In a much anticipated junior challenge, the Eaglets were pushed to a last heat decider against the Pocket Rockets of Rye House on 19 October at Arlington.
The Rockets tracked 3 riders with solid knowledge of the Sussex raceway in the guise of Nick Laurence, Marc Owen and Chris Neame, whilst the Eaglets were reduced to 3 riders before taking to the track. Rider Replacement was used to cover for James Walker and returned 3 points from his 2 programmed rides.
The ever impressive Marc Owen led the way for the Rockets in heat 1 and with his partner Nick Laurence claiming the vital third place, the Rockets took an early 2 point lead. The Eaglets reversed the previous heat score in race 2 through Michael Bovis and Niall Strudwick. Michael and John Resch then combined in heat 3 for the first 5-1 of the match.
Heat 4 looked to be a major turning point. With the race heading for an Eaglets advantage, Niall Strudwick came down entering turn 3 causing the race to be stopped. In the rerun, the Bovis Jawa eventually left the start and set off in vain pursuit of the strong Laurence and Owen pairing. The resultant 1-5 again levelling the scores.
Niall Strudwick and John Resch filled the minor places in heat 5 to set up the last heat decider with the scores tied on 15
Back on the proven GM power plant, Michael Bovis paired up with the British Under 15 number 3 John Resch to power away from the field and lead the Eaglets to a last race 5-1 and a hard fought but well earned victory.
Eaglets 20 John Resch 8+2 Michael Bovis 10 Niall Strudwick 2+1
Pocket Rockets 16 Nick Laurence 6+1 Marc Owen 7 Dan Blake 3 Chris Neame 0
Interspersed with the above meeting were a series of match races featuring Brandon Freemantle and Daniel I'Anson. Brandon, showed off his ever growing confidence, gained from recent visits to Weymouth, Buxton and Lakeside as well as his ex Lee Richardson Hagon Shock Eagles kevlars in taking the 3 match series. Greater joy followed the following weekend for a proud dad, who was seen punching the air in front of the main grandstand when Brandon took the chequered flag in under 66 seconds on two ocassions.
Preview Eaglets v Rye House Pocket Rockets
Wednesday, 15 October 2008 07:57
This Sundays second half sees the Rye House Pocket Rockets visitors to Arlington raceway. this match first fell victim of the weather on September 6th and was re-scheduled for October 18th and then hastily re arranged for Sunday 19th due to the changed GP date, and a big thanks goes out to all riders and to John Stamford for their help. This junior match will see the strongest junior team to visit Eastbourne in 2008 and one all the Eaglets have been looking forward to.
At number 1 is Nick Laurence, Nick, a product of the Eastbourne junior track who on his last visit to Arlington rode to three race wins in the Martin Brown Trophy only missing out in the final to Michael Bovis and John Resch. At number 2 is Mark Owen, another young lad who started his speedway career on Eastbourne's junior track. When 14 year old Mark came to Eastbourne in the junior challenge against Sittingbourne he was plagued with bike problems, but young Mark has been turning the heads of the sports promoters with some outstanding races, this lad is really flying. At number 3 is Dan Blake, Dan is a lad that many Eagles fans may not know too well but he has ridden in conference league for both Sittingbourne and Plymouth in recent years, he is a quick gater with a wealth of racing experience.
The pocket rockets have yet to name their number 4. This weeks Hagon Eaglets team is back to full strength with all our senior juniors making themselves available for this much anticipated clash . At number 1 for the Hagon Eaglets is John Resch, John has been riding this years under 15 championships up and down the country, leading into the final round last weekend at a damp misty Boston, But John's luck ran out, finishing third overall.
At number 2 for the Hagon Eaglets is James Walker, James has rekindled his enthusiasm for racing recently but opportunities for James to ride have been far and few,but who can forget his 6 points score in his 2008 debut against Sittingbourne. At number 3 for the Hagon Eaglets is Michael Bovis, Michael has been in demand recently being asked to ride for rye house pocket rockets, junior meetings at kings Lynn and Ipswich and riding at the Somerset Arena in their junior championships finishing on 2 points. At number 4 for the Hagon Eaglets is Niall Strudwick, Niall is the only junior to have ridden in all the Eaglets matches over the last three season and is the Eaglets team captain against Rye,he had a bit of mid season drop in form but seemed to be getting back to his old self in the Martin Brown trophy Making the final.
Supporting the junior challenge will be Brandon Freemantle on his 250, young Brandon has been improving every week and after watching him ride at Rye House last weekend I don't think it will be many seasons before we see this young lad in the Eaglets colours. Speedway is an expensive sport and trying to stay on the track is hard for the Eaglets, these young lads are all working hard to entertain in the second half events and all want to ride for the Eagles in the elite league, but they need the help of sponsors, if you would like to help any of the Eaglets riders in 2009 come and have a chat when the racing is finished, the Eaglets are a friendly bunch of lads who love talking about speedway to young and old alike.
Preview Arlington Trophy 4th October
Thursday, 02 October 2008 14:29
With two of their present day crop of young stars, Lewis Bridger and Simon Gustafsson plying their trade on a foreign field, contesting this weekend’s 2008 World Under 21 Championship Final in the Czech Republic, the forward thinking management of the Eastbourne Eagles speedway team continue their policy of youth and commitment to the sports future as they hand the star’s of tomorrow their chance to shine by staging the Arlington Trophy meeting at the Sussex venue this weekend.
Co-promoters Martin Hagon and Bob Dugard together with Martin Dugard have long known the benefit in investing in the grass roots level of the sport, not only for the purpose of safeguarding the future of their own club but also in the hopes of returning British Speedway to the forefront of the international scene.
Throughout the 2008 seasons, the three, together with a willing band of helpers have nurtured the talents of a promising crop of youngsters, all of whom aspire to be the next big thing and hoping to break through into the Eastbourne team proper, and Saturday’s meeting will give them the opportunity of showing just how close they are to achieving those ends.
The 20 heat meeting, contested by twenty riders will be supplemented by a five race Youth 250cc event featuring yet more young hopefuls intent on carving out a successful career in the sport.
The action will commence at the usual 7.30 p.m. start time and entry will be at reduced prices of adults £8, concessions £6 and children (under 16) just £2 and once again car parking will be free as will the race cards
Riders :
1. John Resch, 2. To be confirmed, 3. Niall Strudwick, 4. Chris Widman, 5. Scott Campos, 6. Simon Pearce, 7. James Walker, 8. Karl Goldsmith, 9. Nick Laurence, 10. To be confirmed, 11. Rob Smith, 12. Jon Stevens, 13. Charlie Heatley, 14. Darren Hartman, 15. Mark Baldock, 16. Charlie Gates, 17. Michael Bovis, 18. Martin Pearce, 19. To be confirmed, 20. Sam Heath.
Arlington Trophy Postponed
Saturday, 04 October 2008 11:39
It has started to rain at the Track, and with the forcast of heavy rain later, it has been decided to postpone the Arlington Trophy today, the plan is to reschedule the meeting for either next Saturday or Sunday (not decided as yet) We'll let you know once we find out.
Report Martin Brown Trophy
Monday, 22 September 2008 23:05
The Eaglets competed against each other on Saturday for the Martin Brown Trophy.
Slick Nick Laurence looked fast in taking heat one from John Resch and Sam Heath. Having shown those at the Academy the fastest way around in the afternoon, Niall Strudwick gave everybody a gating lesson when being awarded heat 2, which was stopped to allow attention to the unfortunate Charlie Gates. Charlie withdrew from the meeting following this fall - we hope to see you back on track soon Charlie.
Nick Laurence took his second win of the evening in heat 3, being followed across the line by Sam Heath and Chris Neame. Heat 4 saw Michael Bovis claim his revenge for his heat 2 defeat when taking heat 4 in 60.6 seconds, although Michael set the fastest time of the event when taking the chequered flag in heat 5, with a time of 60.4. This heat saw reward for Karl Goldsmith, who celebrated his best display of the season by taking 2 qualification points.
With Nick Laurence again taking maximum points in heat 6, the scene was set for the first meeting of Nick Laurence and Michael Bovis in the final alongside Niall Strudwick and John Resch. After a tight first corner,
Michael put his wheels in line and pulled clear of the field for the rest of the race, to take The Martin Brown Trophy,with John Resch second, Nick Laurence third and Niall Strudwick fourth.
The 250cc class, saw the return to Arlington Shale, of Ben Morley and Brandon Freemantle following their respective first and third places in the most recent round of the under 15 championship at Weymouth. As ever, the two impressive youngsters fought out three tight heats. This week it was Ben's speed away from the gate and around bends one and two that proved to be decisive. There was a scare when the two came together during a tight tussle in bend one during their second heat, although thankfully both were able to return to the saddle to complete their scheduled rides.
In a much anticipated junior challenge, the Eaglets were pushed to a last heat decider against the Pocket Rockets of Rye House on 19 October at Arlington.
