MESSAGE FROM BARRY'S FAMILY Thank you to all the people who have sent messages to us. Barry had a life saving operation on Sunday afternoon, to repair extensive damage to his lungs. He has been sedated so that his body is given a chance to heal, this means he is on a ventilator and obviously is unconscious. He is currently in intensive care at Ashford, Kent. We are hoping he will be moved to Guy's Hospital, London sometime today to a Cardiac Ward where he will receive specialist care for his injuries. If you would like to send any messages to Barry, we will print any emails and keep them for him when he is conscious. Please email to: barry.burchatt@virgin.net If anyone wishes to send cards, please send to: Willowend, 68 Old London Road, Badgers Mount, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 7AE Again, many thanks for your kind messages they have helped us to keep positive at this difficult time. Dave, Val, Paul and Tammy

12th May 2008 - BARRY SERIOUSLY HURT IN GRASS TRACK ACCIDENT - Comets new boy Barry Burchatt was seriosuly injured in a racing incident at a local grasstrack meeting in Kent. Whilst laying his bike down to avoid another stricken rider burchatt was hit by other riders and received multiple serious injuries. He is currently in Intensive Care and we are awaiting news on his chances of survival which at the moment are in the balance. Best wishes go to Barry and his family heres praying for a successful and speedy recovery.

11th May 2008 - NERMARK MAKES TRACK RETURN - Daniel Nermark made a swifter track return than expected in Poland today taking 3 rides in Ostrow's defeat to Grudziadz. Daniel had been advised by doctors to take the weekend off and missed both the Comets weekend meetings but looks like he will be returning on Saturday for the visit of Newport Wasps.

10th May 2008 - WORKINGTON COMETS 54 READING RACERS 36 - JAMES WRIGHT(G) 10, BARRY BURCHATT 4+2, KAUKO NIEMINEN 11+1, CHARLES WRIGHT 5+1, CARL STONEHEWER 10+1, JOE HAINES 8+1, JOHN BRANNEY 6+2 - The Racers came to Derwent Park expecting to run a close meeting having DP fans favourite from last year Ulrich Ostergaard in their side but the Comets were in determined mood, and even without star man Daniel Nermark were dominant througout only being challenged by the experience of Mark Lemon and the track experience of Ostergaard. After a disappointing meeting the night before Stoney put his machine problems behind him for a 5 ride points haul of 10+1 but it was the reserves who made the difference scoring 14+3 between them against the Racers 3+1 from their reserve pairing. The fans were served up with a treat of races on a track that had been baked in the heat of the weekend and will have gone home happy with a display of dominance against one of the league favourites.

9th May 2008 - SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 47 WORKINGTON COMETS 43 - JAMES WRIGHT(G) 12+1, BARRY BURCHATT 2, KAUKO NIEMINEN 13, CHARLES WRIGHT 2+2, CARL STONEHEWER 1+1, JOE HAINES 12, JOHN BRANNEY 1 - The Comets first visit to newcomers Scunthorpe was a close affair as expected with the home team winning by a 4 points margin. Earlier in the meeting the Comets trailed by 10 points but clawed their way back into the meeting and in fact were the better team in the second half but the gap was too big to overhaul. James Wright made a comeback in the blue and white when Daniel Nermark has to pull out of the meeting on medical advice because of his hand injury and top scored for the Comets being unbeaten after an initial third in heat one but the real star for the Workington side was young Joe Haines who is continuing his amazing rise to speedway star by scoring 12 points from 6 rides including 2 heat wins. A large comets following will be disappointed after half expecting to take advantage of the Scorpions spluterring start to the season but the better team won on the night

7th May 2008 - PRESS RELEASE 10 - IRON man Daniel Nermark rode in Sweden on Tuesday night and will be back in action for the Workington Comets on Friday at Scunthorpe.

Nermark had to finish his involvement at Rye House on Monday after just three rides following a heavy fall in which he damaged his hand.

Track paramedics suspected a broken scaphoid but a hospital check later in the day was inconclusive and it was Nermark’s decision whether he flew out to Sweden to fulfil a League commitment there. Read full press release by clicking here

7th May 2008 - NERMARK UPDATE - It seems that fears of a serious injury to Daniels hand have been misplaced as he took his place in the Piraterna team in Sweden tonight top scoring 12 points from his 6 rides in the Swedish equivalent of the Elite League. There were fears that a scan due to be taken today may mean a while out of the team but hopefully the injury will not flare up to enable him to take his place in the Comets lineup on Friday night at Scunthorpe.

5th May 2008 - RYE HOUSE ROCKETS 52 WORKINGTON COMETS 40 - Daniel Nermark 3, Barry Burchatt 4+1, Kauko Nieminen 13, Charles Wright 0, Carl Stonehewer 10, Joe Haines 8+1, John Branney 2+2 - The Comets put in their best performance at the slick race track that is Hoddesdon and could have done even better if Daniel had not had to withdraw from the meeting with an injured hands. Nemo and Stoney put in great performances but special praise has to be kept for Joe Haines and particularly Barry Burchatt who scored 8+1 and 4+1 respectively. Daniel had to withdraw after a fall in his third ride injured his hand.

3rd May 2008 - WORKINGTON COMETS 46 RYE HOUSE ROCKETS 44 - Daniel Nermark 12, Barry Burchatt 1, Kauko Nieminen 8, Charles Wright 5+1, Carl Stonehewer 8+1, Joe Haines 7+1, John Branney 5+1 - The Comets took the points in an extremely close fought contest in which the Rockets came very close to taking 3 points. the depleted rockets chose a fnatastic guest in Josh Grajczonek who from a 3.96 average scored 9 points including 2 wins an opening ride win against Daniel. The Comets were 8 points down after 5 heats and had to muster all there strength to pull that back and took a 6 point lead into the penultimate heat where a 3-3 would have guaranteed the points, but a 5-1 reverse meant that there was another final heat decider and Daniel flew from the start and speeded off in front to claim the points while the two rockets were able to keep Nemo at the back.

1st May 2008 - SCOTT SMITH REPLACE - PRESS RELEASE 9 - - WORKINGTON Comets have axed Scott Smith in their first team change of the season after five weeks of speedway action. Barry Burchatt, who had not intended to ride this year, has been brought in at number two and will ride against Rye House on Saturday. Burchatt, 20, is actually a Rye House asset who was loaned to Newport Wasps last season.

Comets team manager Ian Thomas said: “Scott has tried his heart out since he joined us but it just hasn’t happened for him. He had a good meeting at Berwick, and also against the Bandits at home but otherwise has struggled. “We felt we had to make a change even though there are not many suitable riders available. “Barry was talking a year out to do some exams with his work as a plumber but has been able to resume riding sooner than he expected. “He actually took part in a qualifying round of the British Under-21’s and just missed qualifying with 11 points. “It’s not an easy position to come into but Barry will ride at number two against Rye House in both the week-end matches, home and away. “He is a Rye House asset but when I asked about it with the Rockets boss Len Silver he said it would be ok for him to ride as he didn’t want to stop him from earning money.” Read the full press release by clicking here

20th April 2008 - WORKINGTON COMETS 60 GLASGOW TIGERS 32 - Daniel Nermark 13+1, Scott Smith 6+1, Kauko Nieminen 15, Charles Wright 5+2, Carl Stonehewer 9, Joe Haines 8+1, John Branney 4+1 - David Platt (aka Jack Shepard) witnessed the Comets dominate their last home Premier Trophy match against a struggling Glasgow Tigers side. Home wins in 13 of the 15 races showed the home side advantage and a first maximum for Captain Nemo drove home the Comets dominance. But this was a full team display that will please the Comets management the most with all riders providing good displays but apart from Nemo maximum the point of note was how on the pace Scud Smith is starting to look. Edinburgh are still favourites to qualify from our group but the Premier Trpohy has allowed the team to bed in to make a real challenge for the Premier League.

13th April 2008 - NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS 42 WORKINGTON COMETS 48 - Daniel Nermark 11, Scott Smith 1+1, Carl Stonehewer 10, Charles Wright 0, Kauko Nieminen 11+2, Joe Haines 6+1, John Branney 9 - The Comets came away from Brough Park with 3 points in a fantastic victory, we took an early lead and held that until heat 10 when the Diamonds pulled level at 30-30 but successive 4-2s in the closing heats meant the Comets chalked up what is hoped to be many away victories in their league campaign. Captain Nemo was the star for the team with 11+2 from his 5 rides but again the young reserves played a huge part scoring 15 points between them against more experienced home reserves.

12th April 2008 - WORKINGTON COMETS 45 KINGS LYNN 45 - Daniel Nermark 10+1, Scott Smith 2, Carl Stonehewer 4+1, Charles Wright 10, Kauko Nieminen 9+1, Joe Haines 4+2, John Branney 6+1 - The Comets opening Premier League fixture at Derwent Park was a thriller, with a heavy track after the wet Saturday weather the Kings Lynn Stars proved to be the difficult opponents the fans and management expected with Kevin Doolan producing a superb spoiling display. The meeting started with a 5-1 to the Stars and the Comets never led until Heat 13 when Daniel and Kake pulled off a 5-1. A fantastic display from the three young men in the team provided 20 of the Comets points with Charles being the absolute star attacking the dirt line and racing to 2 wins and 2 seconds. Stoney seemed to struggle on a night when it was reported he was suffering with flu symptoms and the match came down to the old ways of a tense last heat decider which needed a Comet to finish first but Doolan had other ideas and raced away in the heat too fast for the Comets to catch.

10th April 2008 - PRESS RELEASE 5 - David Platt, the bad boy of Coronation Street, has signed for the Workington Comets! Well at least Jack P. Shepherd, who plays Platt in the long-running soap, will be appearing at the Comets’ Premier Trophy meeting with Glasgow on April 19.

New speedway owner Keith Denham wanted Platt to be the special celebrity guest when he launched the season at Derwent Park on Easter Monday. But the actor’s filming commitments meant he was unable to accept the booking. Comets’ team manager Ian Thomas has now agreed a deal through his own entertainment agency with Shepherd for the clash with Glasgow. Read full press release by clicking here