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Post by kingslynnlightning on Jan 6, 2022 13:31:07 GMT
Kings Lynn are complete for the 2022 season. The Lightning septet taking to the track are:
Ray France - World Champion.....nothing else to say
Michael Plant - UL riders champion and highest averaged rider in the Nations league competition
Will Huntsman - joined us mid-season and was excellent in the middle of the team. Hopes to put a push his average above 7 this season.
Shaun Carter - started at reserve last season before moving to the main body of the team and kept riding to his average. Should kick on further this season.
Will O'Brien - Last season's rising star put half a point on his average and will be looking to score plenty of points from reserve and move into the main team at some point.
Vaclav Ruzucha - Has joined us on loan from Workington on a 6 point average. Has experience of the UL so should know his way around most tracks and gives us a solid middle order.
Kjell Vanhoutte - Makes the jump from EL to UL and joins on loan from East London where he showed improvement. If he can score 2 or 3 points a match we will be more than happy.
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Post by kingslynnlightning on Feb 12, 2022 12:42:51 GMT
Our first two matches have ended in a comfortable home win over Tweedside and a one point away loss at Wolston. Ray France has started the season on fire with a paid maximum at home and 16 points away. We are gutted at the defeat to Wolston because Michael Plant had to withdraw after suffering concussion in his second ride. The lads rallied round superbly to almost pull off the win.
Vaclav Ruzucha has slotted really well into the team looks like he can be a top back up to Ray and Michael. The two Wills (Huntsman and O'Brien) have scored solidly while Shaun Carter rode better away than he did at home. Young Kjell Vanhoutte has struggled but then we expected that and he has picked up at least a point in both matches. He will steadily improve as the season goes on.
KINGS LYNN LIGHTNING 49 Tweedside 41
1. Ray France................ 3 3 3 3 2* - 14+1 2. Shaun Carter.............. 1 1 0 1 - - 3 3. Will Huntsman............. 2 2* F 2 - - 6+1 4. Vaclav Ruzucha............ 0 3 2 2 - - 7 5. Michael Plant............. 1* 1 3 2* 3 - 10+2 6. Kjell Vanhoutte........... 1 0 0 0 - - 1 7. Will O'Brien.............. 3 2 3 0 - - 8
Wolston 43 KINGS LYNN LIGHTNING 42
1. Ray France................ 2 2 3 3 3 3 - 16 2. Shaun Carter.............. 1* 0 3 2* - - - 6+2 3. Will Huntsman............. 0 1 2 - - - - 3 4. Vaclav Ruzucha............ 2 1 3 2 1 - - 9 5. Michael Plant............. 1* Fx - - - - - 1+1 (I) 6. Kjell Vanhoutte........... Fx 2 F 0 - - - 2 7. Will O'Brien.............. Fx 2 0 2 0 1* - 5+1
Next up a home match with Reading where we will have a guest filling in for Michael as he misses one match.
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Post by kingslynnlightning on Feb 27, 2022 11:11:08 GMT
Lanarkshire 49 KINGS LYNN LIGHTNING 41
1. Ray France................ F 2 1* 3 1* 0 7+2 2. Shaun Carter.............. 2 Fx 2 1 - - 5 3. Will Huntsman............. 1 3 1* 2 - - 7+1 4. Vaclav Ruzucha............ 0 2 3 2 - - 7 5. Michael Plant............. 2 2* 2 2 2 - 10 6. Kjell Vanhoutte........... 0 0 0 - - - 0 7. Will O'Brien.............. 3 1* 1* Fx - - 5+1
KINGS LYNN LIGHTNING 51 (92) Lanarkshire 38 (87)
1. Ray France................ 1* 2 3 0 - - 6+1 2. Shaun Carter.............. 2 1* 2 2* 2* - 9+3 3. Will Huntsman............. 1* 1* 3 1 - - 6+2 4. Vaclav Ruzucha............ 2 2 0 3 - - 7 5. Michael Plant............. 1* 3 3 3 3 - 13+1 6. Kjell Vanhoutte........... 2* 2* 0 0 1 - 5+2 7. Will O'Brien.............. 3 2 0 - - - 5 Even with Ray France not on his usual form we progressed through to the KO Cup Semi Finals at the expense of Lanarkshire. Michael Plant bounced back from his week off to top score in both legs. Will Huntsman put his recent struggles to one side and had his best two meetings of the season so far. Vaclav Ruzucha, who has been excellent since joining us, again scored well as did Shaun Carter. Will O'Brien continues to get better each match and it was good to see Kjell Vanhoutte score some points in the home leg. Birmingham will be our opponents in the semis when I'm sure Ray will back to his best and the final beckons.
This week it is back to league action where we intend to show Birmingham what they have in store come cup semi final week.
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Post by kingslynnlightning on Apr 4, 2022 10:31:40 GMT
We are currently sitting just 2 points behind league leaders Lanarkshire after 7 matches which is not a bad position to be in. Unfortunately we are without Vaclav Ruzucha for a few weeks. As he had put over a point on his average it is a big loss for us. We went with R/R for our home match with Newmarket and just limped over the line 46-44. Still a win is a win.
Going into the 4s without one of our heat leaders is not ideal but I am sure the rest of the team will give it their best. Will O'Brien will come into the side with Will Huntsman at reserve.
It was good to see both Ray France and Michael Plant win their British Championship semi-finals. They will be looking forward to the final later in the season with Michael defending his title and Ray trying to get that elusive first win despite being the best British rider of the last 2 or 3 years.
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Post by kingslynnlightning on May 7, 2022 11:15:43 GMT
Things are going along quite nicely for the Lightning as we pass the half way mark of the season. Sitting second a point behind Aberavon with a couple of recent away wins in the bag the boys are feeling confident of pushing on and taking a good crack at the title.
We have also progressed to the KO Cup final after a few years of going straight out of the competition. The guys did well to see off Birmingham and are now looking forward to taking on Bottesford in the final.
On the individual front Ray France is lying second in the GP standings although Kenni Algreen has built up a good 12 point lead after 4 rounds. Ray says he has a lot of work to do to make up ground on Algreen but is determined to do all he can to hang onto his World title.
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Post by kingslynnlightning on May 21, 2022 20:27:59 GMT
At the second break week in the season it looks like a two horse race for the UL title between us and Aberavon. A couple of recent away wins have kept us on the coat tails of the Gems as we go into the last 6 matches. Week 19 will be the crunch match when Aberavon visit the Glaven Arena in a match that could be winner takes all!
For the final 6 meetings our two Wills (Huntsman and O'Brien) swap round meaning we keep a really strong reserve which has served us well so far this season. Young Kjell Vanhoutte has struggled as our other reserve but has still chipped in with the odd point or two and that is all we asked of him. I have to say our other loan rider Vaclav Ruzucha has been superb upping his average from 6.00 to 8.21. I am sure should his parent team Workington get promoted back into the UL they will have a place for him in their side next season.
Ray France and Michael Plant have been as good as ever this season and consistently hitting double figures. Shaun Carter has scored his average this season and been very solid in whichever number we have put him.
We have only ever won the UL once and have been runners-up 4 times including last season to Aberavon. The confidence in the team is high as we aim to reverse last season's placings because we really don't want to be the bridesmaids for a fifth time!
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Post by kingslynnlightning on Jul 15, 2022 9:14:31 GMT
We are absolutely chuffed to have won the KO Cup. Although we have been in great form it is still a relief to get over the line and pick up the silverware. Congrats to Bottesford for battling all the way. The difference between the sides was Will O'Brien at reserve scoring paid 26 over the 2 legs. I have to give a little mention to Kjell Vanhoutte whose 4 points in the home leg was one of his best efforts of the season. He hasn't scored many points but has chipped in and has allowed us to have a very strong rider at reserve all season.
Now for the final match and only a big win will do. Well at least a win by 4 or more than Aberavon can manage!
It has been a great battle with the Gems for the title and fitting it comes down to the last meetings of the season. Good luck to the Welsh Quarter........but maybe not too much.
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Post by aberavongems on Jul 15, 2022 18:53:22 GMT
Hope the last week goes to plan for you at Kings Lynn and you win by 1 point, Really it's been a good contest.
All at Aberavon.
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Post by kingslynnlightning on Jul 21, 2022 21:50:44 GMT
The magnificent Lightning are UL Champions for the second time in their history. After a great season long battle with Aberavon the Gems had a surprising loss at home to Reading. That coupled with our excellent win over Necrons meant we won the league by 2 points. To do the League and Cup double is a fantastic achievement by the team. The champagne corks have been popping in the clubhouse as we celebrated with our fabulous fans. We will sit back and enjoy this moment for a while before preparing for the European Final. A third piece of silverware would look very nice in the trophy cabinet.
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Post by aberavongems on Jul 21, 2022 23:05:28 GMT
Congratulations to Kings Lynn well deserved. From Aberavon.
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Post by kingslynnlightning on Jul 22, 2022 19:29:22 GMT
Congratulations to Kings Lynn well deserved. From Aberavon. Thank you John. Look forward to locking horns again next season.
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Post by canveyislandcastaways on Jul 29, 2022 18:50:10 GMT
Well done to the lightning a fantastic achievement but Canvey are back now so you might find it a little bit harder now but you will still be welcome for a pint, a pie, and a good spanking before we send you on your way well done the Kingslynn lightning but start looking over your shoulder the coolness has returned.
Steve.
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Post by kingslynnlightning on Jul 30, 2022 10:56:23 GMT
We are more than looking forward to coming to the Island. It will be a treat for your fans to see some world class riders for a change! We will enjoy your hospitality and the points we will bring back to Norfolk. Now that will be cool!
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