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Honestly This is a real genuine concern as no consideration has been given to the Speedway Club and talking to a friend who used to be on the Allerdale Borough Council he has said there is a bit of a power struggle going on at the moment in the "corridors of power" for want of a better phrase and obviously I cant go into much detail but it would appear that the struggle is between the two sporting factions and it is common knowledge that there is a long-standing dislike between the factions who will be putting up Councillors in the forthcoming elections and this will impact the Speedway and you are correct that DP will be going soon with the Football and Rugby sharing a new facility sooner than you think. The new proposed site I believe is Lonsdale Park which was the old dog track and ironically the original Speedway track as well. In my (unqualified) opinion DP has about 7 years left if the "powers that be" get their way and you will see new (Sellafield, BNFL possibly!) offices on that site in the none to distant future. Again you are correct in stating that all three sports average between 450 to 700 fans for various fixtures, (excluding international and one off events) however Football and Rugby seem to carry much more popular support than Speedway. The ideal situation would be if the Speedway maintained the higher crowd levels which would give the promotion more clout in negotiations and I am not talking thousands here. If the Speedway could pull in another 200 to 300 more fans through the gate the impact would be immense (colossal, huge, massive) in the negotiating power the promotion would have with regard to negotiating and obtaining a new stadium. (Which there is some council support for I must add) The other issue is the location of any new Speedway Stadium as Northside would have been the natural go to site (I would have assumed) however as you will be aware this site is now being proposed as a new permanent site/home for the "Travellers" who are local to the area and this has cast a major shadow on the proposed development of Northside as a motor sports venue. As stated there is some support on the council for the Speedway at present and I would urge any local Speedway fan to question their counsellors on their view of the sporting allocation and structure in the borough and what importance they (both) place on Workington retaining a Speedway team as there are (as stated) council elections due in the area within the next 18 months I believe. If the old counsellor isn't up for Speedway or wont support it! change your vote! if the other person is for supporting and retaining Speedway regardless of Red, Blue, Yellow or Green party colours (others available) as they are all the same (and just tow the party line rather than support the local community) give the person who is advocating retaining Speedway and promoting a new venue your vote. The old adage of "if you don't use it you will lose it" has never been more true. Not just your vote but your sport and a possible venue to run it) I am also aware that the promotion have been in discussions with the council to see what the prospects are for the sport going forward and what help and assistance they can expect once the old stadium goes and I have been led to believe that currently there have been positive noises coming out of the Local Authority with regards to the retention of a Speedway team. This however could all change following the elections. We need to give the promotion all the support and encouragement possible to show them that Speedway is viable in Workington and the fans want to see the club go on for many more years to come. What better opportunity over the next 6/7 weeks as we come to the business end of the season, still in two cup competitions with an excellent chance of progressing in those and a play-off semi final against Glasgow (who will come down in numbers to shout their team on), to show your support for the Comets. The next few weeks could be the catalyst for Speedway in the area, because this team could achieve things no other Comets team has and if that doesn't get the juices flowing and generate some support and interest bringing folk back through the doors I don't know what will. Get out there, tell people what is happening, bring a neighbour, bring a mate, drag them off the streets and through the doors and cheer this team on to success (you can go to Spoons once the season is finished). #WeBelieve Regards THJ

Your thought processes may have been a little different if the Hammers hadn't moved!

Honestly My mother always said never argue with a woman (but here goes) I don't think I said "the track was crap" for the first meeting , if you read the post properly I think I have said ;or more over; what I was trying to purvey was; that I have seen the track prepared to a better condition following more adverse weather conditions leading up to a meeting than experienced leading up to this meeting, now whether that was down to having an hour less for preparation due to the earlier start time or down to a "devil may care" attitude with it being the last meeting of the season I could not honestly say. However on my travels this season with Workington I have seen and watched meetings at 4 tracks in a worse state than Brough Park was on Sunday pre-start and you were definitely at two of those meetings (possibly 3) and had a fair bit to say about one of those meetings on here to be honest; (and possibly quite rightly as well) and as pointed out Dewent Park was a "tad rough" (primarily very wet) prior to the Peterborough meeting and took a few heats to settle down however in defence it must be stated that it absolutely battered down one hour before the start of the meeting undoing all the hard work and effort put in by Steve Lawson and Chris that morning to get the track ready. So you can end up with a poor starting surface for the most genuine of reasons. (and one should not throw stones in a glass house) So I fully understand anyone jumping to the defence of their home track when it comes under the spotlight on here and gets criticised, my only thought is that a poorly prepared track (for whatever reason) detracts from the entertainment as I would have rather had 15 heats like the last 6.7 or 8 heats in both those meetings without having to go through the first 6 or 7 where it would appear the riders and their bikes are doing the track grading rather than the tractor. (that is a purely personal view) Finally it wasn't the track that did for Workington on Sunday an unwell Rene Bach and Arron Summers didn't have any issues with the track or the surface and once Mason had done his pirouette in the first heat soon got to grips with it, (which was good to see) I would suggest that it was the lack of a third guest (who Tony Jackson tried so hard to arrange) with 3 points for Rider Replacement for Ty Proctor and an under-performing Rasmus Jensen and Kevin Doolan were the issue, Rasmus scored 13+ 2 on his last visit to Brough and Kevin had 5 and 8 points respectively on his last two trips to Newcastle. So if these two could have mustered 5 additional points from the 9 rides they had between them instead of running 5 last places and only achieving 5+1 off those 9 rides or a guest for Proctor then it would have potentially been a 46-44 win. But again if my Aunt had a pair of balls she would be my Uncle. Oh and on a real last point "its funny how there is no moaning about any track when there is an away win and never any credit for the track its surface or condition in contributing to that win" (possibly with the exception of Belle Vue which seems to get positive revues by most on here in equal measure from both home and away fans)(again that is just my perception which may be totally wide of the mark) Regards THJ

Personally hope he gets out of prison and lives on the street flat broke. His snot nosed opinions on society will now come back to haunt him hopefully.

Crikey - all sorts of entertainment and atmosphere then!!?

And the NSS shows that a great race track can be built around an artificial grass rugby and football pitch... With no impact to the surface of the centre green... So no one can use that as a reason for not allowing Speedway in any new stadium that lays a 3/4G pitch..

I'm sure you mustn't realise you're doing it but that's at least 3 times in the last couple of days that I've noticed you make unsolicited comments about Starman's health, yet you claim never to do so, have think, just by mentioning it you are bringing it into a public forum, whether you ridicule or pi$$take is irrelevant really. What's wrong with merely saying you don't get on and leaving it there?

Honestly Apologies mauger65 but I must correct you there. Not every time Workington visit does TalorJ slate the track so I must leap to her defence on that one. Newcastle vs Workington Knock Out Cup 8 July 2018 18:30 hours Unfortunately you missed the meeting by all accounts so let me enlighten you; Worky won by 10 points with a much depleted team and fair play to them they wanted it more and deserved the win on what I would have considered a much worse track that which was raced on this Sunday as it was as slick as a "Tesco Car Park with French Chalk on it". Also due to the weather which was "El Scorchio" to say the least meant the track required well watering (and often) to keep the dust down, so Workington got a 10 point victory. My point? Well not a squeak from TaylorJ not a peep, a yelp, a whimper, a whisper, an undertone, a mutter, a mumble, a complaint, a grumble, a moan, a grouse; a mutter, a gripe, a beef, a bitch not a murmur in any way shape or form about the track, not one post on that thread saying there was any issues with the track (which take it from me is amazing cos if moaning ever becomes an Olympic Event!!! Shoe in!!! Honest ) So as stated previously it is amazing how track conditions don't count a jot when you pick up an away win, you could be riding round the local scrap metal yard knee deep in mud but that's okay we won. Yeah!!! But lose, Crap Track end off... Nothing to do with the guys on the track who fancied it when they won but didn't when they lost for whatever reason which is possibly the real reason. Then of course there is always the conspiracy theory that the shape gets changed from week to week just to confuse the opposition and get that fantastic home track advantage I keep hearing about... (Roll on square corners eh!) However you have to love the passion commitment and loyalty to the team... Brilliant... PMSL Like Eh!!! Regards THJ

Sod the H&S, just D on it's own will do for me, we're lucky that Freesports even exists and decided to put speedway on at all.

Went to Newcastle for the first time this year and was expecting the worst but was pleasantly surprised, I've definitely seen worse over the years

My point exactly, without the move, it would not have been strange for Lakeside at all.

Until we know what 2019 bring's no point even thinking about a team.

Stop trolling. You have already got him banned. Isn't that satisfying enough for you?

There will be no transfer of football/rugby facilities to a new stadium before the project has received planning permission from the Council. If this is a serious threat, now is the time for all shale fans to get writing to their local councillors to explain that speedway is one of Workington's sporting mainstays, bringing visiting fans into the town on a weekly basis throughout the summer and providing jobs, wealth-creation and sporting entertainment for the people of the Borough. Tell them also that the Comets bring national kudos to the town, being at the very pinnacle of the sport in the UK (in the 2018 Championship play-offs - a feat unmatched by local teams in either football or rugby!) Explain that without the revenue from football and rugby, Derwent Park will be unviable as a speedway-only venue and therefore, in order to retain the sport in Workington, no planning permission should be granted for a new stadium unless it caters for speedway as well as other sports. You can start by writing to members of the Planning Committee which is chaired by Cllr Mike Rollo. The Vice Chair is Cllr Ann Bales and other members are Cllr Lillian Baldry, Cllr Michael Heaslip, Cllr Antony McGuckin, Cllr Peter McHarry, Cllr Bill Reville, Cllr Denise Rollo and Cllr Joan Wright. Write to them all at Workington Town Council, Town Hall, Oxford Street, Workington, CA14 2RS. Get cracking and good luck. I'm sure fans of Workington speedway can rely on the support of all speedway fans across the UK if we need to kick up a stink with the council. If all else fails you can set Jenga on 'em!

Town can't go any lower than they are now,and the reds have been stuck in the echelons of mediocrity for years,great idea though build a 10-12,000 seater stadium,it'll look awesome with 3 or 4 hundred in it, well done Allerdale district council, where wasting public funds is the only thing you seem good at

Honestly From what I am hearing its definitely true, things may change because of the shenanigans going on within the council, like I stated earlier but I cant go into much detail as much of it is not out into the public domain yet but it will come out. (or it should) but ultimately that will only delay the inevitable in my view. If Workington Speedway continue to run we could end up the sole users of the site for a couple of seasons once the Rugby Club move out, (possibly)(as I was advised from a Rugby Club source) but my personal opinion is the clock is running and "If" (but more likely) "When" the plug is pulled on the stadium; something will need to be in place ready to go for the following season or in my view the sport will be lost. That's why we need the support and the fans trough the door and the glory days might just come back however if we had half of those original 2500 fans coming in you could run a Premiership side let alone a Championship team or if you remained in the Championship you would definitely be in the running each season for silverware. Only my personal view however support and a solid fan base are critical (as in almost all other team sports) Finally if Derwent Park is "like losing my second home" as singy13 puts it where is is first home? Muncaster Castle!!! All of the above is only my personal opinion and could/should/will be (hopefully) subject to change Regards THJ

I remember when speedway propped town up in its popularity a few years ago with the rent,how times change

Great posts from THJ and Taylorj...................sadly Speedway suffers from the 'circus' syndrome..i.e. Guests/doubling up etc.etc. The 'Townies' I stand with see it as a boring sport - without actually seeing any of it - I try to dissuade their views but it's hard work...... The Comets of the 1970's provided the Rugby club with a monetary lifeline...i.e. Stadium Rental/bar takings...the latter would have been good given the Comets had 2500 regulars..(.not all of them big drinkers mind lol)........but not sure if that financial aid is still the case for Town seeing only a few hundred are present nowadays... Yes we now have a Comets team worthy of more support........hopefully history will be made and then those in "the corridors of power" will find a future for Speedway Workington style.

well said THJ Taylorj - everytime Workington visit .. its the same boring crap from you everytime ................ newcastles track reputation is a joke .......... its nowhere near as bad as it is made out ...... as is most riders attitudes when it comes to racing it ... they arrive defeated before they start............ no more so than this year .......

Quite correct Iris123. Phil Taylor attended Wimborne Road on a few occasions as a guest of Matt Ford. It was back in the days of Sky when Premier League Darts was at the Bournemouth International Centre during the speedway season. Matt, Middlo and a few riders and sponsors usually had a table at the front of the stage for the darts. Steve Brandon was the 'Floor Manager' for the darts as he still is for BT for the Speedway.

It's a shame you didn't consider logistics when arranging Sundays start times.

To be honest 1 vote isn't going to change a lot in General or League Council and you are entitled to join the debates anyway, a former Promoter who has attended 3 AGM's could bring a vote if they became a licensed Co-Promoter. In most cases it's the interpretation of the decisions after the event that causes a lot of the problems and disputes. The only way other members can "take" your assetts is if the club has been annulled and they are liquidated to pay in house debts. If your talking about riders finding other jobs whilst acquisition of their parent is in progress that's different but you can apply to have your assetts protected during this process providing the acquistion is completed by the AGM. Where this has gone wrong before is when a club sale has fallen through in January or February or a new owner changes their mind about the riders they use and leave somebody out of work. Simple solution, get the debts paid and the purchase monies deposited with the BSPA well before the AGM but you can't blame anyone for employing riders who have an uncertain future. Similarly putting out a weak team can be avoided with everyone moving at a sensible pace. The race day farce this year is well documented but there are historical precedents set for priority race day and alternate days as well as the protocol of consultation with those clubs who have priority on your off race night (if you are going to choose any old race day apart from those agreed). If you acquire a club then you acquire that race day unless the club has no continuity or it has moved up/down leagues (then you lose it).

Been talk of a.new stadium for years now with a 6000 capacity, town get600 crowds reds 450? comets?? we dont need a new stadium to stand empty its a dream for some a nightmare for everyone else.

The only "paying supporters" the BSPA would ever allow into their decision making meetings would be those around every club who are "Yes Men or Women" and see eye to eye with everything about how the club is run. There would, therefore, be no valuable creative "other ways of doing things" ideas considered. Yes, it is their business ( from a commercial point of view ) and thus they can do as they wish ( as they do ). But UK speedway is like a long lease which has run down to a few short years left on it and the building or business is worth less and less ( as it is ). Soon you could buy a club for very little because it is worth very little and it's not a viable business - secretive or not.

Yes, plenty of lines around Arena. From what I can recall, this year only twice has the outside line been poor & one of those was after the Ride n Slide day, when I guess they had time constraints preparing the track. The inside line is always fine

lisa-colette will be after you and opening a King's Lynn v Aces thread for the second leg of the play offs. The missing ingredient is of course who rather than what.

So you do agree with me THJ the track was crap for the first meeting

got to say robbo's retirement deserved a full page on the bspa website ..... not a one liner in the middle of our report come on bspa - this guy entertained us for 26 years with his superb passing and riding skills ...... and he is a top bloke who rode his heart out and rode hard but FAIR lets have a proper tribute for his services to british speedway and I for one - would support a Stuart Robson farewell meeting at Brough ........ a 6 team pairs competition over 15 heats .... come on George and Martin .. Im sure the supporters would back it

Interesting debate on the radio yesterday about trialing the new cricket 100 ball format to try to bring in new cricket fans. They are investing £200m a year! Aggers was on the radio and he thinks it wont bring in any new supporters and will probably alienate existing fans. Cricket obviously has a lot more money than speedway to invest but will be interesting to see if it works.

Not even 500 each I'd say Scarra but, in the long term, a good move perhaps being as the "Green" directly opposite is in line for hotel development? Don't fancy a long drive home at night, couple of hundred yards up the road there's a hotel or a Costa Coffee for the caffeine hit if you do..... could be a whole new outlook down the bottom end of town in a few years time!!

Hope Shovlar sees how good Mark Riss replacement did tonight!! Horses for courses, accusing Belle Vue of cheating....... could he have been more wrong......then again it’s what trolls do. Hope someone can load up heat 13 if possible

Yes you’ve gotta chase chase chase they won’t come running to you !!!

2 years ago it was announced that the future of speedway was promotion and relegation, last year it was fixed race nights. I suspect this year it will be something else and most of us would probably agree that the league structure needs looking at, but it will be like re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic if they don't seriously address issues like; track preparation, slick presentation and better organisation of fixtures. It seems ridiculous to me that after the hottest and driest summer for years that fixtures are being crammed in at the last minute and that some teams didn't complete their fixtures before the deadline.

I notice at Rye on Saturday that the track had been ripped up for the first 5-10 metres off the start , just as it always is at Lakeside, but of course it is an entirely different surface at Rye which messed set ups up a bit. . Also Adam was carrying a shoulder injury so he could barely hang on to his bike as the evening wore and Ben was knocked around in the crash involving Ludwig Lindgren and Jack Thomas in the Newcastle match. I spoke to Ben after his last ride (I think had 10 races altogether including covering the R/R position) and he said he was "Knackered, battered and shattered". Both Adam and Ben were well below par in that match. I don't think you can judge either of them by that performance I just hope they are fit by Sunday. I think also he announcement before the Peterborough match that Lakeside were through to the play offs meant some of the riders relaxed a bit now the pressure was off in that sense.

Starmans health was put on the forum when he was taken ill , and many times since he has commented how he is getting on. I have never mocked his health situation is the point im making

Would be a great shame if Derwent Park was to be demolished , it is one of the best stadiums in the country for viewing Speedway and the track if prepared well (which it usually is) provides a great racing strip. This is provided there is a promoter willing to run the Speedway in 2019.

I say man up. Not necessarily football fans, more likely all the not so regular Belle Vue fans. With everyone a bit more pumped up for a more important meeting than the regular season. For me, just how it should be.

No worries, the 'Kings Lynn Ultras' which Rosco was whinging about the other night will be able to handle themselves!

I wouldn't say that because I have been to many good meetings on smooth tracks, the NSS is smooth and when Kings Lynn track is prepared well it can produce great racing too but the odd rut or two does help sometimes, riders usually say they like smooth tracks which is strange because as soon as they see a rut they aim for it especially if they are not winning.

High Definition

mick grant was eric boococks mate

It's always easy with hindsight but it was the correct decision at the time. Jye did a good job at the NSS but was doing nothing away and we needed to pick up points away to get into the play offs. Riss was ok prior to his injury and his away average shows he did the job expected.

I'm sure the King's Lynn v Aces or Aces v King's Lynn threads will soon be taken over and turned into a Poole thread anyway.Although the main instigator isn't on here for a while,deservedly so too

Fair few of us are travelling up Sunday from Kent.

Great ride from Newman remember it well. Also by way of compensation i believe he gave you guys a set of goggles when you came to Poole, generous to a fault

Honestly Brough Park will never be a favourite track of Taylorj however we have had worse weather on a lead in to a meeting to be honest and ended up with a better prepared track to be fair, I think there may have been a little "end of season with nothing much in it for Newcastle attitude" as it took 5 or 6 heats for the track to settle down before we seen any quality racing (which was no different to Derwent Park on Friday after horrendous weather over there; so pot/kettle black?) however the track was spot on for the kids after the Diamonds/Comets match and well done Archie it was good to watch, kudos! Oh and the times in the second meeting which were only 8/10 seconds more than some of the "big boys" were doing on 500cc bikes rather than 150cc says so much and this again sort of says to me that the track after 15 heats of racing then with a good period of grading was in a much better state for this meeting than the first event. Just my humble opinion of course. Regards THJ

Fans will not want to be continually watching matches against Peterborough,,I suspect the attendances to dwindle....this whole end of season situation is ridiculous the idiots are running the ruination of a once great sport

I remember that. It's long puzzled me that the likes of Freddie Starr, Jim Davidson and Michael Barrymore gave their time generously, but have been shunned by the entertainment industry, but others with chequered pasts such as Russell Brand, Katie Price, Jonathan Ross, Rev. Richard Coles and Michael Jackson have not.

I only discovered speedway and Arena Essex in 2006 but was hooked straight away. In that time I have been privileged to watch the likes of Andreas Jonson, Adam Shields, PK, Davy Watt, Richard Lawson, Lewis Bridger and of course the Late but great Lee Richardson wear the hammers colours. Add to that Darcy, Chris Holder, Crumpy, Nikki P, Tai, Scott Nichols, and other greats riders for the opponents. Far too many Hammers and opponents to mention them all. My main memories, where do I start. First is probably the meeting with Swindon just 5 days after Lee Richardson died. The immense sadness of the occasion was obvious but the way the club pulled together was incredible. The memorial meeting to Lee at the seasons end with a packed Arena and a line up to do the man proud is another. Swindon again in 2008, and our only home league defeat of the season when a young unheard of Croatian by the name Jurica Pavlic turned up and having never seen the place before promptly banged in a 7 ride max that had the Hammers fans applauding. Any meeting involving Darcy and Chris Holder together was always memorable, and the meeting where Coventry beat us (2011?) and their fans were gloating on the way out, only for the meeting to be awarded to Hammers as Eddie Kennet had tampered with his silencers.... And then of course Friday, v Glasgow. Pulling up in that great big car park for the last time it finally dawned on me, this IS the last time. Going to the same window at the ticket office and paying my money to the same lady, Buying my last coffee and cake from the ever smiling Rose in the diner, and then taking my position on the stock car track and chewing the fat with the same faces who have become good friends for those years. Debating what artefacts we could nick from the stadium, ( I eventually decided against a urinal - Mrs E would not be impressed) and then having watched another great meeting, doing the track walk a scooping up some shale which now forms part of my garden. It was then goodbyes and promises to keep in touch (We live far and wide) and to try to get to Rye House when we can. The drive home was a sad one, having driven down the long drive to the roundabout by the services and then a feeling of sadness as I left. I will miss the old girl. She was never the most attractive of venues but she has given plenty of pleasure to many people, and she was rough around the edges but had a certain charm. ( Sounds like a few women I have known over the years). She provided great entertainment, and she will be missed. Thanks for the memories.

I admit to feeling quite emotional when Richard Lawson won that last heat on Friday. It wouldn't have been right for a non Hammer to win the last ever race at the Arena. It was always a venue with terrible facilities, but it was never a bad race track despite the often unfair critics it seemed to attract. As Cityrebel says, Ward was amazing around the place, as was Andreas Jonsson. So many great races and memories. I shall miss the many familiar faces that were what really made the place feel like home. It was nice to see a few of those last night at Rye House, but it was also very poignant how many regulars were not present. As Jon Cook said on Friday, it was a dump, but it was our dump.