Parsloes 1928 nearly

Spot on! Darcy and Chris remind me of my all-time hero Peter Collins - and from my perspective the praise cannot get higher than that. PC was a World Finalist as a teenager (I think he was still only 19 in 1973...) and of course so was Michael Lee. Then there was a path for the young and hugely talented to get to a World Championship final (where then, of course, they had a chance to win it...: Lee nearly did so in his first Final in the rain in '77!).. Whatever apologists for the GPs will say, the fact is it's a far, far more difficult route for a young rider to even break into the very closed shop nature of the GPs... To look ahead and see so many obstacles and missing years when in one's prime because not enterted into the system must be hugely discouraging for young riders... Personally I believe Ward when he was World U-21 Champ should've entered the GPs but he opted not to... IF he was to do so again then frankly it would to me spell the death-knell of the GPs as a credible world championship... It says a lot for the state of the sport at world-class level when a talent of the magnitude of Darcy Ward might consider not entering the GPs.. And again I repeat, IF a World Final was to have been held this September or early October on a track of anyone's choice do I think that Darcy in the superb form he's in could have given Greg Hancock a massive run for his money..? Well 100% I do...: and frankly, those who say otherwise are (1) burying their heads in the, er, shale; and (2) clearly forgetting what Chris Harris did to Hancock when that particular young man (Bomber) got the bit between his teeth back at Cardiff a few years back!!

Er, you've not noticed how the GP system has squeezed the life out of young talent and seen older and older champions..?

And if you note, I did say from the start that IF we had a proper World Championship Darcy could already have a title (the likes of Lee & Moore did so at similar ages...). Shame on the sport to have removed the chances for young stars to excel.. Now it seems we want to ask our stars to wait 10, 15 years before glory.. No wonder so many give up...

How so..? It's hardly shocking to suggest that Ward could beat Hancock.. They're hardly on different planets...

As admirable as Greg's achievement has been, do you honestly think in a one-off Final he'd be able to cope with the youth and bravery of young Darcy..? I don't think so...

Sad news - reached more World Finals than many others who have been granted a more prominent place in English Speedway history. Was privileged to meet Ron at Plough Lane when we were running between 2002-'05. An all-time great..

If there was a World Final tomorrow, who'd on earth bet against Darcy winning it..? The GP to some extent counts against newcomers but I'd still say Darcy very likely to make top three next year and hopefully the championship will be between him and Chris Holder and not won again by an old 'un..

If there was a proper World Championship like in the days of Collins, Lee, Mauger etc. then I'd venture to suggest Darcy on 2011 form could very possibly have won it THIS year... "Quite a way to go yet"..? That's utter nonsense!

Was the Jack Williams who made a brief appearance (before bike probs) in Vultures Race 1, Jack White Williams..?

That's right - I remember the sometimes surprisingly saucy snaps in Angus Kix's Glamour League - a winter feature in the Star. Would NEVER be allowed these days!!

Goodness - that's an admirable amount of detail!!

My mind had wandered off so wasn't clear what had happened to Shane but my understanding was that he'd packed up and that Holloway who'd fallen earlier nearly caught him before the line which was indeed the chequered flag for Holloway but allowed Shane the chance to 'push home' an entire lap and a bit for the point. Considering the Hawks were home and hosed by this point, hugely admirable that he did this... Unsure why Chris (my absolute fav ref and a good mate btw!) didn't, if he thought that Shane had indeed been lapped, put the red light on straightaway but when he did all made it clear it was wrong. Fair play to him for admitting his error And I'm fairly sure Ian didn't show the wrong flag coz he's my favourite starting marshall and a good mate (! ) and he told me afterwards he hadn't!! Confused..? Yes I still am!!! I have to say (as others have..) that though clearly this wasn't up to the normal standards of a NL match generally, it was hugely entertaining and took me back to not dissimilar days at Plough Lane and Iwade! Fair play to waco - we've clashed a little on this thread and elsewhere about the direction the Hackney experiment went etc. but I appreciate very much how positive you've been about last night... I made it there were three occasions riders were lapped (it was nearly called as four - see above!) and am sure that must be a record; but then equally both 'Vulture Races' winners who made it into the Hawks side recorded wins (including paid wins)- and young Jack's was over Lee Smethills who's meant to be a top rider at this level (certainly hugely experienced, though this must have been one of his career low-points surely - just three points..) Mark Baldock has been on my radar since saw him finish runner-up to the Netherlands' Benjamin Borgers in an indiv. at Sittingbourne three years ago and of course he won the season-long championship at Lydd this term.. Not a teenager which has, I know, counted against him in the eyes of some, but well worth a place in this division; and I'm delighted to see Cookie's statement on Saturday being positive about running a Young Hammers side in 2012 and that Mark (plus both Jacks and Adam) are in his plans for that

Okay - was just reacting (prematurely! ) to a previous posting on t'other thread!!

Yes that this was long after young Holloway had stopped racing!! For the life of me I'm not sure if Holloway completed four laps or not! I thought he did at the time but now I'm not so sure!!!!!

With news that the rained off Bulls meeting is now rearranged for next week one assumes the 'Pride' has bitten the dust..?!

Hmm, but as Shane was pushing home (for more than a lap..!) it's hard to see how he could've caught an under-powered Holloway! I agree it was a confusing moment but I think by then Chris had probably had his brain somewhat frazzled (as must have the poor Incident Recorder!) by the enormous amount of incidents! The red light wasn't put on though was it, though you must be right that the young Saints reserve must have stopped due to chequered flag... There was a finishing time (for four laps) announced for the race winner Marc Owen..

You know what - atm I don't!! But as I'll have to write up the, er, write up in the prog on Monday I sincerely hope to be getting some info. soon...: when I shall spill the beans!!

I agree 100%. But if someone should give a team a name/brand different to the norm (eg Cobras or 'Hackney') let's just go with the flow, eh..?!

That's true - let's hope so!

Don't think a thread's been opened on this one yet. Bulls team is I understand: 1) Adam Roynon 2) Ashley Morris 3) Ben Taylor 4) Luke Priest 5) Jack Hargreaves 6) Nathan Stoneman 7) Tom Armstrong Guesting at reserve for the Potters is Stefan Neilson..

Ah right, thanx I didn't know that.. Was indeed a good idea to set such a target but clearly ain't gonna happen now!!

The cut off date..? Not sure what you mean?

Not sure choice (of home or away first or second..) comes into it at this stage, more a case of what can be fitted in - as we saw with Stoke's Hobson's Choice.. I'd say the second leg of the Final is almost certain to be taken by Mildenhall's opponents in that tie.. Unless delays mean the 16th can't be used and instead the West Row leg has to be moved to the 23rd. or heaven forbid, the 30th.!

Well if you can't see that it's a worry that our last two WCs have been around 40 with hardly any input in the championship from 20-somethings then I don't see what I can say..!

Then maybe there does need to be a radical rethink about how teams are composed and how the championship in this division is decided because every year we get to this stage and this year the deadline was kept to and was in plenty of time.. Surely for the P/Os, riders who appear in such roles for NL sides should be able to have that take precedence over their doubling up duties..?