Ipswich team manager Paul Hurry admits winning silverware with the Tru7 Group Witches at the first attempt would be a “sweet” reward as they host Leicester in the Premiership Knockout Cup Final, first leg on Monday.
It’s a huge week for the Witches, who also visit Leicester for the decider on Thursday, and victory would be an incredible outcome for a club that some feared wouldn’t come to the tapes for 2026, with riders and fans left facing a nervous wait for news that the club would compete this season.
Following club legend Chris Louis’ departure as promoter, it wasn’t until March 1 that Speedway GP parent company Mayfield took charge of the Witches, with Richard Coleman and Andrew Chisholm leading the club into a new era.
Hurry would be delighted for everyone at Foxhall if they can put an anxious winter behind them with a cup-final victory.
He said: “We go into competitions to win, and we would love to win this. It was very late in the day when Richard and Andrew got the go-ahead to run this year. It would be kind of sweet if we could get some sort of silverware – just to reward them really, and the fans who had such an anxious wait over the winter months. The riders also stuck by us – Tom Brennan, Danny King and Jason Edwards. It would be sweet if we could pull this one off.”
The Lions head to Foxhall on Monday, where they raced to a 48-42 victory on July 9 – a meeting the Witches raced without in-form duo Richard Lawson and skipper King.
The Rowe Motor Oil Premiership champions are at full strength for a meeting sponsored by Whip Street Motors Ltd and Farnham Leisure Ltd, with Danish reserve Kevin Juhl Pedersen making his return after suffering bruised lungs in a crash at Glasgow on July 11.
Hurry was far from happy with Lions boss Stewart Dickson following a row over track preparations on his previous visit to Foxhall, but he is determined to bounce back from that and capitalise on having all seven riders back in the side.
He said: “Leicester came to us a couple of weeks back and created havoc. We’ll just draw a line under that. We regroup and refocus for this week. I’m not saying I forget those things; when I raced, you forgot things like that and moved on, but you also don’t forget them. It’s still there in the back of your mind.
“Obviously, we want to do the best job that we possibly can, and hopefully all the boys will rise to the occasion. Let’s see where we end up.
“They hurt us the other week, although we were without Danny and Richard. They have people in their team, who can raise their game, so we have to treat them with respect and do the best job we possibly can.
“We didn’t lose by many when we didn’t have Danny and Richard in the side. With them at Foxhall and everyone trying their hardest and getting things in gear, we should be able to give Leicester quite a tough time.
“The better the job we do on Monday, the better it is for us on Thursday. We just have to keep focused and keep pushing.”
Get behind the Witches as they bid to build up a big aggregate advantage in the Premiership Knockout Cup Final, first leg at Foxhall on Monday. Tickets are available online HERE now.
For those unable to make it to Foxhall or Leicester on Thursday, both legs will be streamed live on the British Speedway Network. CLICK HERE for more info and to tune in.
STARTING LINE-UPS
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES: 1. Tom Brennan, 2. Danny King (captain), 3. Richard Lawson, 4. Scott Nicholls, 5. Tobiasz Musielak, 6. Kevin Juhl Pedersen, 7. Jason Edwards.
LEICESTER LIONS: 1. Ryan Douglas, 2. Dan Thompson, 3. Nick Morris, 4. Kyle Howarth, 5. Sam Masters (captain), 6. Drew Kemp, 7. Joe Thompson.