The second semi-final for the British Under-21 Championships scheduled for Tuesday night at the Isle of Wight has been postponed after heavy rain.
The restaging night is 24 hours later on Wednesday. If this is also affected by rain, it will obviously have some implications for the qualification for the Final at Armadale on Friday. With the forecast uncertain for Wednesday, it may be that the final five riders for the final plus a reserve will be seeded through from the field at the Isle of Wight semi-final.
It is difficult to keep up with the changes in the line-up for this semi-final. This is partially due to a number of riders being named in the oiginal field who are not riding this year and have no equipment. Others have had to call off because of the logistic difficulties of getting to the Isle of Wight in midweek and getting time off work. The unluckiest rider to miss out is Arena Essex reserve Nick Simmons who broke his leg at Newport last week. Nick who rode for the Isle of Wight last season would have been a banker to qualify because of his form on the track.
Of the field left in the event, the favourites would appear to be Oliver Allen (Swindon), Gary Corbett and Matt Read (Arena Essex), Paul Clews (Reading), Barry Campbell and Darren Groves (Workington), plus Chris Harris (Exeter). There are also the home rider Glen Phillips (Isle of Wight), plus Shane Colvin and Marc Norris (Reading), Jamie Smith (Newcastle), and a number of Conference League riders.
The top five riders will qualify for the Arnadale final and the sixth rider will be a reserve. News of this qualifier will be posted when available. This delay will make life very difficult for compiler of the programme for Friday. There may have to be a lot of 'write-ins' on the scorecard.
[This news item was added on April 4th 2000]