Lakeside Hammers

Lakeside Hammers
Club information
Track address	Arena Essex Raceway A1306 Arterial Road Purfleet
Country	England
Founded	1984
Closed	2018 [1]
Club facts
Colours	Blue red and white
Track size	252 metres (276 yd)
Track record time	56.8 seconds
Track record date	30 May 2008
Track record holder	Andreas Jonsson
Major team honours
Knockout Cup (tier 1) 2009 British League Division Two 1991 BL Div Two Four-Team Championship 1991 BL Div 2 KO Cup 1991

The Lakeside Hammers (formerly the Arena-Essex Hammers) were a speedway team who raced in the British league system from 1984 to 2018, most recently racing in the SGB Championship in 2018. The team were nicknamed the Hammers after the West Ham Hammers, a speedway team that closed twelve years earlier. ^[2] The team's home track, the Arena Essex Raceway, closed shortly before the end of the 2018 season. ^[3]

History

Origins and 1980s

Arena Essex Raceway

The Arena Essex Raceway was built in 1978 to stage banger racing. ^[4]

Speedway returned to Essex in 1983 following the founding of the Arena-Essex Hammers by promoter Wally Mawdsley and stock car promoter Chick Woodroffe. ^[5] Former West Ham promoter Mawdsley touted the new club as the successors to or the reincarnation of the old West Ham Speedway, which had closed in the early 1970s – the team took the Hammers nickname, the race colours of white crossed hammers on red and blue halves, and the racenight programmes also carried photos of past West Ham riders from the 1930s through to the early 1970s. There was even a direct link to West Ham speedway within the first Arena-Essex team itself – Alan Sage had ridden for West Ham in 1970 and 1971. ^[6]

The inaugural 1984 season ended with 14th-place finish ^[7] but the following two seasons saw an improvement to 6th and 4th respectively. ^[8] the team's leading rider in the 1980s was Martin Goodwin. ^[9]

1990s

The Hammers in 1997

The speedway track was unusual because it did not have a safety fence as the stock car circuit acted as a run-off area. It was not until 1991 that a safety fence was installed.

It was also in 1991 that major changes were undertaken, Terry Russell and Ivan Henry purchased the club from Chick Woodroffe ^[10] and they built a new team. Martin Goodwin left the club and six new signings came in. Three Danes (Bo Petersen, Brian Karger and Jan Pedersen) were joined by Alan Mogridge, Andy Galvin and Paul Hurry. The team were dominant, winning 21 of their 22 league matches, winning the Knockout Cup ^[11] and claiming the fours championship held at the East of England Arena on 21 July. ^[12]

Following the successful 1991 season the team were promoted to the first division (one of the rare seasons that speedway operated a promotion/relegation system) and remained in the top flight until the end of the 1995 season. The leading rider was Australian Leigh Adams.

A club promotion change resulted in the Hammers dropping to the Conference League for 1996 before moving into the Premier League from 1997. ^[13]

2000s

Hefenbrock and Kennett race for the Hammers in 2007

Little of note happened during the early part of the 2000s before the team entered the Elite League in 2004 and signed former world champion Mark Loram. The following season in 2005, two more former world champions were signed in Tony Rickardsson and Gary Havelock and Rickardsson went on to win his sixth world title as a Hammer's rider.

In January 2007, the new promoter Stuart Douglas renamed the team the 'Lakeside' Hammers. ^{[14] [15]} In 2008, the club had a successful year, finishing joint top of the Elite League table, but due to race points, were in second place. The Hammers lost three of their top four riders with serious injuries towards the end of the season, but still reached the Craven Shield and Elite League play-off finals. ^[16]

In 2009, the club won their first piece of silverware since 1991 and their most significant because it was the first trophy won in the highest division. They defeated the Coventry Bees 108–77 on aggregate in the KO Cup Final, with Adam Shields scoring 31 points over two legs.

2010s

Lee Richardson led the team into the new decade, with the Hammers making the play-offs on several occasions. The team continued to compete in the top division until they dropped two divisions to race in the National League for 2017.

In 2018, the team opted to move up into the SGB Championship, which would be their last season. ^[17] In September 2018, speedway racing ceased at the track and the Hammers moved to the Rye House Hoddesdon raceway to complete their fixtures. ^{[18] [19]}

Thurrock Hammers speedway team

Thurrock Hammers Ltd (THL) ^[20] was incorporated in 2019 with a mission to restore speedway racing to the Thurrock area post sale of The Arena Essex Raceway for housing development. The Thurrock Hammers overall mission is to return speedway to the Thurrock area. Thurrock Hammers started an online petition ^[21] to support their campaign in order to return speedway racing back the Thurrock area.

Season summary

Extended content

Year and league Position Notes 1984 National League season 14th as Arena Essex Hammers 1985 National League season 6th 1986 National League season 4th 1987 National League season 12th 1988 National League season 9th 1989 National League season 12th 1990 National League season 14th 1991 British League Division Two season 1st Champions & Knockout Cup, fours 1992 British League season 11th 1993 British League season 4th 1994 British League season 8th 1995 Premier League speedway season 10th 1996 Speedway Conference League 6th 1997 Premier League speedway season 7th 1998 Premier League speedway season 11th 1999 Premier League speedway season 9th 2000 Premier League speedway season 13th 2001 Premier League speedway season 10h 2002 Premier League speedway season 11th 2003 Premier League speedway season 7th 2004 Elite League speedway season 8th 2005 Elite League speedway season 10th 2006 Elite League speedway season 11th 2007 Elite League speedway season 5th changed name to Lakeside Hammers 2008 Elite League speedway season 2nd PO final 2009 Elite League speedway season 3rd Knockout Cup winners 2010 Elite League speedway season 5th 2011 Elite League speedway season 4th 2012 Elite League speedway season 4th 2013 Elite League speedway season 6th 2014 Elite League speedway season 6th 2015 Elite League speedway season 8th 2016 Elite League 4th 2017 National League speedway season 4th SGB Championship 2018 4th PO final

Notable riders

• Leigh Adams
• Andy Galvin
• Martin Goodwin
• Paul Hurry
• Andreas Jonsson
• Brian Karger
• Leigh Lanham
• Alan Mogridge
• Jan Pedersen
• Bo Petersen
• Troy Pratt
• Tony Rickardsson
• Adam Shields

Riders previous seasons

Extended content

2018 team Nick Morris Richard Lawson Adam Ellis Kyle Newman Ben Morley Zach Wajtknecht Alfie Bowtell 2017 team Zach Wajtknecht Paul Hurry Ben Morley Alfie Bowtell Connor Locke Nick Laurence Jamie Couzins Also rode: David Mason George Hunter 2016 team Andreas Jonsson Lewis Bridger Kim Nilsson Richard Lawson Edward Kennett Piotr Swiderski Lewis Kerr Robert Mear Dennis Jonsson 2015 team Andreas Jonsson Mikkel Bech Jensen Richard Lawson (DU) Kim Nilsson Edward Kennett (DU) Steve Boxall (DU) Adam Ellis (DU) Ashley Birks (DU) 2014 team Peter Karlsson Davey Watt Lewis Bridger Mikkel Bech Jensen Richard Lawson (DU) Adam Ellis – Fast Track Ben Morley – Fast Track 2013 team Peter Karlsson Davey Watt Sebastian Ulamek Piotr Swiderski Lewis Bridger Richard Lawson (DU) Kevin Doolan (DU) Also rode: Kim Nilsson Robert Mear 2012 team The team finished in 4th place out of 10, qualifying for the play-offs, making it the 4th time in 5 years. Peter Karlsson 8.61 Davey Watt 8.06 Jonas Davidsson 5.93 Kauko Nieminen (DU) 4.90 Stuart Robson (DU) 5.09 Robert Mear 4.44 Kim Nilsson 5.45 Richie Worrall (DU) 3.00 Justin Sedgmen (DU) 3.69 Also rode: Lee Richardson 8.20 2011 team The team finished 4th from 10, making the playoffs; however, they were eliminated by Eastbourne in the semi-finals. Lee Richardson 8.06 Jonas Davidsson 6.88 Piotr Swiderski 6.23 Peter Ljung 5.60 Kauko Nieminen (DU) 5.07 Stuart Robson (DU) 5.22 Robert Mear 4.83 Kim Nilsson 4.15 Jerran Hart (No 8) Also rode: Adam Shields Tomasz Jedrzejak Chris Neath (DU) Kevin Doolan (DU) Kyle Legualt(DU) Luboš Tomíček, Jr. (No 8) 2010 team The 2010 team finished in 5th place from 9 teams, narrowly missing out on the playoffs. Lee Richardson 8.67 Jonas Davidsson 6.51 Adam Shields 7.39 Kauko Nieminen 5.35 Stuart Robson 4.03 Peter Ljung 5.17 Paul Hurry 3.91 Chris Neath (No 8) 3.49 Also rode: Krzysztof Kasprzak 8.33 Daniel Davidsson 4.91 Jerran Hart (No 8) – 2009 team Lakeside finished 3rd out of 9, qualifying for the playoffs, but lost to Wolverhampton in the playoff semi-finals. The team became K.O Cup Champions by defeating Coventry. Lee Richardson 8.56 Jonas Davidsson 7.97 Joonas Kylmäkorpi 6.02 Kauko Nieminen 5.63 Stuart Robson 4.17 Phil Morris (DU) 3.56 Chris Mills (DU) 2.29 Robert Mear (No 8) 3.23 Adam Shields 7.79 Also rode: Piotr Swiderski 7.82 (DU) Riders doubling-up between Premier and Elite League 2008 team The team finished joint top on points with Poole, but lost the playoff final to an aggregate score of 108 – 75 to the Pirates. They also reached the Final of the Craven Shield, losing to Coventry. Andreas Jonsson 9.66 Adam Shields 8.10 Tomasz Jedrzejak 6.40 Jonas Davidsson 6.75 Leigh Lanham 5.10 Ricky Kling 4.90 Krzysztof Jablonski – Kauko Nieminen (No.8) 6.56 Also Rode: Joonas Kylmäkorpi 5.96 Chris Mills (as No.8) – Luboš Tomíček, Jr. 4.48 Tomasz Piszcz 2.00 2007 team The revamped Lakeside Hammers finished 5th from 10 teams (after the closure of Oxford). Andreas Jonsson 8.00 Joonas Kylmäkorpi 6.12 Krzysztof Kasprzak 8.68 Adam Shields 7.40 Leigh Lanham 5.05 Luboš Tomíček, Jr. 3.37 Ricky Kling 3.49 Andreas Messing 3.11 Chris Mills (No.8) 2.86 Also Rode Christian Hefenbrock 4.05 Paul Hurry 4.00 Henning Bager 4.07 Chris Neath – 2006 team Arena Essex finished 11th out of 11, placing them bottom of the Elite League for a second consecutive season. Henning Bager 5.20 Paul Hurry 5.35 Joonas Kylmäkorpi 7.56 Leigh Lanham 5.92 Mikael Max 6.33 Andreas Messing 2.88 Steve Johnston 5.59 Also Rode Andreas Jonsson 7.56 Mariusz Puszakowski 3.26 Łukasz Romanek 1.40 Shaun Tacey (No.8) 3.25 Brent Werner (No.8) 3.75 2005 team The 2005 side finished bottom of the Elite League. Mark Loram 7.75 Adam Skornicki 5.96 Gary Havelock 5.60 Leigh Lanham 5.39 Paul Hurry 4.76 Sergei Darkin 5.12 Roman Povazhny 5.08 Phil Morris (No.8) 4.02 Also Rode Tony Rickardsson 9.83 Josh Larsen 4.00 Piotr Świst 3.67 2004 team Although the team finished 8th from 10 in their first season in the Elite League, they were 14 points above 9th place. Mark Loram 9.66 Roman Povazhny 5.71 Dean Barker 5.67 Grzegorz Walasek 5.02 Paul Hurry 5.13 Leigh Lanham 5.21 Josh Larsen 5.10 Ray Morton (No.8) – Also Rode Ronni Pedersen 3.70 Kelvin Tatum 5.75 2003 team The team finished 7th out of 18 teams. It would be their last at Premier League level. Joonas Kylmakorpi 9.06 Leigh Lanham 9.38 Kelvin Tatum 7.85 Henning Bager 5.68 Jason King 3.96 Danny King 2.82 Lee Herne 4.76 Also Rode David Ruud 7.41 Andy Galvin 3.15 1998 team The team finished 11th out of 13 teams. Troy Pratt Matt Read Jan Pedersen 8.71 Colin White Leigh Lanham Paul Lyde-Uings Nathan Morton

References

1. "DOUGLAS TO STEP ASIDE – British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
2. Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN   0-7524-2210-3
3. "Arena-Essex Lakeside Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
4. "The Hammers". Lakeside Hammers.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2007. Retrieved 27 October 2007.
5. "New Speed track for Essex" . Harlow Star. 13 October 1983. Retrieved 16 May 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
6. "Alan Sage". WWOS backup. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
7. "1984 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
8. "British League Tables – British League Era (1965-1990)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
9. "Baldwin jets in as Tigers take the points" . Cambridge Daily News. 11 June 1984. Retrieved 16 May 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
10. "Speedway continues" . Brentwood Gazette. 8 February 1991. Retrieved 16 May 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
11. "1988 to 1993". Cyber Morotcycles. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
12. "Speedway" . Western Daily Press. 22 July 1991. Retrieved 13 May 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
13. "British League Tables – Modern Era (1991-Present)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 2 September 2021.^{[ dead link ‍]}
14. "Changing Fortunes". BBC. 30 October 2007. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2007.
15. "New owner for Arena Essex". BBC. 4 December 2006. Retrieved 10 December 2007.
16. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
17. Ranson, Jacob. "Lakeside Hammers join the Championship".
18. "RACEWAY FAREWELL – British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk.
19. "EMOTIONAL NIGHT AT ARENA – British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk.
20. "Thurrock Hammers speedway team".
21. "Thurrock Hammers petition".