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Really? Now I wonder what would be best ~ never being born or having to race? Greyhounds are not born that way they are trained by humans with money in mind as usual. No good and they are discarded or sent to China to breed yet more of them, or eaten. They are beautiful laid back dogs until trained differently. It's like saying all Border Collies are born to be working Sheep and live outdoors on a farm. No farms = no Border Collies. Perhaps you should take a look at the link below or look at CAGED Nationwide on Facebook. There are plenty of examples of how cruelly most of them are treated so would have been much better off never having been born. https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/09/dog-breeder-let-three-greyhounds-starve-death-stuffed-one-freezer-12030888/?fbclid=IwAR3uCBdXviz4CnWQz2aIkybsv02v0KX66_RShXm7MC2C5sSGHYf13YNnVo4

Having been there a few times over the last 3 years with my son racing Nl you just need to listen to the riders in the pits (home and away riders )moaning about the state of the track the worst bit is usually watering a slick bare track then it is like riding on marbles and the same holes ruts appears mid corners put a bit more shale on it and get rid of the negative camber on 3-4 and it would be ten times better racing

This is a good point and one I had thought of. Personally if that means better racing I’d be ok with it.

Swindon & Leicester were also allowed to pick riders of other teams upto the normal points limit. They got little criticism as they didn’t build ‘super teams’ whereas Cradley cherry picked all the best riders.

They weren't blocked. The standalone clubs understandably wanted more meetings whilst Belle Vue, Kent, Leicester and Armadale obviously have PL/CL fixtures that take priority and couldn't fit in the extra meetings. The U21 qualifiers and the Riders Championship/Fours/Pairs also went to Mildenhall, Plymouth and IOW to give them the extra meetings they wanted. I'm sure those 3 would be happy to have Newcastle included as well

Are you suggesting the ancient Egyptians had a flutter on trap 6? Greyhounds weren't bred for racing, they are hunting dogs. If you want a slightly different perspective on the treatment of racing greyhounds, I would suggest the following: Spend about 30 seconds researching the subject. Find someone who owns a pet greyhound (ex racer or otherwise) and spend a few hours with the dog. A more gentle creature does not exist on God's Earth.

I don't care if it's Tungate or Iversen..nothing between them imo.. Iversen didn't pull up any trees for Ippo last season and Tungate can do better than he did for us also..Scotty is a no brainer on his low average..and I'd take Ully too. He gets a lot of stick on here from the negative moaners but a real club man and sometimes crazy to watch...I'd take him over boring riders like for instance Worrall and Lawson any day of the week..but for some people it's win at all costs..for me I like great racing and if we win doing it then great. I like all the riders we have so far so keep them coming.

Poole paid for Chris Holder to start his career in UK and then loaned him to IOW to gain experience.

I did say it would be interesting with danny woodward. He's winding you all up. Get used to it

Another backer/sponsor announced, this being Fabvent of Spittal. Keep 'em a-coming, Bandits!

I believe Bachelor & Jensen are far stronger than Kildemand & Wright tbh!

The easiest prediction to make is that very few, if any teams will end the season with their starting 1-7. Also, I think many of the usual favourites will find it far harder that many think. Poole’s inability to put a team together suggests that they’ve discovered that the previous “magic” of attracting good riders isn’t working in this league. Whoever they go for as their last two are likely to struggle if they are new to UK. Who was the last new rider to this league who hit his assessed average from the start? Indeed, how many struggled to get there at the end of the season? My guess is Poole will take too long to settle and, by the time that they do (if they do) the play offs will be beyond them Glasgow look vulnerable in the middle and Ostergaard and Sedgmen are unlikely to be there at the finish. Ricky Wells needs to find what it was that he lost last year. They do, however, have two very good reserves, maybe the best two in the league. Leicester will struggle with their reserves and need the rest of the team to cover for them until they find their feet in this league. I can see a lot of heat 1 5-1s and heat 2 1-5s Redcar look strong and Eric Riss has had some great meetings in Australia Their heat leader trio must be the league's strongest but, like Leicester, their reserves will struggle For me, the team to watch will be Edinburgh. They’ve done it before and will do it again - a solid team at Fortress Armadale with enough away points to make the play offs, but which time the team will have gelled to become play off winners. Oh yes, and everyone’s whipping boys, Newcastle and Berwick will do better than predicted. Berwick have a great team spirit which means the perform ahead of expectations, and the Newcastle management won’t hesitate in making changes if faced with disastrous results. Wooden spoon team for me is Scunthorpe. Although they might have to fight Birmingham for the race to the bottom. Whatever happens, it’s going to be an interesting year.

Newcastle look weak, especially in heats 1 to 15.

So Leicester sign an novice who has never even ridden in the NDL in Danny Woodward but instead of knuckling down & trying to make a career in the sport professionally . Before he has even turned a wheel for the club he has made it clear he is more interested in drinking in the bar then racing for the club. Not a good way to introduce yourself to your 1st club & set a good impression. If you want to have a few drinks & get drunk then stay at home & go pub with your friends. We only want committed people riding for our club there are plenty of YOUNG & UPCOMING riders who would kill to have your team place which is what the NDL should be all about.

1) if a club joins after the AGM they have to follow same rules & could only pick riders not already signed up, this would not hinder any other club as they would have already signed up the best riders available! 2) If there's a large number of riders frozen out from the NL, why not allow another team!

To be honest both clubs need each other to survive and it's also good that Shielfield is used pretty much all year round

So Newcastle have applied to run in this years NT, i suspect it's a test to see if running in the NL is viable. Would give IoW Mildo and Plymouth an extra home meeting to enjoy.

From his starting position in the team, which will likely be 2nd string, I'd be disappointed if he didn't arrive at those figures you've stated. The problem recently with Andersen is he is constantly getting hurt. That has a big say. He's going to need to stay fit and healthy next season.

Just as he had to finish in the top Four of his national championship, who he did at the weekend

As I’ve said above, Jensen got that average as a combination of reserve/2nd string and heat leader. It’s a massive season for him and with the length of that Swindon tail, I think it’s a huge risk asking him to maintain that average as a now fully fledged heat leader. Wright had different circumstances and got that average in an entirely different way, much harder circumstances. Kildemand is a huge gamble, but a very talented rider all the same and historically has ridden at a higher level than Batchelor. In the uk as it stands I agree, batch gets the nod, but let’s revisit that at the end of the season. And at the risk of repeating myself, belle vue have no tail. They have strong reserves and decent 2nd strings, that puts them in a better place than Swindon. That said, Swindon marginally take the heat leader call but overall, there is nothing between the 2 teams and I actually think BV are a little better. It’s all immaterial though, because Swindon will without doubt make changes like last season and that shifts the whole thing, because at the point they will become clear favourites. Rossiter is very good at that. But right now in this moment, both BV and Swindon are clear favourites. All in my opinion of course ;-)

He's been on Facebook again taking the wee wee out of Lenny the Lion

Seeing that Ben Morley has spent the last 2 seasons riding at number 2 for both Lakeside & Eastbourne a stint at reserve could be a good move. Also with his experience in the Championship & being a consistent high scorer in the National League with over a 9 point average where he was the riders champion in 2018 he has the beating of most of the other reserves in the League who have moved up this season. For the last 2 years as well as riding at the big Isle of Wight track in the National League it has made him a better rider of bigger circuits & expelled the myths that he is only a small track rider. I can remember him beating Scott Nicholls at Peterborough & NBJ at Berwick in 2018.

Nicholls turned down a return to panthers at end of last season hoping to get a offer from ippo or wolves..

The problem is, outside Russia, opportunities are few and far between for the young riders, so I can see where their thinking is. Schaap has impressed me over the last couple of years, so I think he deserves a chance to impress. Ebner has been there or thereabouts for a few years, and the fact he has ridden in Russia this season, has made his profile that bit higher. Personally I think Jell should have been considered, and I hope the Germans will include him in the team at the SoN in Berlin. Obviously the FIM have had a tough choice in selecting the Permanent Wildcards, but they will have had their reasons for picking the two they did. Any bets on 'Smiler' Luca Bauer getting the Inzell WildCard?

Sounds really encouraging behind the scenes, well done. Just think, with all this additional revenue plus the huge saving to come on the total number of points scored this season (especially away from Shielfield), the Bandits' might mount another play-off push in 2021

Kennedy and Ben Morley would be safe option as both have experience of tracks and Morley would have added desire to stick one across 2 nearest rivals, one who ditched him last year and one he may think should have taken on this year.

You would want Scott back after last season? and KK isn't reliable.

Oh trust me I know all about Osborne and especially Bill Glass!!!

I don't think that is the way they are thinking at all. They are giving competitive racing to the likes of Josh Embleton, Archie Freeman, and Danny Smith, rather than just giving them the Northern Junior League to be involved in.

I think you come back to what is the best mix IF you do have 8.97 points left available. We know Kennedy is available as he was not happy at missing out at Sheff with the move up. Him plus N/L heat leader is a poss option. As are 2 Aussies. That could give us a strong reserve pairing if its a combo of say either Josh Mac/Zaine Kennedy or someone of the potential of Gilmore if he was interested. The other option is a 5 point European/Scandinavian rider, but possibly may struggle if he is not one of the established World U21 youngsters coming through like a Kvech/Hansen/Jeppesen plus again a N/L heat-leader/Champ reserve like Morley/Hume/Wood or even Bowtell. My thoughts are more sold on the 2 Aussie option IF none of the decent young Euro/Scand riders don't want to come over. Kennedy at times looked decent in his first season (his FB page which has a good few of his races shows that and he was Sheff rider of the season). It's not easy finding the right riders or mix for those last 2 places so lets hope Poole are in an advanced position to sort it.

Get him sacked immediately! Leicester don't need riders with a Facebook account, a sense of humour, and who might want to go and meet with fans in the bar after meetings! (P.s. Assuming this is the same Danny Woodward who rode MDSL for Carmarthen at Stoke, he usually drives his own van to meetings, and would therefore probably be on the orange juice in the bar. He's never struck me as someone who "is more interested in drinking (orange juice) in the bar then racing for the club".

The dirt is scraped off for the stock cars,so they should be able to use a different type you would have thought.Might come down to cost?

I wonder if Poole will announce the last rider/s on Wed at the REF meeting ??? The cleverly worded release from Danny Ford mentioned 2 major announcements but was somewhat evasive on any clues in relation to riders, and can't find the news released to the Echo. It may be totally unrelated to riders as we know they use the media to maximum effect if they feel they have rider news coming forth. Maybe it is in relation to the Team Management situation/Team sponsors or also perhaps this new meeting streaming idea that was being mentioned. Would be good to hear how the rider situation is going though. The Aussie champs gave no clue really with Keleher injured and nobody else who may be available impressing. The U21 champ is only one meeting later this month and besides Gilmore or maybe List can't think of any others who might be good enough & available. Hook already confirmed staying in Aussie for 2020. Wonder if Zaine Kennedy back on the radar after missing out at Sheff with their move up ??

He has posted on facebook asking about what time the bar will close after meetings & suggesting that he could maybe organise a lock in .

Rather checking the viability of NL at Newcastle (hint - there isn’t any), I’drather believe this is an attempt to keep some promising youngsters in the North of England and get some sort of asset base built up.

The only stadiums that have run speedway in the past that will continue in the years ahead, will be those that house others sports or are multi use. I can't see ten stadiums existing by the centenary of speedway in 2028. Or is it now heralded as 2023?

Doyle..............................Swindon 8.96 Andersen.......................P/Borough 5.79 King...............................Ipswich 6.65 Lawson.........................Sheffield 5.63 Cook..............................K/Lynn 7.58 Lidsey............................B/Vue 5.16 Nicol.............................Wolves 4.00

I like you, you're a funny guy.

Amazingly cradley we’re allowed to build a team with whoever they wanted, including from teams in the NT. Certainly kemp, perks, Bowtell and Edwards were riding in the NT for their NL teams. I remember going to Leicester and Swindon for NT team matches v Kent but I’m not sure on the rules for their team building.

For Brummies. Adam Roynon & Kyle Legault. What a season that should have been. Injuries to that team drained my enthusiasm.

Don't blame / put the pressure on Nicol... I've been raised on: Holmqvist Airey Hunter (Norman) Olsen Ermolenko Lindgren.... (Not Woffinden... yet...) #1 should draw the crowd and be paid (very) well. If CVS says it's Sam M. Then Sam... it's your choice.... - keep a lower average and ride both divisions. .. Or make 13 &Ht 15 home & away your own?? I reckon you can do it

As a 15 year old he looked a superb prospect. What went wrong ???

In true BSF a pretty good thread has gone to the dogs. Shame.

I recall his brief spell with Sheffield when he won loads of credit for his sheer guts and can-do attitude. Considering his seemingly endless run of bad luck I'd like to see him having some part to play in the sport. If he's fit and willing to go, someone should give him a place. If nothing else, he could have a role in team management. One of speedway's unsung heroes in my book.

Love your positive posts ( idiot )

Should enter the CL team.. might have a chance

Surely it is better that fewer animals are bred than to keep breeding animals that are cruelty treated ?This isn’t specific to greyhounds, but any animal. It is like saying if you stop testing products on animals it is cruel because less beagles or monkeys will be bred . It was also the fox hunt argument that if hunts are banned then the dogs won’t be needed....

If this goes balls up from the start,there won't be many there,to see us playing catch up.As one of his main rivals,bet Rossiter can't believe his luck.

from Great Britain speedway team website THESE TEST MATCHES WILL BE LIVE STREAMED ON PINJAR PARK FACEBOOK PAGE Pinjar Park. Friday 17th and Saturday 18th January. Teams: Australia - Sam Masters, Rohan Tungate, Cameron Heeps, Daniel Winchester, Kale Ballantyne, Doug Scobie. Great Britain - Tai Woffinden, Dan Bewley, Drew Kemp, Leon Flint, Jack Smith, Jason Edwards. Both senior meetings start at 7pm local which is 11am UK time( junior racing proceeds the test matches)

Developers are surely less of a threat than waning interest among what few supporters the sport still has.