Vortex Hammers season comes to an end

The Vortex Hammers chase for fourth spot in the Elite League finally fizzled out tonight, when they lost heavily away at The Swindon Robins 54-38.

In what would always be a tough fixture, things had started relatively brightly for the Hammers who held their own matching the Robins for the first six heats, before then establishing a 2 point lead. The Robins then hit back however with three consecutive heat maxmimums to take a 10 point lead by heat 10.  A tactical ride by the returning Seb Ulamek brought the Hammers back to 8 points behind, before the Robins restablished their grasp on the meeting taking heat  advantages in the next two races.

By the time reserve Richard Lawson, who had travelled down to Swindon following the cancellation of his Premier League meeting earlier in the day joined Ulamek in heat 15, the meeting and the Hammers push for the last play off spot was all over.  Further reaction from the Hammer management will be provided.

Thanks to @lakesidelive for heat by heat tweets and updates throughout the season,  to Speedway updates, and most importantly to all the Hammers fans for their support. #RICO.

Images: Top scorers for the Hammers tonight. Seb Ulamek & Richard Lawson.

Heat 9: Seb Ulamek (red), Piotr Swiderski (blue) and Grzegorz Zengota (white) – Lakeside Hammers vs Coventry Bees, Elite League Speedway at the Arena Essex Raceway, Pufleet CREDIT: Rob Newell/TGSPHOTO

Richard Lawson of Lakeside Hammers – Lakeside Hammers vs Birmingham Brummies – Sky Sports Elite League Speedway at Arena Essex Raceway, Purfleet – 02/08/13 – MANDATORY CREDIT: Ray Lawrence/TGSPHOTO

Swindon Robins = 54

1. Hans Andersen – 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15
2. Edward Kennett – 0, 0, 3, 2′ = 5+1
3. Peter Kildemand – 3, 3, 3, 3, 1 = 13
4. Nick Morris – 2′, 0, 2′, 3 = 7+2
5. Troy Batchelor – 2, 2, 3, 2′ = 9+1
6. Ashley Birks – X, 0, 0, 0 = 0
7. Kyle Howarth – 2, 0, 2′, 1 = 5+1

Lakeside Hammers = 38

1. Cameron Woodward (G) – 1′, 2, 1′, X = 4+2
2. Sebastian Ulamek – 2, 1′, 1, 4^, 2 = 10+1
3. Piotr Swiderski – 1, 3, R, 2 = 6
4. Davey Watt – 0, 1, 1, 2 = 4
5. Lewis Bridger – 1, 2, 1, 1 = 5
6. Tyson Nelson – 1, 1′, 0, 0 = 2+1
7. Richard Lawson – 3, 3, 0, 1′, 0 = 7+1

Heat Results

Heat 01: Andersen, Ulamek, Woodward, Kennett. 3-3…67.39
Heat 02 (Re-Run): Lawson, Howarth, Nelson. (2-4)…5-7…68.61
Heat 03: Kildemand, Morris, Swiderski, Watt. (5-1)…10-8…68.52
Heat 04: Lawson, Batchelor, Bridger, Howarth. (2-4)…12-12…68.73
Heat 05: Kildemand, Woodward, Ulamek, Morris. (3-3)…15-15…68.63
Heat 06: Andersen, Bridger, Nelson, Kennett. (3-3)…18-18…68.17
Heat 07: Swiderski, Batchelor, Watt, Birks. (2-4)..20-22…68.59
Heat 08: Kennett, Howarth, Ulamek, Lawson. (5-1)…25-23…68.58
Heat 09: Kildemand, Morris, Bridger, Nelson. (5-1)…30-24…68.43
Heat 10: Andersen, Kenett, Watt, Swiderski (Retired). (5-1)…35-25…68.46
Heat 11: Batchelor, ULAMEK, Woodward, Birks. (3-5)…38-30…67.86
Heat 12: Kildemand, Swiderski, Howarth, Nelson. (4-2)…42-32…68.60
Heat 13 (Re-Run): Andersen, Batchelor, Bridger. (5-1)…47-33…67.77
Heat 14: Morris, Watt, Lawson, Birks. (3-3)…50-36…68.71
Heat 15: Andersen, Ulamek, Kildemand, Lawson. (4-2)…54-38…68.30