The Buxton Hitmen seem to be unable to beat the weather this year as their opening home meeting of the 2008 season was postponed on Sunday.

The Hitmen were due to face the Belle Vue Colts in a Conference League Challenge but heavy rain on Sunday morning left them with no alternative but to call off the meeting. It was a pity as the Colts had assembled a strong team that would have been a good match for the home riders and it is hoped that a meeting between the two sides can be arranged for another date. The weather has played havoc so far with Press and Practice called off once and the second attempt was also hit before the low cloud cleared to allow the riders to get out on track.

One Hitman who did see some action was Jack Roberts as he made his debut in the British Under 21 Final on Friday night. The event took place at Arena Essex, a track that Roberts had never seen before and the Stockport-based youngster quickly settled in as he won his opening race. Next he was in a strong heat where he faced meeting favourite Tai Woffinden and former Buxton team-mate Adam Roynon and Roberts took third behind the more experienced pair. He also picked up two more third place finishes before he added a second place in his final ride ahead of Stoke’s Ben Barker and former Buxton rider Charles Wright. The total of eight points was a good score for the 17-year-old, especially as he was one of the youngest competing, but it left him just a couple of points short of making it into the Last Chance race-off.

Former Hitman Adam Roynon did make the Last Chance race and finished second to advance to the Final. Roynon rode for the Hitmen in 2006 and won the Conference League Riders Championship that year in the Buxton race jacket before moving up a level last year with Rye House. In the final, Lewis Bridger was excluded after falling and in the re-run, Roynon finished second to Woffinden despite pressurising him all of the way.

Sunday’s postponement was also a disappointment for a group of Buxton supporters as they have set up a Support Fund to help the Hitmen. They were going to launch the fund at the meeting but instead have had to start it without the blaze of publicity. Their aim is to get ordinary speedway fans to part with a small amount of money each month and this sponsorship will be divided equally between the riders. As with all forms of motorsport, it is expensive for the riders to maintain their equipment and every penny that the group raises helps in some way. More information can be found on the group’s website at www.speedway2000.co.uk and it is open to non-Buxton supporters as well.