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dukes

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Posts posted by dukes

  2. Posted

    Nathan Ablitt    Sc/Sh                8.49

    Luke Killeen        Ox                    7.73

    Ben Trigger        Mid                   6.34

    Vinnie Foord      Lei                     3.81

    Chad Wirtzfeld  Bel                     3.81

    Stene Pijper      Sc/Sh                3.00

    Harry McGurk    Bel                    3.00

    Total                                            36.18

     

  3. Posted

    2 hours ago, therefused said:

    have you ever thought of releasing one team only package? For instance if I just wanted to watch Scunthorpe and no one else. 

    Scunthorpe stream the majority of their home meetings by themselves and would highly recommend everyone to watch any of them.

    The entertainment value served up by the presenters alone is far superior to any other streaming service and fantastic speedway on top. 

  5. Posted

    1 hour ago, JamesHarris said:

    As controversial as it may sound I do think the BSPL were right to pull the plug on Ghost teams. I agree it has had a knock on effect with regards to the number of teams operating in the MDL but it did need to be done. I speak from experience with my involvement in the early days of the MDL. There were several ghost teams back then. Some were run by genuine enthusiast who wanted to provide a platform for youngsters whilst keeping alive a not too distant name from the past. Sadly though there was a small minority of ghost teams run by unsavoury ego obsessed muppets who were far more interested in using the best riders within the rules to fill their own trophy cabinets. It was very embarrassing for the league IMO when one of these teams got a 30-6 whitewash and boasted about it - all too easy when you fielded 4 NL standard riders against 4 juniors. That said a couple of MDL teams fielded by the established clubs were run by unsavoury characters as well.   

    Having run teams in both the Initial MDL and in NJL leagues with a view of reintroducing a venture in Halifax, this particular team gave opportunities to now established riders and sadly ones who walked away from the sport.

    In and around West Yorkshire the publicity not only kept the name alive but an interest that sadly now has waned.

    Some of the meetings had more than normal in attendance as lapsed fans returned for a look at what was going on.

    Unfortunately it was not to be in Halifax with a council hell bent on not allowing a return, but whilst the Ghost team ran so did riding opportunities.

    Given the prospect of any potential return from a Ghost team, then why not allow them to run on the proviso of a planning application.

    • Like 2

  7. Posted

    20 hours ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

    Covid meant that no newbies got on a speedway bike, the current issues are due to lack of investment in providing any sort of opportunities for people to try speedway without committing to purchasing a bike and everything else and now we are seeing the results of this, a lack of riders and a lack of opportunities. How many tracks have second half racing outside of the NJL and Birmingham ?

    How out of touch can people on here be?

    Scunthorpe offers opportunities to all by supplying Bikes, Body Armour, Kevlars, Moto Cross Gear, Helmets, Gloves, Goggles,  Boots and Helmets.

    Together with a great tutor for a superb experience.

    AMSA, Ride and Skid It and My First Skid are a few more who also offer great opportunities for new riders.

    Instead of criticising, why not understand what's out their and promote it and then more will know what's on offer

  8. Posted

    No typo error, just facts. It is a pity that proboards never cover the best entertainment on offer. Look how all the talent on that day is doing now. 
     
    Northern Junior League scintillating speedway was served up at Scunthorpe Speedway today when Halifax `Golden Fleece`Dukes entertained Berwick Border Raiders.
    The cream of British Youth speedway served up entertainment superior to most professional matches and a narrow margin of scores showed the evenness of the teams.
                                               Dukes.jpg.2b2d2f0a96c8d1fdf21acc835582856c.jpg
    Heat 1. With Dan Gilkes making his debut for the Dukes, all looked well with Kean Dicken following round the first bend and the Dukes on a 5-1, by lap 2 Kev Whelan had made his mark with a inside swoop for second place. All looked well on the last bend when disaster struck for Dan with a sudden engine failure, Kev Whelan sped through with Kean Dicken second and Kieran Douglas third for a early Berwick lead 4-2.
    Heat 2. Saw the first ever Northern Junior League 250cc race and what a race. With all 4 riders entering the first bend no quarter was given by any of the riders, side by side until the straight where Dan Thompson took the lead. With Jordan Palin, Leon Flint and Joe Thompson in hot pursuit the race was not over, lap after lap the boys rode hard with Berwick securing another 4-2 advantage.
    Heat 3. Dan Gilkes had to resort to his second bike, but who would have thought it. A magnificent start and holding his nerve under pressure from Kieran Douglas and Kev Whelan, Dan emerged from bend 2 in front and kept the lead throughout. 3-3.
    Heat 4. Dukes duo of Jordan Palin and Joe Thompson raced away for a superb 5-1 and to level the aggregate scores to 12-12.
    Heat 5. All 4 riders into the bend together and again with Dan Gilkes holding his nerve he gained advantage down the back straight with Kev Whelan, Kean Dicken and Kieran Douglas following. Douglas reeled in and passed Dicken and doing that split the heat score 3-3.
    Heat 6. With all to race for, Jordan Palin and Joe Thompson away from the gate with Leon Flint and Dan Thompson not far behind. Slowly Leon Flint reeled in Joe Thompson and a pass, but Jordan Palin was gone and tad too far for Leon Flint to reach. 4-2 to the Dukes and a narrow margin win 19-17.
    Credit must go to all riders who displayed fantastic skill and ability for their years, but most of all to their parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, families and friends for without these nothing would be possible. Thank you all.
    Halifax`Golden Fleece`Dukes 19
    Keen Dicken 2, 0, 0,                    2
    Dan Gilkes ef, 3, 3,                      6
    Jordan Palin 2, 3, 3,                    8
    Joe Thompson 0, 2+1, 1,           3+1
     
    Berwick Border Raiders           17
    Kev Whelan 3, 2, 2,                     7
    Kieran Douglas 1, 1+1, 1+1,     3+2
    Leon Flint 1, 1, 2                        4
    Dan Thompson 3, 0, 0               3
    • Like 1

  9. Posted

    1 hour ago, Lenny Lion said:

    Based on watching Joe at Leicester over the past 3 years. This is only my humble opinion. He has always been a very shy & quiet spoken lad .

    Joe was the better of the twins in their first season in the NDL (2019) he had a-lot of determination & was very brave when making passes.
    Covid hit & there was a long lay off when speedway resumed Dan was head & heels above Joe . In 2022 from June he seemed to lack motivation & looked disinterested when riding anywhere away from Leicester . His form picked up slightly towards the play offs of 2022 where he looked faster & picked up 4-6 point scores, I feel he will really struggle in the Premiership but Ipswich can afford to carry him.

    He will score well on 30th March because he will beat Sedgmen & Allen round Leicester but heat 2 certainly will be interesting because it will be the first time Dan & Joe have raced in a league meeting against each other & also their dad mechanics for both of them. 

    On 25 June 2017 at Scunthorpe Joe and Dan raced competitively against each other representing different teams in a league meeting, with their Dad as mechanic for both. 

  12. Posted

    23 hours ago, PotteringAround said:

    They actually haven't changed any rule about nomad clubs.

    It's always been the case that someone trying to bring back a defunct club can run in the junior leagues as a nomad club, and it still is.  

    However in the past the SCB didn't really make any enquiries as to what attempts are being made to bring a club back.  So if you just said "I'm trying to bring back Harringay", they'd probably let you run a junior league team.  In the last few years they've tightened up the checks.  So now if you say I'm trying to bring back Harringay and want to run a team in the Southern Development league, the SCB would be asking where the land in Harringay for this new track is.  If you've got a genuine plan to have a new track in place in the next year or two, they'll let you run a nomad team in the meantime. 

    Their reasoning is that they are getting rid of people on "an ego trip" who want to just "play at managing a speedway team", but have no real ambition to actually bring that club back.

         

    Playing at managing a speedway team, on an ego trip!

    Have you ever actually looked at attempts to bring back some of these teams.......Dont think so!!!!!! Otherwise a more balanced statement would be made.

    It infuriates me at such a generalised statement with no factual evidence.

    As for my efforts to re introduce speedway at Halifax, it is well documented.

    The ill health I suffered as a consequence, put paid to it and not to mention the personal financial costs.

    Would I do it again, YES.

    Why might be asked, but look through Premiership Teams, Championship Teams and National League Teams and you will find many who have progressed through opportunities with

    Halifax Dukes in the Northern Junior League.

    • Like 1

  20. Posted

    Peter Oakes is always worth listening to, one of those people who knows the sport inside and out and has the ability to explain what he sees. Such a shame the authorities didn't back his U15 work more a decade and more ago.

     

    100% correct Vince, as you rightly mention all those years ago when a solid footing for the youth should have been made.

     

    One problem today is the bigger picture with The Speedway Star, the new generation of Youth have minimalist coverage.

     

    The Development League coverage is a few paragraphs and normally not accurate. Surely to entice the new young generation, a large coverage of the juniors exploits would entice them, family and friends to buy the Star?

     

    .

  21. Posted

    Are you saying that 8 clubs (those who don't qualify for the play-offs) would have just eleven home meetings in the season, spread over 22 weeks?

    More ammunition to get out of the speedway attending habit, I'd say

    That would bring the end of British speedway even closer than it may be at the moment

     

    In of my sentences it says:- Moving forward we must start at the beginning.

     

    So looking at the big picture, 11 home league meetings if you do not qualify for the play offs, yes.

     

    But with the second race night on the week that you are away, the knock out cup, challenge and individual meetings could be staged.

     

    The main emphasis, that if careful planning and consideration to the paying public is taken anything can be achieved.

  22. Posted

    To avoid further embarrassment to any party, I wont go into last nights fiasco. But to avoid it ever happening again thorough detailed planning for the future is a must.



    Moving forward we must start at the beginning.



    So a fixed race night with an alternative day to be used for rain offs/abandonment's.



    Mondays could be classed as the alternative race day and also reserved for televised matches with Thursday the fixed race night. (alternatively vice versa)



    With say 12 teams in The Top League, it would mean a total of 22 weeks to fulfill home and away fixtures..



    Commencing with Round 1 of fixtures on 29 March 2018 and Round 22 on 23 August 2018.



    All fixtures to be completed by this date as alternative day used to achieve it.



    This would still leave 5 full fixture dates before the end of September to stage Play Off rounds.



    Planning is easy, but it takes all concerned to actually listen, what the paying public want.



    Stability.


  23. Posted

    To avoid further embarrassment to any party, I wont go into last nights fiasco. But to avoid it ever happening again thorough detailed planning for the future is a must.

     

    Moving forward we must start at the beginning.

     

    So a fixed race night with an alternative day to be used for rain offs/abandonment's.

     

    Mondays could be classed as the alternative race day and also reserved for televised matches with Thursday the fixed race night. (alternatively vice versa)

     

    With say 12 teams in The Top League, it would mean a total of 22 weeks to fulfill home and away fixtures..

     

    Commencing with Round 1 of fixtures on 29 March 2018 and Round 22 on 23 August 2018.

     

    All fixtures to be completed by this date as alternative day used to achieve it.

     

    This would still leave 5 full fixture dates before the end of September to stage Play Off rounds.

     

    Planning is easy, but it takes all concerned to actually listen, what the paying public want.

     

    Stability.

  24. Posted

    A huge thank you to everyone at Belle Vue Speedway from Halifax `Golden Fleece` Dukes, for allowing us to stage our NJL fixture against Newcastle Gems on Wednesday 9 August.

    Forget the score line of Halifax `Golden Fleece` Dukes 29 Newcastle Gems 6, all the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves and have learned from this valuable experience.

    Halifax `Golden Fleece` Dukes 29
    Dan Gilkes 3, 3, 3, 9
    Kean Dicken 2+1, 2+1, 2+1, 6+3
    Harry McGurk 3, 3, 3, 9
    Jordan Palin 1, 2+1, 2+1 5+2

    Newcastle Gems 7
    Josh Embleton 1, 1, 1, 3
    Dean Douglas 0, 0, 0, 0
    Archie Freeman 2, Fx, 1, 3
    Danny Smith 0, 1, 0, 1

    1. Gilkes, Dicken, Embleton, Douglas. 5-1 65.44s
    2. McGurk, Freeman, Palin, Smith. 4-2 9-3 53.84s
    3. Gilkes, Dicken, Embleton, Douglas. 5-1 14-4 65.78s
    4. McGurk, Palin, Smith, Freeman fx. 5-1 19-5 54.07s
    5. Gilkes, Dicken, Embleton, Douglas. 5-1 24-6 66.25s
    6. McGurk, Palin, Freeman, Smith. 5-1 29-6

    On to Sunday 13 August at Scunthorpe`s Eddie Wright Raceway.

    Eight Northern Junior League Riders thoroughly entertained the crowd that remained behind to see Halifax `Golden Fleece` Dukes narrowly defeat Northside Stars.
    With 5 heat winners and solid back up the Dukes ensured that the 21-15 keeps them on track to mount a challenge to Berwick and Ashfields title aspirations.

    Halifax `Golden Fleece` Dukes 21
    Kean Dicken 0, 1, 0, 1
    Joe Lawlor 2, 3, 3, 8
    Harry McGurk 1, 1, 1, 3
    Jordan Palin 3, 3, 3 9

    Northside Stars 15
    James Hitchen 3, 2, 2, 7
    Lewis Millar 1, 0, 1, 2
    Corban Pavitt 2, 2, 2, 6
    Gregor Millar 0, 0, 0, 0

    1. Hitchen, Lawlor, Millar, Dicken 2-4
    2. Palin, Pavitt, McGurk, Millar 4-2 6-6
    3. Lawlor, Hitchen, Dicken, Millar. 4-2 10-8
    4. Palin, Pavitt, McGurk, Millar. 4-2 14-10
    5. Lawlor, Hitchen, Millar, Dicken. 3-3 17-13
    6. Palin, Pavitt, McGurk, Millar. 4-2 21-15

     

  25. Posted

    Um ... they ARE amateurs! Although using riders like Brennan in the DLs is not playing the game. I see that Plymouth is using Henry Atikins, who I saw winning Heat 15 some weeks ago, in an SDL match this Friday.

     

    Very quick to criticise!

     

     

    Completely agree they are amateurs but ive seen most riders perform better than they did.

    The MDL had a better cap on what riders were eligible but i don't know if thats still in place? and the SDL seems to be running riot this year.

    From a personal point of view it should be NL reserve level riders and aspiring NL reserves. Those running 6/7 point riders are killing it. What next Bowen taking a spin to test out his fitness levels?

     

    This is where everyone does not know what the rules are, but they actually exist and are clear.

     

    The biggest problem is that people do not bother to read them before venting criticism.

     

    If anyone takes the time to look in:

     

    2017 Speedway Regulations:

     

    21. Development League Regulations. Pages 54-55

     

    Maybe people would understand why Tom Brennan and Henry Atkins were eligible.

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