Ian Thomas tribute is right

I was so pleased to hear the announcement that the man who brought speedway to Workington is to be remembered at this year's Telford Ice meeting.

Ian Thomas was always known as one of the sport’s great entertainers and his emphasis was always to put on a great show.

He successfully co-promoted the Telford meeting for 24 years with his great friend Graham Drury so it is only right that he will be remembered just over a year after his sad death.

The winner of the British Open Ice title will lift the Ian Thomas Memorial Trophy and will be a fitting tribute to Thomas.

Of Thomas Drury said: “One thing Ian emphasised as a promoter was value for money and entertainment.

“His loss was felt by everyone who knew him and we believe naming the trophy after him for the British Open title is a nice touch.

“We have spoken to Ian’s family and there will also be a minute’s applause to remember him before the afternoon meetings in memory of Ian.”

Indeed a fitting tribute to a legend in the sport.

NOW on to a loss of a different kind with the retirement of another Aussie great.

Last week I mentioned about the retirement of Shane Parker - and now we have another retirement in the face of Jason Lyons.

While we all knew Parker was set to retire at the end of last year Lyon’s future has been very much up in the air since he broke his leg last season.

The uncertainty of whether he would be able to fully recover from the injury, because he is no spring chicken at the age of 41, and the subsequent lack of a team spot for 2012 has forced the Aussie’s hand into retirement.

It will be a sad loss to the a sport he has graced for the last 22 years.

He spent the majority of his time with Belle Vue and has a farewell meeting planned with Birmingham - where he enjoyed successful years between 2007 and 2010 - on August 23.

Last year he rode for Redcar and as numerous times as a guest for Newcastle but we mustn’t forget the shifts he put in for the Comets particularly in the 2008 Young Shield final where he played a major part in winning the Comets first seven man trophy.

He also still holds the track record at Derwent Park at 62 seconds - I’m still told timer Mark Robson’s face was a picture when he realised how fast the Aussie had gone round.

Lyons hopes to be back in England at the end of February to sell up and will be looking to mechanic for someone to keep him busy.

USING the guest facility 40 times, rider replacement 29 times and not having our own seven man team from May 30 - those are the incredible statistics from Workington’s 2011 season.

Added to that 12 home postponements and a number of away ones which amounted to more than 20 rain offs during the season and you can see why our fans did get frustrated last season.

Still it was an amazing effort by the riders that were literally the last ones left standing and with arguably an even stronger looking team on paper this season.

If the weather behaves itself and we steer clear of the i word silverware could be on its way to Derwent Park in 2012.