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Pre-Season

When the 45 point limit was announced manager Gary Willetts knew that he had to shed riders as the team finished season 15 with a combined average of 47.77. David Lee's loan agreement ended and he moved back to Pinders, Danny Jones went on loan to Division Three newcomers, Birmingham Lyons, Tom Ramplin moved on a free to Division Two side, Long Eaton Rifles and Geoff Piper was released. In have come 27 year old American, George Parry, for £60,000 from Super Six side, Pila, Patrick Holdaway from Long Eaton and 16 year old local lad, Gary Jones has signed for the juniors. The pre-season could not have gone much better for the Sprites with six wins from six matches. All of the top six rode well but the number 7 position was proving to be a problem, so Holdaway was signed to hopefully turn last seasons narrow away defeats into victories. The averages for pre-season were as follows: Hall 9.63, Bow 9.50, Ferdula 9.38, Parry 7.85, Cartlidge 7.83, Jesson 7.68, Mitten 3.50, Harrington 0.50, Robinson 0.00.

Sedgley squad for the new season
Back row L-R Jonas,Robinson,Holdaway,Anderson,Cartlidge,Bow,Mitten
Front row Hogh,Harrington,Parry,Hall,Ferdula,Jones.

Week 1 & 2

Sedgley start their league campaign at home to Hoddesdon, who look to have a powerful top three. They then make the trip to Boston to face the pre-season title favourites. Hoddesdon are the opposition at home again, this time in the Conference league. Green Park is then being used to hold the first round of the Club Pairs Championship, Hall and Ferdula will be looking to make the most of the home advantage. Finally the junior race home and away in challenge matches against Bradford Speedsters.

A solid start for the Sprites they started with a 20 point home win against Hoddesdon, all of the riders scored useful points with Ferdula(13) and Cartlidge(12+2) looking particularly impressive. Lasse Lien was in good form for the visitors scoring 16. At Boston, Sedgley lost by 10 Ferdula again top scored but Jesson(4) and Holdaway(0) were disappointing. In the Club Pairs championship Hall and Ferdula finished third to qualify for the next round. In the conference the Sprites faced Hoddesdon for the second time and secured a 12 point win only Holdaway failed to trouble the scorers. In the junior challenge matches Sedgley lost heavily at Bradford 19-35 but defeated the Speedsters 29-25 at home.

New signing George Parry(red) and Richard Cartlidge(blue)
lead Hoddesdon's Matthew Ford

Week 3 & 4

League action this week sees the Sprites face Sennen at Green Park, then it's a trip to Pinders to face the reigning champions. The Heathans are also the opposition in the conference league, while the juniors are in action against Stannington Shoguns. Mike Hall and Rafel Ferdula contest the second round of the Club Pairs Championship.

Good at home and poor away appears to be the order of the day for the Sprites. At Green Park Sedgley beat Sennen, 48-42, with reserve, Richard Cartlidge top scoring with 12+1. Rafel Ferdula and skipper, Mike Hall also recorded double figure scores. Away the Sprites went down at Pinders by 38-52. Hall again scored double figures and Ferdula scored 8 but the rest were slightly disappointing. For the home side Walter Kogler and Dean Stansfield both recorded paid maximums. It was back to Pinders next this time in the Conference, the Sprites recorded a 5-1 and a 4-2 in the last 2 heats to secure a 45 all draw. Stephen Bow impressed scoring 15+1. The juniors lost at Stannington 26-28 and drew at home 27 all in 2 evenly matched encounters. Also Mike Hall and Rafel Ferdula finished 3rd in their semi-final of the Pairs Championship to qualify for their second consecutive final.

Rafel Ferdula(red) leads Sennen's Paul Kidd(yellow)
and Niels Aslan(green) with Stephen Bow at the rear.

Week 5 & 6

Deja vu for the Sprites as Sennen return to Green Park, this time in the Division One Cup. Sedgley then follow this up with a trip to Wimbledon in the same competition. In the Conference Sedgley play host to Tonyrefail. While the juniors start their league campaign against Tooting Dons.

A solid if not spectacular performance saw the Sprites defeat Sennen for the second time in 2 weeks. this time by 51-39 Hall and Ferdula both scored 12 points. At Wimbledon, Sedgley lost by six points, although they were six points up themselves after 11 heats. Unfortunately they allowed the home side 3 5-1's in the final 4 heats. In the conference Sedgley thrashed Tonyrefail 59-31, although no rider scored a maximum. This was due to the impressive performance of Dragons rider, Martin Ross who scored 17 points. The juniors lost both of their league matches against Tooting 22-32 away and 26-28 at home.

Mike Hall(red) heads sennen pair David Mullen(green) and
Bob Gordon(yellow) and team-mate Richard Cartlidge.

Week 7 & 8

Sedgley return to league action this week and start with a tough encounter as league leaders,Brookwood visit Green Park. The Sprites then have 2 away matches they face Stansted in the conference then Vange in the league. The new averages come out following the match against the Vikings and it looks like Sedgley will have to do some changing to keep under the limit. The juniors are in action against Stag Hill Stars and Mike Hall and Rafel Ferdula compete in the Pairs Championship final.

Two matches,Two wins saw Sedgley Sprites as the new leaders of Division one. Sedgley started with a 50-40 win against a weakened Brookwood side. The Tigers chose to ride without top scoring reserve, Andrew Lemon. In the match Sedgley's own top scoring reserve,Richard Cartlidge top scored with 12 points. Before the meeting Sedgley fans were introduced to new signing, Jack Kent. The 28 year old Englishman has been signed to help shuffle the riders around to keep under the points limit. Sedgley then faced Vange away, manager, Gary Willetts refused to follow some of his fellow managers in average fixing and rode his top 7 riders. It paid off as the Sprites won on the road for the first time,winning 50-40. Rafel Ferdula and George Parry top scored with 10 point each.The 2 wins together with the signing of Kent came at a cost however. It put the Sprites over the 52 point squad limit and they have to release one of their top 7. The question is which one? In the Conference Sedgley won at Stansted 46-44 and the juniors kick started their season against Stag Hill, winning 42-12 at home and 33-21 away. Disappointment though in the Pairs Championship as Hall and Ferdula finished in sixth place on 15 points.

Welcome new signing Jack Kent

Week 9 & 10

Back to Division One Cup action this week as Sedgley attempt to qualify for the semi-finals. First they travel to Brookwood who i'm sure will include reserve Andrew Lemon, then they face Hoddesdon at home. In the Conference it's another home match this time against Boston. While the juniors will face 2 tough matches against Brookwood.