stressed

From Mildenhall Speedway SUNDAYS MEETING IN MEMORY OF JEAN On behalf of everyone connected to Mildenhall Speedway our deepest sympathy's go to Ray Mascall and his family following Jeans passing earlier today after a long illness, such a great loss to Mildenhall speedway. Last nights win at Dudley and Sundays match versus Rye House are dedicated to Jean's memory, she will certainly be missed at West Row. There will be a minutes silence on Sunday prior to the start of the meeting. From me personally; Very, very sad news, Ray and family please accept my condolences on your loss. I will miss Jean's filling up of my email inbox with jokes and also the chats on the phone. Such sad news, RIP Jean.

Nothing to do with me . . .

So regarding the riders not turning up I guess you are all saying it's the fault of the BSPA for not informing the promotion and the referee as the scoresheets were only produced a few days prior and had the riders names printed? As far as injury goes I hope your son heals quickly and gets back on track, all the best to him. There seems to be a big lack of communication from the BSPA as far as I can see, as while in the refs box no one seemed aware that four riders were not available due to other circumstances what has now been made clear was beyond their control and that you all had informed the relevant people. I think the BSPA get off very lightly in these cases and should pay the promotions who stage these meetings a sensible fee which covers travel for the kids and parents as some of these riders will progress through the leagues eventually and will get travel paid then so the question I ask is 'why not now?' After all at this stage in training with very few or no sponsors every little helps. I've seen several youngsters over the years get fed up trying to get track time and then go over to MX where they just turn up if they want to with no commitment, pay and ride all day and I can see things like this happening for a long time until the authorities get their act together. With the parents, promoters and the organisers involved who all have the best intentions at heart I feel it's a big let down when as a collective the BSPA don't fund or push meetings like this, as I said in another post the lads all acted professionally and did a great job entertaining the crowd (what went on behind in the pits I have no idea) and it's the best environment for them to learn and see if they are suited to racing a speedway bike. If my previous post offended you, I apologise, I was going on the information that was available on Saturday night in the refs box or should I say lack of information. When I'm told that a certain rider or number of riders have failed to turn up unfortunately I have no way of checking and have to take that as being correct and announce to the paying public. Just to add one final thing on this subject Pat, Chris Bints father text me to tell me that Chris has packed in speedway now for various reasons and that several weeks ago the BSPA were informed, I will leave you to your own conclusions.

Couldn't believe it when we found out 4 riders hadn't turned up yet all you ever hear is moaning and groaning that there isn't enough track time for them in the UK and when there is an organised meeting they can't be bothered to get sorted and travel. I would say to Dave # Name Removed # replace them in the future if you are able to with other kids who are happy to travel and ride in an organised meeting, good luck ate for the future which is starting to look a little brighter wih the quality of some of these lads. Another two or three years and hopefully things will look even better. As to the rest who turned up well done lads you did yourselves proud, a very professional approach and no prima donas, keep your heads like that and you'll go far.

Team GB were lets face it crap! and to say that the team has put some pride back is nonsence as well. Harris and young Tai Woffenden are the only two who can hold their heads up with pride, they got stuck in and were consistant. Nichols can and should of done much better, maybe it's also time for him to step aside and have Harris as Team GB skipper who isn't afraid to get stuck in, something missing from him in the interviews, lack of fire in the belly. Richardson is a disgrace and on the downward slope at this level, he should be replaced by young up and coming riders now to give them the experience Tai was given tonight, they will only get better from the experience. Kennet is lacking something, probably in his mental approach and until he can prove himself individually should be replaced or used if injuries hamper selection. Disgusted

Don't forget it's a 3.00pm start time

Good to catch up Pat Great to see the youngsters have the tracktime and a good meeting, some goodun's on there way through, more meetings like this are needed. Well done to all the riders. Quick correction to the scorechart was heat 3 Michael Bovis who was the only reserve came in to replace Kye Norton who was excluded under 2 mins but retired. The two races missing were the Quarter Final and the Semi-Final these results can be found on Brendan's website

RIP Kenny You will be remembered by so many for the entertainment you gave around the World.

Gary Havelock Dan Giffard

Probably better off watching on telly

I'll tell him to get the oxygen mask ready then Spoke to him a couple of times today, he seems very tired and fed up. He asked me to thank everyone for the texts that have been sent in and he is hoping to be out by the end of the week.

Spot on Pirate Paul Some people

Team GB & Middlo Call up Havvy Havvy has been called up into the squad for the forthcoming World Cup. Full story on Official Redcar Speedway Website

Ask Bonnie Tyler . . . . She's old and forgetful

How do you know they wern't playing to backing tracks and doing karaoke versions like Christie Easy to fake it, after all she's had loads of practice over the years

They only ever have has beens, might as well just pre-mix a cd and leave it playing from 5pm till start time. Paying out for a top A grade performer, no chance

Just heard that the under 15's were told they would be going on track at 5.30pm until a short while ago when they were told they are now due to go out at 5.05pm The old Welsh Tart who is due to go into a retirement home is not happy because she wants to perform a longer set and the interval will now be extended because Tony Christie is rumoured to be singing then So much for encouraging young British talent for the future by giving them a crap spot when the stadium will be empty, I have just spoken to a couple of the fathers who seem a little dejected. In an email to BSI the excuse that the under 15's could not be on later was the fact that the pirotechniques (sp) had to be set up before the main meeting start time but could not be set up until they had finished . . . . strange that they were being set up at 10am this morning. So who really wants the under 15's? Put me down for a YES with a better time slot and no more bull from BSI

All the best to Brendan & George Sack the old Welsh Warbling Tart

Why are you suprised at my response when you agree the law is difficult to enforce at events that show no signage forbidding photography Jim, so where is the line drawn? It getting thinner and thinner all the time. I agree but fact of life many media photographers do without permission, I have seen it time and time again Take a look at the postcards on sale next time you visit the coast and sure enough you will find some with kids on. A large printers close to me produce such postcards I see them on a regular basis and there is no way everyone in the picture has given permission to the photographer to reproduce these images for sale. I completley agreee with you Jim, my BPPA homepage has two shots of my youngest daughters so like Nevs I am proud to show off these particular photos, nothing wrong with that at all.

So how can you get permission from people in the street, public places, stadiums, race circuits ala Silverstone ? Impossible, hence an ill conceived rule/law which could never be upheld in a court of law unless signage was placed outside each and every public event. Yesterday in Christchurch there was a car event being held in a School Playing Field, no signage outside loads of people taking pics of brand new flashy cars and you've guessed it loads of kids about and getting into plenty of photos no doubt. How do you police that? Answer = you can't. I agree that kids need to be protected from some of the strange so called humans that have been bread, although sad to say this is nothing new, the part that is new is the Internet or so the authorities think as they are so behind the times anyway. There is a fine line here, a TV camera from Sky can pan into a kid in the crowd yet a stills photographer cannot take a picture with a kid in part or whole view without permission, double standards? Could be a weirdo working the TV camera What about School photographers, parents never get asked permission if their child can have their photo taken, of course not it makes the School a few easy quid each year. Quite agree Won't you need permission from all parents? Good idea Jim hope you get plenty to judge

The law is a complete joke as a freelance photographer can take a picture down your local high street shops, kids and a celebrity are in the image and hey presto the pic is published all over the newspaper systems and magazines and websites. Whats the difference? It seems kids are the problem keep them out of the way Phones have cameras so are phones to be banned as well if they have a built in camera? The so called laws are a complete joke not thought through and put in place to irritate people. Get some good public liability insurance and legal cover and take photos at your favourite sporting event and let someone sue you, as long as you are using the image as is without manipulation or out of context there is no problem is there? I went to one of my daughters school plays a few weeks ago, asked if I could take photos of her and was told no problem, in fact the amount of parents not asking permission outweighed the ones of us that did. With digital camera equipment including camera phones the law really needs to be looked at by sensible people who don't smoke funny fags.

Thanks MIGGY, It looks like cameras are not banned at the biggest meeting in the Speedway calendar in the UK but for league and challenge meetings at your local tracks they are? Even though there is no signage outside the stadiums saying so! Get some cracking shots people I look forward to next weekend with a couple of bottles of Red and Sky Sports Thanks everyone for your comments, it makes interesting reading.

Interesting replies so far, I'm not going this year gonna watch from the arm chair for a change. Each time I have been I have been asked to open my bag to make sure I had no drinks, (should of looked under my jacket ) Last year they left me alone as I was on crutches, if you wanna borrow them email me Hope you get your cameras in and get some good shots, look forward to seeing them. All this hassle about taking photos at sporting events inside stadiums is getting beyond a joke IMO do you agree? Look at Formula 1, no problem at all with taking photos either at testing sessions or on race days, what is so special about stadium based sports? Any takers? At Speedway I guess you would get a grumpy track photographer who has had to pay over inflated price to take the pics in the first place but if they are for your own use or for official club or rider websites I can't see a problem.

Anyone taking a camera to Cardiff? What will you do if you are searched and not allowed to enter with your camera? Due to the warnings printed in programmes I thought I would bring this up. After watching the Soccer Aid game last night and seeing literally hundreds of cameras flashes go off all through the game I really am wondering where this rule is coming from and how different events are treating it? Your comments and findings would be very interesting. Oh yeah do yourself a favour and don't leave you camera in your car insist the stadium look after them especially if there is no signage outside the stadium saying no cameras allowed, it'll be far safer.

When I saw he title of this thread 'Free to a Good Home' I thought you were trying to give George away