still in critical condition in Ashford Hospital with damage sustained to ribs, spine and lungs, the whole club’s thoughts are with the brave Sevenoaks speedster.
“Barry was so looking forward to appearing at last for his home county club, prepared to travel long distances to double up with us and his Premier League side, Workington. Our thoughts and prayers are with Barry for a full recovery and with his family and friends as they support Barry and themselves through such a difficult time”, said the Fenced Inn Crusaders’ team boss Chris Hunt.
Having to turn attention to on-track matters, next up is a first visit to the Old Gun Site (based just off the Old Ferry Road outside Iwade) of the Redcar Cubs; and Hunt is cautiously optimistic that his outfit can deliver the first league points of the season.
“Redcar come to us top of the division but man for man we feel we can mount a realistic challenge. Our skipper Dean Felton is in superb form; and though he’s had a few mechanical problems, Jerran Hart is basically firing on all cylinders already. Harland Cook has been deceptively valuable too with his points scoring and if Harland is in confident mood – as he was down at Plymouth winning the GB Under 21s qualifying round – he can be our match winner”.
Two new faces will figure for the Kent side. Joining from Boston is Crowborough’s Nathan Irwin, returning to the track he first rode a Speedway bike on. Nathan is unique in British Speedway for being profoundly deaf but has battled his way to a position of prominence in the Conference League since making his debut for Peterborough back in 19989 including a win in an all-star field at King’s Lynn the year before last, annexing the David Nix Memorial Trophy. In contrast to Irwin’s ten plus years experience, 20 year old Dan Berwick from Rochester is a Speedway rookie hoping to translate his grasstracking experience onto the shale.
Much will depend for the homesters on how New Zealand starlet Alex Cunningham fares: the 20-year-old from that nation’s South Island having struggled to date and now being pitched in against fellow Kiwi riding for the side from the north-east, Jade Mudgway.
The action gets underway at 12 noon.