A British number two champion woman cyclist has signed to the Coventry Devlins Newsagents Cycle Speedway team for the 2012 season.
It’s another cycling challenge for bicycle mad Sarah Hanson, a 24 year old graduate from Coventry. She already competes in Mountain Biking, Bike Polo and a new craze, Rollapaluza- an indoor sport on two wheels.
Hanson is the current Midlands champion of Rollapaluza, a hyped up cycle sport based on roller cycles connected to electronic timing, set to a backdrop of dance music, cheering crowds and MC.
She reached the nationals finals in 2011 in London, losing out to self styled Londoner Miss Socks in a pulsating final to a packed crowd. The Coventry girl lost the final by an agonising 0.6 seconds.
Now Hanson is turning her attentions to the shale of Hearsall Common and the newly revived Coventry Cycle Speedway club for her latest pedal powered thrills.
She has signed full membership forms for the club, who will race in the Midlands League in 2012, after four years in the wilderness. The team will race into action in the new Cycle Speedway season when entertaining Stoke Potters at Hearsall Common on Sunday 25th March.
And, she has her sights set on reaching the British Woman’s Cycle Speedway final at Newport, Wales, in front of an expected 1,000 plus spectators on Bank Holiday Monday 27th August.
Hanson is bowled over by the reception she received from the Coventry club after stumbling across the track whilst walking her dogs on Hearsall Common one Wednesday night last summer.
She contacted the club and attended practice the following Wednesday. Sarah takes up the story, “I was looked after very well on my first visit and briefed by the main members. They had a coach there, directing things. I was also very pleasantly surprised by the organisation, such as lending bikes to newbie’s.
“Then they got in touch and asked me to take part in a friendly match, which was a blast. It’s a fabulous sport, I wish I had found it sooner and I’m encouraging others to take it up too”.
Coventry Cycle Speedway coach Jez Hughes said “There’s no doubt with her bike handling skills, allied with her fantastic fitness, that Sarah could make a real impact on Cycle Speedway. We shall be encouraging her all the way”.
COVENTRY COMPLETE NEW SIGNING
Coventry Devlins Newsagents Cycle Speedway team have completed the signing of star Polish rider Konrad Pietak ahead of the new 2012 season.
The reformed Godiva city side, back in the Midland League after four years in the wilderness, have swooped to sign the 27 year old Pietak in the face of stiff competition from rival British clubs.
The rider, from Czestochowa, in southern Poland, has several years of experience in the top Polish league. He is rated as heat leader standard and is expected to score freely for the Devlins Newsagents side in their comeback season.
He completed contract talks with Coventry last week, before signing at the weekend. Pietak will jet into the UK on Friday 23rd March, before making his Coventry debut at Hearsall Common in the season opener on Sunday 25th March against Stoke.
Pietak will live in the city with fellow Polish ace Dominik Rychardski, the former World Pairs champion. The pair were childhood friends, growing up together in the same Czestochowa street, attending the same schools.
The Polish partnership of Rychardski and Pietak will give Coventry a strong spearhead. With back-up support from returning heat leader Myke Grimes, emerging Joe Kemp and veterans Dave Frith, Norman Venson and Joe McLaughlin, Coventry are confident of holding their own.
Coventry team boss Steve Bromwich said, “We are delighted to welcome Konrad to our colours, our team and our city. We are confident he will prove a prolific scorer for us”.
ENDS
Credit where credit's due, Joe makes even me look good.
The new season is approaching fast.
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Credit where credit's due, Joe makes even me look good.