Meet the 2004 Sheffield 'PIRTEK' Tigers

New team photo
Photograph by Geoff Ridsdale
James Birkinshaw André Compton Ricky Ashworth Sean Wilson Ben Wilson Richard Hall Andy Moore
Shane Colvin
Make your selection from the riders listed above

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Ricky Ashworth
Ricky Ashworth Born: SalfordGreater Manchester17th August 1982
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
7.75 7.53 8.06 8.26 8.35 8.35 8.46

Ricky joined the Tigers in 2002 less than 12 months after first taking up speedway.

Fast starting Ricky had a good solid first season, albeit with the odd mechanical problem, and was a major factor in the Tiger's fortunes. Started the 2003 season at reserve but had claimed the third heat-leader position by August.

He rode for Great Britain in the U21 test match wins against Sweden scoring 4+1 at Reading, and a commendable 7 at Wolverhampton despite taking a heavy tumble while attempting to pass Peter Ljung.

Having signed a two year deal with the Tigers before the end of the 2003 season Ricky will also be doubling up with Elite League Peterborough when fixtures allow. During the closed season Ricky suffered a broken collarbone in a spill on the training track, but is fighting fit and raring to go for 2004. Ricky is doubling up for the Peterborough Panthers in the Elite League this year. His World Championship aspirations came to a premature end in the British Qualifying round at Kings Lynn where a blown engine restricted his score to just 5 points.

For all the latest on Ricky surf over to [rickyashworth.com] surf to rickyashworth.com

Current average from official fixtures = 8.52

photograph by:Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2003:60.5September 25
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2004: 60.4July 22
Highest scores: Home17+1 (max) Somerset (PL) Away16 Hull (PL)
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James Birkinshaw
James Birkinshaw Born: SheffieldSouth Yorkshire6th March 1980
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
4.93 5.09 5.50 5.12 5.43 5.12 5.36
James gets the nod for the final second-string position in 2004. He finished the 2003 season in style with some breathtaking performances around Owlerton but needs to improve his away performances.

The May green sheets see James relegated to reserve but with just one away fixture his average improved and he returned into the body of team from the 1st of June. Disappointing returns from the Reading and IOW away fixtures led to James being dropped despite a paid maximum in the home league match against Newcastle.

With Shane Colvin struggling to make an impression James was recalled prior to the Hull match, which was rained off. His first match back was at Glasgow where he only scored 1+1 in the 51-42 defeat, and his home debut was marred by two shed chains and a fall against Exeter.

A great performance against Newport scoring 10+4 in tricky conditions saw James back on form and picking up the referee's 'man of the match' award.

For all the latest on James vivit his website at [jamesbirkinshaw.co.uk] surf to jamesbirkinshaw.co.uk

Current average from official fixtures = 5.48

photograph by:Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2003:62.6October 16
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2004: 61.5July 29
Highest scores: Home12+3 (max) Newcastle (PL) Away8+2 Exeter (PL)
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Shane Colvin
Shane Colvin Born: HastingsEast Sussex4th February 1982
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
    5.35 5.36 5.36    
Shane Colvin joined the Tigers on 21st June 2004 as a replacement for the dropped James Birkinshaw and made his debut in the Premier Trophy semi-final against Exeter at the County Ground. Shane has had spells with both Reading and Workington in the Premier League, and joins us from Conference League Carmarthen.

Three points in his first meeting for us proved to be the highlight in his short stay at Sheffield as he struggled to come to terms with the Owlerton circuit. Having had his engines specially set up he never got a chance to use them as the next Thursday was rained off, and he was dropped to allow James Birkinshaw to regain his place the week after. Hopefully Shane will soon get another team place, and the opportunity to show us what he is capable of.

For all the latest surf over to Shane's website at [shanecolvinracing.co.uk] surf to shanecolvinracing.co.uk

Current average from official fixtures = 2.25

photograph by:Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2002:66.7April 29
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2004: tba 
Highest scores: Home2+1 Exeter (PT s/f) Away3 Exeter (PT s/f)
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André Compton
André Compton Born:DewsburyYorkshire15th May1977
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
8.14 8.73 9.31 9.09 8.96 8.79 8.81

Having helped steer the Tigers to their 1999 Championship win André moved up to the Elite League with Peterborough in 2000, but became a victim of his teams poor initial form. Joining Newcastle he skippered the Diamonds to Championship success in 2001, and invariably performed well against the Tigers. When The Diamonds changed their race day to Sunday for 2003 André was looking for another team and jumped at the chance of rejoining the Tigers, signing a full contract a few weeks into the season.

A bad tumble in the home match against Stoke in August saw André aggravate an old ankle injury which ultimately caused him to sit out the rest of the 2003 season.

André soon regained his form and his battles with Billy Hamill were the highlight of the 75th Anniversary meeting in April. Following Sean Wilson's injury André has assumed the skippers role and his first race as captain saw him team ride Ben Wilson home for a 5-1 ahead of Berwick's Michal Makovsky.

André's return to form led to him being re-called by the Poole Pirates, and on the World Championship scene he finished 3rd in the British Qualifying round at Kings Lynn with 12 points, and then 7 in the final.

André won the contoversial Premier League Rider's Championship passing the unbeaten Simon Stead in the final before they both fell with André suffering injuries to both hands and wrists which brought his season to an untimely end.

Current average from official fixtures = 8.92

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2003:60.8May 8
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2004: 59.8September 16 & 19
Highest scores: Home18 (max) Exeter (PL) Away12+2 Newcastle (PT)
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Richard Hall
Richard Hall Born:NorthallertonNorth Yorkshire23rd August1984
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
3.00 5.16 5.19 5.48 5.77 5.50 5.49

Richard joined the Prowlers from Newcastle after a spell doubling up with the Diamonds and the Gems, wasted no time in regaining his confidence and set about showing them what a mistake they had made. He was called up as cover for injured Tiger Ben Wilson towards the end of the 2003 season and his impressive performances made him the obvious choice for the Tigers second reserve berth in 2004.

The May green sheet averages saw Richard move up into the team and in the difficult No.2 race jacket he improved his average slightly. Although he reverted to reserve in June as James Birkinshaw's average took a big leap, by July he was back in the body of the team and he saw the season out riding in the heat leaders No.3 race jacket as the management attempted to juggle dwindling rider resources.

Keep tabs on Richard at Hall-Racing [hall-racing.com] surf to hall-racing.com

Current average from official fixtures = 5.52

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2003:62.2October 16
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2004: 62.0July 1
Highest scores: Home13+2 (max) Newcastle (PL) Away7+2 Newport (PL)
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Andrew Moore
Andrew Moore Born:LincolnLincolnshire6th October1982
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
7.75 8.00 8.00 7.67 7.70 7.30  

Having doubled up for to the Tigers & Prowlers in 2001 Andy became a full time Tiger in 2002. Last season saw him competing with Ricky for the third heat-leader slot with some powerful and speedy displays. When he claimed 19 points and a Golden Double Tactical Substitute win at Kings Lynn as the Tigers knocked the Stars out Buster Chapman was so convinced that Andy was on an illegal engine that he coughed up £550 for an official protest. The engine was found to be 498cc and both Andy and his tuner were well pleased by that. After all the hassle it caused it was actually quite a compliment! Andy rode for the Great Britain U21 team in the test match victories against Sweden scoring 7 at Reading and 8 at Wolverhampton.

Starting as second-string in 2004 he will be keen to renew competition with Ricky for that third heat-leader slot. Andy doubled up for the Swindon Robins in the Elite League, mainly away meetings as the Robins race on Thursdays too, but fell victim to the Robins attempts to strengthen their team following poor results and injuries. Eastbourne were however quick to step in and he has joined the Sussex team to replace Ed Kennett.

Andy finished joint top-scorer in the British Qualifying round of the World Championships at Kings Lynn losing out to Chris Neath in the first place run-off. While Andy's form for Sheffield seemed to stall he had some excellent meetings for Eastbourne until he broke his leg avoiding his fallen team mate at Arlington in August.

For more info on Andrew surf over to [andrewmoorespeedway.com] click to surf to andrewmoorespeedway.com

Current average from official fixtures = 7.30

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2003:60.4September 18
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2004: 59.6 July 1
Highest scores: Home13+2 Exeter (PL) Away13+1 Rye House (PL)
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Ben Wilson
Ben Wilson Born:SheffieldSouth Yorkshire15th March1986
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
3.22 3.22 4.14 4.36 4.45 4.47 4.86

Grandson of Roy Wilson who runs the Sheffield training track. Ben joined the Prowlers on his 15th birthday in March 2001. On his debut at Peterborough Ben went to the tapes for his first official race and sped to a dream win. Ben continues to make good progress and has already begun to perfect the 'Peter Carr' third bend dive.

Ben got the nod to start the 2003 season wearing the Tigers No.7 jacket, picked up an injury to his groin in a crash at Hull and then broke both wrists when he was forced into the fence at Reading.

After a slow start to the 2004 season Ben was showing some real form when he crashed in the 75th Anniversary meeting at Owlerton. Severe bruising meant he missed the Tigers first league fixture at Rye House on Easter Monday.

Ben qualified from the British U21 final at Rye House but on a rain soaked track at Rawicz in Poland he could only muster 6 points ending his World Championship aspirations for this year. He bounced back by passing Richard Hall (twice) in the final to win the Jeff Hall Suzuki 'Top Gun' Individual Championship in front of his home crowd.

Current average from official fixtures = 5.09

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2003:64.0April 14 (Conference League)
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2004: 61.9September 16
Highest scores: Home13+2 Rye House (PL) Away9+1 King's Lynn (PL)
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Sean Wilson
Sean Wilson Born: YorkNorth Yorkshire7th November1969
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
9.73 9.69 9.69 9.69 9.69 9.69 9.69

Sean inspired the Tigers again in 2002 to a triple crown winning season. A patch of unbeatable form in July led to Sean being called up to represent his country in the World Team Cup, but a shoulder injury sustained in Poland, and aggravated at Somerset and Newport saw Sean struggling. Like a trooper he rode through the pain scoring 17 in the away win at Berwick which sealed a closely contested League Championship victory.

Sean had an operation to reattach his shoulder muscle in February and missed the opening matches of the season while working to regain fitness. His return to the saddle was perhaps a little premature and resulted in some uncharacteristic low scores, and it was June before we saw Sean back to his best as his maximum at Rye House inspired to Tigers to a narrow last gasp win.

Sean finished the season by winning both the Premier League Rider's Championship and the Northern Rider's Final in emphatic style and carried this form into the 2004 season.

Sean took a heavy fall riding in Joe Screen's testimonial meeting at Belle Vue in May crushing the C7 vertebra in his neck and bringing his season to a premature end. Sean was released from hospital less than 2 weeks(!) later fitted with a 'halo' neck brace designed to prevent any movement in his neck while his broken bones recover. He attended the home match against Somerset on 20 May receiving a very warm welcome from the fans. Reg Wilson presented Sean with a special award as Sean had just overtaken him to become the highest Sheffield point scoring rider of all time. (See photo)

Sean is currently in training and working hard to regain full movement in his neck. He had an after meeting spin following the Young Shield match against Reading at the end of September and it was great to see that unmistakeable style was still there.

See Sean's website at [seanwilsonracing.co.uk] click to surf to seanwilsonracing.co.uk

Current average from official fixtures = 9.69

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2003:60.2September 25
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2004: 61.2April 22
Highest scores: Home14+1 (max) Edinburgh & Glasgow (PT) Away14+1 (max) Newcastle (PT)
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