Buxton Hitmen tear up the formbook with win

Sometimes the form book gets thrown out of the window in speedway and Buxton Hitmen were the latest example.
Photo by Ian Charles:

Shelby Rutherford (Blue) and Tony Atkin (Red) lead James Hitchen  (Yellow/Black) 

Buxton Addison Engineering Hitmen v Eastbourne IT First Eagles, Travel Plus National League  25 September 2016Photo by Ian Charles:

Shelby Rutherford (Blue) and Tony Atkin (Red) lead James Hitchen  (Yellow/Black) 

Buxton Addison Engineering Hitmen v Eastbourne IT First Eagles, Travel Plus National League  25 September 2016
Photo by Ian Charles: Shelby Rutherford (Blue) and Tony Atkin (Red) lead James Hitchen (Yellow/Black) Buxton Addison Engineering Hitmen v Eastbourne IT First Eagles, Travel Plus National League 25 September 2016

Without a win all season and facing high flying Eastbourne Eagles, this should have had away win stamped all over it.

However, the home side, ably lead by Aussie Shelby Rutherford had other ideas.

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From the off there was only one team in it with the Dales men determined to break their home duck from the moment the first tapes went up.

Team Manager Jason Pipe was understandably over the moon.

“We’ve finally managed it. We’ve waited patiently all season and we’ve finally got that first home win of the season and against Eastbourne,” he said.

“Joe Lawlor came in to help us out and he rode the track like he’d being riding it for years.

“Captain Ryan Blacklock went over and above his captaincy duties today, by loaning Joe an engine and it was good to see Shelby top scoring and banging in some good points that I always knew he was capable of

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“All in all, it was an excellent all round team performance.”

Pipe was delighted with the way his team rallied round to support each rider and believes last Sunday’s result might just put their next opponents on notice.

“Every one of them was helping each other and they thoroughly deserved their win,” he said.

“Now we have a week off before the Brummies arrive next Sunday and I’m sure after that result, they’ll be looking over their shoulders a little bit next week.”

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Buxton: Rutherford 10+3, Lee Dicken 9+1, Lawlor 8+2, Atkin 8, Blacklock 7, Geary 5+3, Wallinger 5+1.

Eastbourne: Knight 12+1, Adam Ellis 12 (max) from 4 rides. Perks 7+1, Wood 6, Hitchen 1, Whitehouse 0.

Sunday also saw the first leg of the Midland Development League Final.

The Hitmen finished top of the Northern Section and faced Southern section winners Coventry, but circumstances conspired to leave them trailing as they go into a ‘yet to be arranged’ second leg.

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Pipe said: “Beckett only had one ride because his bike caught fire! He was offered the loan of a spare carb and filter but declined the offer, which effectively strengthened Coventry who scored five points from Beckett’s two other rides. The meeting was abandoned after the first bend pile up in heat six.”

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