Barney Rabbit

I also don't recall Matt Ford taking the credit for Chris's original appearance on these shores back then. He was instrumental in bringing him back over when he started riding here though. It wouldn't be impossible to confuse the two issues ten or so years down the line.

Course they were. That's why he had several spins round Peterborough and stayed with a Whittlesey landscape gardener when Mick Poole (not Poole Speedway) brought him over here. Mick's intention was for Holder to sign for Panthers. Yes, more fool Peterborough, but don't make out every rider coming to this country that Ford gets his mitts on is discovered by him.

Let's not go ott here. Ford never found him, he found Ford (via Mick Poole). Mick Poole contacted Ford when Peterborough failed to do anything about signing Chris after he'd had a couple of after meeting spins round Alwalton on machinery borrowed from Jason Crump.

A sanction that I suspect would not hold water legally if taken further by the rider.

He rode for Sheffield Prowlers in the Conference back in 2001/02.

If that is the case, it explains everything.

Ah, ok. Thanks.

See, this is the bit I don't get. Why were Lakeside 'told they couldn't use Scott' if Cook was at the AGM and knew what was decided? Why would he have needed to ask if he was already aware of the rule and that he couldn't use him.

Was it decided then? http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.33591 No mention of it here.

And ain't that the truth! I went along once last season on the spur of the moment after several years away to watch a match. I'd had long enough out to not know who rode for which team or, indeed for how many teams and fairly enjoyed it. It was a little disjointed but, having followed the sport around the world, I accepted that as part and parcel under the circumstances and I was happy enough to give it another go. On the selected day I did check the old interweb for team news and guess what - the visitors 'team' was going to comprise of five guests and rider replacement. How the hell can that be taken seriously?

I remember one meeting at Stoke in 1999 standing with the Worky fans - three coachloads of them. I remember the year because I was wearing a t shirt with the names of Panthers' (eventual treble winning) team on the back. The names on that shirt started many a conversation.

Ridicule it as much as you like, but it shows interest in Swedish speedway was on the rise prior to the introduction of the play-offs.

I notice crowds went up by 65% the season prior to the introduction of the play-offs. How can we know that the improvement would not have carried on had the play-offs not been introduced.

Well, yeah, but the majority of finals are one-off affairs played in a super-duper stadium somewhere with comfortable seats, proper facilities and an excellent view. I'd pay well over qualifying match prices for that.

I (and Mrs R) attended my first speedway meeting in this country for a few years a couple of weeks ago and decided to give it another try today. Since Cradley, the only team operating at the time of my regular attendances at meetings I hadn't seen ride, were at Mildenhall I decided to give it another go. That was before I looked at the (visiting team's) website to see that they were using four guests and R/R - now five guests and R/R. How can I honestly claim I have seen Cradley ride when what they are putting out is no more than a NL select side? That's lost the bit of interest I got back a few weeks ago.