Ipswich Eagles chairman Jamie Goldsmith has heaped praise on his riders after 10 of the Club’s current squad were named in international squads ahead of a big Ashes, World Cup and Home Nations feast of cycle speedway this summer.
It’s a great fillip for the Eagles club to have so many star names in their ranks in the sport and something Goldsmith is rightly proud of.
“All the Club Officials, members and supporters are really proud that so many Ipswich riders have been recognised for their hard work, commitment and dedication to the sport by being named in their respective Great Britain, England and Ireland squad’s for the up coming Home Nations, World Cup and Ashes series.
“Both Adam Peck and Josh Brooke were announced in the Great Britain squad to face Australia a couple of weeks ago, the two riders having been the mainstays of the Eagles Elite League Squad this year, encouraging and aiding the younger riders.
“In the Great Britain Junior squad, we have no less than five riders competing for places and winning caps for the first time. That’s just fantastic news.
“Richard Fellgett, Matthew Hill and Dan Knights, all 18, 16-year-old Ben Harvey and one of the youngest in the GB squad, 15-year-old Pierce Bacon thoroughly deserve their call-ups having been part of the Ipswich team to have won the British U19 Club Championship back to back for the last three years and also all having played their part in the Elite League team too.”
It will be a second cap for Fellgett and Hill, and international debuts for Knights, Bacon and Harvey. Indeed Fellgett and Bacon have also been selected to represent England in the Junior Home International clash at Ipswich on July 11.
All this news comes on the back of recent news that the highly successful trio of Ipswich Ladies, Lauren Jacobs (former European and British Champion), Charlie-Jane Herbert (current British Womens Champion) and Lily Gedge (current British U16 Womens Champ) have been selected for the GB Women’s squad to tackle the Australians.
“We are proud of all of our riders,” Goldsmith added.
“Of course it’s not just Ipswich riders representing Team GB during the World Cup, as Eagles coach, Les Fellgett, the current England Junior manager, has also been appointed as Team GB’s Junior manager. A great honour for him and well deserved.
“It’s an exciting time at Ipswich with so many riders being recognised for their hard work, but this is also down to the coaches and managers over the last 10 years driving the club forward to improve each year.”
The club, based at Whitton Sports Centre, are now gearing up for the prestigious Home International and Celtic Cup clashes on Saturday, July 11, (1pm start) heralding the start of a busy international period, which culminates with the British Finals weekend at the end of August which is being staged not just at Ipswich, but Kesgrave and Great Blakenham tracks too.
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