Meet the Sheffield 'STAR' Tigers for 2000

Following his excellent results for the Owlerton Prowlers Adam was given his home debut as a stand-in for the injured Peter Boast on the 27th May against Exeter. A brilliant first ride saw him follow Simon Cartwright home for a 5-1, but engine problems meant no further points that night. Adam's outings with Buxton see him continue to develop and highlights include the Bronze helmet won from Andrew Appleton of Newport, and victory in the Hull 700 Individual event. With Peter Boast injured Adam finished the 1999 season as a regular in the team with his most impressive display being at Newport in the Young Shield final.

Adam will be spearheading the Sheffield Conference League team in 2000.

Adam scored 8 in the British U21 qualifier at Newport and may have qualified but for a 2-minute time exclusion.

The '97 Premier League campaign saw James struggling with equipment and then losing confidence. With the team struggling he was allowed to join Newcastle on loan in September as the Tigers promoters gambled on Derrol Keats. 1999 saw James join the new Workington set-up until a nasty burn injury sidelined him for a while. With his Workington team place filled James joined Edinburgh for a number of matches before seeing the season out riding for Stoke.

James will lead the Sheffield Conference League team into the year 2000.

James scored 10 in the British U21 qualifier at Newport but was beaten in the run-off for the last qualifying place by Blair Scott.

(*Green sheet average includes rides for Glasgow.)

Simon rode in the Indoor Ice speedway series in America over the winter, and will need to be match fit from the start in order to maintain progress as he steps up into the team in 2000.

Robbie spent 1998 sidelined in Britain due to his very high average and his commitments in the Polish League which precluded him from the Sheffield line-up. He moved up to the Elite League for 1999 with the Kings Lynn Knights where he partnered World Champion Tony Rickardsson, and for Lodz in the Polish Second League competing in 13 matches for a 7.52 average.

Robbie was one of the earliest to take to the track in 2000 finishing 4th in the New Year Classic at Newport after falling in the final. Robbie missed the home clash with Newcastle and away at Workington after sustaining broken ribs when crashing while riding for Germany in the World Team Cup. He returned to the saddle against doctors orders for the Stoke match when he suffered an awkward fall in his 4th ride, but still bounced back to beat Paul Thorp in the last heat!

Paul had a very successful winter riding in New Zealand winning seven of his eight meetings, and suffering machine problems in the other.

Paul rode to an untroubled 15 point maximum in the British U21 qualifyer at Newport. In the Edinburgh U21 final Paul scored 11 points beating team mate Simon Stead in the run-off for 3rd place to claim his place in the World Championship British semi-finals. Paul scored a creditable 11 points in his World U21 qualifier at Bydgoszcz in Poland and will travel to Pocking in Germany for the semi-final on 6 August.

Following further injuries sustained by James Birkinshaw in August Andy picked up more meetings, commencing with an impressive 6 point return against the IOW Islanders.

Deciding again that he was not quite ready for an Elite League campaign Simon was the first Tiger to sign up for 2000 before commencing his Australian trip. Simon starts the 2000 campaign as a heat leader and hopefully will be fully fit following a nasty crash in one of his meetings down-under which left him with a gashed arm. Finished second to Brent Collyer in the Queensland State Championship.

Simon scored 11 points in the British U21 final at Edinburgh but lost the 3rd place run-off to team mate Paul Lee. Simon scored 9 points in the World U21 qualifier at Mseno in the Czech Repulic losing to Hungarian Janos Golenya in a run-off.

Sheffield had attempted to sign him in 1998 but were vetoed because of his high average. A dismal end to 1998 while riding for Belle Vue made the drop possible and the early weeks of last season found a revitalised Sean, happy to be wanted by his club and proud to be made captain. Sean's enthusiasm proved infectious and his point scoring prowess on track was matched only by his inspirational presence in the pits.

Sheffield fans are eagerly waiting the competition between Sean and Robbie to determine who will be the top Tiger in 2000.

Sean started his Polish season in style with a 15 point maximum for Lublin as they beat Warsaw 49 - 40.

World Championship trail...after attempting to withdraw from the World Championships in order to concentrate on his club fixtures but being threatened by a ban if he did so, Sean applied himself to the British semi-finals finishing top qualifier by a clear three points. At a very wet Brandon Sean went on to score 7 points in the British Final to qualify for the Overseas final, where he scored 8 to qualify for the Inter-Continental to be staged at Holsted in Denmark on 12 August.