IRVING, Gary Michael
DATE OF BIRTH: 1 March 1989, Carlisle, Cumbria.
BRITISH CAREER: (2006) Cleveland; (2008-09) Scunthorpe II.
RIDER LINKS: Son of Michael Irving (born: 19 November 1963, Longtown, Cumbria).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Irving is the son of former rider Michael, who appeared for Workington, Glasgow and Long Eaton during two attempts at the sport between 1981 and 1991. Gary learnt how to ride at the Northside training track in Workington and subsequently took his official bow with Cleveland in the Conference Shield late in October 2006. He impressed at Scunthorpe's press and practice day the following season, but was to miss the entire campaign after being involved in a serious road traffic accident in Cumbria on the Easter Monday. Fellow rider Ben Johnson was also involved in the incident. He did, however, represent the Saints in 2008, when he remained ever-present to post an excellent real-time average of 6.73. However, having initially agreed to remain with the side in 2009, the Carlisle-born rider quit the sport pre-season, in February, and revealed that it had cost his family in the region of £20,000 to ride at Conference level the previous season. Once speedway is in the blood it can be hard to turn your back on it for good, though, and a change of heart - following a couple of practice sessions at the Eddie Wright Raceway - saw Irving return to the sport with Scunthorpe's National League side in place of the retired Sean Stoddart in August.

ISHERWOOD, Gareth Andrew
DATE OF BIRTH: 28 November 1988, Manchester, Greater Manchester.
BRITISH CAREER: (2005) Stoke II; (2006-07) Stoke II, Buxton; (2008-09) Buxton.
ADDITIONAL INFO: Isherwood has been associated only with Stoke and Buxton at Conference/National League level during a five-season period in the saddle. He assumed the Hitmen's captaincy in 2009, but announced his retirement from the sport after failing to score from four rides in their home leg of the Knock-Out Cup final versus Bournemouth on 11 October.

IVERSEN, Niels-Kristian Trochmann
DATE OF BIRTH: 20 June 1982, Esbjerg, Denmark.
BRITISH CAREER: (2001) King's Lynn; (2003) Newport, Oxford; (2004-05) Oxford; (2006-07) Peterborough; (2008) Wolverhampton; (2009) Peterborough.
MAJOR HONOURS: Danish Under-21 Champion: 2002; World Cup Champion: 2006, 2008.
CLUB HONOURS: Craven Shield winner: 2005 [Oxford]; League Championship winner: 2006 [Peterborough]; Elite Shield winner: 2007 [Peterborough].
GRAND PRIX HIGHLIGHTS: Grand Final Champion: 2007.
ADDITIONAL INFO: Iversen initially took to a speedway track on a 50cc machine in his native Denmark in 1994, eventually progressing to the full-size 500cc steeds in 1998. His first taste of domestic racing in the UK took place with King's Lynn in 2001, when he was an October addition to the team. He was to appear in just one Craven Shield fixture and two league matches for the Norfolk outfit. The Esbjerg-born rider continued to perfect his skills in his homeland in 2002, helping Holsted to the Division One Championship. Meanwhile, on the individual front, he scooped a brilliant victory in the Danish Under-21 Championship. Late in the year, he again appeared briefly on these shores, representing Workington in an October challenge match at King's Lynn. Iversen subsequently spent his first full British season with Newport in 2003 and he made quite an impact, posting a real-time average of 9 points per match. He was also identified with Oxford, making three Elite League appearances for the Cowley-based side, plus one other in the British League Cup. Back in Denmark, he again played a part as Holsted retained the Division One Championship. Meanwhile, on the world stage, he was a member of his country's squad in the Speedway World Cup. Iversen made the full-time switch to the Elite League with Oxford in 2004 and posted a solid 6-point average, as the Cowley faithful enjoyed his exciting leg-trailing style. In Denmark, he completed a hat-trick of league title successes with Holsted, while in the World Cup he was again part of the national squad. Showcasing his talent to a wide audience, he ran a brilliant joint fifth place as a wildcard in the Danish Grand Prix at Parken, Copenhagen on 26 June, when he reached the semi-final stage before being eliminated. Remaining with Oxford in 2005, the Silver Machine outfit only just avoided the wooden spoon by a solitary point ahead of Arena-Essex and were dispatched from the Knock-Out Cup by Belle Vue at the quarter-final stage; however, a late-season flourish saw them take victory in the Craven Shield, defeating Eastbourne and Poole in a gripping final. Once again, Iversen gained a Championship success, though, this time with Vastervik in the Swedish Division One. For a third time, he was also part of the Denmark squad in the Speedway World Cup. He subsequently linked with Peterborough in 2006 and what a season it was for the Panthers, as they finished at the top of the final league table, albeit on race-points difference, ahead of Reading, both sides having attained 64 points from their forty matches. Fittingly, it was the Panthers and the then nicknamed Bulldogs who both battled through to the Play-Off Grand Final, Peterborough getting there by virtue of defeating Coventry 52-40 at the East of England Showground on 25 September. The first leg of the final took place seven days later at Reading on 2 October, when the Bulldogs were only able to claim a hard-fought 49-47 success. The Panthers clearly started the second leg at their pacy home circuit as favourites, but Reading fought like tigers to lead 41-31 after heat twelve. Just when it looked as if the Berkshire side were heading for the League Championship, Hans Andersen took victory in a tactical ride and, with Richard Hall in third place, the resultant 7-2 reduced the Bulldogs' advantage to 43-38. Ryan Sullivan and Hall then combined for a 5-1, setting up an overwhelmingly tense last-heat decider as Reading clung desperately to a 44-43 lead. It wasn't to be for the Bulldogs, however, as Sullivan and Andersen joined forces for a 5-1 over Greg Hancock, giving the Panthers the narrowest of aggregate successes by 95 points to 94. Prior to his success with the Cambridgeshire side, Iversen had enjoyed glory with Denmark in the Speedway World Cup Final at Reading on 22 July, when he notched 5 points as his country took a brilliant victory ahead of Sweden, Great Britain and Australia. He went on to enjoyed a solid second campaign with Peterborough in 2007, providing solid backing to fellow Danes Hans Andersen and Kenneth Bjerre, as the Panthers concluded their league campaign in third spot and reached the Play-Offs, before being beaten at the semi-final stage by Swindon. Iversen was also part of the Danish team that finished a gallant second to Poland in the World Cup Final in Leszno on 21 July. On the day, he scored 9 points as his side totalled 52, ending up just 3 points adrift of the triumphant home nation. There was domestic team success for him in Denmark, though, as his club side, Holsted, won the Superleague Championship, just edging out Slangerup in a tight title finish. The highlight of his season undoubtedly occurred on the individual front, however, when he took a glorious victory in the Grand Prix Qualifying Final in Vojens, Denmark on 15 September,  booking a direct passage to the 2008 series. In a brilliant display,  the rider from Esbjerg cruised to a 14-point tally on the day to finish on top of  a class field, with Lukas Dryml and Bjarne Pedersen finishing second and third, respectively.  Now an established face on the British racing scene, Iversen moved back to Peterborough for the 2009 campaign after a decent term with Wolverhampton in 2008. With his exciting racing style, ‘Puk' thrives on the wider lines and has conjured countless top drawer performances during his time on these shores.