LAWRENCE Hare, the speedway rider ditched by Oxford last year, is the first winner of the ASDA Cheetahs Rider of the Month award.

Hare takes the trophy for March/April after a superb start to the season that saw his 3.35 average zoom up to 10.40 at one stage.

Now, thanks to Stella Spence and Diane Ward of ASDA, Wheatley, he will receive the award at the Stadium tonight when Gresham Cheetahs take on Belle Vue in a Craven Shield encounter (7.30pm).

More good news for Hare is that under the new Green Sheet averages he moves into the second heat leader role at the expense of Steve Johnston in the No 6 spot. That could make Cheetahs even stronger

The Oxford squad are cock-a-hoop after slamming Poole on their Wimborne Road circuit on Wednesday which strengthened their position in the top four.

They are at full strength due to having no riders in the Grand Prix series, the first of which gets under way on Saturday. The Aces will be missing the influential former Cheetah Jimmy Nilsen and Andy Smith which will not do their chances of moving off the bottom of the table any good.

Belle Vue's team is uncertain but one thing is definite - Ronnie Correy will be here and his presence alone will ensure some fireworks in what should be another victory for Cheetahs.

Oxford Cheetahs: Wiltshire, Staechmann, Hare, Hurry, Boyce, Johnston, Rossiter.

Story date: Friday 07 May

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