EATON CLOSURE IS A MAJOR BLOW - posted 19 July 2008
Cycle speedway has been rocked by the surprise announcement that Eaton team in Norwich has folded.
Having struggled for two or three years, the club have bowed to the inevitable and pulled out of local league racing although they hope to continue to stage some low-key matches at their Harford Park track.
It was an emotional Gary Colby who broke the news to spokesman-online.
"It is with deep sadness that Eaton cycle speedway club would like to announce its withdrawal from Norfolk and Suffolk League and subsequent demise as a team. As many know, we only have one registered rider, Neil Attoe (who is long term injured) so we have relied totally "on secondary registrations this season to keep the team running and were promised the support of riders.
"However this support was not consistent enough to complete the season. Only four riders turned up to race earlier in the season against Great Blakenham and only three riders were available Wednesday evening at Hethersett. Both these clubs lent us riders on the day, for which we were extremely grateful. Non league fixtures scheduled to take place at Harford Park will go ahead as planned but no league racing. Next season we hope to run some Norfolk events such as mid week GPs.
"Huge thanks to Ray and May Hunt for all their hard work and commitment over the years, much of which has gone unnoticed by many" said a disappointed Colby.
Members of Eaton cycle speedway club, pictured in happier times
NORFOLK JUNIOR CUP CANCELLATION - posted 9 June 2008
The TA Security East Anglian KO Cup Fours Under-16 Norfolk Semi-Final, scheduled for Wednesday 11 June at Hethersett, will not take place as both Eaton and Spixworth will not be entering a team leaving Hethersett and Norwich to go forward as qualifiers to the final.
Spixworth are unable to stage the next round of the Norfolk Under-16 Intermediate Fours League on Wednesday 25 June. As a result, the Norfolk Under-16 Intermediate Fours League match will be staged at Spixworth on Wednesday 11 June at 7pm.
There will be no Norfolk Association fixture on 25 June.
REGIONAL COMMITTEE FINALISE 2008 PLANS - posted 13 January 2008
Ten of the region's eleven clubs (Spixworth being the only absentee) gathered at Great Blakenham Village Hall earlier today to finalise the 2008 fixtures. As well as the usual league competitions, the region will again promote the popular grand prix individual series over eight rounds throughout the season. Norwich will host the South-East Riders' championship at their revamped Eaton Park track on 11 October with the Ladies opening the racing at 11am, followed by the Division Two and Youth event at 1pm and the Division One Riders' championship at 3pm.
While being generally supportive of British Cycling's Regional Committee Definition document, member clubs had some concerns about the phraseology used in paragraph 1.4 which states "The Regional Committee shall be responsible for the organisation and management of all racing below national level within the said region."
Clubs called for clear terms of reference for determining regional and local competitions and will be proposing word changes to the consultation document, arguing that the likes of the East Anglian, Essex & London and Norfolk & Suffolk leagues are self-determining competitions outside the jurisdiction of the South-East regional committee.
The expected election of a new regional officer to serve on the Commission failed to materialise. It is now expected that Dave Flemming will double up as Competitions Officer and South-East Member.
SOUTH-EAST CLUBS TO MEET ON 13 JANUARY - posted 31 December 2007
The next South-East full members' meeting takes place at Blakenham Village Hall on Sunday 13 January (12 noon) to finalise the 2008 fixture list. Clubs are also expected to elect a regional representative to serve on the national Commission following the promotion of Dave Flemming to Competitions Manager. Terry Ashford, Dave Hunting and Ivan Pike are emerging as front-runners.
SUFFOLK CLUBS POOL RESOURCES - posted 31 December 2007
Kesgrave and Somersham will pool resources and enter teams in all tiers of regional racing. Kesgrave, boosted by the likes of Gary Brown and Barry Copping, will compete in South-East Division One while Somersham, probably supplemented by Dan Johnson and Paul Jay, will race in the Norfolk and Suffolk League.
BUSINESS AS USUAL IN THE SOUTH-EAST - posted 19 November 2007
It’s business as usual in the South-East.That was the key message emerging from the regional’s annual meeting at Great Blakenham village hall in Suffolk.
Ten of the region’s 13 clubs were represented.Apologies were received from Colchester, Hethersett and Spixworth.
Regional chairman Dave Flemming emphasised the relative stability that the region has enjoyed for several years now and said that the area could look to the future with confidence.
That stability was further under-lined when the regional committee was re-elected unopposed.
And the harmony was further extended after Somersham’s shock announcement that they would be unable to commit to any regional league racing next year due to rider shortage.Delegates, with an eye on the sport’s future as opposed to vested club interest, suggested that Somersham may be able to pool resources with Kesgrave and enter a combined team in the Norfolk and Suffolk League.
It was pleasing to hear that Norwich club, Eaton, intend to race again in 2008 after earlier rumours suggested that they may fold due to rider shortage.
League recorder Gary Brown was congratulated on producing a very comprehensive set of statistics covering virtually every aspect of league racing.
