crescent girl

Bandits beat Monarchs in 'Matty's match' -- last Heat 5-1 by Matej Kus and David Bellego over Cook and Sedgy took all the biscuits.

Fourth time in four years for Shielfield on Sky, and this year at a time Bandits' results are going well. Workington have been on Sky four times, and yet to register a victory -- is this the one to break the mould? As always, Sky Sports being in town means a carnival atmosphere at Shielfield, fancy dress, flags a-plenty and fairground attractions. Gates open at 6pm, first race at 7.35. Let's go racing!

Averages!

No guests after July 1st.....

To keep record straight, the parade was due to go out spot on time @ 6.50, but a person in the Ipswich camp raised a query at the last moment about a Berwick rider's equipment, and getting it checked (it was all in order) caused an eight-minute delay. Apologies, but not the home promotion's fault.

Looking forward to a good one -- Ippo are always handy at Shielfield, but Bandits currently on a roll. Danny King's first meeting since becoming Champion -- he'll get a good reception.

Absolutely, Steve. Compare this season's (brilliant) British semi-final at Scunny with a dvd from ten years ago, a video from 25 years ago or cine film from the 'glory days' of the 1940s --- today's racing can be amazing at times. And racing in the past was just as dull, just as spread out, as it can be today if you get the wrong race. But we were all younger and more-impressionable back then. We loved it, and probably laughed at old-timers who told us it was so much better before the war. There weren't cynics on an internet to tell us we're watching a dying sport (which was a whole lot nearer death in 1956 than it is sixty years on) and spread doom and gloom in front of the young fans of today -- who quite probably think speedway's just great today, same as we did in our own salad days........

Less than that, Manu was on the grass before the 30m marker. But that was back then, when wee Peter pulled the strings. And the strokes.

Until the averages change again?

See post #1935

Yes.

In contradiction of most of what's been said on previous pages, let it be known that Berwick Speedway announced some time ago that every living ex-Bandit, even if they only raced one official match, can get a lifetime free pass to meetings at Shielfield Park. All they need to do is contact the promotion -- at club@berwickbandits.co -- and give their name and current address. Their lifetime free pass is mailed out the next day. "If a guy has risked his life while entertaining our public at any time over the past 49 years, that's good enough for us" was the club's statement when the list of over 250 living ex-Bandits was published. So please don't include the Berwick promotion in any criticism being levelled at clubs not honouring past heroes.

Kauko is now 36, he resisted many invitations to ride in Britain last season before being lured back late on by Glasgow, allegedly for 'an offer he couldn't refuse', but lasted just one meeting. Unlikely to come back at any price now, and not for the kind of money that is within Berwick's budget. Really good guy, however.

Mark (Scott's dad) lives in Poland these days, doesn't he? He is also 55. Suspect it is doubtful -- more than doubtful -- he'd be doing sidecar grass-tracking. Matty is the fifth rider in the averages, currently on 5.43. Up from 4.96 at start of season. Since moving up from reserve, his home league scores have been 5+2, 7+2 and 5. Doing his job? That said, if he has 'one of his better meetings' I'm sure no-one will complain!

You're right, of course. But with Seb Alden obviously out of action, it would only be the next three Berwick riders (Doolan, Jorgensen and Pijper) who would have been considered. Strength in depth is good, but has its drawbacks!

You really don't get it, do you? Taffy posted an opinion, and has no need to prove where it came from, be it correct or not. What is honest and polite is to provide a source when a poster (no names, no pack-drill) takes information from another published source and announces it on here with the suggested implication that the news is their own. Look up 'plagiarism'.

I was merely highlighting that, when one learns news from a website, a newsletter, facebook or twitter, and then posts it under your own name, it is polite to acknowledge the source. Likewise if you use a photograph or a quotation. Otherwise it is plagiarism.

Where did that news come from?

Extracted from today's e-newsletter: Romano's family feel it is not the right thing for him to race too often, believing that -- at just 17 -- he is too young to be riding overseas. Romano is used to having his father with him in the pits, and misses his presence very much. We are told that Romano is extremely grateful that he was given the chance to be part of the Berwick club. However, the family think he's too young to be doing speedway over here and it's better for Romano to wait until he is maybe 20 years of age. He will stay in Holland, but hopes to have an opportunity to come back at some point to thank everyone and say goodbye. Finally, Romano fully understands that it’s not good for the club (a classic understatement!) but hopes that there is sympathetic awareness about his choice.

So here they come again, with another German and one less Australian. Bandits find themselves (suddenly) with one less Dutchman, so we line up: Bandits: 1. Nikolaij Busk Jakobsen (guest), 2. Theo Pijper, 3. Kevin Doolan (captain), 4. Matthew Wethers, 5. Thomas Jorgensen, 6. Simon Lambert (guest), 7. Liam Carr Monarchs: 1. Sam Masters (captain), 2. Erik Riss, 3. Kevin Wolbert, 4. Mark Riss, 5. Ryan Fisher, 6. Max Clegg, 7. Dan Bewley What's the opinion?

OK, I forgot to say. Fish & chips were a mixed bag. Liked the chips, fish was a wee bit greasy. But they in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the evening's entertainment. Which was, I say again, excellent!

If Rockets don't now use Luke Bowen as their guest should an occasion arise................

May I, as someone who has known and liked the great Len Silver for many years, offer a comment after attending Saturday night's meeting? The Rye House track has been much improved by removing the camber and racing throughout was excellent, with little or no dust. The 'building site' reports are of course accurate, but if these are allied to 'work in progress' what's the problem? The attendance was the best I've seen over past seasons on my infrequent visits to Rye, and if any of these spectators weren't impressed by what was probably the best speedway match I've seen for ages, then the sport isn't for them. Yes, Len has his legacy at Rye -- personally, I'd have liked the new promotion to have retained "Magnificent Men" as a parade theme as a grateful nod to his heritage -- but on Saturday night, I found the Rye House experience much improved. The poster John Drake (aka Dave Stummings) who started this debate is sadly deluded in a great deal of his comment. IMO.

There was no complaint whatsoever from anyone from Berwick regarding the starting-gate officials, or any Scunny officials, all of who made us very welcome. Margaret Vardy however, was completely out to lunch. Hummel's bizarre exclusion for doing absolutely nothing wrong was bad enough --- her decision to re-run Heat 7 was simply laughable. Thank God the end result didn't hang on either 'decision'.....

Bandits will line up as follows: 1 MPT, 2 Pijper, 3 Doolan, 4 Wethers, 5 TJ. 6 Sissis, 7 Carr.