Halifaxtiger

Thanks

How is the weather ? Forecast looks good for the area but it is chucking it down here (fortunately about 100 miles away).

Depends where it is held at but: 1 Howarth 2 Garrity 3 S Worrall 4 R Worrall 5 Birks 6 Newman 7 Morris 8 Sarjeant Morley & Kerr as replacements

I think it could be a very attractive and engaging end to what has been, at least as far as I am concerned, a pretty good NL season . Almost certainly Stoke, Scunny, Mildenhall & Belle Vue meaning that two of the best race tracks are also involved. Like you, I can't see Stoke picking Scunny and I don't think they will choose Belle Vue either after yesterdays result. Mildenhall will be no pushover either; in fact, I think the Fen Tigers will beat the Potters over two legs especially if Heeps is fit. With a bit of luck the matches will be held on different days so I can get to them all.

My understanding is that he has work commitments for the rest of the season.

The fact that you and Squall did so made it all the more enjoyable

Having seen the weakened line ups and the traffic on the eastbound M62 I wasn't sure about going to this one but I had agreed to do the texting so I went and was damn glad I did. Typically very entertaining EWR meeting, with some excellent racing from the likes of Kerr, McKinna, Birks, Nielsen, Widman and Wrathall - and all for nothing For an NL match at Scunny the crowd was as good as I have seen it and I'll be surprised if a few of them don't come back for future ones.

Having heard the extent of his injuries, suddenly everything else does become a little trivial. Well said, postie

Have to say, Montie, I didn't see that but Wag who was stood next to me did. I thought that the way Garrity was going in hard and fast was likely to result in a pile up and was concentrating on him. Awful crash and best wishes to John Oliver for a speedy recovery. Daft as it sounds, that's the only reason I can think of too. I really don't believe that there was a conscious decision not to use tactical rides that might have even got Mildenhall a point. Agreed, Mr M I thought Scunthorpe were there for the taking and indeed predicted a Mildenhall win (I should say I am a lousy tipster). Certainly Mildenhall (or anyone else) are unlikely to get a better chance of winning at Scunny with three heat leader class riders missing. I should also say I didn't count on your kid's very impressive performance. I knew he was good, but not that good Best performance I have seen from Jacobs, Blackbird did OK and Branford bust a gut in each ride but the remainder were disappointing. Smethills surprised me as he was awful at Buxton.

Had a text from his Dad about half a hour ago and he's broken a bone in his hand . He's still at the hospital but it looks at the moment as though that is it.

As its Rye House you're probably right .

The problem is Kev is that even the most simple of falls can result in serious injury. By all accounts Alan Wilkinson slid off and gently banged the Belle Vue safety fence back in 1978 - the only thing was he'd hit the nerves in his back and was paralysed for life. I also believe that when Kevin Holden was killed at Poole it was something very similar. Those who celebrated Birks falling off on Sunday would have undoubtedly done so on the above occasions as well. And that's precisely the point - you just can't tell what a rider has done when he falls off which is no better evidenced than by Stefan Nielsen's appalling crash which seemingly has resulted in little more than a cut chin. Its why I completely agree with Lorna here. I find any kind of cheering, celebrating - call it what you will - when a rider falls off nothing less than sickening and there is no excuse for it whatsoever. I should say that Sunday is the first time I have ever heard it at Mildenhall, though - the worst I have heard this season, by far, was at Coventry where little short of a party broke out when Newman, Ward & Gafurov fell off. I can remember a similar incident at Reading a few years ago when Jari Makinen fell while at the back. The abuse started almost immediately and went on right up to the point that the ambulance came out as he'd broken his ankle in two places. Disgraceful As for blatant cheating, I'd say that Mr Blackbird could teach Mr Birks a few lessons wouldn't you ?

You get such a*seholes everywhere (maybe even one or two at King's Lynn ) I have to say its the first time I have heard it at Mildenhall in all the years I have been going there - then again, its only with rare exceptions that I have seen a crowd that big at West Row before. My own view is that celebrating a rider falling off cannot be justified at any time because you can never be certain precisely what has happened. From comments on here, so innocuous and common place was the fall that crippled Alan Wilkinson for life people would have been cheering that.

To be honest, Kev, I didn't see what happened as I had the worst view of all - I was on the third bend at the time. When the crash happened, my mate went berserk but I said I didn't think Halsey had done anything. It was only when I asked one or two on the 4th bend that I drew that conclusion as they all said that Halsey had moved over, that view being reinforced by the angry reaction of one or two in the Scunny camp. My own view is that if a rider is more than a bike length ahead and the rider ahead goes for a gap that can be closed and subsequently is, its the rider behinds fault. If he is less than a bike length behind and the rider in front closes that gap, its that riders fault as he leaves the other nowhere to go. It was good to see you too mate - its been too long. It won't be next time, though, I should be back next week.

My view on your involvement was very Philip

Spoke to the gentleman ( ) himself yesterday on that very subject. In fairness to him, I won't reveal all what he said but to let everyone into a secret if Stoke finished top he revealed he'd probably pick one of Dudley, Mildenhall, Scunthorpe, Belle Vue or Hackney. Unfortunately, your constant anti-Mildenhall rants destroy any credibility that these remarks might have - that's if they had any credibility in the first place when it is clear that the two guests poor performances cancelled each other out. The simple fact is Mildenhall won without Heeps and one might equally ask (I wouldn't) what Stoke would be without Simon Lambert. Agree with ArnieG's comments - brilliant meeting and a credit to both sides and NL speedway in general. I said before the meeting to Kevin Jolly that Mildenhall's best signing this season isn't Cameron Heeps but Bob Ellis, a top trackman (and a very decent bloke to boot). Mildenhall has always been a superb racing strip when prepared properly and yesterdays surface reminded me of 2007 with Huggy in his prime. Great stuff. Unlike Phil K(who is rabidly biased ) I thought the referee got the decision to exclude Baseby right and the decision to exclude Nielsen (every best wish to the lad) in heat 14 wrong. There was no malice on Halsey's part I am sure, but he gave Nielsen no room when the Scunthorpe youngster had nowhere else to go and was almost level. Even the slight downers of Lewis Blackbird's appalling attempt to get heat 15 rerun and the huge cheer that went up when Birks fell (as many have said you get them everywhere)couldn't put a dent in the day for me. I have missed not coming down a lot and seeing everyone again was fantastic (even that git Nikko ). Surprised (pleasantly)to see Sunglasses Dave there. Jumping on the bandwagon of a potentially successful NL team now that Sheffield's title challenge has gone, mate ?

Very difficult to argue with any of that I still enjoyed it because the match wasn't really decided until heat 13, the Potters 4-2 being a killer. Even if there isn't much in the way of racing, a close meeting usually produces some excitement. Little harsh. Lewis Kerr blew an engine in Heat 4 and it was only really in heat 12 that he looked really likely and by then there weren't many he could replace. I thought he was a little unlucky not to get heat 15 but it would be hard to be critical of tactical moves that Dale did (or didn't) make. For Stoke, Sarjeant was hugely impressive, has come on an enormous amount this season and was the Potters match winner. Didn't Dudley boot him out last year ? They must kicking themselves now. I am not sure I can cope with a jubilant Vog, Chubby Cheshire or Proud Potter all the time but personally I think its brilliant to see Stoke, Mildenhall & Belle Vue in line for the play offs. All three have had a lean spell over a number of years and have some excellent fans who have stuck by them over that time. I doubt if even the most biased fan would begrudge them all a bit of success, and I think it is at least in part a vindication of the Stoke promotions decision to drop down a league this season. One last point, and that is to comment on the presentation on Wednesday night from Bryn Williams and Kevin Moore. I have been a fan of Bryn's for some time now and while my old sparring partner Mr Moore does nothing but slag me off when I see him between them they set a very high standard indeed. I have to say I must question why the Stars persist with the loquacious, annoying, love the sound of my own voice Mr Bennett when they can have the understated, knowledgeable and thoroughly professional Mr Moore instead.

You too, Tim. Hope your house hadn't been washed away when you got back. Many congratulations to everyone who took part last night in less than ideal conditions (but nowhere near as bad as it looked at lunch time).

One non Brit is the same as another, Montie. Where riding for team GB is concerned, an Australian is no different to a Pole or a Venezuelan. If you are allowing an Aussie, I really don't see why it shouldn't be another nationality and while patriality only applies to Aussies in the NL at the moment as far as I can see it could apply to anyone.

There are only four Australians in the NL - hardly a matter of 'droves'. You have to remember that the NL is for the majority of clubs a business so the signing of a rider likely to increase gates cannot be a bad thing. Heeps, for certain, has done that and not just at Mildenhall. My own view is that one Aussie per club is hardly likely to damage the chances for British youngsters and it will assist in the continued existence of NL clubs. There is a balance there. The thing is no-one I have spoken to knows quite how Heeps got clearance to ride. Every NL official I spoke to before he came over said he wasn't eligible and I do know the ACU got involved, but its not quite clear as to why the block on most Aussies stays in force yet he can take part in the NL. A little transparency wouldn't go amiss, particularly as British Speedway has a deserved reputation for being notoriously corrupt where rules are concerned.

I will be coming over for this and trust that the entertainment will be as good as it was at Buxton .

Should be a good match this and my first on a short southern tour

I am a fan of the tactical ride Have to agree with your second point and I actually noted it in doing the updates for the meeting, describing it on one occasion as 'ridiculous' (I think my updater was being very discreet and didn't put it on the thread). It was when Ashley Birks was done for spinning his wheel - he was third going into the turn and the referee called it back. The only thing was in the re-run he was still third.

Very good meeting - as I said on updates, probably the best I have ever seen at Buxton with both sides putting in an awful lot of effort The track didn't look brilliant to me with the base coming up on the first two turns and a large rut on the third bend throwing everyone out but I was told by a rider that it was pretty good. Certainly the racing was. Quick mention for Ashley Birks. You would not only have thought that he was a Stars rider but one who had been there for several years by the way he got involved. Impressive Even had a quick chat with the legendary Ivan Mauger

I don't think Heeps is as good as Ward but he's certainly not far behind. He's currently averaging 9.81 from 5 matches (including over 10 away from home) and one has to wonder whether he would be expected to beat Roynon, Morris and Branford (all riders who are riding or have ridden in the PL this season) on their home tracks. I also think you have to watch him to realise just how good he is. On Buxton's concrete and gravel track the other week he made it look very easy indeed in contrast to almost everyone else. I agree with Aljack. Based upon the fact that he has rarely if ever ridden any of these tracks before and he will improve in the winter, he'd definitely be in my PL side next season, probably doubling up with an NL one.