STOKE duo Ben Wilson and Danny Phillips are both in action at this weekend’s National League Pairs at the Adrian Flux Arena, King's Lynn on Saturday night, 7pm.
The A.R. Richards Potters have previously won the Pairs Championship on two occasions with Simon Lambert and Tim Webster taking victory in 2011 and Jon Armstrong and Ben Wilson taking victory in 2014 and Wilson will be looking to emulate his previous victory with Phillips on Saturday night.
Stoke have been drawn in Group B and will come up against Belle Vue’s talented youngster Dan Bewley who at just 15 years old has been scoring for fun in the league this season and he has fellow Colt and Workington rider Matt Williamson partnering him. Birmingham have a strong partnership in Darryl Ritchings and Danyon Hume. Hume joined the Brummies’ at the start of the season and has been in good form this season forcing himself into the side at Premier League Ipswich. Kent also have a solid partnership in James Shanes and Danny Ayres who also rides for Premier League Glasgow and is one half of the pairing from last seasons’ title win. Both riders have been scoring solid points for the Kings this season and as Kent are the defending Champions they will want to return the title back to Central Park. Rye House Raiders pairing Ben Morley and Rob Branford are another solid looking pairing and both riders ride for the Rye House senior team in the Premier League. Morley won the title last season with Kent and will be looking for at least a rostrum place this year. The Potters will need to finish in the top two to go through the semi-final.
Group A sees’ home side King’s Lynn represented by Tom Stokes and Nathan Greaves and both riders will be under pressure to deliver the goods around their home circuit. They will though have to battle through what is a tough group with Great Britain World Cup finalist reserve Adam Ellis leading the charge for Eastbourne along with partner Jake Knight who is a former King’s Lynn Young Stars rider. The Isle of Wight have Mark Baseby and former Young Stars rider James Cockle leading their challenge with former Potter and 2014 winner Jon Armstrong teaming up with 2014 National League Riders Champion Daniel Halsey for Mildenhall. Many pundits’ favourites for the meeting are the Cradley pairing of Ashley Morris and Max Clegg who have been a formidable pairing for the Heathens in 2016.
Potters team manager Malcolm Vasey commented “Both Ben and Danny are capable of beating anyone on their day and if you can reach the semi-finals then anything can happen. It is a very competitive field and I’m sure there will be some exceptional racing and we have won it before and we have two riders that are capable of doing that again.”
GROUP A: CRADLEY: Ashley Morris & Max Clegg. EASTBOURNE: Adam Ellis & Jake Knight. ISLE OF WIGHT: Mark Baseby & James Cockle. KING'S LYNN: Tom Stokes & Nathan Greaves. MILDENHALL: Jon Armstrong & Danny Halsey.
GROUP B: BELLE VUE: Matt Williamson & Dan Bewley. BIRMINGHAM: Danyon Hume & Darryl Ritchings. KENT: James Shanes & Danny Ayres. RYE HOUSE: Ben Morley & Robert Branford. STOKE: Ben Wilson & Danny Phillips.