Meet the SHEFFIELD WINDOW CENTRE Tigers 2010

New team photo
Photograph by Geoff Ridsdale
Josh Auty, Arlo Bugeja, Ricky Ashworth, Paul Cooper, Josef Franc,
(kneeling) Richard Hall, Hugh Skidmore, (not pictured) Simon Lambert,
Make your selection from the riders listed above, or simply scroll down

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Ricky Ashworth
Ricky Ashworth Born: SalfordGreater Manchester17th August 1982
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASept CMAOct CMA
7.94 7.94 7.76 8.05 8.04 7.90

Ricky was a grass tracker until the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001 put the sport on hold and persuaded him to try his hand at speedway. Less than 12 months later "Ricky who?" joined the Tigers.

Fast starting Ricky had a good solid first season in 2002, 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. This earned him rides for Great Britain in the U21 test match wins against Sweden scoring 4+1 at Reading, and a commendable 7 at Wolverhampton.

Ricky doubled up for the Peterborough Panthers in the Elite League in 2004, and 2005 saw him riding for both Sheffield and the Poole Pirates. Ricky concentrated solely on the Tigers in 2006 proudly wearing the No.1 race jacket, and his best meetings seemed to be when he assumed the captaincy when André was injured.

Ricky made the No.1 race jacket his own in 2007 and again improved his average. He sustained a wrist injury in the Premier 4's at Peterborough in July causing him to miss four meetings, but scored 16 (paid 18) in his return match against Edinburgh in August. His best away performance was 13 points at Mildenhall which included a thrilling 5-1 with André in heat 15 to steal victory.

Ricky's 2008 season came to a premature conclusion with a broken wrist sustained in a crash with Trent Leverington in the away win at Glasgow. Ricky bounced back to captain the Tigers through their 2009 season and finished the season in style by becoming the Premier League Riders Champion.

He is wearing the No.1 race jacket for the Tigers in again in 2010. Richard injured his arm while doubling up for his local club Belle Vue in the Elite League and had to sit out the home clash against Glasgow.

Current average from official fixtures = 8.06

photograph by:Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2010 60.5  June 17
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2009:59.2 May 21  (lap record)
Highest scores: Home 13 v Birmingham (PL) Away 16 v Workington (PL)
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Josh Auty
Josh Auty Born: DewsburyYorkshire8th September1990
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
6.07 6.07 6.45 7.63 8.08 7.97

From the age of 12 Josh was a regular at the Sheffield training track and had unlimited second-half and interval rides on the main Owlerton track. He became British Schoolboy Grass Track champion in 2001 (Junior), 2002 & 2003 (Intermediate) and on the speedway tracks he was the British Under 15 champion in both 2004 and 2005.

He made his Conference League debut for the Scunthorpe Scorpions in 2005 scoring paid 13 and went on to help them win all manner of silverware in 2006 and 2007. Having signed a contract with Elite League Coventry he made his Premier League debut for Rye House at King's Lynn in the Playoff semi-final in 2006, falling twice and failing to score. Josh made 21 appearances for Redcar in 2007 finishing the season with a 7.23 average. Still at Redcar in 2008, but no longer at reserve a poor run saw his confidence dip and his average slipped to 5.36 prompting Sheffield to approach his parent club to sign him on loan for the 2009 season.

Josh toured Australia during the winter months under the auspices of the Darren and Sharon Boocock speedway scholarship. He had a very successful time down under, qualified to ride (as a guest) in the Australian final and will be eager to continue his vein of form into the 2010 season when he will also be doubling up for his parent club Coventry in the Elite League.

Visit Josh's website www.joshauty.co.uk

Current average from official fixtures = 7.78

photograph by:Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2010 61.1  June 3 & August 5
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2009:60.1 September 10
Highest scores: Home 14 v Glasgow (PL) Away 17 v Birmingham (PL)
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Arlo Bugeja
Arlo Bugeja Born: Humbug ScrubAdelaide, South Australia18th March 1986
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
3.00 3.00 3.00 - - -

Arlo has ridden for the Redcar Bears for the last two seasons but was keen to join Sheffield as soon as it became apparent he wouldn't be required in 2010.

His best meeting to-date was the televised Redcar v Edinburgh league encounter in August in which he scored paid 10 and inspired the Bears to victory. .

Arlo joins the Tigers on a 3 point average but mounted on new equipment will be looking to grab some big scores and challenge for a team slot.

Current average from official fixtures = 2.52

photograph by:Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2010: 63.8 May 27
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2009: 64.7 Sept 3
Highest scores:

Home

8+1 v Redcar (PT) Away 5+2 v Somerset (PL)
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Paul Cooper
Paul Cooper Born: York North Yorkshire 7th June 1982
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
4.56 4.56 5.68 5.15 5.08 5.08
Paul made his debut for the Prowlers in 2003 and rode in their Trophy matches in 2004 when work and grass track commitments allowed. His apprenticeship as a joiner completed Paul signed on for the Tigers in 2005.

In 2006 Paul joined Conference League team Scunthorpe Scorpions as cover for the injured Wayne Carter, going on to win the Conference League Best-Pairs meeting riding with Sheffield team-mate Benji Compton as the Scunthorpe 'B' pairing. Paul then broke a bone in his wrist riding against the Boston Braves causing him to struggle through the Play-off final for the Tigers against King's Lynn.

He started the 2007 season in the reserve berth and mounted on new JRM bikes. A torrid weekend in April saw him blow his best engine at Stoke, and his second engine while guesting at Mildenhall the following day, but bounced back scoring paid 11 against Berwick at home and a match winning paid 14 at Shielfield Park using an engine borrowed from Gary Flint! He again contested the Conference League Best-Pairs meeting at Scunthorpe, this time representing Boston alongside Simon Lambert and duly won the title for the second year running.

Paul was given a 'last chance' place in the 2008 Tigers team and responded in style with improved performances both home and away as he steadily improved his average and was voted 'Rider of the Year' by the Sheffield track staff for the second year running.

Paul finished the 2009 season on the sidelines with a badly broken foot sustained at Newcastle in August. He starts the 2010 season at reserve with his sights firmly set on a full team place. A good start to the season saw Paul being awarded the captaincy.

Surf over to Paul's website [www.paulcooperracing.co.uk] surf to paulcooperracing.co.uk

Current average from official fixtures = 5.12

photograph by:Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 201061.7

 June 17

Fastest time at Owlerton in 2009 61.6  July 2
Highest scores: Home 15+1 v Berwick (PL) Away 13 v Scunthorpe (PT)
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Josef Franc
Josef Franc Born: CaslavCzech Republic18th January1979
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
7.84 7.84 7.84 5.65 6.06 6.72

Josef first rode in Britain for the Berwick Bandidts in 2001. He joined the Newcastle Diamonds from 2005 to 2008 before rejoining the Bandits in 2009.

Pepe (his nickname) rode to the Czech U21 crown three consecutive years from 1998 to 2000 and last year represented his country as a member of the Czech Republic World Team Cup squad at Vojens.

He has been added to the side with the hope of improving our away form although in his two meetings at Owlerton last year he claimed an impressive 25 points!

Current average from official fixtures = 6.81

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 201060.5 August 5
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2009 61.3  May 21
Highest scores: Home 10 v Edinburgh (PL) Away 13+1 v Berwick (PL)
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Richard Hall
Richard Hall Born: NorthallertonNorth Yorkshire23rd August1984
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
7.37 7.37 6.50 6.45 7.17 6.97

Richard joined the Prowlers from Newcastle after a spell doubling up with the Diamonds and the Gems, wasting little time in regaining his confidence and showing them what a mistake they had made. He was called into the Tigers team 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.

He jostled with James Birkinshaw for a full team place and by July he was back in the body of the team seeing the season out riding in the heat leaders No.3 race jacket as the management attempted to juggle dwindling rider resources. Richard started the 2005 campaign as a second-string but in the no.3 race jacket and a string of solid performances both home and away improved Richard's average. He finished the year challenging Ricky for the third heat-leader position.

Richard became a victim of the averages trap and was left out of the Tigers plans for 2006 but he stepped up into the Elite league and went on to become the Peterborough Panthers hero as he steered them to the Elite League Championship with a brilliant display in the final against Reading. 2007 saw Richard suffering a foot injury riding in the Garry Stead Grand Prix just after being released by the Panthers but he returned to the track at Premier League level with the Scunthorpe Scorpions in 2008 finishing second in their averages.

Richard returned to the Tigers squad for 2009, put half a point on his average, finished second (again) in the team averages but had to sit out the end of the season as a result of multiple crashes in September.

Keep tabs on Richard at Hall-Racing [www.richardhallracing.co.uk] surf to richardhallracing.co.uk

Current average from official fixtures = 7.02

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2010:59.5 June 17
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2009: 59.6  September 10
Highest scores: Home 15 v Redcar (PT) Away 7+1 v Berwick (PL)
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Simon Lambert
Simon Lambert Born: BostonLincolnshire21st February1989
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
4.53 n/a n/a 3.42 3.58 3.28

Simon finished third behind Josh Auty and Shane Waldron in the 2004 British Under 15 Championship, scoring 9 points at the Sheffield round. After riding for the Boston Barracudas he made his Premier League debut for King’s Lynn in 2005 and went on to ride four seasons with his parent club.

Forced out by the points limit Simon joined Scunthorpe for 2009 and held down a 5.79 average. He started the 2010 season as the Scorpions’ number seven but has struggled to match his previous form and was released at the end of June.

Current average from official fixtures = 3.25

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 201061.2 August 5
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2009 62.5  June 25
Highest scores: Home 8+1 v Rye House (PL) Away 6+2 v Scunthorpe (PL)
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Hugh Skidmore
Hugh Skidmore Born: GlenreaghNew South Wales, Australia2nd November1990
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
5.06 5.06 5.74 5.75 5.78 5.51

Hugh joined the Tigers in June 2009 as cover for the injured Ritchie Hawkins. Neil Machin (who had been watching his development back in Australia) persuaded Eric Boocock to give him a chance.

Hugh grabbed the opportunity with both hands and scored 7+1 against Newcastle, claimed a heat win in the away draw at Berwick, and then an impressive 7+3 against mighty King's Lynn(!) while all the time impressing the Tigers fans with his 'never say die' style.

There would probably have been a revolt if he'd had to make way for Ritchie on his return to the track but that was neatly averted as Ritchie joined Scunthorpe to replace Adam Allott. He recorded his first paid maximum with 11+1 in the home win against the Rye House Rockets at the end of July.

Hugh was the first signing for the Tigers 2010 squad before he returned home where he had a successful summer which included beating Darcy Ward on his way to winning the New South Wales State Championship

Current average from official fixtures = 5.75

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 201060.6 June 17
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2009 60.6  July 23
Highest scores: Home 12+2 v Redcar (PT) Away 10+1 v Redcar (PT)
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