The Old Days
The grand opening in 1974 of Somersham Cycle Speedway. The riders are Dave Hunting
and Ray Smith (Grundisburgh Bombers) ahead of Stars' Mick Turner
and Paul Emsden
The Stars team on parade
in 1974. Dave Lacey, Mick Turner, Paul Emsden, Clive Hiskey, Steve
Mann, Keith Keeble & Ken Grimwood
Another shot from the pre-meeting
introductions.
1999-2004
Competitors in a 1999 EAGP round.
Series winners included Stars Richard Williamson in the U-16 and
Gary Brown took the seniors.
The team line-up after a meeting
@ Gt. Blakenham in 2001. Back: Richard Williamson, Steve Copping,
Gary Brown, Simon Turnbull, Peter Mittell, Barry Copping. Front:
Andy Turnbull, Andy Mittell, Matt Dickinson, Pete Williamson
Andy Mittell, Andy Turnbull
& Gary Brown with their Club Championship Trophies and Mike
Shelmardine
Peter and Andy Mittell
battle for the lead in the Club Championship
Andy Mittell receives
his 2001 British Under-13 Indoor Trophy
An article in a Prescott
Valley USA newspaper includes a photo of Somersham's Andy Mittell
An early 2002 practice
session
Somersham Stars 2002. Steve Copping,
Peter Mittell, Barry Copping, Richard Williamson, Gary Brown,
Pete Williamson, Andy Mittell, Simon Turnbull, Luke Hodgkinson.
Front: Andy Turnbull, Daniel Hodge
Somersham and Southampton riders
after a British Team Championship Qualifier 2002
Competitors in the 2002
British U16 Final receive their medals including Andy Mittell
(3rd from left)
Andy Mittell leads a race in
the 2003 British U16 Final at Great Blakenham
Andy Mittell finishes 3rd
in the 2004 East Anglian U19 Final at Norwich
Gary Brown, Andy Mittell & Barry
Copping in the Norwich pits
Andy Mittell leads Gary Brown
during the 2004 East Anglian Final at Norwich
Junior riders who joined
the club after the a Come and Try it session. Including Shaun
Taylor, Rhys Cotterell, Ricky Gould, Reece Saunderson-Copping,
Michael Garrod, Zak Whitton, Abi Littleboy, Jack Barnes
Club members Lee Ridgwell
and Andy Mittell rode for Young England at Newport
Somersham Stars Seniors
2004. Barry Copping, Pete Williamson, Gary Brown, Peter Mittell,
Steve Copping. Front: Andy Mittell, Richard Williamson
Somersham Stars Juniors
2004. Back: Michael Garrod, Joseph Newton, Peter Mittell, Reece
Saunderson-Copping, Ricky Gould. Front: Toni Drury, Jack Barnes,
Shaun Taylor, Rhys Cotterell
2005
Action from the British Junior
League at Ipswich 2005 with Fraser Borrett and Joe Hodge
Carl Gooding tries
to keep Ipswich's Luke Kilpatrick at bay
Reece Saunderson-Copping,
left, winner of the U-10s in the Sandwell round of the British
Junior League 2005.
Competitors in the
2005 British U-10 Final at Ipswich including Somersham's Reece
Saunderson-Copping who finished 4th.
Determination to stay in
front from Andy Mittell and Lee Pike during the Suffolk U19 Final
2005.
The team that finished runners-up
in the2005 EA4TT at Whitton: Steve Copping,Gary Brown,Barry Copping,Peter
Mittell,Lee Pike with Ipswich CSC tresaurer Roger Slade.
Ipswich Loanee Joshua
Brooke receives his 3rd place medal from the British U-16 Final
The Somersham junior
team which beat Spixworth in a challenge
Late season signing Clive failed to score the points and was soon dropped.
Somersham Squad 2005
2005 British Senior Championship Qualifiers
Steve Copping chasing
the field at Leicester
Heat 9 at Leicester and
the Copping brothers break from the start along with Lewis Osborne
and Dave Frith
Lewis Osborne leads
with Barry Copping third and brother Steve fourth
The riders line up
for the start of heat 3 at Leicester. Barry Copping is on the
outside gate
Steve Copping at Wednesfield on Day 2
The line-up at the 2nd
Sandwell Qualifier including Somersham's Barry Copping & Gary
Brown.
Gary Brown & Barry Copping
give chase during the Championships at Sandwell.
Gary Brown & Barry Copping
again at Sandwell.
Determination as Gary
Brown exits the 2nd bend at Sandwell
2006 on
The Under 8 riders receive their goody bags at Ipswich's BYJL Round on June 17th including Somersham's Joe Hodge
The Under 10 Riders in the same competition. The Somersham riders pictured are Morgan Borrett and Jake Copping
2006 British U-19 Champion Andy Mittell receives the Shield from Norwich CSC secretary Ian Grange
British U-19 Championship Finalists
British Champions Andy Mittell and Rosie Woolard (Ipswich, U-10 girls) were paraded at Foxhall speedway stadium before Ipswich's clash with Belle Vue
The Somersham team that took part in the British Fours at Ipswich. L to R: Back: Andy Mittell (team manager), Gary Brown, Steve Copping. Front: Peter Mittell, Barry Copping.
Somersham lost their league meet at Ipswich and got a good soaking for their trouble. L to R: Back: Barry Copping, Simon Turnbull, Gary Brown, Adrian Borrett, Dan Croft. Front: Peter Mittell, Andy Turnbull.
The Somersham Stars senior squad on a sunnier day in 2007 L to R: Adrian Borrett, Gary Brown, Simon Turnbull, Andy Turnbull, Peter Mittell, Scott McDowell, Barry Copping, Dave Palfreyman, Steve Copping, Dan Croft.
Newcomers that took part in the Come and Try It session 2007 along with club members who helped out. Also pictured is Ipswich speedway star Mark Loram who supported the event.
Young hopefuls receive tuition from senior rider Gary Brown
Somersham CSC were represented in the local church flower show. As usual Peter Mittell did all the hard work.
Wonder how many clubs have had a team photo in a church? Taken after the 2007 win over Hethersett. A 9 rider turnout was equally unusual.
Steve Copping,Barry Copping & Peter Mittell pictured after the 1st British Senior Semi Final at Somersham. Note the temporary fencing required for the event.
The biggest moment of Steve Copping's career - he refereed the 2007 British Under 16 Final at Ipswich. He is pictured here after the event with his medal.
Somersham have a team talk half way through the meeting at Eaton (13-4-08). Photo: Paul Jay
The Somersham track after 2 hours work on it! Bizarrely the BY&JL round in 2008 wasn't abandoned until the riders arrived at the start for heat 1.
Gary Brown chases home man Les Stevens in the SE GP at East London. Photo: David Knight
2008: Club Secretary Peter Mittell passes the necessary tests to become a prison officer.
Video action from an SEGP Round @ Gt Blakenham 2007. Barry Copping grabs 3rd on the line. (Flash plug-in required)
