Wildcats star takes all – despite meeting being abandoned after 12 heats due to rain

Kingswood Hotel Trophy
1st Chris Johnson, 2nd Lee Smethills, 3rd Michael Coles

WEYMOUTH’S home season ended early last night - but not before Chris Johnson was crowned King of the Wessex Stadium. The Wildcats star claimed the inaugural Kingswood Hotel Trophy despite the meeting being abandoned after 12 heats.
Photo © Nick Truscott

PHIL Bartlett has already starting thinking about the 2007 version of the Wildcats. And the Weymouth boss hopes to be given something else to ponder during tonight’s Kingswood Trophy individual at the Wessex Stadium (7.3Opm). The 12-rider contest features a host of Wildcat stars including David Mason and Chris Johnson whose track rivals feature Premier League favourites Lee Smethills and Michael Coles.

Weymouth fans will discover the top Wildcat tomorrow night. Skipper David Mason and recent signing Chris Johnson are among the riders competing in a head-to-head individual meeting to bring the curtain down on the Wessex Stadium season (7.30pm). But boss Phil Bartlett predicts his star pairing won’t get it all their own way in the 12-rider Kingswood Trophy, especially with the field also featuring Premier League riders Lee Smethills and Michael Coles.

Buxton Hitmen 52 – 44 Weymouth Wildcats

Spirited efforts from Chris Johnson, David Mason and Danny Warwick could not save Wildcats from defeat at Buxton yesterday. The Weymouth trio contributed a combined 33 of the visitors tally of 44 points on a difficult afternoon against the Hitmen.

Weymouth Wildcats 58 – 32 Cleveland Bays

Forget Weymouth town centre, the place for party-goers last night was the Wessex Stadium. There were celebrations all round as Wildcats pulled out all the stops to beat Cleveland, just days after being given permission by their landlords, Weymouth Football Club, to continue racing at the track next season. The superb display was the perfect way to mark the agreement and saw Phil Bartlett’s dominant side overturn an 11-point deficit to claim the Conference Shield bonus point.

Weymouth Wildcats are out to achieve their second big victory of the week at the Wessex Stadium tonight. Having reached agreement with their landlords Weymouth Football Club to remain at the Radipole circuit in 2007, Phil Bartlett's men close their home Conference Shield campaign against Cleveland Bays (7.30pm). And needing to overturn an 11-point deficit to claim the bonus point, boss Bartlett is confident the hosts can give their supporters another reason to celebrate.

Bartlett calls for fans` support to finish home Shield campaign in style

Wildcats boss Phil Bartlett has called on fans to get behind his side for their final home conference shield clash of the season against Cleveland Bays tomorrow night. Weymouth need 11 points to win the bonus point if they can overcome a 50-39 deficit from the clash in the north-east last Saturday.

SPEEDWAY is expected to return to the Wessex Stadium next season. Weymouth Wildcats have been granted permission by their landlords Weymouth Football Club to continue racing at the Radipole Lane circuit in 2007. Delighted boss Phil Bartlett will now lodge an application with West Dorset District Council to extend planning permission for the track before entering the Wildcats in next season’s Conference League.

Boss Phil Bartlett heaped praise on Wildcats despite his side going down 50-39 at Cleveland Bays in the Conference Shield. Weymouth already operating rider replacement for unavailable skipper David Mason, were forced to run with only five men after Gordon Meakins was withdrawn with a suspected broken foot.  

David Mason enjoyed six of the best at the Wessex Stadium last night. The Wildcats skipper won each of his half a dozen races for a paid 18 point maximum, leading Weymouth to a crushing Conference Shield win over Stoke Spitfires. The convincing victory ended a run of three consecutive defeats in the competition for Phil Bartlett’s men and turned the tables on their Staffordshire visitors.

Wildcats will be without Chris Johnson when they bid to end a run of three straight Conference Shield defeats tonight. Stoke Spitfires visit the Wessex Stadium (7.30pm) with Weymouth eager to turn the tables having been on the wrong end of a 65-29 thrashing in Staffordshire last week. But boss Phil Bartlett concedes that will be a tall order with Johnson missing from the line-up due to Premier League duties.
Photo © Nick Truscott

Isle of Wight Islanders 62 – 32 Weymouth Wildcats

Weymouth Wildcats were sunk on the Isle of Wight last night as they were comprehensively beaten 63-32 by their Premier League opponents in this challenge match. The Islanders, currently riding high in the league above Weymouth, were always in charge at the Smallbrook Stadium, taking the first heat 5-1 with Jason Bunyan and Andrew Burgh earning the points.

Danny Warwick has rejoined the Weymouth Wildcats. The Berwick Bandit asset, who won the first competitive race at the Wessex Stadium following the sport’s return to the resort in 2003, is included in Phil Bartlett’s team visiting Isle of Wight Islanders for an inter-league challenge match tomorrow night.

Wildcats skipper David Mason was in good form at the Conference League Riders’ Championship. The Weymouth star collected 12 points from five reserve rides in the competition held at Rye House. Buxton’s Adam Roynon, who missed his side’s visit to the Wessex Stadium last Friday, was crowned champion with a maximum 15 points from his five rides.

Star Duo Battle But Their Brave Efforts Are Ultimately In Vain

Conference Shield: Weymouth Wildcats 44 – 52 Buxton Hitmen

Weymouth’s Conference Shield hopes received a knock-out blow from the Buxton Hitmen at the Wessex Stadium. Wildcats star duo David Mason and Chris Johnson battled but their brave efforts were ultimately in vain against the Derbyshire visitors last night.

Wildcats Wait On Fitness Of Chris

Wildcats are sweating on the fitness of Chris Johnson ahead of tonight’s visit of Buxton Hitmen to the Wessex Stadium (7.30pm). Theo former Plymouth Devils star injured his wrist following a heavy fall in Weymouth’s 65-29 defeat at Stoke on Wednesday. And boss Phil Bartlett is keeping his fingers crossed the Portsmouth-based Johnson recovers in time for tonight’s Conference Shield clash.

Photo © Nick Truscott

Night Of Misery As Weymouth Suffer In Loomer Road Debacle

Wildcats endured an evening to forget in the Potteries last night. Everything seemed to go wrong for Weymouth as Phil Bartlett’s men slumped to heavy Conference Shield defeat. Against Stoke Spitfires. The Dorset visitors suffered a huge blow before the meeting even got underway, losing David Mason for the night after the skipper broke down on the way to Loomer Road.

Skipper David Mason hopes history repeats itself when Weymouth visit Stoke’s Loomer Road tonight. The Potteries venue is where the Wildcats clinched their coveted Conference Fours last season when Mason led the charge alongside Dan Giffard, Tom Brown and Lewis Bridger. And while the faces in Weymouth’s ranks may be different 12 months on, the heat leader is eager for success when Weymouth face Stoke Spitfires in the Conference Shield.

Derbyshire Visit Ends In A Washout For Weymouth

Wildcats suffered a Conference Shield washout at Buxton yesterday. Phil Bartlett’s men were forced off after just one heat with a heavy downpour drenching the Hi-Edge Raceway track. And The Weymouth boss admitted being ‘extremely frustrated’ at his side having to travel more than 450 miles for little reward.

Wildcats Stung By Classy Conference Leaders Scorpions

Silence proved golden for high-riding Scunthorpe against Weymouth at the Wessex Stadium. A technical glitch might have robbed fans of their public address system for the early part of last night’s Conference Shield clash, but for the Scorpions it was business as usual.