Speedway ace Gjedde pledges his support for Swindon Robins next season (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Speedway ace Gjedde pledges his support for Swindon Robins next season

SWINDON Speedway staged a successful end-of-season dinner and dance at Blunsdon House Hotel on Saturday and heard the news that Dane Charlie Gjedde had agreed terms for the 2005 season.

In making the announcement, promoter Alun Rossiter stated: "This is great news for the club and Charlie, who is exceptionally popular with everyone on the Abbey Stadium terraces.

"After suffering a nasty injury, Charlie missed a huge chunk of the season just finished, but came back well to end the campaign with a number of high scores.

"I feel sure he can take that form on in 2005 and increase his average to become a solid heat leader.

"It's great that we now have both Leigh Adams and Charlie signed and sealed as we look to assemble a side capable of battling for honours."

Gjedde, who was clearly delighted to have put pen to paper, commented: "I have always been happy at Swindon and I have now completed three seasons in a row with the team.

"The fans are just great and hopefully we can give them the success they deserve next year.

"It was brilliant to win the Elite League Pairs Champion-ship with Leigh early this season and it would be nice to bring home some more silverware in 2005.

"Sure, it was disappointing to miss out on a lot of this season, but I was generally very pleased with the way things went when I got back on the bike. I will be looking to maintain that kind of form from March onwards when the tapes rise again."

The 24-year-old ended the 2004 season with a league average of 7.21 from 23 matches, having gained a total of 183 points.

But his year was hampered by a broken right ankle, suffered when riding for his Swedish side Vargarna in a home match versus Indianerna on May 4.

That, unfortunately, meant ten weeks on the sidelines, but he put together some superb performances upon his return for the Pebley Beach Robins, including a magical 18+1 point at home to Wolverhampton on August 29.

Gjedde first rode for Swindon as long ago as 1998, making his club debut in a challenge match against Oxford at Blunsdon on March 19 that year.

He has since made 159 appearances in all competitions for the side, netting a grand total of 1,413 points along the way for a healthy overall average of 7.94.

The dinner and dance also saw the presentation of the rider of the year awards, as voted for by readers of the 'Evening Advertiser'.

Captain Fantastic, Leigh Adams, picked up the trophy for the Pebley Beach Robins while the find of the year, Nathan Irwin, was a popular winner for the Team Artdeans Sprockets.