van wolfswinkel

As Briggo once said "Martin was the best rider in the world at one time but didn't realise it". The mild-mannered modest Marlborough-Flyer always ready for a chat on the Blunsdon terraces or at his workshop in Marlborough. The only time he really lost it was when Chris Pusey put deep-heat gel in his pants when Crash was British captain!!!

And a jolly good season AFC Bournemouth have had. Went to the old Dean Court to watch Swindon Town , Charlton, Millwall, posh area for a football ground, and likeable bunch of fans, mainly middle-aged guys wearing flat caps and anoraks. Hope they're not attracting the yobs from Mudeford, Barton/Milford-on-Sea, and Sandbanks now they're in top-flight. Need a bigger stadium Good place to be a sports fan now. My old Gramps was a Knob from Bridport, used to follow Yeovil Town, more local than AFCB, and went to Weymouth speedway a few times.

Good post Crumpie, I wish Swindon did buck the trend, with a new stadium and Darcy Ward in the team they would have, but Thursday night's crowd was one of the smallest I've seen at The Abbey. Not much sign of aggressive and successful marketing in these parts, shot themselves in the feet with both barrels after the Farewell Meeting that wasn't, and lost a few fans since.

What we want is Watneys!.......and more rapport between riders and fans, a new stadium at Blunsdon, warm weather, some local lads riding for The Roobins, a bigger league, no blank Thursdays, better quality bog paper in the back-straight bogs along with softer lighting, hand lotion, air-blade dryers, heated-toilet seats, less slick tracks with more racing lines for passing, second-halves, value-for-money

What was the attendance?

Didn't see that coming...thought Cov were going to get ammered after the first few heats. Oh dear The Roobins are there Bank Holiday Monday. Great comeback Bees...perhaps it wont be a one-team league this season as expected, with Wolves and Belle Vue, and Swindon and Cov improving.

Was bloody freezing wind at Blunsdon last night..that's when I was thinking get on with it and get the meeting over with, when you're sitting in a chair with a cold cider on a warm summer's evening(a rare thing) don't mind so much, take your time lads.

I think Swindon made them look slow, power gating and well up for it those Budgies...from the first heat 5-1 when Matty was left for dead...should have hit 60, eased off in the second-half.

Training Day-one of the best Office episodes. "There's been a rape up there!"

After last night wouldn't be surprised if Swindon got something here...47-43

Not just Cookie, Zagar is so bloody inconsistent, hammered Doyley in heat 15 to stop his max, but finishes third twice.... 13123, so is Scottyboy... 22031. Should have been more of a rout, 22-8 after 5 heats! I think we will be in play-offs, the Aussie boys were all well up for it, fight and determination, and very positive when interviewed. Good to have a chat to you last night Orlovski, those houses are so bloody close to the pits! Good to have brief chat to the legend Broady. Not very good crowd, not much over 1000, but they will soon increase if The Roobins keep riding like they did last night...brilliant performance and team-spirit. Only 4 heat wins for BV, first time they haven't got a point this season, after 2 big away wins, but no doubt they will be top 4 when they get some home matches under their belts. Good to see coachload of away fans.

Superb win for Doyley's Rockin Red Roobins, was all over by heat 4. Onwards and upwards for Swindon. Bloody freezing cold wind at The Abbey, but it was worth it. BV surprisingly poor, wont be a match for Poole at this rate, Swindon were on fire tonight. GO ROBINS!!!

There were about 6/7 in 2014, but yep average a couple of scorcher's per season Up On The Hill. If you think The Abbey is cold, try Worky's Derwent Park up on the Cumbrian Coast...Freeze-ya-balls-off-by-the-sea, but great view of the Lake District's mountains from the main stand. If Cookie is as fast as on his last visit Swindon wont have a hope of winning, especially if the ex-Robins Scotty and Matty are on-form, should be a cracker.

Did you have to remind of us of that depressing fact! The second-leg was the last time that The Abbey has a massive crowd over 5000 for a team meeting, was a fantastic atmosphere regardless of the result. The Poole Grand Final in 2012 just didn't live up to that for noise.

Yes that super Robins side that topped the league in 2009...Sir Leigh hugging the white line, and Matty blasting round the boards, wish he was still riding for Swindon. First saw him ride for Reading at Worky in 2004, some good battles with Steady, both top 2 PL riders, Simon should have been up there with Zagar, and James Wrighty should have been a top rider by now.

Half a pint of the finest malt whiskey please sir. I have no doubt The Roobins will win as I dreamt this.

First watched Charles in 2004 second-half junior races up at Worky when big bruv James rode as a young reserve for Worky, brilliant racer. Don't know what happened to James? should have been a top rider by now, had a spell at The Abbey a few years back, then stopped racing. Won the PL riders title at Swindon as well.

Swindon to get shock win...48-42

What size crowds yous lot of marras getting up there now?. Used to follow The Comets in 2004/5 when I lived in Carlisle, the brilliant Steady and Stoney, Rusty, Wrighty, Kauko, Aidan Collins, Woody, the superb Fours meetings(the 3 streakers!) and Stoney testimonial with Steady beating Leigh Adams, 2500 crowds. Think they used to average about 1200 for league matches, but my cousin who lives in Spatri and sometimes attends was saying crowds are well down. Gromet the Comet, Mystic Mel no longer around, and the mouthy guy was shot dead in the gun massacre in Whitehaven. Used to chat to the riders in car park and bar afterwards. Michael Max was superb presenter, Walshie the announcer, the dozen heads looking over the fence for free between bends 3/4. always so bloody cold up at DP! Charles Wright, ex-junior, now riding brilliantly for my local team, Swindon, what happened to James Wrighty,once of Swindon, his older bruv? Good Luck for the season marras!

Shane Parker was a great character, remember at a Fours meeting at Worky, a streaker ran onto the centre-green and Parks covered him with red marshal's flag. Then there were the near-naked spins at testimonials, and Leigh Adams Farewell at Swindon. Still watches speedway back home in Adelaide, my bruv spoke to him a couple of years back.

My stepson used to go to Bournemouth Uni(Talbot Campus), just over the border in Poole, always bit of needle between Poole and Bournemouth, was Dorset v. Hampshire years ago. I lived in Parkstone for a while, commuted to Soton everyday, 35.8 miles to be pedantic.

If you think speedway is boring try watching from the centre-green if you can...if everyone could watch from the green loads more would turn-up, its fitting 'em all that's the problem...faster, noisier, more dangerous.

Ok mate, people will be saying Dulwich Amlet and Millwall shouldn't be playing at home on the same day next because it will affect attendances!

How many times do people have to be told! The Slough Tigers speedway franchise was moved to Bangalore by the Chakrabotty brothers, The Turban Twins, and they compete successfully in the Indian Elite League alongside the Madras Madasses, Delhi Bellies, Calcutta Curry Club, Mumbai Maurauders etc.,

I think the real reason New Cross folded in 63 was the competition with the Mill-Wall next door. Regardless of sporting competition up the road successful sports clubs will always thrive. Look at Leicester City, average around 30,000, and Leicester Tigers rugby, average around 20,000. Leeds football and 2 rugby clubs. Bristol etc.,Wouldn't have thought most Poole fans watch AFC Bournemouth anyway. Glasgow speedway has seen increased attendances, hardly in competition with Celtic and Rangers or Glasgow rugby.