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Well Well Well… oh ye of little faith eh... I didn't think it could be done but here you go... News hot off the press so to speak... The travellers have been evicted (again)... the gates have been repaired and locked (again)... there are now CCTV cameras in operation (good)... and three of our little friends have been arrested and locked up and another two are on the run (Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas)... so there you go three nil to the police and two off the crossbar... nice when a plan comes together and the boys in blue get a result... Carlsberg don't do News Flashes but if they did... (and its official I will be smiling all day) Regards THJ

Workington Pikeys

If we're looking for divine intervention how about Richard Lawson (son of God) Pontus Aspgren Christian Hefenbrock Joshua Auty Mark Riss Luke Bowen Stephen Goret

What average would Jesus Christ come in on?

What a signing that is truly transformed what was looking like a poor team……

Lambo signing was the worst kept secret over the last 3 months. For one, I'm not bothered what he does in the pits, I want to see him performing better on the track, especially away from home. Jake is nailed on to return, so the last two team spots need to be remarkably good and I don't consider Aarnio as being one of them. If he is ,we will be at the wrong end of the table in 2022.

It seems crazy to me that financial obstacles are already being put infront of a new promotion by Godfrey, Bates and Co at the BSPL for the use of a bloody team name.. There is nothing in the Rulebooks about it other than this under the "Junior Leagues" section Seems another case of make it up as you go... Workington is not like other big city Teams like Glasgow, Birmingham, Sheffield etc. Ask someone in those places who the Tigers or Brummies are or even what sport it is, you'll most likely be met with who? or Rugby? Ask the same question in Workington or West Cumbria in general, most people would know.. Speedway is hard enough to promote and run as it is without a Governing body, who show a clear self interest, putting made up hurdles in place.

But certainly wouldn't be needed to feed the 5000 at any track...

cant wait to see your comments when next rider is announced as even in my humble opinion he aint worthy of a spot if rumours are true

I would say hes nailed on to join brum

Redcar and Birmingham had their differences last season, but now that the Brummies are under new management, perhaps we can all put these behind us and look towards more positive things? Best wishes to the Bears for a successful 2022.

He'd miss any Easter fixtures though......

Its strange that Sheffield only ever have a home advantage when they have a strong team, when they have a weak team their home advantage disappears, strange that

I'm pleased Lambert has got a team spot, can't understand the negativity from some about his signing. You know what you'll get from Lambert 6-8 points at home, 3-5 points away, not bad at all for a second string.

Whoever is wanting money for the use of the name "Comets" is really trying it on...... But I'm assured there will be no charge whatsoever for the name "Comics" (and then we can all call them Comets, anyway)

Almost everyone can ride Belle Vue but not Newcastle, Edinburgh, Leicester, Ipswich etc. Its at these tracks he needs to learn his craft IMO.

Why not Workington Cometz with a z ?

Aarnio going to Scarborough Fair by Simon (Lambert) and Garfunkel.

Absolutely brilliant news. Good luck to everyone concerned in this venture

TBH, how could you not love The Galloping Major? He was the man at Brum in 71 and when he appeared in his banana skin leathers, we loved him even more. A great rider to watch, a 100% trier and. 110% team man. A brilliant skipper. Above all though, he's a lovely fella and that's probably worth more than anything.

Possibly but it wasn't a very clever idea to set fire to a pole with two 11KV transformers on it and live 11KV cables either... the cost of these and the damage they caused and the works that will be needed to be done to reinstate them will probably cost more than what they got out of the cash machine and the cost putting that thing back in; it was going to cost the thick end of 60K just to have it moved 30 metres shortening the cables and using the same transformers... that will be in excess of 100k now to resolve that little problem... so the only good thing to come out of this is the "Scum" have removed a viewing obstacle for free as it wasn't going anywhere fast at those prices just getting a padded jacket fitted... Well there's a story that will cause some debate... The new promotion were being asked a silly amount of money to retain the Comets name which is a bit rich when it was Ian Thomas who came up with it and I don't think it is has a copyright on it; however I don't know what is in the BSPL rule book regarding club names and who ultimately owns them... someone may know... But hey ho stick my vote down for Workington Warriors... or Workington Barbarians...or as matey boy up at Berwick used to say the Comics of Workington and they will still be able to use the big blue "C" logo... Go Workington Comics.... and after all old Captain "Windbush" Comet would look splendid in a "clown outfit" he's already got the big red nose... Go on Andy I dare you... PMSL... Regards THJ PS. Alan we all love you really... (or is it now Coco)

Wish he would ride NL and increase his skill set on technical tracks. The more rides the better next season.

All what we expected and to be fair last year Lambert was a breath of fresh air and superb in and around the pits

I am interested in your 1930s rankings, BL. Over the course of many years and many books, I have spent a lot of time researching the 1930s, reading the contemporary speedway press. So, my own top 10 is more based on a general feeling from the first hand reports of meetings plus news stories about riders and meetings rather than strictly based on statistics, though, of course, they play a part. On that basis, I have to say I find your inclusion of Jack Parker at no.1 very surprising. My own impression from everything I have read is that the dominant riders who lasted the whole decade were Bluey Wilkinson and Eric Langton. There is then a split between Vic Huxley and Tom Farndon dominating the early part of the decade and the three Americans plus Lionel Van Praag dominating the second half, with riders like Jack Parker, Max Grosskreutz and Frank Charles just a shade behind the dominant riders in each half. On that basis, my Top 10 would be: 1. Bluey Wilkinson 2. Eric Langton 3. Tom Farndon 4. Vic Huxley 5. Jack Milne 6. Cordy Milne 7. Wilbur Lamoreaux 8. Lionel Van Praag 9. Max Grosskreutz. 10. Jack Parker. If you were to include 1928 & 1929 in the decade, Vic Huxley would be no. 1.

Adam Roynon. When he rode for Birmingham in 2009, he was obviously going to the top; he was faster than Jason Lyons, and not many were that! But then he got injured .. again and again ...

2006 I reckon, was there in my days of following Lynn all over the place.

That was the year both were rained off earlier in the season and rearranged for a weekend in October

Pantomime season is upon us!

Its been protected in the championship for a few years, even before rising stars

Feature on Look North is available here, 22:16 into the programme https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0012ckt/look-north-north-east-and-cumbria-evening-news-09122021 Need to be signed in or register for free to view it

West coast warriors or Workington warriors. Then again scrub the warriors as a rugby league team 9 miles away are called that, them jam eaters fra rubbishehaven

i hope promotions have learnt a lesson not to pay guarantees but pay for points earnt. this is one of the problems i see in the sport when it comes to finances

Shame about that as it has been instantly recognisable for so many years. If you are stuck on keeping the big "C" and blue & white squares - COSMICS is pretty close or METEORS is also close but in a different way.

Going for that Christmas No.1 apparently

My post wasn't in response to yours JJ, but yes, exactly like Newcastle this year, so I've experienced a season supporting a club who struggled to find riders after everybody else had put together the bulk of theirs. I'm not meaning to shoot Birmingham down and apologise if it came across that way - I am very pleased that they have been saved. I guess my point was that I hope Birmingham's supporters can be understanding and forgiving if they have to start all over again with a weaker side. When I read a Birmingham supporter calling last year's riders 'donkeys', I believe it is constructive make suggestions to those fans relating to managing expectations and getting behind their team. Rome wasn't built in a day was my point.

Just tried to get to Merry Hell for Christmas shopping and had to give up as nowhere to park. Came back via Cradley and it reminded me that the pub at the top of Dudley Wood Rd is, The Woodman and the one next to the 'stadium' is the Victoria Inn. A few Wolves fans would park up at the Golden Cross and have a few beers in the 'priest hole' before walking down the "Wembley Way Of The Midlands" to the track. Still miss the dump. Must visit the 'Ole Power' bridge sometime!

Why would he not?

No no no. Please I really thought he was out the equation and it would be a good suprise signing

Suspect he is confused because your question SHOULD have been, why is Mike Bast not in the 70s list...

More “he has risen” star apparently.

But one of the 4 is a world cup winner2021 hell of a move by the Chairman to wangle the averages to slip Lambert in the 1-7, the other clubs will go in to meltdown ,a ``Ruthless`` move

That made me giggle

Sorry if I've made you angry Hellstrom Bangs hasnt said anything to me.... I dont look at the Newcastle thread... And I'm pleased to hear that Riss is going to Redcar... Thanks for all the info

No Jan O Pedersen during the 1980s or 1990s? World Champion in 1991, World No 2 in 1986 and World 3 in 1988. Rode in the World Pairs Final twice... and won it twice! Rode in the World Team Cup Final four times... and won it four times! Throw in a BLRC (1988) and various honours with Cradley Heath and surely he should be in there for both decades.

They don’t look like units which a grandstand can be built from. More like portable office units being stored. Portable being the operative word so they can get “ported” off somewhere when required.

As long as a rider hasn't been announced, that makes him fair game for team predictions imo!

Based on working at a couple of Team GB // British Youth training days at Leicester earlier in the season only Brennan & Flint were quicker than Rowe around Beaument Park. Also isnt his Champ avg actually lower than his Prem avg? If you ask me, if it is Rowe as the final rider, it could be a masterstroke.

Yes I would have Chris Morton warrented a mention? Not sure about Andersson's inclusion over Chris?

Ditto. Worth knowing that Mort had more world final appearaces than anyone bar Nielsen and Gundersen in the 80s and won everything else worth winning during the decade... British Final, BLRC, World Pairs, WTC,, Intercontinental Final and in the BL, eight times in the top 10 averages, 5 times averaging over 10. I'd also wager he comfortably scored more test match points than any other England rider during the decade. What's the criteria? I'd be very surprised if some of the other names on the list have a better record than that.

OGT- I am interested that one of your favourites is George Major-glad to see him mentioned. CH were big rivals of Newport-when we met in the KO Cup Final of the Provincial League in 1964- we (Newport) won on aggregate by 2 points. I have to say we won because of Georges' absence thru' injury in the second leg at CH . My first visit to an away track-I always have had a soft spot for CH ever since. One of the hi-lites of that meeting was Johnny Edwards(CH) scoring 13 points from 6 rides- Ivor Brown of course scored an immaculate 15 point max At the Final Heat (16) Newport needed 2 points- the result was John Hart, Dick Bradley, Alan Totney and Jon Erskine- so Dick came through for us.. Holy Cow that meeting was Oct 24th, 1964-57 years ago. That would be like me meeting an old geezer in 1964 who was telling me about the F.A. Cup Final of 1907!!!. Newport had started the meeting with a 20 point lead and CH whittled away at it so it all depended on the last race. They won the second leg by 18 points and just missed winning on aggregate. I am looking at the program right now -the comments were by Tom Johnson (RIP) of the Express and Star (wonder if that's still published?) The Supporters Club notes were by Irene Pritchard (RIP)- the advert on the back page was a full page for Watney's Red Barrel - I was going to say also RIP -but don't want to be disrespectful to Tom or Irene. BTW after the meeting I and the coachload of supporters I came with went for a beer or three at a pub within walking distance of Dudley Wood. Lots of CH fans -everyone very friendly and a great evening had by all. I'll never forget the friendly CH fans. Wonderful days!!