STOKE will host an extravaganza of speedway action when they host the National Development League Four Team Tournament on Saturday 6.30pm.

The meeting will see 28 heats of action with all eight National League clubs taking part starting with two semi-finals of eight heats each and then a final of eight races.

The A.R. Richards Potters have been drawn in Group A and will face Midlands rivals Cradley and the top two clubs in the table in the Isle of Wight and Leicester Cubs.

Potters team manager Adam Isherwood commented “It’s a tough group but we are in good form and have three victories under our belt in the last three meetings and we will have a full-strength side out in Tom Perry, Connor Coles, Joe Lawlor and Luke Priest with Joe Alcock as reserve. All have been scoring well around here and we really feel we have a good chance of being in the mix in the final.”

The Isle of Wight are spearheaded by Ben Morley and Georgie Wood while Danyon Hume will lead the charge for the Lions Cubs who have new signing and former Potter Ryan Terry-Daley in their line-up along with the Thompson twins Joe and Dan. Cradley are spearheaded by the top man in the league in another ex-Potter in Max Clegg who sits at the top of the averages and he will be supported by Jack Smith and Dan Halsey with a lot riding on those riders who have had up and down meetings at the Chesterton venue.

Group B sees’ four teams all with the capabilities of qualifying Kent have won in the league at Loomer Road this season and are led by track specialist Anders Rowe along with Drew Kemp and Jordan Jenkins who have both had solid performances at Stoke in the past with veteran Rob Ledwith completing their line-up. Belle Vue have a team they feel can qualify with Kyle Bickley leading the way with former Potter Danny Phillips and teenager Jordan Palin with new signing Connor Bailey completing their quartet. Mildenhall have what many supporters call Mr. Entertainer in Danny Ayres and he is backed up by Matt Marson and Henry Atkins who didn’t have the best of times a few weeks back in the Fen Tigers defeat at Loomer Road and completing their squad is Jason Edwards who top scored for the Potters last week.
Completing the teams are Plymouth who have three ex-Potters in their line-up up will be looking to prove a point to their former employers with Ben Wilson and Richard Andrews spearheading the four with David Wallinger and Luke Chessell completing the Gladiators team.

GROUP A

Cradley - Jack Smith, Max Clegg, Dan Halsey, Tom Spencer. Res Harry McGurk. TM Will Pottinger

Leicester - Danyon Hume, Ryan Terry Daley, Joe Thompson, Dan Thompson. Res Luke Whitehead. TM David Howard

Stoke - Tom Perry, Connor Coles, Joe Lawlor, Luke Priest. Res Joe Alcock. TM Adam Isherwood

Isle of Wight - Ben Morley, Georgie Wood, Danno Verge, Chad Wirtzfeld. Res Connor King

GROUP B

Plymouth - Richard Andrews, Ben Wilson, Luke Chessell, David Wallinger. Res Adam Sheppard. TM Mattie Bates

Belle Vue - Connor Bailey, Danny Phillips, Jordan Palin, Kyle Bickley. Res Ben Rathbone TM Steve William’s & Graham Goodwin.

Kent - Drew Kemp, Anders Rowe, Jordan Jenkins, Rob Ledwith. Res TBC TM Chris Hunt

Mildenhall - Danny Ayres, Henry Atkins, Matt Marson, Jason Edwards. Res Elliot Kelly TM Malcolm Vasey

National League co-ordinator Jason Pipe commented “It’s going to be a great night and it’s the first chance for the clubs to gain some silverware and it’s very difficult to pick a winner from the clubs as all the teams are very evenly matched and I wouldn’t want to predict who will be picking up the trophy at the end of the evening.

Pipe continued “Gates open at 4.30pm and we have a live band, bouncy castle, face painting, an autographing session, a licenced bar and food outlet and then 24 heats of racing.

“Supporters should note that the rider parade will be at 6.30pm with the first race starting at 6.45pm and I’m sure it will be a great family night out.

Prices for the meeting at £15 for adults, concessions £10 and children 15 and under go FREE with programmes costing £2.50.