Mildenhall Fen Tigers – proudly sponsored by Manchetts Rescue and Recovery – got off to winning ways on Easter Sunday (17/4)  in the first team match of the season at West Row – seeing off the challenge of a solid Poultec Select side.

For a second week running Jason Edwards went thorough the card unbeaten – another 15 points maximum meaning it’s 10 wins out of 10 so far for the likeable lad from Essex. But the self-effacing Edwards will be the first to say that the stand out performances for a very consistent and well-applied Fen Tigers sextet were his fellow Essex compatriot Alex Spooner and, also recording a paid double figures tally, the resurgent Luke Muff.

For Spooner it was actually a first official outing as a Fen Tiger and it could scarcely have worked out much better – beating highly regarded Young GB star Harry McGurk in his opening ride; doing likewise, executing a quite brilliant pass, to another of the favoured sons in the Young Lions set up, Joe Thompson in heat nine; and completing a hat trick of heat wins when coming from behind again on the last bend of lap three to defeat the elder McGurk sibling in the penultimate race of the match. His reward was a place in the nominated riders race where a further point took his opening meeting tally into double figures (with just a second ride fall being the blot on his score sheet).

Meanwhile, Yorkshireman Muff had an afternoon to remember – with this colourful character showing his true mettle for a paid 10 points which included a race win in heat two and then partnering with Sam Bebee in heats 8 & 12 to deliver the two 5-1s which effectively cemented the team win.  Only an unfortunate incident where Bebee locked up when track conditions caught him out in his second ride prevented Sam from joining Muff on paid double figures.

Meanwhile Ryan Kinsley led his charges excellently and the other Fen Tigers’ debutant Josh Warren will count himself unlucky that a last gasp pass on the line by the visitors’ Freddy Hodder in the reserves race and then falling when in third place in his first tR/R outing in the next heat kept his total down.

Co-Team Manager Malcolm Vasey cut a very satisfied figure at the close of proceedings,

“It was a match of many parts – the track offered some problems early on producing one or two unexpected difficulties.

“As the track normalised there were some great performances by the Fen Tigers which ultimately produced a good result and all of the home participants contributed to the success”

The veteran team boss went on.

“Jason Edwards’s sublime 15 point maximum (for a second week running) shows that few will live with him at West Row this season. Alex Spooner on his Fen Tigers’ debut was in great form, winning races from the back in spectacular fashion. Luke Muff made early changes to his bike that vastly improved his impact. And there were excellent performances throughout the rest of the tea – seeing us home to a 12 points win against a Poultec Select side that never stopped trying.

“I feel that with the further signing we are going to be able to announce in the morning, the Fen Tigers can face their title defence confidently”.

Before the first League match of the season, it’s Knock Out Cup tie action in the next two matches – taking on Kent Royals with a place in the Final at stake. The first leg is at Mildenhall Speedway next Sunday. 24th. April.

Mildenhall Manchetts Rescue & Recovery Fen Tigers  51

1 Ryan Kinsley 2 2 3 0                       = 7
2 Sam Bebee   1' FX 3 1 2'                 = 7+2
3 Rider Replacement
4 Alex Spooner  3 FX 3 3 1                = 10
5 Jason Edwards 3 3 3 3 3                = 15 [M]
6 Josh Warren  1 F 2 0 X 0                = 3
7 Luke Muff     3 0 2' 1 3                   = 9+1

Poultec Select 39

1 Dan Thompson   3 3 2 2 FX            =10
2 Archie Freeman   R 1 R 1'               = 2+1
3 Sam McGurk    1' 1' FX 0                = 2+2
4 Harry McGurk     2 2 2 2                 = 8
5 Joe Thompson   2 3 2 1' 2              = 10+1
6 Kai Ward            F 1 FX 1              = 2
7 Freddy Hodder    2 1' 1 1'              = 5+2

Heat Details 

1 D. Thompson, Kinsley, Bebee, Freeman (ret.)  53.6  [3-3]
2 Muff, Hodder, Warren, Ward (fell)  53.6  [7-5]
3 (rerun) Spooner, H. McGurk, S. McGurk, Warren (fell) 54.1 [10-8] 
4 Edwards, J. Thompson, Hodder, Muff  53.8  [13-11]
5 (rerun) D. Thompson, Warren, Freeman, Spooner (fell, exc.)  53.8  [15-15]
6 (rerun) J. Thompson, Kinsley, Ward, Bebee (fell exc.)  53.1 [17-19]
7 Edwards, H. McGurk, S. McGurk, Warren 53.1  [20-22]
8 Bebee, Muff, Hodder, Freeman (ret.)  55.3  [25-23]  
9 (rerun) Spooner, J. Thompson, Muff, Ward (fell exc.)  52.3  [29-25
10 (rerun) Kinsley, H. McGurk, Bebee, S. McGurk (fell exc.)  54.2  [33-27]
11 (rerun) Edwards, D. Thompson, Freeman (fell rem.), Warren (exc.)  54.2  [36-30]
12 Muff, Bebee, S. McGurk, Ward  56.3  [41-31]  
13 Edwards, D. Thompson, J. Thompson, Kinsley  53.3 [44-34]
14 Spooner, H. McGurk, Hodder, Warren (fell rem.)  54.6 [47-37] 
15 (stopped – awarded) Edwards, J. Thompson, Spooner, D. Thompson  (fell exc.)  no time  [51-39]

Social Media Links

facebook logo

Instagram logo

Club Honours

2023 NL KOC Winners
2022 NL Runners Up
2021 NL Champions
2018 NL Trophy Winners
2017 NL Trophy Winners
2014 NL Trophy Winners
2012 NL Champions
NL Fours Champions
NL Pairs Champions
NL KOC Winners
NL Trophy Winners
2011 NL KOC Winners
NL Runners Up
2004 CL Champions
CL Fours Champions
CL KOC Winners
CL Trophy Winners
2003 CL Champions
CL KOC Winners
2002 CL Trophy Winners
2000 CL Cup Winners
1987 Fours Champions
Pairs Champions
1984 Fours Champions
1979 NL Champions