International cycle speedway comes to Suffolk this weekend

Kesgrave's Leon Mower, right, and Ipswich's Ashley Hill, left who will in opposite camps at Great Blakenham on Saturday, with Mower riding for Ireland, while Hill rides for England Photo: PHIL CLARKE (Image: Archant)

The Suffolk club are staging the Home International series, a prestigious meeting with riders from all over Great Britain taking part.

England will race Wales, Scotland and Ireland in both senior, junior and Over 40 competition. There is also a women’s pairs meeting.

Suffolk riders are very much to the fore representing their nations.

Indeed, the England senior side track four Suffolk riders in their five-man team.

Ipswich's Pierce Bacon, leads the England junior charge at Great Blakenham on Saturday Photo; PHIL CLARKE (Image: Archant)

Josh Brooke, Adam Peck and Lewis Osborne are all Blakenham riders and England manager Wayne Aris has gone for home track specialists.

Ashley Hill of Ipswich is also in the team.

“I have gone with three home track riders in Josh, Adam and Lewis as Great Blakenham can be a bit tricky to ride,” Aris said.

“Ash will be surrounded by more experienced riders, but will not be out of his depth.

“I have been impressed with Ashley for some time, mainly at the recent Euro Club Champs at East Park and also in the Battle of Britain where he has been scoring well, including his win in the Senior Regional individual and HSBC UK Elite GP a few weeks ago.”

Ireland include Blakenham’s Jonjo Slaughter and Kesgrave’s Leon Mower.

Meanwhile England juniors’ five-man team includes Ipswich racer Pierce Bacon. He has ridden for England on a number of occasions.

“Junior England will be Pierce Bacon, Ewan Hancox, Ed Morton, Will Jeffery and Max Evans,” said England boss Les Fellgett.

“I’ve gone for a strong capable team. Pierce and Ed have both represented their country before and know is expected.”

Meanwhile, Jason Ashford, of Blakenham, makes his debut in the Over 40s.

All the action at Great Blakenham starts at 11am at the Mill Lane track – admission is free.

Timetable. 11am: Women’s Pairs: North & Scotland v South East & Eastern. 11am: Over 40s Home International, running within women’s pairs. 1pm: Junior Home International. 3pm: Senior Home International.