Ex-Comet Harrison faces blood clot tests

speedway By John Walsh

Last updated 11:47, Friday, 05 September 2008

FORMER Workington Comets favourite Rusty Harrison is in hospital with a suspected blood clot.

Rusty Harrison

The 27-year-old Australian was taken to King’s Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday for checks after a meeting at the Norfolk Arena.

Harrison, who rode for Workington for over four seasons, still lives in the town but now rides for the King’s Lynn Stars.

He had looked out of sorts in his three rides against Isle of Wight before pulling out of the Premier League meeting.

With his thigh swelling up, he was seen by the track paramedics who called for an ambulance.

Lynn Stars won the match 68-23 and have moved up to second place in the table.

But with another former Comet Shaun Tacey (broken collarbone) and now Harrison out for the season, club officials are reviewing their options for the vital matches ahead.

Meanwhile, Daniel Nermark has been overtaken at the top of the Premier League averages –by a fraction.

Workington Comets’ number one, back riding again after a five-week absence through injury, has a calculated match average of 10.53.

But sitting on top at the moment is the man who replaced him at King’s Lynn, Australian Kevin Doolan with 10.54.

Reading’s Ulrich Ostergaard, who rode for the Comets last season, is lying third on 10.33.

Nermark, who scored 12 and two bonus points on his return from injury last Saturday, will be looking for a maximum tonight when the Comets host struggling Stoke Potters.

Comets team manager Ian Thomas said: “I’m sure Daniel had as one of his targets this season being the top man in the Premier League averages – especially as he finished third last season and the two men above him didn’t ride in the Premier League this season.

“But it’s still very, very tight and although there are not many matches left I think Daniel will be looking to score heavily in both our remaining League matches at Derwent Park.”

Stoke, who provide the opposition tonight (7-30pm), only have pointless Mildenhall below them in the table.

They do have two riders, though in the top 20 of the averages – both sharing 9th spot on 8.25.

Number one Lee Complin is one of them, and he hasn’t ridden since late May, but hopes to get the go-ahead to return tonight at Derwent Park. Ben Barker is the other Stoke rider.

The Potters are waiting for confirmation that Complin’s return has been approved, while Andrew Moore will be having a fitness test.

The Comets will track a full seven-man team for only the second time since June.

One of them second string Joe Haines was in action for Boston last night in a 46-44 Conference League defeat at Redcar. He top-scored for Boston with 16 points.

Meanwhile Birmingham boss Graham Drury has pulled the plug on the signing of Dane Kenneth after being told by Hansen's brother and main sponsor that the former Wolverhampton man would be riding in Slangerup's vital Danish League clash with Esbjerg instead.

And in response Drury immediately took Hansen out of the BRC Roofing Brummies line-up - they would have been forced to use a rookie Conference League rider to replace him - and will continue to cover for Kyle Legault under the rider-replacement facility.

Hansen rode briefly for Workington last season before being injured and moving to Elite League side Wolverhampton.