Workington Comets are gearing-up for the press and practice session on Saturday which heralds the launch of a new speedway season at Derwent Park.

Supporters coming to Derwent Park will be able to cross the small bridge over the beck off Derwent Street.

But they will have to leave their transport to do so as it is pedestrian use only after a meeting yesterday between Comets boss Keith Denham and Council officials.

The bridge has been shut since the November floods and supporters attending Workington Town rugby league matches have had to go round by Tesco, by car or on foot, to gain entry to the car park.

People travelling by car will still have to travel that way but if walking into the car park to gain entry to the stadium they can use the small bridge.

 
Owner Keith Denham and his track staff worked on the raceway last week-end, after concerns over the amount of frost that had bitten deep into the surface.
 
But they were able to pack it down well and, in fact, it would have been possible to race on the track afterwards.
 
Denham said: “There have been concerns across the country about the state of various tracks because of the weather we’ve had so I’m delighted that Derwent Park has been put in good, racing order.
 
“With good weather prospects leading up to Saturday, the practice session will go ahead as planned and as we are hopeful of more decent weather next week the opening fixture against Redcar looks set fair.”
 
Workington’s new Dane Peter Kildemand has had his first look at the track after arriving in Britain on Wednesday and being shown the sights of Workington over the next 24 hours.
 
“He’s really excited about the prospect of racing in Britain and was impressed by our track. He has recently had a practice in Croatia with the Danish international squad, where Nikki Pedersen was among the riders taking part.
 
“It can’t be bad rubbing shoulders with a former world champion, although I gather they had one disappointment as one practice session was called-off because of snow,” said Denham.
 
The Comets will be posing for pictures and holding interviews from 12 noon on Saturday before the take to the track and all have a few blasts round the circuit.
 
Team manager Ian Thomas will announce the riding order after watching the practice.
 
The opening match is next Thursday at Redcar in a challenge against the Bears while the return at Derwent Park announces the start of the season on home shale. That opener will commence at 6-30pm because of local transport problems and there will be an earlier start until further notice.
 
Workington are embarking on their 40th anniversary season after the sport was first introduced to Derwent Park in 1970.
 
A special anniversary meeting has been arranged for Saturday, March 27th (6-30pm) and the competing riders, s well as the former riders who will be there to watch, have now been officially confirmed.
 
The seven 2010 Comets – Andre Compton, Chris Schramm, Adam Roynon, Peter Kildemand, Richard Lawson, Craig Cook and John Branney – will be joined by Kauko Nieminen, James Wright, Rusty Harrison, Joe Haines and Mark Lemon.
 
Two former promoters – Tony Mole and Dave Younghusband will be there along with 34 ex-riders.
 
Turning back the clock will be Lou Sansom, Ian Armstrong and Reg Wilson, who were members of the first Comets team that took on Berwick back in 1970.
 
Also there will be Taffy Owen, Ken Vale, Geoff Penniket, David Blackburn, Kevin Clapham, Neil Collins, Mark Richardson, Robbie Gardner, Colin Goad, Bernie Hornby, Terry Kelly (pictured top), Steve Lawson, Mick Newton, Garry Stead, Alan Emerson, David McAllan, Shaun Tacey, Andy Reid, Chris Roynon, Stevie Watson, Des Wilson, Barry Campbell, Barry Burchatt, Chris Collins, Lee Derbyshire, Geoff Powell, Scott Robson, Aidan Collins, Les Collins, Peter Scully and Ian Hindle (pictured right).
 
They will be taken round the track and introduced to the crowd and watch the meeting from the sponsors lounge on the back straight.
 
Lou Sansom, Workington’s first superstar will be holing a Talk In at the Washington Central on Friday, March 26th, chatting with Comets announcer John Walsh. Tickets are £5 each and will be on sale after press and practice at the Meet the Riders night in the Derwent Lounge (7-30pm).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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