iainb 5,011 Posted May 20, 2018 18 hours ago, Chadster said: Didn't Craig Cook feature for Buxton? Potentially on the verge of big things, how long was he at Buxton for? 14 hours ago, Jonny the spud said: Adam Ellis started at the IOW How long was Adam at the IOW for? 36 minutes ago, The Cheese said: Think it's probably fair to say that Chris Harris (St Austell) has achieved most after coming through the 3rd tier Yes, good shout... and who can forget his win in Cardiff in 2007? It's just something I heard in commentary on the Swedish Speedway that got me thinking. The commentator mentioned that Robert Lambert, the next great hope for British Speedway, "learnt his trade" in Germany. This got me to thinking that how many riders that have come through the 3rd tier of British Speedway (BS) have gone on to "make it" and that now the 3rd tier of BS must have been running for something like 15 years or so (I don't know how many exactly) could it be deemed a success, from the standpoint of producing British talent? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paulco 7,075 Posted May 20, 2018 (edited) Did Woffinden not cut his teeth at that level with Scunthorpe ? Were him and Josh Auty not reserves in the 3rd tier together . Auty might not have reached the same heights as Woffinden , but he's still done ok . As has the retired Bridger , Stevie Worrall and Paul Starke . Add to that an Aussie with a British father who rode in the 3rd tier at Buxton - Nick Morris Edited May 20, 2018 by Paulco 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grand Central 2,654 Posted May 20, 2018 Whichever way you look at it it is not that many at all. If the third tier hadn't existed but we had either second halves, junior league or something else i imagine those same guys would have made it just the same. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 5,011 Posted May 20, 2018 Interesting to look back on Wiki that a 3rd tier has now been in operation in BS since 1994 and reading through the history, if it is to be believed, that shortly after its introduction it was restructured so as not to be just a Youth Development League. Whichever way you look at it 24 years and 3 GP riders Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tsunami 10,219 Posted May 20, 2018 1 hour ago, iainb said: Interesting to look back on Wiki that a 3rd tier has now been in operation in BS since 1994 and reading through the history, if it is to be believed, that shortly after its introduction it was restructured so as not to be just a Youth Development League. Whichever way you look at it 24 years and 3 GP riders And many more journeymen of a decent standard to give them an occupation, and for speedway fans to watch and enjoy. Not everyone needs to be a GP star to claim to have made it as a speedway rider. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 5,011 Posted May 20, 2018 5 minutes ago, Tsunami said: And many more journeymen of a decent standard to give them an occupation, and for speedway fans to watch and enjoy. Not everyone needs to be a GP star to claim to have made it as a speedway rider. Indeed not... but 3 or 4 International class riders in 24 years? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tsunami 10,219 Posted May 20, 2018 1 minute ago, iainb said: Indeed not... but 3 or 4 International class riders in 24 years? Yes, but many clubs in the absence of Brits good enough, have brought on foreign riders like we did at Newcastle with Nicki, Bjarne, KB, Kenni, Rene. That didn't mean more Brits, but they maintained the standard of our sport for many years and had a special loyalty to come back every year. Bringing in top Poles, etc, when they have made it in there own country, they can be mercenary and just go from club to club, as they don't really have a home base in the UK, unlike our Danes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wee Eck 703 Posted May 20, 2018 1 hour ago, iainb said: Interesting to look back on Wiki that a 3rd tier has now been in operation in BS since 1994 and reading through the history, if it is to be believed, that shortly after its introduction it was restructured so as not to be just a Youth Development League. Whichever way you look at it 24 years and 3 GP riders There was a letter in the Star a couple of weeks ago praising the Belle Vue and Eastbourne training schools of the 1960s and saying “a lot of world class riders came from them” but who were those riders? Collins and Morton from Belle Vue but who else? And who from Eastbourne? Not just heat leaders, mind, but world class riders? Nowadays, there are far more riders coming through from countries other than UK (or Australia and US) so the opposition is tougher. But I reckon we have a great group of riders coming through, like Bewley, Kemp, Jenkins, Bickley, Flint, Brennan, plus, of course Lambert and Ellis, so someone has to be doing something right whether that’s Neil Vatcher, Poultec or one of the other new initiatives that are cropping up 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 5,011 Posted May 20, 2018 1 minute ago, Wee Eck said: But I reckon we have a great group of riders coming through You may well be right, time will tell, but this is something that has been said before about riders like Barker, Complin, Frampton, Allott, Auty, Brundle, Roynon, Hart, Jacobs to name but a few. Perhaps the Poultec thing will pay dividends as Speedway does seem to be a lot more about the mind than skill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aces51 2,778 Posted May 20, 2018 5 hours ago, The Cheese said: Think it's probably fair to say that Chris Harris (St Austell) has achieved most after coming through the 3rd tier So far, if you don't count Woffinden. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aces51 2,778 Posted May 20, 2018 1 hour ago, iainb said: You may well be right, time will tell, but this is something that has been said before about riders like Barker, Complin, Frampton, Allott, Auty, Brundle, Roynon, Hart, Jacobs to name but a few. Perhaps the Poultec thing will pay dividends as Speedway does seem to be a lot more about the mind than skill I think it's more about the mind of those that have the skill. I don't think you get anywhere if you haven't got the skill but some with less skill than others get further because of their application and mindset. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmy jimmy 298 Posted May 20, 2018 Have you seen the new No Limits initiative Rory Schlein, Tai and others have put together?? I know a load of the potential talent talked about above have been on that programme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMl-i2otwvk good video this 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 5,011 Posted May 21, 2018 13 hours ago, jimmy jimmy said: Have you seen the new No Limits initiative Rory Schlein, Tai and others have put together?? I know a load of the potential talent talked about above have been on that programme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMl-i2otwvk good video this I have now, great stuff! Out of interest was Neil Vatcher or any BSPA/Team GB member involved, I think the fitness guy is part of the new GB Speedway setup isn't he? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Starman2006 2,354 Posted May 21, 2018 18 hours ago, iainb said: You may well be right, time will tell, but this is something that has been said before about riders like Barker, Complin, Frampton, Allott, Auty, Brundle, Roynon, Hart, Jacobs to name but a few. Perhaps the Poultec thing will pay dividends as Speedway does seem to be a lot more about the mind than skill Kyle Newman, Kyle Howorth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites