Blackadder

That is the League Cup, not the K.O. Cup.

According to the web site, he is expected to be fit for Thursday.

Some light reading in the Sheffield Star. Leigh Lanham is set to return to work in the family fish and chip shop because of a shocking series of rained-off meetings for Sheffield. Lanham is a full-time rider but only races for the Tigers with no double-up Elite League club or foreign contract in Sweden or Poland to fall back on. And following the latest Owlerton washout, it means the Suffolk racer has only ridden three meetings in a month, all away from home. Now he’s ready to return to peeling spuds to earn a few pennies before returning to track action against Glasgow at Owlerton next Thursday. He said: “One of the family is on holiday so I’m going into help, but the extra income will be welcome. This is possibly the worst run of rain-offs I’ve known in 20 years. It’s so frustrating. “I feel sorry for the Sheffield management because they are new to it all and must be wondering what they have done to deserve this. We haven’t been able to get going and I suspect we are going to have a fixture backlog. My Dad has had the chip shop for 25 years and I help out occasionally, I worked in there when I was a kid, but I’m back there next week. “And hopefully when I get back racing next week Sheffield can batter the opposition in the bread and butter of league racing! “My wife works which is good, but as a full-time rider if I’m not racing then I’m not earning any money. It’s a nightmare.” Sheffield chief Damien Batessaid: “I am very disappointed again we fell foul of the weather. Riders need to race as they are not getting into a rhythm.” He added: “Hopefully the weather will get better so we all can enjoy a great night of racing next Thursday when Glasgow are in town.”

Meeting off.

Gracias.

What are Facu's plans for this year now?

No debut for Mr Klindt tonight then.

If you go to speedwaystar.net you can see the article. I can expand it enough to read on an Ipad, don't know what it's like on a PC though.

Now set for May 22nd instead of the PL match against Rye House.

Scunthorpe are due at Sheffield next week for a PL match and Berwick are at Redcar in a TTT challenge match, so could a swap be arranged?

Had a lot more rain last Wednesday night into Thursday than we have had this week, and the BBC forecast for tonight was no more rain after about 6pm. If that had been the case, the meeting would have started at 8pm, but the rain returned and racing was not possible. Were you the chap who was asking if it would be ok to use your ticket for the Rye House match in 2 weeks?

In the Sheffield Star:- Ty Proctor’s move to Sheffield is hanging in the balance. The Aussie, who rides for Elite League Wolverhampton, was signed recently as a replacement for Adam Roynon as Tigers management looked to bolster their side. But the move is on hold because of an issue over his visa with question marks over his eligibility to double-up. British Speedway bosses meet tomorrow to thrash out the problem; Tigers won’t know until then whether they can include him in the side for the Knockout Cup tie with Berwick at Owlerton that night. Sheffield co-promoter Damien Bates said: “As far as we are concerned Ty should be able to join Sheffield. We had done all we could and then were told there was an issue. Hopefully he’ll get clearance this week. It’s frustrating because we want to get on after a very promising start.” Sheffield submitted their re-declared line-up to the Speedway Promoters’ Association for approval by the management committee. But no new team declaration has been published; that means Proctor is still not officially a Sheffield rider. It means rider and club alike face an anxious wait. Sheffield find themselves 18pts down from the first leg at Shielfield Park but Bates believes the side has what it takes to turn the situation around. “We have to be positive” he said. “We go into the meeting knowing we have to get at them right from the start and see where it takes us. And we need out brilliant supporters to get right behind us, as they have done all season.”

Surely it is better to go with R/R for Adam Roynon or use a 3 pointer rather than have the SCB amend the result later and have all invalid points deducted.

Still light rain forecast all day until midnight.

BBC forecast is currently light rain all day from 8am until midnight, but they have been known to be wrong many times before. In the Sheffield Star:- Ty Proctor has revealed how he turned his back on a contract to race in Sweden to join Sheffield this week. Proctor, who lives in the city, will replace the unlucky Adam Roynon in tomorrow’s Knockout Cup clash with Berwick at Owlerton. And the confident rider already has his eyes set on battling for Premier League glory with what he describes as a “really talented side” around him. Proctor said: “Obviously it’s great to be back in the Premier League after the whole situation that happened at the start of the season with me losing my team place at Somerset. Sheffield was one of the last places I expected to end up because I’d already signed to ride in Sweden on a Thursday. I had been in talks with a lot of other clubs, but when they were able to fit me in it was a chance I just had to take. It was a difficult situation for me having outlaid a lot of money to ride in Sweden and it was a tough decision to make, but when it came to Sheffield everything just felt right and things seemed to fit. I live only two minutes from the track now so it’s perfect for me in that respect, and everything just seems to fit into place. I’m not going to hide the fact that the beginning of the season hasn’t been ideal for me, and I knew that I needed to be riding more to try and correct that. I feel my gating has been something that has been really strong this year. It’s just silly mistakes on track that have been costing me. I’m sure with riding more now I should be able to correct that and I’m pretty confident I can score plenty of points. I need to knuckle down and prove to a lot of fans what I am capable, so hopefully being at Sheffield can enable me to do that. I have signed for Sheffield because I want to win the league, and I feel like we have a really talented team with a lot of potential.”

I don't think the gates are opened until the last race, which was at 9.52 last night. I'm certain that Damian will do all that he can to put things right.

Joe probably took the view that it would be more beneficial for the team in the long term to give Simon and Josh more track time. Any road, it is good to see the gloating cupboard open again after 2 years without being used.

42-48 = good to gloat.

Today's Sheffield Star:- Golden oldie Sam Ermolenko says he can surprise a few when he appears in Sheffield’s opening meeting of the season this Thursday. The 1993 World Champion remains a favourite with Tigers fans after a spectacular spell with the club in 1996. Now, aged 53, he’s agreed to return to competitive racing for the Air Fence fund raiser at Owlerton with all proceeds going to the installation of the new safety barrier. Said Ermolenko: “I rode in some fundraising events last year and I’ve been on the bike already this year. The new consortium at Sheffield are people I have a lot of respect for, and the call came from them to see if I was interested in riding in their season opener. They saw that I’d been riding at Wolverhampton’s practice session last Wednesday and decided to see if I fancied participating. “It’s not going to be a hugely competitive thing but I’m happy to go out there and help. I’m a regular visitor at Sheffield so I’m pleased to help in what should be an entertaining meeting to raise money for the new fence. The promoters accept the fact I’m not going to stick my neck on the line but I’ll be going out there to enjoy myself, have some fun and hopefully I’ll be fairly competitive. “I might possibly surprise a few people. In speedway, he who hesitates gets in trouble and I understand that. I’ll go out there focusing on the fact I’m next to three other guys with the goal of getting to that first corner first. If I can get ahead then I’m sure I’ll be able to hold my own, and I’m looking forward to getting back racing again even if it’s just a one off.”

When Carl Stonehewer was riding for Sheffield, he was brought down once, from memory by a Newport rider, and grabbed a shovel from one of the track staff to get his revenge. The announcer played Ace Of Spades by Motorhead, which was quite comical.

I think the fence is going in on the 26th.

Another piece in the Sheffield Star:- Neil Machin insists he will leave the new consortium in charge of Sheffield Tigers to run the club their way. The former owner, who has sold out to Damien Bates, Peter Mole and Simon Parker, is to retain his licence with the British Speedway Promoters’ Association and act as an advisor to the new Owlerton bosses. And he insists they are the right people to take the club forward with the enthusiasm he had 20 years ago. “I’d like to wish the consortium members all the very best and their enthusiasm reminds me very much of myself 20-years ago,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it because it means I can enjoy my speedway without any pressure and I am there if they need me for any advice or opinion if they so want that. I have the benefit of a lot of experience but in many ways Sheffield Speedway runs itself on a race night with all the loyal track staff the club has. These guys in charge are the right people to take the club forward. They have good ideas and bags of enthusiasm which I like to see.” Tigers riders will be put through their paces in public for the first time at Owlerton on Thursday from 4.30pm. The team were together yesterday when they had another behind-closed-doors practice.

In the Sheffield Star:- Joe Screen has thanked Sheffield for keeping him involved in speedway after ending his riding career last year. The former British Champion is entering his first job in management after the new consortium taking charge at Owlerton made their move before Christmas. And he’s thrilled to stay in a sport he loves having started as a schoolboy racer at Belle Vue in 1988. Screen said: “I want to thank Sheffield for keeping me involved in the sport. Speedway is a sport I love and I would have been sad to leave it. When I retired, initially I had an open mind on things and it looked at one stage as though I was going to be working with a rider, but that didn’t work out for various reasons. When the call came from Sheffield, I was really pleased and it means I stay in speedway which is great for me. I’m only recently retired too so I can relate to the riders and I’m really excited by the challenge ahead.” Screen will put his riders through their paces at Owlerton this Thursday when the club host their press and practice session from 4.30pm. He said: “I’ve already seen some of the lads in practice at Scunthorpe and we’ve had a couple of really good sessions. But I’m looking forward to seeing them at Owlerton on Thursday, it will be good to get all the lads together on our own circuit.”

The Sheffield Star is doing well this week:- Joe Screen has vowed to be a hands-on manager of Sheffield Tigers this season. The former British Champion, who quit racing last season after a glittering career, says he wants to focus on working closely with riders in a coaching capacity – as well as brushing up on the rulebook. And Screen says he is happy to get his hands dirty on a race night if members of his team need help in the pits. “I’ve always been a hard worker in speedway and always got my hands dirty when needed,” said the former Bradford and Belle Vue star. “And I will continue to do so as a manager, I have no problem with that. I want to work with the lads and if there is something they need help with on their bike I will be happy to give them my opinion. “I know the rulebook is complicated at times, but for me a big part of management is working closely with the lads, making sure they have respect for you and helping them along the way. “We have a talented group of lads and I think the team spirit will be fine. We’re all getting together next week for the press and practice, and I’m confident we will get along great. “I’m looking forward to working with the younger lads like Josh Bates; he reminds me of when I was first starting out and I think I can offer him some help. And me and Simon Stead have always got on great, it’s good to have him as skipper . “It’s a new chapter in my life and I’m pleased to be at a club like Sheffield. The new people seem nice guys and I’m sure the supporters are in for an exciting season.” New Tigers signing Taylor Poole will line up in the opening meeting of the Owlerton season. Poole, who jetted back into the UK from his Australian base over the weekend, will link up with the remainder of the top five from the revamped Sheffield side for the Air Fence Fund Bonanza on Thursday, March 27 (7.45). He will be joined by fellow countryman Cameron Woodward, who is once again riding for Elite League Eastbourne this season. Season ticket holders will be offered a £5 discount on admission for the meeting.

In the Sheffield Star:- Taylor Poole has landed in the country to step up preparations for his first season as a Sheffield Tigers rider. And the talented Australian is regarded as a key signing by Tigers’ chief Damian Bates who says he has the ability to challenge for the club’s number one spot. Poole impressed during a previous spell in the UK with Ipswich and his average fits Sheffield’s plans to perfection. Said Bates: “I am particularly pleased with the signing of Taylor Poole, he could be the key rider, for me. With the likes of Simon Stead and Leigh Lanham you know what you’re going to get from them. So if Taylor can challenge as a heat leader it will benefit the team. I like the way Taylor rides and he’s super keen to become a big hit with our supporters, he’s going to be popular I am sure of that.” The club are currently making final plans for press and practice which takes place on March 20 with the Air Fence Fund raiser as opening night, seven days later. Said Bates: “It has been hectic since we, as a new consortium, have come to the club and everything that has needed doing. There is a long list of things to do every day and I’m grateful for all the help we’ve had so far. We had a fantastic night at the Legends evening last week when over £2,000 was raised towards the air fence and on behalf of all the management we cannot thank everyone enough who made the night such a big success.”