Neil H

Hope Adam Kirby makes a full recovery from the hand/arm injuries he sustained at Buxton today.

Lets put it this way - there was no great surprise at Mason's no-show. In fact, it was greeted by wry smiles. R/R scored more than his last 4 visits put together.

I think a big influence on the result was that Hackney didn't track their normal 1-7. The absence of Hazelden & more importantly Mason to be replaced with Paul Starke and r/r strengthened the visitors no end. I don't know what Ryan Blacklock changed for his last two rides but he made a step forward, the lad just needs track time to improve but he is getting there.

Sorry but I disagree with your view of Heeps. I thought he wasn't as good as the other two and had an easy afternoon. Also, he did get into trouble at times but maybe not as obviously as others. He is a talent and typical of someone that age in being somewhat carefree when he is racing. Buxton did well with signing Rob Branford and Heeps is good for Mildenhall. Like many, I expected him to come in for Blackbird and was surprised when he didn't.

Is that with Garrity in place of Lambert at No 1? :lol: With only a one point deficit to overturn, Stoke are firm favourite to progress from the tie.

It isn't about whether a rider rides in all 3 leagues, it's about a breach of the rules by 'being named' in teams 1-7's in all three leagues. It appears that Dudley were able to get it through. Hope Luke finds a team place soon (with the way that the Buxton reserves are performing at the moment, I'd snap him up) as he would be a good signing, just unlucky with the averages like many before him.

Former competitor in the Under 15's Championship. Has had a bit of action here and there in the National League and can only benefit from having secured a team place. He just needs a long run to settle down and he will improve with the help of the likes of Atkin in the team.

FYO, Adam is 28 on Saturday.

Especially after being throw out of the bar

Just passing on info that may be of interest. Yes Derek, I was listening to the radio on Tuesday night when DT popped up with John Acres. Doubt that Luke would be at Buxton, he hasn't riden the track that well over the years.

Final team place to be decided with 'vulture races' at press/practice - whoever does the best on the day get the race jacket.

Has the ability to be a good rider. Finished runner-up to Jason Garrity in the 2008 Under 15's Championship and rode for Scunthorpe in 2009. Last year he was at Dudley until being dropped for Micky Dyer & then went to Bournemouth. Hopefully he will have learned a lot from his experiences last year and will come on a lot at Stoke.

Line up for the first round :- Buxton Hitmen v Stoke Potters Dudley Heathens v Belle Vue Colts Newport Mavericks v Isle of Wight Islanders Mildenhall Fen Tigers v Hackney Hawks.

As well as the 2 mentioned, all but 2 of the British riders in the Elite League came through from the 3rd tier.

I think it will be run as professionally as the Potters and better than the Spitfires were. The Spitfires were always a 2nd team but now there is only 1 team so will get all the attention. I think Barrie is odds-on to be included as he isn't in with a chance of a PL place but some of the other Stoke assets could be in as they have experience at this level.

You may find a couple of them back in the Stoke colours as they are club assets.

Pretty sure that Scunny will be using Richie Worrall (pity ) but the lad isn't ready for PL. I thought it was a typo and that they had signed Steve. No news yet on Buxton.

Looks like a list of reasons why Dudley didn't win anything to me. One or two points in reply - 1. You can't impose a higher average on a rider with patriality. If the rider has a British passport then he must be treated as though he were as British as you or I. Isn't it a gamble on an untried rider becoming a star that promotor take to try to win the league? From your first league meeting at home to Buxton, who was on a 'false' average Tom Perry or Rob Branford? 2. Why change from 3.00 back to 2.00? Are all newcomers to league racing 2.00's? If not, who decides which riders should be a 2.00? Which of these should be classed that way - a rider with 7-8 years of oval racing or a kid who 1st raced a 500 12 months ago? Rider 1, rider 2 or both? 5. The fixture list would go out of the window if this was introduced. Teams would be asking for meetings to be rearranged so that they could always track their best 7. 6. If they are the rules at the start of the season then so be it, this year it was decided via play-offs. 8. Not much chance if point 5 happens. Some tracks have difficulty in arranging their fixtures as it is. 10. -- Ditto --

Why hasn't Richie Worrall gone into Jon Bethell's place in the Buxton team as he is replacing him? Buxton are only allowed to use a non-declared 3.00er so why have they had to reshuffle their line-up?

Neil, you missed out the he has to go to Rye House for the NLRC on Saturday. I was told that he'd be fined if he didn't turn up.

In the past, meetings from earlier in the year between the two teams at the same venue have been used to cover league meetings that weren't completed by the end of October.

There wasn't a Final last year (don't think there has ever been one but I stand to be corrected). The final score was 37-55 BTW

20 points ahead with one race to go means that all four points come North

Tom picked up a foot injury and limped back to the pits.

Even without Craig Cook and Nick Morris, the Hitmen proved too strong for the Saints and won 50-43. Top scorer was Jason Garrity with 17+3 and the win puts Buxton four points clear at the top of the National League table.