Branney leads the way at Comets’ awards night
Last updated 19:25, Thursday, 20 November 2008
LOCAL hero John Branney was the main beneficiary of Workington Comets’ presentation evening last Friday, taking home three awards.
Branney, of Workington, said: “Winning three trophies means everything.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything else, and I really didn’t expect it.”
He won Most Improved Rider of the Year award, an award for collecting the highest number of bonus points during the season, and the News & Star’s Rider of the Year award.
Fellow youngster Joe Haines took two awards, including the best improvement in his average.
Comets owner Keith Denham unveiled the team’s first new signing for next season at the event, held at the Washington Central.
Maryport-based Richard Lawson, 22, will start at number seven next year.
He has made the switch from Conference League outfit Redcar Cubs, where he rode nine matches at the end of last season.
Lawson, a former Netherhall School pupil, said: “I went over to Redcar with no expectations and ended up doing pretty well.
“Next season I want to be scoring points every week and end up in the main body of the team.”
He will be following in the footsteps of his father, Steve, who also raced for the Comets.
Lawson said: “My dad was still racing when I was five or six years old and I was a spectator. Workington is the only place I wanted to ride.”
In spite of his father’s influence, Lawson is relatively new to riding speedway bikes, having switched from motocross.
He added: “I hadn’t really ridden a speedway bike until June. I have been racing for Kawasaki for the last four years, and I have done the British Championships with them.”
Denham said: “I first brought Richard to Derwent Park in June and he rode on Peter Karlsson’s old bike.
“He’s going to be world class before he finishes.”
Almost 200 fans attended the evening, with Comets riders Carl Stonehewer, Tomas Topinka, Charles Wright and Daniel Nermark also helping to celebrate the team’s most successful season ever.
