WORKINGTON COMETS 2010
 SPONSORED BY THE THOMAS ARMSTRONG GROUP
                    AND NEW TEAMPARTNERS
                   PRESS RELEASE No 2 – February 19th
 
Workington Comets are gearing-up for their 40th anniversary meeting on Saturday, March 27.
 
It will be the second home meeting of the 2010 season, following on from the opener with Redcar Bears a week earlier (March 20).
 
An individual meeting to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first speedway fixture at DerwentPark, a star-studded field is being put together.
 
In addition a guest list has been prepared of former riders who will be invited as special guests to renew old acquaintances and wallow in Comets nostalgia on the night.
 
Current team manager Ian Thomas was the man who brought the sport back to Workington (it had been running briefly at LonsdaleParkin the 1930’s) when he and business partner Jeff Brownhut did a deal with former Town rugby league supremo Tom Mitchell.
 
“We’d looked at various places in Cumberland– including Carlisleand Whitehaven – before we found a willing ally in TM. He was very receptive to what we were wanting to do, and the rest as they say is history.
 
“It’s 40 years now since that opening meeting with Berwick and a lot has happened in the world and in speedway since then, but Workington has always been very close to my heart.
 
“I know there was a break in the sport at DerwentParkin the late 80’s and most of the 90’s but 1970 is still a very significant date for speedway lovers in the area and we just felt it appropriate to celebrate a significant anniversary,” he said.
 
But there has been one major disappointment in the compiling of the riders for the meeting – DerwentParklegend Carl Stonehewer won’t be taking part.
 
Stoney left the  Workington club at the end of the 2008 season after a glittering career as a Comet – in many ways the most important figure in the re-birth of Workington speedway since 1999.
 
He rode for Redcar Bears in 2009 and has not been fixed-up with a team for this coming season.
 
Thomas said: “It’s a big disappointment because Stoney was clearly the fans favourite since I brought him here in 1999 and for the anniversary meeting he was the first name on the sheet.
 
“I have spoken to Stoney and he has had to reluctantly decline because of a previous engagement. Obviously we hope to see him at some point in the season.”
 
Meanwhile the Comets new signing Chris Schramm is throwing his support behind a charity venture being tackled by an ex-speedway rider.
Schramm (pictured) has been approached by Barry Bishop, the former rider, to draw awareness to the fund-raising he and his pal are attempting.
“I think a number of people in various sports have been approached an from the world of speedway I know myself and Jamie Courtenay have agreed to give as much help as we can,” says Schramm.
Bishop and Steve Mills joined the Royal Navy together back in June 1985 aged just 16 and went on to serve on several submarines, between them notching up over 28 years service.
Having both now left the military they remain actively involved in charitable work – Barry is the Chairman of Oxford Sea Cadets and Steve is a Branch Secretary for the Royal Naval Association.
Continuing with their charitable nature (and as an incentive to truly get fit again) the pair have embarked upon three gruelling events which are to be completed within a year in order to raise a substantial amount of cash for their three chosen charities.
 
They will be cycling from Land’s End to John O'Groats - a gruelling 900 miles journey for Help the Heroes, starting on July 23; then they will be running the Wroclaw Marathon on September 12 for the NSPCC and finally they will be swimming the English Channel for the Make a Wish Foundation on a date to be announced.
 
Barry and Steve (pictured) are looking to raise as much sponsorship and awareness as possible. They have already received support from several people including the new Workington signing Schramm.
Despite only having one sponsor himself this season Chris has given the Two Fat Submariners a huge boost by offering to sport their Logo and Web address on his bike, and van for the 2010/11 seasons, and is also looking at running a training school.
 
 Chris who will race for Workington and Eastbournein 2010 said: “I am just so impressed by what the Two Fat Submariners are doing and their commitment to the challenges and charities.
“I have offered them high profile positioning on my bike and van and I hope to get more involved with them during the speedway season. I hope that I can raise their profile at my home team tracks, as well as away meetings, and if possible get them some TV profile. I believe the three charities they have chosen are close to everyone’s heart right now in the UK.”
 
Bishop said: “Chris has overwhelmed me with the support he has offered the Two Fat Submariners. Not only has he allowed us to promote the challenges but also he is getting involved and we are now looking at potential fund raising opportunities through the season.
“Chris will do a lot of miles throughout the season and placing our logo and web address on his van will for sure increase awareness in what we are doing.”
 
If you would like to find out more about the two fat submariners you can visit their website www.twofatsubmariners.co.ukwhere you can donate or purchase t-shirts, hats or mugs to help raise money for the three chosen charities.