Crusaders due 'job-share.'

Sittingbourne Speedway are pleased to announce the addition of two more members of the intended 12 man squad for the forthcoming Conference League season, and they will both ride in the same team position. Taking on this unusual jobsharing arrangement are ex Boston and Mildenhall rider Dean Garrod and former Wimbledon and Carmarthen captain Chris Hunt.

Club spokesman Steve Ribbons explained, "Because of the new rider grading both of these dedicated and loyal club men were faced with the prospect of not getting a team place this year and because of their high grading we could not fit them both in at the same time. So we have offered them half a season each and they have agreed to share a place in the team and also to offer cover against injuries and non availability of team-mates". Both Chris and Dean will be picked on the basis of how they ride a particular track so we can expect to see Chris ride at Wimbledon and Dean at Boston for example."

Staying with the subject of assembling a team for this year Ribbons continued "I don't think people realise how hard it is trying to piece a team together from scratch as we are. All of the other Conference League clubs started their planning last October when the season ended while we only started last week, but I can confirm that talks are on going with two star heat leaders to spearhead the team and an announcement is due shortly".

On the controversial subject of rider grading Ribbons said "It's all very well the league telling us to have two 15 year olds in at reserve but where are they all supposed to come from? As one of the foremost training venues in the country we at Sittingbourne run more training schools than any other track and at this time we haven't got two 15 who are ready for the Conference League. If we put in two who are not ready it may do them more harm than good and may put back their progress by eroding their confidence or worse, dispirit then so much they then quit."