Horspath Hammers start the defence of their British Premier League and Combination titles at home to British team champions Leicester Monarchs on Sunday (2pm).

Leicester, led by former Hammer and one of the top riders in the world, Lukasz Nowacki, finished runner-up in last year’s Premier League.

Horspath have signed two young riders, both former under 19 British champions, Chris Timms and Paul Heard, for their campaign.

Both arrive on a secondary licence from Birmingham.

Chris and Lewis Osborne continue, as does under 19 champion Mark Carmichael.

Their squad is completed by British champion, Mark Boaler, veteran champions Steve Harris, Shaun Rudman, and Polish star Matuesz Szymczak.

Szymczak and Boaler starred as Hammers enjoyed an 89-86 win over Poole in South & South Wales Division 1.

Scorers: M Burgess 11+1, W Clarke 13, M Boaler 18+1, L Clarke 8, M Szymczak 19+1, M Coulter 12, Z Payne 2, J Smith 5.

Poole, however, won the Division 2 clash 52-28.

Scorers: R Edge 9+1, L Horsley 8, C Herbert 7, J Currell 3, J Herbert 1.

Horspath’s Under 18 Conference match was a nail-biter with Zac Payne top scoring in the 75-74 win, which came about despite Horspath suffering 7-3 reverses in the last two heats.

Scorers: J Smith 12, J Richardson 9+2,W Clarke 12+1, J Neighbour 9+2, Z Payne 16+1, G Horsley 10, J Herbert 3, M Coulter 4.