Holder relives horror smash (From Bournemouth Echo)

Holder relives horror smash

7:00am Tuesday 20th May 2008

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PIRATES star Chris Holder last night relived his miraculous escape from serious injury after he was run over by a rival competitor.

Holder appears to have sustained little more than a rib injury and minor bruising in the dramatic spill at the world under-21 qualifiers in Poland on Sunday.

He went to ground during a first-bend brush with Poland's Grzegorz Zengota before Ukraine's Andriej Kobrin rode over him as he lay on the track.

The incident took place in heat six - Holder's second race of the quarter-final - and looked destined to cost the Poole Castle Cover man his place in the semis.

But following a lengthy spell of treatment, Holder dusted himself down and went on to justify favouritism by majestically easing to a 15-point maximum.

Holder was due to discover the full extent of his injuries following a visit to accident and emergency at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital last night.

Speaking to the Daily Echo ahead of his appointment, Holder said: "My back is still really sore and I could hardly walk when I got up this morning. I can't do anything at the moment because it's so painful. I can't touch my toes or even cough or sneeze.

"I must have hit my head and been out cold because I didn't realise that I had been run over until they told me afterwards. All I can really remember is being on the ground and in a lot of pain. I was on my back and winded and could hardly breathe.

"Usually when you slide off, it's nothing and you just get back up. I didn't feel anything at the time but I certainly felt it afterwards.

"As soon as I found out what had happened, I thought there would be no way I could continue in the meeting.

"But the adrenaline was still pumping and I thought that as long as I kept moving and didn't sit down, I would be okay. I couldn't wait for the meeting to finish though."

Holder was forced to withdraw from the Pirates squad for last night's trip to Belle Vue and has also pulled out of an engagement in Sweden tonight. However, the 20-year-old is hoping to be fit to ride against Ipswich at Wimborne Road tomorrow.

"It can only get better so hopefully I'll be able to ride on Wednesday and get through it all," added the Australian champion.

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