Lanham testimonial Wednesday.

Popular Arena-Essex Speedway rider Leigh Lanham hopes that it will be fourth time lucky as he looks to stage his long awaited Testimonial Meeting at the Arena-Essex raceway this Wednesday. (5th October.)

The 28 year old who comes from Ipswich has seen his first three attempts to stage his big night called off due to the weather. Two of those were at the end of the 2004 season and he had the same problem back in April this year. Everyone, therefore, involved with the Essex based Club have their fingers crossed for a fine evening.

Leigh started his Speedway career with his hometown side, the Ipswich Witches, back in 1993 as a 16 year old. His contract is still owned by the Suffolk club although he has spent a large part of his career with the Arena-Essex Hammers.

He rode for the Witches between 1993 and 1996 but he then had a season at Exeter. He enjoyed his year with the Falcons despite the long weakly journey for his home matches. He moved on to the Hammers in 1998 and has remained with them ever since and during his time with the Club he has become one of the most popular riders to have worn the famous crossed hammers emblem on their race suit.

2000 was a disaster for Leigh as he badly broke his thigh in a crash in the opening meeting and that resulted in him having to miss the entire season. He has regularly topped the Hammers averages whilst they were in the Premier league and he took the big step up with the Club in 2004 when they joined the Elite League. Unlike others who have moved up with other clubs Leigh has not had the opportunity of racing in one of the easier reserve positions in the team. His average of 5.93 (including bonus points) from all matches in 2004 was, therefore, a very creditable performance.

This year he has combined his racing for the Hammers with weekly trips to Sweden where he has ridden for Piraterna in the top League. He is the only Arena-Essex rider to have upped his average this year, a year that has been a difficult one for the Essex Club. His average at present is 6.17 (including bonus points).

Twelve riders will contest the meeting over a series of 12 qualification heats with the top two qualifiers going straight through to the final. The next four (3rd to 6th) will compete in a semi final with first and second places going through to meet the final.

Joining Leigh will be four of the present Hammers side - the 2000 World Champion Mark Loram, the 1992 World Champion Gary Havelock, Pole Adam Skornicki and Kent based Paul Hurry. In addition the 2004 World Champion Jason Crump was agreed to take part in the event alongside the Ipswich captain Chris Louis, Eastbourne's Australians Adam Shields and Davey Watt, Rye House's American Brent Werner plus Australian Shane Parker who seems to appear in almost every testimonial meeting due to his special way of entertaining the crowd. At this late stage Leigh is still awaiting confirmation from the final rider to complete the field. The two meeting reserves will be the King Brothers - Jason and Daniel, both of whom have appeared for the Hammers in their Premier League days.

The weather forecast appears to be fine for Wednesday evening and it is hoped that a large crowd turns up to help Leigh celebrate his big night. He certainly deserves it as he has been a very loyal member of the Arena-Essex side since 1998. The meeting is likely to be a competitive one although there are likely to be other attractions going on both on and of the track (especially with Shane Parker in attendance!) A night certainly not to be missed.