crescent girl

Think you're reading between the lines there. That report is more about Redcar being gazumped by Glasgow over Kozza after agreeing a deal with the rider than the Matej Kus situation, which is reported fairly.

16.1 Fixtures shall take priority as follows: FIM Speedway Grand Prix, FIM Speedway World Cup, FIM SGP Qualifying Meetings FIM Junior Speedway World Championship Meetings British Championships (Senior, Junior), BSPA Shared and Fee Events Elite League Competitions. Premier League Competitions, National League Competitions 16.1.1 A Rider must be released by a Promotion to take part in a higher priority Meeting. 16.1.1.1 In the case of a Doubling-Up Rider the priority is: 1. Original Fixture List 2. The “owning” Club (ie. is on that Team’s Retained List) 3. If there is no “ownership” then the PL Club has priority

Not at all, my views are unaffected by whosoever chooses, or signs for, the team. One point I'm pleased about - as Ben Barker isn't going to race for Coventry, his Berwick commitments will take precedent over his riding at any of the other EL sides if the original PL fixture-list is maintained. I didn't get your point as Jensen, then Kus, were Bandits' reserves from March until September, through good matches and bad results. I was observing that it was r/r which created Berwick's problems, not who was at reserve.... Go and get the nappies ready.

Jorgensen didn't do an away league match for Berwick. That apart, your point is?

Basically, Bandits strength-in-depth line-up needed seven riders to succeed on the road. Won at Worky, Redcar, Plymouth, Glasgow and Redcar again with regular 1-7. Lost at Newcastle, Edinburgh, Rye House, Sheffield and Peterborough with r/r. Moral: Although injuries are inevitable, avoid signing riders who will miss matches......

Absolutely true.

To be successful away from home, you seem to need one good reserve, not two. Plus a solid team, with at least one middle-order man stepping up with a big score. In 2014: Bandits won at Worky: No 1 scored 7+1, the top scorer rode at 5 and got 12, the reserves scored 1 and 11+1. Bandits won at Plymouth: No 1 scored 8+1, the top scorer rode at 5 and got 10+2, the reserves scored 3 and 13+1. Bandits won at Redcar: No 1 scored 11 (top scorer) the reserves scored 0 and 7+1 Bandits won at Redcar (again): No 1 scored 2+1, top scorer rode at 3 and got 11, reserves scored 4+2 and 12. Bandits won at Glasgow: No 1 scored 9+1, top scorer rode at 3 and got 12+2, reserves scored 2+1 and 8+1. In the KO Cup (draw) at Sheffield, No 1 scored 8+2, top scorer rode at 4 and got 17, reserves scored 0 and 13 (the 13 coming from Thomas Jorgensen!)

Ideal on paper, and certainly a great team man, solid scorer --- but he lives and works in Broxburn, West Lothian. Will your promotion really shell out for a round trip of more than a thousand miles each week?

Just like Greg Hancock is the oldest rider in the Grand Prix..........

OK, just for KevH (but he'll need to sign up for future releases)... NEW SEASON, NEW RIDERS : To end ill-informed speculation on social media, and allow potential club sponsors to step forward, John Anderson and George Hepburn have tonight confirmed the club's intentions for 2015. "We will be running as usual, and in the Premier League" said Anderson. "We have made no secret that sponsorship is needed, but to be fair to those we are talking to on the subject, and to supporters who might be wanting to take up the attractive offers on season tickets as Christmas presents, we feel a statement has to be made, so many stories are flying about" While emphasising that, if the club's financial situation is not improved after 2015, the end of their efforts to maintain the sport in the borders could come to an end, John and George have announced it will be all systems go -- and have released the names of their first three signings! Berwick have moved quickly over the past seven days to tie up three new faces and will be working to tie up the remaining four places for a 2015 team as soon as is feasible. Chairman John stated tonight: “We are announcing initially these three new riders and feel that these captures will excite potential sponsors --- as well as fans of course. We can only reiterate that we need the support of a new main sponsor as well as associate sponsors as announced earlier, but by pushing on with progressive team news we feel this can only encourage folks to support and back the 2015 Bandits” BEN BARKER : The signing of the season! Agreeing terms to become a Bandit in 2015 is Cornishman Ben, a Team GB rider and regular British Final roster-man. At 26, he could be poised for an excellent season, and Bandits are delighted to have agreed with his parent club Coventry Bees for his link-up at Shielfield Park. Ben is heading to Argentina to race down there from mid December into February and will hopefully be fully race-fit when he returns to the UK in preparation for the 2015 season after having his 2014 season curtailed by a shoulder injury. He is a rider loved by the Berwick fans for his all out action style when appearing at Shielfield as a visiting rider and he has produced some big scores in Tweedmouth on his visits. Truro-born Ben is looking forward with optimism to joining Berwick a club, to quote him “ A team I have always wanted to ride for” He comes in on an average of 8.91. George Hepburn added “It is no real secret that we would have liked Ben in our 2014 team but for various reasons it did not work out, but it will come to fruition this season and we are delighted. He comes in on a 8.91 average and we thank Coventry Bees, Mick Horton and Neil Watson for all their assistance. Ben hopes to ride Elite league too and when Berwick meetings allow, matches in the Polish Leagues” THOMAS JORGENSEN : Also coming on board will be 22 year old Danish rider THOMAS JORGENSEN, who joins us from Scunthorpe to fill the gap created by David Bellego (away to Sheffield, as his extensive continental engagements currently require David to be loaned to a midweek circuit). Thomas also wanted a change of home track this coming season and had some very impressive scores on his travels last season. He will also ride regularly again in the Danish top league and Berwick beat off a lot of competition from other Premier League tracks to snap the likeable Danish youngster up. He pushed his average up to 7.09 in 2014 last season and is a rider with undoubted talent who will fill an ‘engine room’ role at Berwick. John said tonight “ Thomas guested for us a couple of times last term and despite illness on one occasion impressed us greatly. His performance for us at Sheffield In the KO Cup really made everyone sit up and take notice” JAKE ALLEN : While the signing of any Australian or non-EU citizen these days has to be tagged as "subject to his getting a visa" 19 year old Jake, from Queensland, Australia is a capture for the club, adding a talented young rider to the Shielfield stable. Jake has made more than a few pundits sit up and take notice this winter, recently finishing second, beaten only a wheel, in the Queensland State Championship two weeks ago -- this ahead of UK-proven riders such as Tyson Nelson, Ryan Douglas and Kozza Smith. Jake Allen has recently performed exceptionally well in the Hefferman Speedway series ‘down under’ and in 2014 won the Darren Winkler Memorial Trophy ahead of a talented line up of riders who race in the UK. The speedway press in his home country have publicly stated “ Jake Allen is the most improved and talented young rider in Queensland this winter” He now goes on to ride in the Australian Championship series as well as the Under 21 championship. Bandits' resident globetrotter Dick Barrie has also commented favourably upon Jake's style, having watched him with interest in Australia earlier this year. John Anderson praised Dennis for getting the deal done, quietly and efficiently as always. Dennis added ”We have now obtained a UKVI Certificate of Sponsorship for Jake as he meets the guidelines of the BSPA (finishing in the top four of his State championship). He seems a very committed and sensible young man, very determined to come and carve a career for himself in the UK and is now going through the process of getting his Visa, so hopefully this all goes to plan". "Remember too he has been in this country before as a 17 year old touring around tracks and from memory won a meeting at Scunthorpe, so he is not totally new to folks, but has improved by leaps and bounds this winter in his homeland” Jake will bring a CMA of 5.00 to the squad, becoming an asset after the required number of matches.

You don't get links, you sign up and get an e-mailed Newsletter. Over 400 go out every time.

Oliver Allen has a superb record around Shieldfield Park.

Unlike other clubs, I think the attitude at Berwick is not to spend money you don't have. Which makes the above post pretty straightforward.

And gave you a bouquet of flowers!

Ah! You know the admission prices, too? I think you know very well that A&J Scott, having agreed at two-year sponsorship package for 2010/11, were pleased enough to extend their backing for a third season in 2012. That sponsorship having run its course (as they all do) Berwick engaged New Holland Agriculture for 2013, with that deal also being extended for a year last season. The club do well from major sponsors, and with both these organisations having extended their agreed tie-ins by an extra year, it seems sponsors are pleased by what they get in return from Berwick. Certainly New Holland landed lucky, with FIM events, the BenFund Bonanza and two live Sky matches during their watch. The club has plenty to offer, and it is probable moves are being effected behind the scenes to tie up new deals, which we'll all learn about when all i's are dotted and t's are crossed.

Cannot imagine the promotion putting discussion of pending commercial matters into their e-Newsletter. Indeed, there's a Newsletter out this evening, with the usual informative information about fan events and the like.

Problem is, clubs in question would have to fund three away meetings from one home gate. So it won't happen.

From Berwick's e-Newsletter: LET'S PARTY INSTEAD ! With todays meeting at Glasgow being rained off , we simply cannot end the season with nothing . So TODAY at Berwick Rugby Club you are all invited to come along to our End of Season get together. The event will start at 3pm going on until 6pm, With all the usual speeches and presentations taking place and of course the Bandits will be present too . Free Entry , all we ask is if people could kindly bring along a raffle prize & buy some raffle tickets . See you all at 3pm.

and Plaid Cymru?

Well, no dance then: THE DANCE : In a season so-spoiled by those record-busting nineteen postponed meetings it was hardly surprising to learn our plans to stage an End-of-Term Dance have been completely wrecked by rearranged fixtures, too! The Dance -- long-term planned to be at the Black-and-Gold on Friday, October 24th (arranged months ago, as soon as our participation in the PL play-offs was confirmed) -- had to be cancelled of course, and now the Glasgow restaging has wiped out the back-up plan of a party on Sunday afternoon, too! "It is a real shame" said Dennis McCleary on behalf of the promotion, as he confirmed that there would now be no end-of-term function. "Our commercial manager Lani Rae had everything arranged for the first date, and then brilliantly set up the Sunday function at short notice to replace it -- now that one must fall by the wayside, too". "I really feel for Lani, who does such an amazing job. She even had two further dates (Friday 31st and Sunday November 2nd) provisionally booked but we're faced by the cold hard fact that the bulk of the team -- Claus, Steen, Matej, David certainly, and I think Alex too -- will have gone home by then, and only Kevin, Matty and the two injured back-up boys Liam and Stefan would be available". "Which is really, really unfortunate, as we see the social side of our club to be important -- but at the end of the day, our business has to be about contesting speedway matches and co-operating with the other PL member-clubs, and that's what has cost us this year's dance". Dennis and his co-promoters are truly disappointed by these exceptional circumstances, and will doubtless be planning something special in springtime to kick-start the 2015 social, as well as speedway, season -- and your Black-and-Gold Bulletin will bring you the news of when, what where that will be, just as soon as plans have been laid! Questions over tickets, etc, should go to Lani on 07779-227535 or Lisa Youngman on 07773-759864. All tickets will be refunded . (From Berwick e-Newsletter)

....and you think he'd get a visa?

Of course, everyone would. Because back then, you got on a Thursday and literally everything in it, news, track stories and detailed results were absolutely fresh and new to you. Times change, and the Star has to do as well. I think the poster who commented on it being more enjoyable in the close season has a point. I hadn't thought about that until now, but I reckon I might do so too.

What a great opportunity for the "average fixing" conspiritors to assume every slightly unusual race result at Ashfield that afternoon to have an ulterior motive.......

Still German, like the article said......

OK then, Mister T: Who do you suggest, who will be (1) available, (2) is under 7.52 and (3) would be guaranteed to out-score Vissing, Doolan, Bellego and Jensen/Wethers around Shielfield?