Meet the Sheffield 'STAR' Tigers for 2001
| Scott Smith | Andy Moore | Lee Hodgson | Sean Wilson | Simon Stead | Robert Kessler | Adam Allott |
| Scott Smith | Andy Moore | Lee Hodgson | Sean Wilson | Simon Stead | Robert Kessler | Adam Allott |
| Adam Allott | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Born: Stockport | Cheshire | 19th March | 1983 | ||||
| Opening CMA | May CMA | June CMA | July CMA | Aug CMA | Sep CMA | Oct CMA | ||
| 4.75 | 4.35 | 5.25 | 5.59 | 5.63 | 5.16 | 4.92 | ||
| Adam is the present representative of the Allott dynasty stretching back through his father Nicky, Grandfather Guy and Uncle Tommy, all of whom have ridden for the Tigers. Adam started out in his home town Buxton before joining both the Tigers and the Prowlers last season, finishing top of the averages for the Prowlers with an impressive 9.93 from 81 rides. Having leap-frogged Simon Cartwright in the Tigers averages last season Adam starts the 2001 campaign in the body of the team and will be looking to consolidate his position. He was invited to Australia over the winter where he represented his country in a number of U21 challenge matches which will have given him some valuable experience. With the release of the first green sheet averages following 3 home and 3 away matches Adam reverts to the reserve berth and celebrates with 9 (paid eleven) against Glasgow. Current average from official fixtures = 4.82 | ||||||||
| photograph by: | Geoff Ridsdale | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2000: | 63.2 | Aug 24 | ||||
| Fastest time at Owlerton in 2001: | 62.4 | June 28 | ||||||
| Highest scores: | Home | 15 | Exeter (PL) | Away | 10 | IOW (PT) | ||
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| Lee Complin | ||||||||
 | Born: Airdale | North Yorkshire | 17th November | 1984 | ||||
| Opening CMA | May CMA | June CMA | July CMA | Aug CMA | Sep CMA | Oct CMA | ||
| 3.00 | 3.05 | 4.48 | 5.62 | |||||
| Lee made his senior debut just weeks after his first matches for the Prowlers covering for the injured Lee Hodgson. Lack of experience has restricted his scoring away from home, but around Owlerton he never knows when he is beaten, just ask Ray Morton, David Walsh, or Paul Bentley... Celebrated his maiden maximum in the home clash against Glasgow. Current average from official fixtures = 5.47 | ||||||||
| photograph by: | Geoff Ridsdale | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2000: | n/a | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2001: | 61.2 | September 6 | ||
| Highest scores: | Home | 16+1 | Swindon (PL) | Away | 6+1 | Edinburgh (PL) | ||
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| Lee Hodgson | ||||||||
 | Born: Preston | Lancashire | 19th February | 1985 | ||||
| Opening CMA | May CMA | June CMA | July CMA | Aug CMA | Sep CMA | Oct CMA | ||
| 3.00 | 3.45 | 3.49 | 3.62 | 3.35 | 3.35 | |||
| Lee made his debut for the Prowlers in 2000, leading his first ever race for 3 laps before suffering an engine failure! The points flowed freely both at Owlerton and on his travels until a spill at Rye House left him with a badly broken leg. With a pack of clubs chasing his signature Lee officially became a Tiger on his birthday and recorded his first official Premier heat win in front of the SKY cameras in the televised match against Workington. Lee has found the points hard to win, especially on the away tracks, many of which he is visiting for the first time, but I'm sure the management will be patient or there would be little point in having a youth policy. Lee is currently sidelined with a collarbone injury sustained riding for the Prowlers at Newport. Current average from official fixtures = 3.35 | ||||||||
| photograph by: | Geoff Ridsdale | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2000: | 64.1 | July 13 (CL) | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2001: | 63.4 | April 26 | |
| Highest scores: | Home | 7+1 | Trelawney (PL) | Away | 3 | Glasgow & Hull & Stoke (PT) | ||
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| Robert Kessler | ||||||||
 | Born: Cologne | Germany | 5th April | 1973 | ||||
| Opening CMA | May CMA | June CMA | July CMA | Aug CMA | Sep CMA | Oct CMA | ||
| 8.76 | 8.76 | 10.00 | 9.82 | 9.64 | 9.60 | 9.20 | ||
| Joined Sheffield in mid-summer 1994, after some sparkling displays with Diedenbergen in the Bundesliga. Missed out on Britain in 1995 due to compulsory service in the German Army, returning to Owlerton for 1996 season when his heart stopping form achieved a 6.71 average & promoter Neil Machin's vote as 'Rider of the Year'. 1997 saw Robbie top the Sheffield charts with many impressive home maximums, and some brilliant performances away from home including an 18 point maximum at Newport in the League. Robbie spent 1998 sidelined in Britain due to his very high average and moved up to the Elite League with the Kings Lynn Knights in 1999 where he partnered World Champion Tony Rickardsson. Back with the Tigers for 2000 Robbie sustained broken ribs while riding for Germany in the World Team Cup, and sat out the play-offs with knee ligament damage suffered while guesting for the banned Frank Smart at Edinburgh. Riding with a knee brace in 2001 Robbie is looking to improve on last seasons performances, especially away from home, always assuming he turns up at the right track! Robbie's World Championship trail petered out at the Continental Final stage in Italy when he managed just 6 points. Current average from official fixtures = 9.15 | ||||||||
| photograph by: | Geoff Ridsdale | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2000: | 61.2 | June 29/Sept 21 | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2001: | 61.8 | September 6 | |
| Highest scores: | Home | 17+1 (max) | Glasgow (PT) | Away | 14+1 | Trelawny (PL) | ||
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| Andrew Moore | ||||||||
 | Born:Lincoln | Lincolnshire | 6th October | 1982 | ||||
| Opening CMA | May CMA | June CMA | July CMA | Aug CMA | Sep CMA | Oct CMA | ||
| 3.00 | 6.00 | 5.54 | 5.43 | 4.85 | 4.98 | 4.98 | ||
| Andy rode for both Peterborough and Skegness in 1998, and rode in the Sheffield Youth Development team, finishing second in the British Under 16 Championship in 1999. He went on to finish the 2000 season as top scorer for the Prowlers and deputised for the injured James Birkinshaw in the Tigers squad from August onward. His reward is promotion to the Tigers reserve berth for 2001 while continuing to double-up for the Prowlers in the Conference League. Andy is studying for an engineering qualification at college and is quite an innovator in the workshop. Andy was dealt a body blow when his new Finn Jensen bike was stolen from his workshop before he'd even ridden it, but despite this setback he has had a sparkling start to the season. Moved up into the team with the May green-sheet averages and immediately grabbed 9 (paid 12) against the Glasgow Tigers. Current average from official fixtures = 4.96 | ||||||||
| photograph by: | Geoff Ridsdale | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2000: | 62.3 | Sept 28 | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2001: | 62.2 | July 26th | |
| Highest scores: | Home | 12+2 | Hull (PL) | Away | 11+1 | Newport (PL) | ||
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| Lee Redmond | ||||||||
 | Born: Perth | Western Australia | 5th August | 1971 | ||||
| Opening CMA | May CMA | June CMA | July CMA | Aug CMA | Sep CMA | Oct CMA | ||
| 5.64 | 5.64 | 3.70 | 4.72 | |||||
| Son of Australian promoter Trevor Redmond, Lee started the season riding for Kings Lynn until suffering a collar bone injury. Unable to break back into the Knights team Lee joined Sheffield to deputize for the injured Scott Smith. Fast starting Lee took a while to regain his match fitness and is struggling to learn the away circuits all of which he is visiting for the first time. Lee celebrated his maiden maximum in the home clash against Glasgow. Current average from official fixtures = 4.67 | ||||||||
| photograph by: | Geoff Ridsdale | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2000: | n/a | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2001: | 63.6 | October 25 | ||
| Highest scores: | Home | 11+4 | Glasgow (PL) | Away | 6+1 | Edinburgh (PL) | ||
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| Scott Smith | ||||||||
 | Born: Sheffield | South Yorkshire | 29th September | 1972 | ||||
| Opening CMA | May CMA | June CMA | July CMA | Aug CMA | Sep CMA | Oct CMA | ||
| 6.74 | 5.08 | 7.29 | 7.19 | |||||
| Local lad Scott graduated from being the team mascot in the mid-eighties, to a full member of the Sheffield junior team. He moved to the Belle Vue junior side when Sheffield closed in 1989, and joined Div.1 Cradley in 1991. British U21 champion in 1992 he returned to the Tigers lair in 1996 when his spectacular and flamboyant form notched him a 6.23 average. Scud top scored for the Tigers in their brilliant win in the 4's Final at Peterborough in 1999 but finished the season on the sidelines suffering concussion following a heat 13 crash with Phillipe Berge on the Isle of Wight. A victim of the averages Scud joined Berwick for the 2000 campaign but picked up nasty facial injuries in a freak accident which saw his handlebars entering his helmet. Mechanical problems have plagued his early season form but his 6 ride paid maximum against Glasgow will be a great confidence booster. Scott picked up a nasty knee ligament injury falling in heat 1 of the Exeter match at Owlerton. He tried to battle on riding in the return leg at the County Ground before taking another tumble in the first heat on the Isle of Wight. With surgery almost inevitable it is unlikely that Scott will be able to ride again this season... Current average from official fixtures = 7.19 | ||||||||
| photograph by: | Geoff Ridsdale | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2000: | 62.6 | Aug 24 | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2001: | 63.2 | May 10 | |
| Highest scores: | Home | 14+4 (max) | Glasgow (PT) | Away | 9+1 | Stoke (PT) | ||
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| Simon Stead | ||||||||
 | Born: Sheffield | South Yorkshire | 25th April | 1982 | ||||
| Opening CMA | May CMA | June CMA | July CMA | Aug CMA | Sep CMA | Oct CMA | ||
| 8.10 | 9.87 | 9.91 | 10.14 | 10.20 | 10.33 | 10.16 | ||
| When Peterborough moved into the Elite League for the 1999 season Simon wisely elected to move to his hometown club in the lower division. Partnering André all season Simon made tremendous strides and finished with a superior away average to heat leader Scott Smith. 200 saw Simon step into a heat-leaders role with accomplished ease and there was a lot of speculation as to where Simon would ride in 2001. Simon eventually decided that one more year in the Premier League would give him the chance to improve his gating technique which is probably the only reason he is not already riding for his parent club (Peterborough) in the Elite League. Simon is another Tiger who kept match fit by touring Australia over the winter months and also rides for Ornarna in the Swedish League. Simon was the star of the first televised Premier Trophy match when he beat Stoney in terrible conditions in front of the SKY cameras, and became the British U21 Champion with a masterful performance at Monmore Green claiming a 15 point maximum. Unfortunately Simon also injured his hand when tangling with David Howe and missed five matches following surgery. Simon struggled to adapt to the super slick Peterborough circuit and eventually finished 5th in the World U21 final. Current average from official fixtures = 10.18 | ||||||||
| photograph by: | Geoff Ridsdale | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2000: | 61.0 | Aug 24 | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2001: | 60.7 | September 6 | |
| Highest scores: | Home | 16+1 | Workington (PL) | Away | 17 | IOW (PT Semi) | ||
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| Sean Wilson | ||||||||
 | Born: York | North Yorkshire | 7th November | 1969 | ||||
| Opening CMA | May CMA | June CMA | July CMA | Aug CMA | Sep CMA | Oct CMA | ||
| 10.15 | 10.15 | 10.56 | 10.87 | 10.80 | 10.60 | 10.51 | ||
| An ex-Sheffield junior Sean made his debut for the Tigers back in 1986, joining Bradford when Sheffield were forced to close in 1989. Following Bradford's demise Sean spent 2 unhappy years making up the numbers in the Elite League. 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 opened the door for Sheffield to lure him down to the Premier League where his rediscovered enthusiasm proved infectious. His point scoring prowess on track in 1999 was matched only by his inspirational presence in the pits as he led the Tigers to their most successful season ever. Sean lost his Premier League Riders Championship title to Carl Stonehewer last year after being unjustly excluded when Peter Carr fell in the final, and he will be looking to recover the title when the meeting moves to neutral Coventry this year. Sean picked up a badly bruised arm after a heat 15 coming together with Paul Pickering in the Trophy match against Stoke, and missed the fun in the away win at Berwick. Luckily he was able to return to the saddle for the home win against Workington in front of the SKY cameras. Sean finished 3rd in the British semi-final at Newport with 11 points to book his place in the British Final, where he finished with 6 points and only qualified for the Overseas final following Martin Dugard's withdrawal. After finishing last in his opening ride at Poole Sean bounced back to score 9 points (including moving from last to second in both of his last two rides) to qualify 5th overall. A resplendent 12 point haul from the Intercontinental final at Vastervik saw Sean finish 4th and qualify for the Grand Prix challenge. Current average from official fixtures = 10.57 | ||||||||
| photograph by: | Geoff Ridsdale | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2000: | 60.7 | September 21 | Fastest time at Owlerton in 2001: | 60.8 | September 6 | |
| Highest scores: | Home | 15 (max) | Hull & Glasgow & Newcastle & IOW (PT) & Hull (PL) | Away | 16 | Workington (PL) | ||
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