Thursday, April 23, 2026
OXFORD SPEEDWAY
Oxford Speedway

PREVIEW: Spires want fighting performance in televised clash at Sheffield

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BETGOODWIN Oxford Spires are out to make a good impression in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash at Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium on Monday evening (July 14) at 7.30pm – a meeting being shown live on both TNT Sports and on Discovery+

Sheffield Tigers won the previous encounter between the two sides at Owlerton this season on April 24 by 57-33, while the fixture at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium on May 22 was much closer – a 45-45 draw with Sheffield winning the subsequent Super Heat.

Erik Riss is currently out through illness, and Spires will use rider replacement in his absence.

Spires’ manager Peter Schroeck said: “We’re not travelling up to Sheffield simply to make up the numbers. You always go into a meeting wanting to make a good impression.

“Sheffield are strong around their home track, but they’ve also had a couple of blips around there this season.

“Our skipper Maciej Janowski was disappointed with his own performance at Leicester on Thursday. He’ll want to bounce back from that. If he can take a positive result from Heat 1, along with Rohan (Tungate), it can give us a boost for the rest of the night.

“With six out of the seven teams in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership in action on the same night, it doesn’t leave many guest options and we’ve decided to use rider replacement for Erik, with everyone except Maciej allowed to take an additional ride.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the Spires entertain reigning champions Belle Vue Aces in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership on Thursday (July 17). Aces are led by British Grand Prix champion Dan Bewley and World Championship contender Brady Kurtz and it promises to be an exciting night of speedway. Tickets are already on the Oxford Speedway website at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: Craig Cook had to go to hospital last night with a very high heart rate. Antti Vuolas will replace him at No 4.

Teams:

Sheffield Tigers: Jack Holder, Anders Rowe, Josh Pickering (C), Lewis Kerr, Chris Holder, Justin Sedgmen, Leon Flint (RS).

BetGoodwin Oxford Spires: Maciej Janowski (C), Rohan Tungate, Charles Wright, Antti Vuolas (G), Erik Riss R/R, Peter Kildemand, Luke Killeen (RS).

PHOTO by Steve Edmunds