TIGERS OF SHEFFIELD ROAR PAST TIGERS OF GLASGOW

SHEFFIELD TIGERS 48 V GLASGOW TIGERS 42
SPEEDWAY PREMIER LEAGUE @ OWLERTON 4 JUNE 2015---7.30pm

IMPRESSIVE STADIUM ENTRANCE

 How can anybody not come away from a meeting like this and not enjoy the thrills of speedway?  Quite simply it was full of great riding, exciting racing and in heat 14 a race that even had seasoned speedway supporters purring as Sheffield Tigers took 4 points that secured them a margin that could not be challenged in the final heat.
So in this summer of sports to replace football for the blog tonight's visit to Sheffield Tigers Speedway was eagerly anticipated and although I normally get to see one or two meetings a year, not enough, tonight's meeting was a mouth watering one with one of the title favourites Glasgow Tigers visiting Owlerton.

OVERVIEW OF OWLERTON STADIUM

The stadium is to the north of the city just short of Hillsborough Sheffield Wednesday's impressive stadium just for fairness the route in did pass Sheffield United's Bramall Lane.  This site has a large car park which displays the largest floodlight tower you will probably see apart from maybe on a motorway intersection within access of the car park is also Napoleons Casino. 
Owlerton Stadium currently hosts greyhound racing, stock car and speedway but has staged Sheffield Eagles Rugby League and a few years ago Sheffield FC games.

The entrance turnstiles to the arena are impressive in that they have a massive signage above them of four racing greyhounds that on darker evenings than tonight light up in a selection of eye catching attractive colours.  Inside having paid the £15 entrance and gained a very creditable programme at £2.50 for 32 pages the stadium opens up to you. 

THE NOW BACK STRAIGHT WITH IMPRESSIVE ADVERTISING BOARDS NAD SCOREBOARD

Well I say opens up to you its really a exploration exercise as there is so much to this stadium that its probably impossible to do it justice with hospitality boxes, terracing, restaurant serving a carvery tonight and offering a panoramic view of the event. 

ITS....THE PITS

The pits are at the far end of the main area of gathering and its not difficult to locate them with much revving and tinkering taking place by the many mechanics and riders buzzing around.  I will probably mention this a few times in this blog but its great in this sport to see the riders mixing and giving time to fans of all ages from young to old a real credit to speedway.

SHEFFIELD'S JOSH BATES

Having secured a viewing position it always disappoints me that the back straight terrace is now closed at Owlerton it was a great place to watch from and somewhere that I had previously viewed meetings. 
Looking towards the racing you have the outer circle all covered up with sheets this being the greyhound track and then beyond fencing much of this protective with inflatable barriers for the riders protection you have the speedway track.  Of course beyond this is the grassed inner circle which has until recently seen Eagles play their rugby league trade.  So I have probably not done the stadium justice because there is so much going on, it was now time to try out the food bar which is situated below the panoramic restaurant and was quite busy resulting in some lengthy queuing, food secured our party were happy with their hot dogs.
To the meeting and without going through to much of the smaller details Sheffield did have Australian Brady Kurtz guesting for them tonight and we also had chance to take a quick picture of young Sheffield star Josh Bates before the start.  The racing stuttered to a start with tapes broken in the first heat and then two 'unsatisfactory starts', I may need that one explaining to me!  It was though still exciting and after heat 4 it was all level at 21-21, time then for some track grading in which the yellow and red tractor did their work.

TAPES UP!

 

Close scoring all the way along as this meeting looked set to go to the wire was by 4 heats from the end just swaying into Sheffield favour with Glasgow Tigers having pole position into the last bend their rider had a bike problem and Sheffield raced through to keep the wining points with a 'race awarded' decision to lead 38-34.  Heat 13 saw Kurtz win and it moved to 41-37 and then it was heat 14.  This heat had enough excitement to keep all enthralled in it whether fan or seasoned supporter indeed quite a few were purring at the excitement and were heard to say 'worth the admission money alone'.  Jason Garrity and Josh Bates [subbing in this heat] set off to deny the Scottish Tigers  and their sheer determination and bravery amazed me as they seemed to ride with no fear, I'm sure for the exoerienced supporter they were looking at their massive skill levels as the lead swung between Garrity and his Glasgow opponent.  But at the flag Garrity had got a maximum 3 points with Bates riding strongly to secure third and take Sheffield to 4 points and a unsurmountable lead 45-39 in the meeting.  The final heat saw both sides take 3 points and with a final score of 48-42 Sheffield Tigers had secured a superb victory with skill, determination and I have to say again bravery that defies many sports.

BRADY KURTZ WALKS BACK FOLLOWING AN EARLY CRASH

The bravery element of these guys is seen non more so than a few of the crashes when on the first corner when rider comes off into the inflatable fencing no problem you may think not until the second rider has also followed directly followed him crashing into him with bike and person from the side too.  The speed of these guys as they go at full pelt down the straight before entering the bend with of course no brakes beggars belief just fantastic and when you consider the 4 laps see the winning time around 60 seconds you hopefully get a feel for the sheer speed.

SHEFFIELD TIGERS IMPRESSIVE TRACKSIDE SHOP

During the meeting we got into conversation with a chap who was brought to speedway as young lad by his parents who met at Sheffield Speedway and who cant wait to be able too bring his still too young grandchildren to speedway, it really is that sort of family friendly sport with the riders being a real part of this feeling with their superb attitude to the fans something many other sports could learn from.
If you have never tried speedway I recommend it to you with the atmosphere added to it by the bikes noise and that wonderful fuel smell that is so unique to speedway.