Berwick Bandits switch press and practice to avoid clash with Ben Fund charity event
Berwick Bandits have rearranged their press and practice to avoid clashing with the Ben Fund event at Glasgow.
R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS, stars Peter Kildemand and Nick Morris are among the riders being assembled for the Ashfield meeting on 28 March.
That was also the night pencilled in for the club’s press and practice but the newly-assembled septet will now make its bow 24 hours earlier with the bikes gracing Shielfield Park for a rare Friday night session in preparation for their season-opening visit by Edinburgh Monarchs eight days later.
After the on-track session – vital time for new signings Victor Palovaara, Lasse Fredriksen and Reid Battye to get to grips with their new home – Greg Blair hosts a Welcome the 2026 Bandits evening in the neighbouring Black and Gold club.
“This is very much a one-off solution to a unique situation,” Berwick Speedway owner Jamie Courtney said.
“Since the club formed in 1968, and especially since the Bandits returned to Shielfield Park in 1996, Saturday has been synonymous with speedway with only the rare off-night staging.
“But with Glasgow hosting the Ben Fund it doesn’t make sense for us to stage a practice session without two of our seven riders or, for that matter, force the Berwick speedway public to choose between watching our new signings adapt to Shielfield Park or supporting such a worthy charity.
“Berwick has a deserved national reputation for generosity when it comes to the Ben Fund, our supporters are always in the top two or three when it comes to the annual collections, and we want to do everything we can to make the Glasgow event a success.
“At the same time we have made three signings over the winter who need an opportunity to get some laps of Shielfield Park and this will be their only opportunity before the season-opening visit of Edinburgh on 4 April.”