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Credit should be given to the Vice Chairman for his actions last night... By heat eight the aggregate lead had been wiped out and it was obvious Scunthorpe were going to get badly beaten.... Yet he graciously allowed the meeting to continue.... In fact, in the first place, he also kindly allowed the meeting to take place on an 'off night' for Worky so fair play to the bloke... Lets hope Worky winning is seen as being 'in the interests of Speedway' and the result stands... Well done Workington, I think you have a lot of neutrals on your side around the country given the way you try to go about your business and have been treated this year... Best of Luck this weekend...

A remarkable performance by Workington to overcome the 18 point deficit and then to go on to win on aggregate by 16. Congratulations and hopefully you will end the season with three trophies. It's good to see one of the clubs that work so hard to survive season to season enjoy some deserved success.

After a meeting full of arguments, backstabbing and threats the best AGM ever, the BSPA have come up with plans for an exciting new era.. Doubling-up: It's clear that this is starting to become a slight problem. Teams will be limited to having 6 riders who double-up. Fixtures: There have been a few difficulties this year so from 2019 onwards all teams must have a 6 week period during June-August with no fixtures taking place. This is to ensure the annual scramble to fit everything in at the end of October takes place. Teams finishing their fixtures in early September will simply not be allowed to happen. Fixture planning: After his successful intervention this season, Rob Godfrey will compile the fixture list and any changes/re-arranged fixtures must have his approval. Guests: Teams should only use their contracted riders if a suitable guest is not available. Admission prices: In an effort to increase attendances, admission at all venues will be capped at a maximum of £10. Clubs may also add an exit charge of up to £20 which fans will be required to pay before being allowed to leave the stadium. Abandoned meeting policy: If a meeting is abandoned for any reason after the meeting has started, the captains of each team will take part in an exciting new addition. Using the Barry Briggs homologated rain-off hat, 4 coloured balls will be placed inside. For every race still to be completed, the captains will take turns and whichever colour is drawn out first is deemed to have won that race, drawn 2nd is 2nd and so on. This will take place on the centregreen and fans will be invited to watch it take place for a fee of £1 per heat. Improved presentation: Before the rider introductions on the parade both teams will be required to take part in a club war cry. All music played should be from the 1980s and 'The Final Countdown' must be played before heat 15. Failure to do so will result in the meeting being awarded to the away side. Social media: Recognising this is vital all clubs will be encouraged to keep their official websites up to date with a detailed match report expected within 48 hours. To celebrate these plans it can also be revealed that a new 'Chairman Chapman' Wulfsport coat will be available from December. Pre-order now for a guarenteed Christmas delivery - the ideal present!

Congratulations to Workington staff, riders & fans & well deserved on the night. As I have posted, previously, it is your strength in depth that has pulled you through & riders that did not turn up on Sunday did so tonight winning races with not many lasts for others. This was my first visit & knew the stadium was used for Rugby & Football so the track is based on long narrow straights leading to 2 banked ends. This lead to a gate and go bore fest & before posters have a go, this is not my cup of tea. In previous years, I used to go to Kings Lynn & Sheffield as a neutral, as I read it was good but then stopped going as the racing became poor with gate & go more evident. This last year, both tracks have improved & I have visited again. I have, also, been to the NSS & while others have posted it is the best track in the country, it was bound to be as purpose built with millions thrown at it but it is also boring for the 1st 5 or 6 races until the dirt moves out, as is the case with most tracks. As I have read a great night had by the Comets & well deserved with the excitement of the score line getting closer & noise levels increasing, more so where we were in the back straight. This was similar to how it was in the Semi at Peterborough but we quietened them down when we found our set ups & gating shoes. Peterborough's track was devout of shale & ours was on Sunday & Workington last night so why does it take so long to get a set up to work. Do the riders not write things down or do they try & remember everything. I know in my lifetime, I took notes. The first 30 metres & 2 bends decided most races as it seemed as if it was a 1 line entry to the corners & with the Comets gating better than us, overtaking was at a premium as the Comet riders put their bikes in the right places when we got close. After have some fun with some posters on here, I finally got to meet some of them putting faces to names, even the 3 witches, sorry, ladies, seem harmless. Introduced to THJ & a few other posters & non-posters that now know of me. Spooky. Good luck in your remaining meetings as others could say we could have been rusty at having almost a month of not racing, yet your guys have had a lot of meetings, are race sharp with equipment still going strong. Much respect.

WOW !!!! What an amazing night to be a Comets Supporter, it has to be the best night I have had in my 10years going to Speedway The lads wanted it so much and from the get go gave 110% to get us the win. The 18 points wiped out by heat 8 , I knew we had what it takes to get the win . To see Laura, Jacko and Steve's faces after heat 14 was truly amazing, finally something for them smile about after everything they have done for Workington Speedway . Commiserations to Scunthorpe your guys put up a good fight and were really gracious in defeat , we were just too strong on the night Unbelievable result !! but its time to start believing as we now enter another 2 finals , you can do this boys I know you can and we right behind you starting tomorrow with that long trip to Rye House #believe #mightycomets

I am at a loss to understand how far downhill the sport has gone. Mildenhall cannot find enough riders for a meeting at Eastbourne and one wonders whether this has anything to do with the alleged rumours over financial condition of the club and the fact that it is supposedly up for sale. Perhaps riders are unsure about being properly remunerated. Here we are at the end of October and still unfinished business in two of the three leagues. In the upper echelons of the sport Mr May is whinging in the SS about comments on forums and claiming people don’t know all the facts. Well perhaps if he and his cohorts who run clubs were open, honest and stopped treating fans with such disdain and put the record straight rather than let speculation run riot then they would have no need to ‘blast off’ as he says. The comments on here and elsewhere manifest themselves primarily because none of you at the BSPA know fact from fiction and if it is so frustrating Mr May do something positive about it. You obviously read some of the comments, get some balls and respond. No one really slags off speedway just those that run it and some who participate or don’t as is the case with riders not bothered about meetings. Why don’t you all reflect on what a mess 2018 has been, admit it and then get your own house in order then you would find fans would have little criticism to make on a public forum, but alas for years you collectively have failed miserably. That Mr May is why people ‘blast off ‘ and will continue to do so as long as you treat the punter the way you do. If it is that bad, shut up shop and do something else, but as long as you involve the public you put your head above the parapet and have to be prepared to deal with the flack. Clearly you are having trouble with it. As the topic implies, it is a fixture shambles which is out of control and gets worse year on year and that sums the sport up as well, a shambles.

Gavan has just posted his reaction to Poole winning yet another championship.

Have you thought of becoming a Jehovah's witness as you are wearing us all down with your constant drivel and enough elongated post's to write your own bible.

So are you going to congratulate Poole Pirates, Matt and Middlo, riders and the fans of the club on a fabulous backs to the wall against all the odds victory?

Let us be clear. There is and never has been any rule anywhere in the rulebook that makes Nick Morris an eligible guest in the second leg. We can debate whether or not it was appropriate for the SCB to sanction his use but it certainly wasn't within the rules as laid down in the rulebook.

That makes zero sense! Had Poole used an eligible guest it wouldn't need to be sanctioned.... because....well... it would have been eligible anyway. They had to get permission to use an otherwise ineligible guest. And god knows why that permission was granted.

Yep we have really struggled away - we only won at Peterborough, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Berwick, Newcastle, Ipswich, and Rye House/Lakeside. We also drew at Berwick and Scunthorpe I believe and had very narrow defeats at both Redcar and Sheffield where we should have won both.

As a huge Scorpion fan and I was present at this meeting, I have to say the Best Team Won, so Well Done Workington and good luck, I hope you go on to win the other finals. It was my first visit to your track and a good track it is! Hard luck Scorpions and it hurts to say " This was not our night " It so rightly belongs to Workington. I hope Jason is not badly injured, get well soon.

Big credit must be given to the Workington management to sticking with Bickley. They said at the beginning of the season that there was no pressure on him and they stuck by there word. Hope next season he kicks on fulfills his promise.

Wow, just wow, how much did they all want that. Great to see Ty and Dan there too and joining in the celebrations. Having them there must have given the rest of the team that little bit extra incentive to do it for them. Hopefully Nicolai hasn't put Dan's recovery back by tipping him out of his wheelchair! Nobody should be too hard on the Scorpions, they all rode hard and fast and I for one did not start to relax until heats 12 and 13. Just that the Comets were too good on the night. Jake Allen has to be first on the Scorpions team sheet next season, when hopefully they have an injury free year. Hopefully we go easy on the celebrations tonight. Now bring on Lakeside.

I like going to the pub and I like going to the speedway. Both of these pastimes have been in serious decline over the past few years and people have stopped going to both in droves. Some of the reasons can be found in both of these pastimes. It's hard to tempt people out of their houses and pay money for beer when they think it's overpriced and the same can apply to speedway. The pubs that just do the same thing that clearly doesn't work time and time again, and just throw their doors open expecting the public to flood in are the one's that die. This is what speedway 'promoters', by and large, tend to do. They offer a product which does not represent value for money and do nothing to keep the fans they have got, never mind attract new ones. Some pubs are thriving because they offer what the customer in their community wants. Some offer live entertainment, some offer food, some offer karaoke nights. My local offers a warm welcome, a nice pint and friendly people and it's busy most nights. The landlord drives around in a Mercedes and has a holiday home in Florida. It works where I live but wouldn't work elsewhere and the promoters have to work hard at getting their product right for the audience they want to keep and attract. To do this they need a product. The product they are offering is potentially one of the most exciting sports in the world and surely, this must be a good starting point. However, what they provide is an overpriced chaotic shambles of a sport with no direction, no identity and no credibility. They need to get back to basics. Offer a full and attractive fixture list with a team of riders that ride for one club. Not the current situation where any seven riders who pull on a race jacket is called a team. It isn't. People will moan on about the 'not enough riders to go round' myth. There are enough riders, they are just riding at the wrong level. Grand Prix riders should not be riding in the second tier, half the third tier riders should be at Championship level and the poor kids stuck in the Development League should be in the National League. If they must charge £17 to get in, at least give the fans £17 worth of entertainment. Unfortunately, 15 races of 55 seconds interspersed with 50 minutes of track grading does not justify parting with £17 in cash. The continual fixture list farce demonstrates absolutely the reasons why the promoters should not be allowed to run things for themselves. I am sure they are all successful businessmen and women in their own right but they have no idea how to work collectively for the benefit of the sport. It is all about vested interests and stabbing each other in the back. I cannot think of any other sport where the owners of the clubs run things themselves. It needs someone with authority and respect to run the sport. There needs to be some way of cutting down on the rained off meetings. Is it any wonder there is hardly any travelling support when riders refuse to turn out if someone spills so much as a cup of tea on the track. I know that if it's tipping it down at start time then there will be little chance of racing but some way of covering tracks cannot beyond the capabilities of the human race. It is also about time we stopped penalising success and rewarding failure. We go on about the lack of riders yet Joe Jacobs, who made massive progress with Belle Vue a couple of seasons ago can't get a team place the following year because his average is too high, whilst another rider who under achieved and threw tantrums was rewarded with two team places the following season because his average fitted!! Finally, the riders have got to come to their senses. If you want to be a full-time rider and are either rich or riding in Poland in front of 15,000 fans, then fair enough and good luck to you. If you are second string in the 'Championship' riding in front of 500 people, surely you cannot expect to be full-time. Look back at the Peter Oakes' Who's Who book in 1974 and the vast majority of the riders had jobs. Now, for some reason, all the riders seem to feel that they are entitled to be full-time, thereby expecting the wages that would enable them to sustain that lifestyle. It cannot continue on current crowd levels. However, having wasted half an hour of my life typing this, I expect that the 2019 season will result in three small leagues, riders riding for multiple clubs, more riders being frozen out of the sport, fixture chaos, declining crowds, arguing promoters and more tractor racing. I'm off to the pub.

And there was me thinking people in psychotherapy hospitals never had access to the internet ...

Congratulations to all at Workington Speedway, fair to say they have had their tough times but this season could be their best every, KOC winners, with possible play off and Shield winners in the next few days.

Just cant help yourself can you. We won the league you should all get over it otherwise you will ruin your Christmas How many bags of Sour grapes do you have left... ? Chomp chomp chomp

He might have overstated it a bit but this : 'Well done Workington, I think you have a lot of neutrals on your side around the country given the way you try to go about your business and have been treated this year... ' ...............….is almost certainly bang on. There will be quite a few outside Lincolnshire who will display a degree of schadenfreude at that result.

Any club with real ambition should strive to compete & be successful at the highest level rather than opt out because it’s tough to do so. This is especially the case for a team like Leicester who would benefit from success with increased attendances due to the large catchment area.

I think this grippy track syndrome is a fallacy of Buster thinking. His believes that it helps the Stars to win, but does more damage to the sport than anything else. It turns meeting into processions and riders lose their ability to race. Niels has openly said he dislikes grippy tracks so if Buster continues making the AFA that way then it pointless signing riders like Niels... Its about time he realised, fans want watch excitement, not this follow the leader rubbish.,,,

Another fantastic night , only downside was watching mr garrity in the pits hitting walls and swearing like a trooper at kids asking him if he was ok after his first race defeat the man appears high as a kite.hoggy was getting the crowd going am so pleased for laura more than anyone she deserves this night and many more like it

Congrats to Worky (and my local pal Barry who might now break into a smile ). TBH after watching them dismantle my own team in the semi, I was not surprised that they would post another 60 plus score, albeit with a "weaker" team this time round. IMO it will be an upset if they now do not complete the treble. BTW did they get the BSPA Vice Chairman to present the Cup ?

Jenga my man you get me mixed up with someone else... the last time I used public transport they still had clippy's and took half crowns and Ten Bob notes. I wouldn't dream of travelling with the great unwashed like your good self.. Regards THJ

There are many who think you need sorting out in a house... A nut house at that

The lad comes across as being on something and its not the first time its been noticed their is passion but hitting walls kicking out at the toilet and swearing at kids is not passion didnt see anyone else do it!mr godfrey got a mouthfull as well just lifted his arms in despair and walked away .and for what its worth i thought rasmas got second place

Nothing brings in sponsorship than success and trophies and Workington have that this season, I hope we see them race next season though it does show the state the speedway has come to that arguably the best team may not be there to defend their title.

KL didn't agree to it, they proposed it!! Surely even you can get your head around that one.

if Workington run next year im sure it will be at Derwent park the simple fact is not enough money coming in for to run at moment either more sponsorship and /or more paying fans is needed

Facts? Hearsay more like

Unfortunately one or two poole supporters dont help the situation sorry to say

Should have said downward & not down wood, ( bloody prodictive text )

Is that because you met me!

Mildenhall Promoters hold your head in Shame, Absolutely no consideration for your fellow Promoters, You should get a life time ban from all Speedway Clubs, Lets now all see how the SCB deal with this it will be very interesting

Dale Allitt has stated publicly that it was KL's proposal to Poole which was then ratified by the SCB and BSPA MC to avoid the sport being further vilified by allowing Ellis to guest for both clubs in the final.

Well done Workington !! Great to see success for a North West team and hope this achievement is properly recognised both in the media and the area generally.

Has anyone heard any more if workington are running next season as I heard last night supposedly Kirkland carpets are coming in to help out wether this is true I don't no I hope it is as I don't want workington to close its the best track there is the fans are awesome as always last night was one of the best nights ever the spirt of our team is amazing and the people that cheered on the boys showed why we need and stil love speedway in workington I am quite scared that Mondays meeting against lakeside maybe the last ever meeting if the rumors I hear are right I will be heartbroken if it doe close I have gone to workington for 20 year and would hate it to close like a say hope the rumours aren't true

I meant nobody paid to watch him ride on Monday. As for Cradley, completely agree.

Get innnnn! First one in the bag! What a great time to be a mighty comets fan, it seems comebacks are our forte at Derwent Park eating teams alive Commiserations to Scunthorpe, your riders did really give it a good try last night and were gracious in defeat! Best wishes to Jason Garrity who got caught in sort of a domino effect crash. I think he was the one that could’ve clinched it for you guys Onwards to Rye house, I mean Lakeside on Saturday, best pack those head torches Woohoo #backthemarras #webelieve

For heavens sake STOP. You are raking up the same stuff time and time again,stop repeating the same tripe over and over.Its done,Poole have won whether you like it or not and nobody is going to change the result.Surely if there was something to discuss other promoters or managers would have voiced an opinion in the speedway press.The only people who are making a fuss are you,the supporters and quite frankly from where I am standing you are behaving like children arguing in the playground.Get over it and move on.

I know I should get on with the tiling and its looking good at the moment just got the window side to do now, as for my previous comment well I just couldn't resist it and I suppose I was feeling like a retired gynaecologist and couldn't wait to get my hand in. Congratulations on your resounding victory in the cup and like I said before I wouldn't be surprised if comets go on to win the play off's and the shield 'meetings Workington deserve them for the splendid performances they have put on this season , I must admit it does get a bit boring though watching Lakeside week after week so I suppose your lucky in that sense at least you should see the back of them within a few days . Again well Workington.

Well done Workington on an awesome performance tonight. I don't think Scunny were that bad - Workington made us look bad.

Dropping down a league would only, I think, upset the minority of Lions supporters. With so many riders doubling up in the GB leagues, only a handful of current top tier league riders would be missed. As good as some of them are (GP level), most people are not interested in races won by half a lap margins. In its most popular (team) format, speedway is about close, competitive racing. Most of us would pay to watch that over individual rider ability. How I long for the glory days of just a few years ago when we had the same 1-7 riders for weeks on end and nearly (once) got close to a mid table finish in the second tier of the sport.

The programme was broadcast on 17 October. Here is the link to Wycombe Sound's Listen Again. Click on Wednesday 17 October. The speedway bit is from about 33:24 to 41:20. http://listenagain.wycombesound.org.uk/index.php/shows/the-emperors-bits/

Congratulations to Eastbourne, fully deserved over the two legs. Not Connor Dugard's biggest fan but he was spot on over the course of the season when saying that the league is won through the play offs, not in July/August. Injuries badly affected Mildenhall over the course of the two legs, Danny Ayres especially being a huge miss I feel. However, the Eagles have grown over the course of the season and I think they may even have nicked this over a full strength Mildenhall side tonight. The contest was over from the start with an extremely slick one line track. It didn't suit Mildenhall in the slightest with an inability throughout the side to gate well. Credit to Eastbourne though, on the ball from the start and killed the tie in the first four races. A word for Charlie Brooks who has come on massively this year and looks to have real potential, Jason Edwards too. I still feel that Kelsey Dugard riding for Mildenhall in the first leg made a complete mockery of the tie with him part of the Eagles camp tonight but that appears to be just how speedway is these days.

Well done comets looks like mr Godfrey did you a favour making you ride most of your fixtures towards the end of the season as it kept you race fit at the right time.Hope weather holds out so the play off final goes ahead

Great result Workington, keep focussed and take the league title too. Ian Thomas would have loved this.

Really feel for you with injuries sustained ..maybe if our fixtures weren’t screwed up mid season we all wouldn’t have been trying to cram all the main meetings in , in the last few days . Thanks for your best wishes I really hope we get some silverware for the guys who have fought tooth and nail to get us there , but hey .. the 3 teams they tried to screw over where 3 in the top 4 now that’s karma for ya

Rocket007 - prior to this season we have always finished our fixtures. We have also in the past won the Trophy, league and KOC and been in the playoffs. We might not be successful on a regular basis but it is easy to be so when you have money behind you. With regards to Coventry, they were offered any Sunday in October after their original meeting was twice rained off but have yet to respond. I have also said that we would go to Coventry when a date was provided but again have had no notifications. We have had seven meetings rained off this year which is more than we have had in the last two years combined I think and this hasn't helped matters. Yes, we have had a good summer but if the weather isn't with you on raceday it is irrelevant what the other days are like. We are more exposed than most to the weather and in fact Sunday's meeting had sun. rain and fog all in the space of about four hours. Although we might not share the track with other disciplines we have work commitments which have to be met in order to pay the deficit that speedway occurs.