Bryn

I know exactly how people would feel in circumstances you describe in your last paragraph Pinny having witnessed some tragic fatal on-track crashes in the years I have followed/been involved in the sport and being called upon to give evidence at a rider's inquest in one case. I don't want to see any more such crashes nor have to give such evidence again thank you very much!

I'm fully aware that speedway referees receive a fee for each match they officiate but they won't make a living from them let alone a fortune!

So easy to slag off a referee for some isn't it and I suspect those who do wouldn't be prepared to give up their spare time, utilise part or as has been known nigh on all of their holiday allowance from their main employment, undertake the travel involved e.g. Scotland to the Isle of Wight as has been done, do all the track checks required prior to a meeting plus paperwork required before and after, and then take on the responsibility of arbitrating on a match/meeting in a sport where those taking part could suffer like changing injuries or worse. Have those who suggest getting rid of this that and the other ref, who all started as fans of the sport before applying to become one, not considered what would be the situation if all the current referees followed Dan Holt (who I've seen watching matches since stepping down) and Dale Entwhistle's actions and stepped down? Referee's can only make their decisions based on what they see happen in a flash from their position in the officials box a circuits overlooking the start line. A few may be disagreed with by those standing/sitting in different positions around any circuit but my experience is the vast majority of decisions they make, including those that go against 'my' team/rider, are correct. So who's going to look into the prospect of becoming a trainee ref then?

Broken collarbone, ribs and thumb, battered and bruised and out for the season as per club's and speedwayGB websites.

The Isle of Wight Warriors management, having brought speedway back to the island this after a two year absence, have done those very things this year JtS with music at all meetings provided by local DJ Phil Lynch of Cloud2 and at last week's meeting having IOW reggae star Derek Sandy singing live as part of a reggae based party night theme. Just part of a host of innovations introduced by them this year.

For team news go to: http://www.kentkings.co/ and, if the met office's hour-by-hour forecasts for Sittingbourne prove to be correct, NO weather problems envisaged.

I see it's been confirmed by the BSPA press office that tonight's scheduled meeting has been postponed.

Knowing you Star Lady I suspect the spelling mistake in your posting was accidental.

2.30pm RACEDAY WEATHER CHECK: No change here just a couple of miles from the Dartford Crossing early morning sunshine has been replaced by a high cloud covering but still no hint of rain. Off to the track circa 3pm is the latest update from my pal who's giving me a lift so hopefully will be answering all those "is it on" phone calls to the club from around 3.30pm. Won't be able to do a further weather check via my mobile as can't do them with my mangled arthritic mitts but might be able to get someone else to do so on here. Best though, if you're travelling to the meeting, to phone the club's main number 01708 863443 a bit later on after 3.30pm. UPDATE 3.15pm RACEDAY My pal who's giving me a lift must have been held up as he has not yet arrived. Won't therefore be at track until at least 4pm but right now it's still dry and NO hint of rain.

NOON RACEDAY WEATHER CHECK: So far this morning here just a couple of miles from the Dartford Crossing early morning sunshine has been replaced by a high cloud covering but no hint of rain. Looking at the Met Office's hour-by-hour forecasts for both Dagenham and Grays (the two closest towns to the track they provide forecasts for) it'll remain cloudy for the rest of the day with only a 10% chance of a light shower before 11pm. Will update at 2.30pm before leaving for the track where I'll be answering all your "is it on" calls from hopefully 3pmish onwards depending on any delays at the tunnels.

Anyone intending to travel to this match who need transport from either around the island OR from the mainland, should go to: http://www.wightwarriors.co/travel - it might well save you money! Team news in due course as and when to hand (might not be until tomorrow morning) but as well as the south coast on track clash, off track it's going to be a real Caribbean style party atmosphere and not to be missed!

I take it then, as you need to be at Lakeside tomorrow and you have your holiday luggage with you and didn't book anything in advance in terms of ferry crossings for today, you're en route home from your holiday and it was something of a last minute decision to take in tonight's match on your way back? Shame you can't.

I watch both forms of Rugby and enjoy them but the most enjoyable is, of course, Wales defeating England in Rugby Union Internationals! Now back to the subject of this thread, I personally agree with the gist of RMC's last post

Plus practical help from fans able to provide it (as is the case on the IOW) in addition to posting on forums - agree Mother T? Bernard is not the only one who did/does that Steve!

So normally, to prevent moans galore on this forum and elsewhere that both the teams for the match were below strength, a new date for when they were would be found and agreed to but with Coventry running out of such dates (and hampered by not being able to use their venue next week) it's something of a head scratcher isn't it?

The Met Office had warned of heavier than normal wind strength progressing from west to east throughout the day/evening and seeing as the pits area at Lakeside is at the eastern end of the circuit it was always going to be the case that any dust generated by that above normal wind strength as it gradually dried out the considerable amount of shale that is put on the circuit nowadays at the riders request in between further waterings and gradings throughout the match. Had the pits been situated anywhere else, which to my knowledge they never have been, the riders / mechanics / team managers et al wouldn't have got dust in their eyes!

There are a lot of things that are unfair together with many problems to be sorted at all league levels in the UK be it National Development, Premier or Elite that, whist realistically nothing can be done about them at this stage in terms of this season, will require much discussion and agreement during the upcoming close season in order to put in place solutions and required changes in readiness for the start of next season. I would imagine that behind-the-scenes discussions have already been started to work towards those goals. I fully accept what you've asked playing Devil's Advocate but doing likewise myself I could ask if it was unfair in view of last Friday's postponement, for Lakeside's management looking likely to have to agree to return to Brandon this coming Friday without Andreas Jonsson and Richard Lawson primarily because Coventry are rapidly running out of dates to get their home fixtures done. Spotted you in the distance from were I was sitting up on the clubhouse bar's veranda and have got to ask have you had your hair dyed blondish as appeared to be the case! Cheers, Bryn.

But with the "European Championship" NOT being an officially recognised by the FIM event but one (the latest version) organised and run by a firm setup by two/three Poles, why SHOULD a facility be available to any club who have one or more riders opting to ride in an unofficial event rather than an official fixture? If a facility was to be granted then it follows that if any individual event was to be set up by someone somewhere with big prize money up for grabs that clashes with say a league/KO cup event, then riders would be free to opt to ride in that individual event if he fancied his chances rather than in a official fixture knowing his club could adequately cover for his absence!

FINAL PRE-MATCH WEATHER CHECK at 5.15pm It's been fine, bright and sunny if somewhat breezy since my last update and no hint of rain (nor sleet or snow!) so I look forward to seeing the usual bunch of Coventry travelling fans who I've got to know over the years and many, many Hammers fans enjoying the action tonight. Irrespective of line ups (as some of the BSF and other forums' full time moaners have been at pains to go on about) and irrespective of the result I'm looking forward to witnessing some good racing, and I'm sure that others who WILL be there rather than watching updates at home or down the pub on their tablets / mobiles will be too.

13.30 WEATHER UPDATE Sorry about being later than I said earlier but had a visitor. Anyway the Met Office hour-by-hour forecast has proved to be 100% accurate so far in that it clouded over and we had a shower just after 10.30am but since then the cloud has lifted, we've had sunshine and patches of blue sky interspersed with high cloud moving fairly quickly in the breeze which I'd describe as medium in strength. NO hint of rain and the hour-by-hour forecast referred to above predicts no real chance of rain until post 10pm tonight. Further update circa 5pm unless any dramatic change. So looks very likely I'll be seeing some of you tonight. P.S. Won't be 'up in the box' announcing tonight but I've a feeling that Hammers fans will like the guy who's doing it tonight!

9.45am Weather check: Here on the Kent side just a short distance from the Dartford Crossing, since i emerged from my pit at 8am it's been dry and sunny although, looking at the trees outside a bit breezy. Going by the Met Office hour-by-hour forecasts for Dagenham and Rainham (alas they don't do one for Purfleet) we may get a shower in the next hour or so but NO more rain is forecasted until after 10pm tonight. So looking good and the Met Office better be right for, whilst not 100% yet after my recent short spell in hospital, I'll be there so can some kind soul save me a seat on the veranda outside the upstairs bar where I intend to watch from please. Will update circa 1pm.

And that's just what the new promotion at the Isle of Wight, who brought National Development League racing back to the island this year, have been working oh-so-hard on doing from all angles be it via the internet, going out and spreading the word via displays at a host of events, supermarkets etc etc encouraging folk to attend and, once they do so, involve their kids in various activities and doing likewise with adults irrespective of which team they support / those who have never been before including taking some heat-by-heat onto the centre for a glimpse of racing from there. They have also worked extremely hard too on getting involved with the local community and business concerns, working hard on the sponsorship and advertising to the extent that, for example, every single airfence section (and there are a lot given the Andrew Younie smallbrook stadium is the biggest circuit in the UK!) sponsored either with money or in return for goods / services provided to the club. Building a team for this season after everyone else had was difficult but was achieved, the riders themselves have involved themselves in a host of things including as an example one signing autographs for all and sundry during a mid-match interval break. All in all a lesson for others?

Perhaps in future GP riders, including one of his own in Doyley, will be pleading with my old mate (admittedly he's younger than me though) Rosco NOT to tip them to win / do well as this morning he seemed to put the mockers on every rider he tipped to do so!

Who is going to the Isle of Wight tonight to see the Wight Warriors in action for a second time this week as they play host to the Exeter Chris Richards Falcons in a challenge match with the Solent Trophy up for grabs? I'm sure that anyone who, like myself, witnessed racing at the County Ground, which was sold back in 2005, very much hopes that the dream of a dedicated band of enthusiasts of bringing the roar of speedway bikes back to the City in Devon comes true and, no doubt, they will be further inspired by what has been achieved this year by the Isle of Wight operation. From the look of the side that Exeter have put together, they intend to win the fifteen heat clash having called upon the services of riders from around the country including two from league leaders Birmingham, those being Tom Bacon and Darryl Ritchings. The Warriors bring in Adam Ellis at No.1 in his last meeting before he represents Team GB in the World Cup Final at the National Stadium in Manchester, and Mildenhall's rising young star Connor Coles, whose dad Michael and grandad Bob both rode for Exeter in years gone by, steps into the squad to cover for Mark Baseby who has a prior commitment. The action starts at 6.45pm with the parade of riders but prior to that the pits are open to the public from 5.45 to 6.15 and all kids 16 and under are admitted FREE. Gates open 5.30.

Look forward to seeing you as a trainee then.