Tom's trophy hunt (From Dorset Echo)

Tom's trophy hunt

8:52am Tuesday 12th January 2010 in

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TOM Brown has set his sights on the National League Riders’ Championship after returning to the Weymouth Wildcats this winter.

The 25-year-old has been signed up along with Byron Bekker, Terry Day and James Cockle ahead of the new season, which starts in April.

He was part of the Knockout Cup winning side in 2005 and has always been popular with the Radipole Lane faithful, even when representing arch-rivals Plymouth.

“Hopefully we can hit the ground running and win some silverware this season and it’s looking pretty promising.” said Brown. “Phil Bartlett phoned me up and asked me to come and ride for them. I hadn’t signed for anyone so I said yes.

“I would like to win the riders’ championship myself and hopefully win something with Weymouth as well.

“If we can get another six-and-a-half-pointer in then we should have a good time and then it just depends on the reserve riders.

“I really like the track and I hope the fans can come back so we get some good crowds.”

With high profile departures such as Jon Armstrong and Mark Burrows, the Wildcats have been busy in the market for new riders – signing up Brown, as well as Bekker to be the team’s new number one.

And although Phil Bartlett and team manager Jem Dicken missed out on securing the services of a fifth rider over New Year – believed to be Matt Bates, who has opted to join Mildenhall Fen Tigers instead – talks are ongoing in a bid to complete the 2010 line-up.

“We need to be getting on with it,” said Bartlett. “We are though very, very advanced towards finalising a team – there are lots of things going on behind the scenes.”

* Weymouth Wildcats have secured the return of Tim Helm as announcer at the Wessex Stadium.

Helm has been involved with the club since its induction but had to take a break from announcing last year because of work commitments.

However, Wildcats’ promoter Phil Bartlett said that has now been sorted and Helm will be back behind the microphone this season.

“He’s a good announcer and a really good entertainer for the crowd,” said Bartlett. “It’s fantastic to bring him back.”