REIGNING British Open Ice champion Wayne Broadhurst will quit the sport after his last ride at Telford next month.

Broadhurst has made himself unavailable for the domestic season and the Shropshire star will hang up his kevlars in his come county on February 24.

He is chasing a record fifth ice title at the world's longest running indoor speedway event after edging out Phil Morris last year.

He said: "I wasn't going to ride in this because I had sort of made up my mind that I was finished with the sport.
"But Graham Drury asked me if I would like to make this my farewell appearance on a speedway bike and I knew I would regret it if I said no. I thought long and hard and got back to Graham and told him I would do it.

"I haven't ridden since Telford last year so I guess I've got some catching up to do but now I've agreed to do it I intend to make the most of it and go out on a high by winning the open title for a fifth time.

"It will be an emotional moment for me when I finish my last ride there because that will be it. No more speedway for sure, there will be no going back on my decision, I feel this is the right time to hang up my kevlars.

"I'm looking forward to it. I always enjoy riding at Telford and to win the title for a fifth time would be something I can treasure for the rest of my life.

"I'm very proud of my record at Telford and I'm also proud of the fact that I have been a professional speedway rider, riding for some good clubs along the way. Now I want to bring down the curtain in style by winning at Telford."

Broadhurst will ride for the England Select side against the Rest of the World in the afternoon session at 3pm, followed by the Speedway Star best Pairs and then the big individual meeting at 7.30pm.

Meanwhile organisers of the event have also unveiled Workington duo John and Craig Branney as certain starters.

Craig finished runner-up in the pairs event alongside Great Britain star David Howe last year and scored four-points in the individual meeting.

Telford co-promoter Graham Drury, a former Workington manager, said: "It's been an exciting winter at Workington with Keith Denham taking over and I hope he and the Workington fans will come down to Telford to support the Branney boys."

CONFIREMED STARTERS FOR TELFORD:
Wayne Broadhurst (Shropshire, Unattached), Craig Branney (Workington), John Branney (Workington), Edward Kennett (Eastbourne), Tony Atkin (Newport), Josef Franc (Newcastle), Shaun Tacey (King's Lynn), Phil Morris (Birmingham), Jack Hargreaves (Birmingham), Emiliano Sanchez (Stoke), David Howe (Wolverhampton).

Tickets are available, for both afternoon and evening sessions, from the credit card hotline 08451559966 or by post with cheques payable to World Indoor Ice, Speedway Office, 27 Upper Chirk Bank, Chirk, Wrexham
Ll14 5EB. Please enclose a SAE. Further information is available by visiting