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Can I say that you are all entitled to your opinion of dogs and their owners treatment of them? All I would say about my attendance at speedway meetings with my faithful friend is this. I am a responsible owner. Lenny remains on a lead at all times at meetings. Should he disgrace himself (God forbid) I always (N.B. ALWAYS) pick up. And he doesn't bark or detract from the entertainment in any way. The only time that other fans take note of his presence is to come and say hello and enjoy his happy response to their attention. He, therefore, in my opinion, only adds to the occasion and in no way upsets anyone or imposes his attentions on anyone. If it were in any way different I would not bring him. I make no apology for wanting to bring Lenny to meetings and we both enjoy each other's company. The way our adopted team is going this season, if I choose to stay away I think Lenny would leave me at home. Lenny's a nicer bloke than some so called fans that I've met and he is certainly better behaved than a small minority of children at meetings I've been to. Lenny is a light brown Greyhound cross. I'm conspicuous by my Bees coat and hat. Feel free to come and meet us at meetings at any time and debate the wisdom of my bringing him with me.

Mate. You're doing yourself no favours with that sort of attitude. There's not a single Sheffield fan on this forum that doesn't want this club to succeed. There's a lot of us who have been fans for life and supported through thick and thin. I've followed this club since I was 8 and I bloody love Sheffield speedway. And I'm more than sure everyone can appreciate what's being done behind the scenes. Marketing wise, the Bates' have brought the club to another level. The club is run incredibly well and the whole experience is world's apart from what other clubs offer. But the product isn't good, the racing hasn't been there great for a while now and with the move to Sundays, it's only seemed to have gotten worse. I'm not gonna even pretend I understand anything about what you guys do, I'm not gonna pretend like I know what the answer is and I'm sure 99% of the people on this forum don't understand a lick about track prep. All I know is the racing is rubbish and that's what I personally show up for- racing and to support Sheffield. We're all fans here and we only want what's best for the club. But we are the paying public as well, and ultimately if the product isn't good enough, then people aren't going to pay their money to go. End of.

Sweating on the fitness of Lasse? Ha ha what rubbish,,,, much stronger with r r since he is now third in the averages. Unless they are sweating on him declaring himself fit,, which is what they don't want.

All this stuff about CFS and Craig Cook. Go to their website and the message is loud and clear ‘Accept Cookies’. They can’t make it much clearer than that.

i think the only thing Buster is guilty of this year is trying to make the sport more financially viable. by setting strict pay caps it means the clubs are run to a proper budget and don't overstretch themselves, something that's been needed for many years, and by now having 3 teams it means nearly half the league adhear to that, instead of just 1 team each year. if the other teams followed suit then it would get rid of a lot of the "will they run won't they" every year ... ok, so there will be some riders that won't ride here, but surely it would then show who is bleeding the leagues dry without getting extra income on the terraces to cover that.

This format really is rubbish. Bring back the World Cup.

No, shame on the xenophobe for suggesting there isn't a 'genuine' Brit in the GP.

THE Campaign to Save Coventry Speedway and Stox has been given a double boost in the space of less than a week. Rugby Borough Council announced yesterday (May 7) that their Local Plan had been given the green light by the Government Inspector, and this follows a referendum on the Brandon and Bretford Neighbourhood Plan last Thursday (May 2). Crucially, the Inspector’s final report into the Rugby Local Plan will lead to a significant amendment which will further protect Brandon Stadium against development. We are delighted to report that the Government Inspector recognised the importance of Brandon Stadium for both speedway and stock car racing, and that the lack of protection against the loss of sports facilities made the Local Plan initially ‘unsound’ requiring an amendment to be made. The Inspector stated that there was a key omission in Policy HS4, referring to “the absence of any protection against the existing built sports facilities, which is necessary to ensure provision in the borough is not diminished over time. “Paragraph 74 of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) expects that existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land should not be built on unless they are surplus to requirements, or would be replaced elsewhere by equivalent provision or by alternative sports and recreational provision. “Policy HS4 as submitted includes these provisions for open space but not for built sports and recreational facilities.” The Inspector then refers directly to Brandon Stadium and concludes that changes to the wording of Policy HS4 are required in order to be consistent with national policy for sports and recreational buildings in general. He says: “Although many sports facilities are in public ownership, some are privately owned and therefore vulnerable to closure and redevelopment for alternative uses. “I heard evidence at the hearings about the proposals for the residential redevelopment of the Brandon or Coventry Stadium, which was until recently in active use for speedway and stock car racing. “The Plan would not be unsound without a specific policy to protect or allocate the stadium. “However, the absence of a policy to safeguard existing sports and recreational buildings generally in the borough from being built on unless surplus to requirements or replaced elsewhere, in line with paragraph 74 of the NPPF, does render the Plan unsound.” The Inspector has confirmed the revised wording published by RBC as draft modifications. For completeness, the relevant changes made to Policy HS4 of the plan are as follows, shown in bold and underlined: Policy HS4: Open space, sports facilities and recreation C. Public open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields (REMOVED: assets identified) within the Open Space Audit evidence and/or defined on the (REMOVED: Proposals) Policies Map and/or last in sporting or recreational use (REMOVED: will be protected from development) should not be built upon unless: • An assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, building or land to be surplus to requirements; or • it can be demonstrated that the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or • the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs for which clearly outweigh the loss. The Inspectors’ Report recognises the case made by the Campaign Group at the Public Examination held last year and the time and effort taken. It marks a significant milestone and should now allow the Campaign to move on as well as enabling the Council to consider – and hopefully reject – Brandon Estates’ planning application for housing redevelopment on the stadium site. We currently await the report of the Independent Consultant appointed by Rugby Council to assess discrepancies between the planning documentation and the material provided by ourselves. But this is perhaps an appropriate time to review the weight of evidence which is now stacked AGAINST the speculative Planning Application: *Changes to the Rugby Local Plan instigated by a Government Inspector, who conducted his own site visit, resulting in the fact that the Plan now offers protection to existing sporting facilities where there is clear ongoing need. *The Brandon and Bretford Parish Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted at last week’s referendum, which clearly states that it is the wish of the community for the Brandon Stadium site to remain as a sports venue. *A submission from 11 MPs/Lords, including four from the local area, urging Rugby Council to reject the Planning Application and support efforts to bring the sports back. This letter was drafted by MP for Rugby Mark Pawsey and other local MPs to sign were Colleen Fletcher, Jim Cunningham and Marcus Jones. *Public consultation to the Planning Application resulted in an unprecedented response of over 1,800 letters and e-mails, all but seven of which called for the rejection of the planning application. *The response included submissions from speedway riders and stock car drivers past and present, including World Champions, locally, nationally and internationally – as well as from the vast majority of local residents who view the iconic stadium as a much-loved local facility. *A local newspaper poll in mid-2018 resulted in 96% of over 2,000 votes supporting the return of the sports to Brandon – fully endorsing the public consultation. *Official bodies of both sports, including the BSPA, SCB, ACU, BriSCA and the BSCDA have all voiced their opposition to the plans. *These comments were noted by Sport England, who raised a number of concerns with the applicant’s Viability Statement. *The Campaign Group have made several significant submissions in response to planning material, highlighting with evidence an astounding number of errors, inaccuracies and untruths. *Planning consultants Framptons have already been forced to withdraw a section of their Needs Assessment under threat of action from the former site owners as their account of the events of 2016 was found to be unsatisfactory. Two-and-a-half years after speedway and stock cars were ejected from the stadium, with no serious consideration given to their future, the determination to see them return is stronger than ever. The latest developments in the Rugby Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan add further weight towards the need for the rightful outcome to be reached in the speediest possible time. As to what happens next, we believe that once the Independent Consultant’s report is received, it will enable the senior Planning Officer Erica Buchanan to complete her own report and recommendation for consideration by the Planning Committee. Though we have not had confirmation, we would reasonably expect that to take place in June or July of this year.

Typical buster track thinking fast times is the B all, who really gives a stuff about track records, thinking the track must be good if the track record is broken, not giving any thoughts to entertainment and that's what any sport is about ENTERTAINMENT.

I bet if the all of a sudden wanted to run a GP at Eastbourne and he was offered a wild card he would be fit as a flea and up for it........

I'm pleased that the Judge and jury are leaving everyone else alone and are focused on Craig with so many ill informed and frankly appalling opinions. I've fallen out with him and his father on more than one occasion but mutual respect and civility remains. As far as this forum is concerned everyone can agree to disagree quite amicably at times but on this occasion I honestly feel that this topic is showing utter disrespect not only for the person but for his alleged issues and that is the absolute pits.

Why wouldn't you take 'em to speedway? I'm sure they would like Dean Barker, Tai Woofinden, Terrier Betts, and the like. Not forgetting Lassie Bjerre, or most of the Great Danes, actually... Steve

I've taken a few dogs to the pictures over the years.

Just tell the truth. Issue a statement saying they are not prepared to take a financial hit with Ellis not riding. It's not hard is it.

So Garrity given a £300 fine by the SCB. How have they came to that conclusion. So they’ve recognised that he’s decided not to bother turning up so in effect withholding his services so surely that’s a 28 day ban.

You’re being incredibly insulting to Ipswich here. Were the panthers septet a “disgrace” in their previous three unbeaten home meetings, including victories over your fancied teams, Wolves and Poole? Astonishing to see the lack of credit to a fantastic away performance that’s bettered ANY of the four teams that’s previously visited the Showground this season. Just because you were one of a few on here who was banging the “worst Premiership team ever” and “cannon fodder” drum along with Steve O and Acef, which is now making you all look pretty daft regardless of what happens here on in, doesn’t mean you can’t show a little humility and admit you may have been wrong.

Diane Abbott

While he was doing the donut after heat 15, I remarked that he was showing us what he scored at Armadale last night

Especially to those who had bought Season Tickets on the strength of the team at that time

Mr Watson has already covered that in a previous post, when he stated the original team was well within the budget and very affordable.

Unlike Jenga who is more I.B.S. (That's Irratable Bowel Syndrome).... Regards THJ

Say what you want about Ged but he cared about Peterborough speedway and I miss his Passion..he never hid. we now have faceless owners who don't care and we don't hear a word from them.

Comments made by Middleditch in last weeks SS about the dusty track took some believing saying that the riders should talk to the track curator. Does he think his job as a manager of the team shouldn’t include making sure the track is fit for purpose!

Huge result away at lower league team. Poole have turned the corner.

Oh dear the amazing vanishing posts... It reminds me of the Joke about the Lady Cleaner who whilst undertaking her job in the local working men's club and upon entering the Gents toilet found a drawing on the wall of a mans appendage, so immediately, and to protect everyone's modesty she washed it off. The next morning she did her rounds again and low and behold the offending drawing had reappeared much to her chagrin, again she washed off the graffiti and completed her tasks. Next morning she set about her work and again on the third day the appendage had reappeared even larger and bolder than before and this went on for the whole week, each morning a larger drawing on the toilet wall of a mans appendage which was starting to frustrate the Lady Cleaner so she wrote a note on the wall which said "Please stop drawing rude pictures on this wall" to which on the eight day she found a picture of the offending article that filled the full wall with the comment underneath "The more you rub the bigger it gets" Happy trails Regards THJ