Seb the Snail

Stupid idea!

Sadly not, but I'm sure that 9/4 will look pretty generous this time next week.

10/1? 20/1? 33/1? They won't win it in Poland so you can have what price you like. The smart money has been invested on Polska this afternoon.

All 3 teams will join GB in the Final anyway, 1 direct and 2 after the race off. Sorry Sweden. My team are playing cricket against the unbeaten league leaders on Saturday, so hopefully I shall be able to take my place in Rosco's fun bar in good time for tapes up!

I'm about to do likewise; I've had Monkey Harris on the case all day and that's the best price out there apparently.

Still no prices in Hills; due out on Thursday apparently. It says something for the profile of our sport when you can place a bet on the next footie World Cup that is 3 years away, but not the speedway equivalent that will be here in a matter of days! That aside, GB look dead certs for Monday now with AJ seemingly out of the competition. Anything around the even money mark looks a steal.

All credit to you then; I hope that you backed your judgement! My bet on Hampel at 66/1 bit the dust when Bomber took advantage of one of those very ruts in the re-run semi final.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, tilly. Harris was a 25-1 shot for Cardiff, and although he won, if it was expected that the track there would suit his style, his odds wouldn't have even been half that. Nonetheless he is having a brilliant season, and all credit to him for it; long may it continue. He's a born entertainer and we love watching him at Swindon, as I'm sure fans do all over the country. As for Rico, it's well known that he isn't the best-loved British rider out there, but he's in good form at present, and I'm sure will give a good account of himself at Brandon. It's also only 3 years since he was on the podium in Cardiff himself.

Hills certainly had it priced up early last year; I shall call in on the way home and let you know. GB should oblige at Brandon, but I can't see past the Poles for the final given that they will be racing on home soil. It was a total rout last time they hosted it, wasn't it. Anything around 2-1 or more on Polska is a gift. Edit: No odds at present; the Manager told me to ask again next week and said that she would ring Head Office for me if there were none to hand.

A likely story, Matt! That must be almost 10 years since you bought me a pint, and to think that I steered all you Oxf**d boys round the grief on the M4 as well. I didn't move from that spot in the PoW for nearly 3 hours! Anyway, how was the rest of the evening?

Team GB simply has to win at Brandon or we won't make the Final. It's effectively a match between us and the Swedes anyway, and with the 2 Coventry boys spear-heading our assault, and Rico set to prove his doubters wrong, we should have just enough to nick it. If we come up short then it will be 2 of Denmark, Australia and Poland in the Race-Off, and I can't see us beating any of them away from British soil. With ex-Swindon legends Renat and J0000nas on display, I'm almost tempted to make the short trip to Brandon.

Steve, you make some decent points. We both agree that Howe should have had a chance, and I've almost convinced you that Rico does too, so we'd better quit while we're ahead. You make a good case about the support that Rico currently enjoys at Swindon, but by the same token Howe has also clocked up most of his points with strong backup in the shape of PK, Billy and Freddie at Wolves, so the same statement surely applies? In fairness to Middlo, Rico has also shown some of his best form this year against the Pirates, so I would imagine that he was the first name on the sheet after the 2 Coventry boys. He beat Crump round Blunsdon in the A fixture and then Bjarne in Heat 15 of the next 2 meetings to secure the draw at Poole and the win back at the Abbey. As you mention, he has also shone in previous World Cups. I guess that David just needs to keep up his current form and he's sure to remain in Middlo's thoughts. As an aside, will you be going to the meeting?

Steve, you really are losing all credibility with this constant bickering about Lee Richardson. Can you not just take an objective view? You are right that Howe deserves his chance this year, as indeed I stated in my original post, so no argument there. However to back up your case by stating that he is "3rd best Brit" and then launch into an assault on this year's "4th best Brit" is a contradiction in terms. According to Steve Turner's excellent stats, this season's figures for the top Brits in the Elite League are as follows: Nicholls 9.41, Harris 9.28, Howe 8.43, Richardson 8.35, Louis 7.87, Kennett 7.67, Screen 7.37, Stead 7.12. It seems blindingly obvious to me that we should therefore go with the Top 4 in the stats; and as Steve Shovlar states, also include Kennett because of his undoubted potential for the future. That just leaves the choice of reserve, and if Stead is the best of those stated at Brandon then he seems a fair shout. Allen would also clearly do a job on his own patch, although probably not in Poland. At the end of the day we should walk the home meeting anyway, although I get the feeling that whatever Rico scores won't be enough in your eyes, and that Howe would clearly have done better. Go GB.

Well I thought that you looked very smart sirmattyisbackwithanewnamebecausehecantrememberhisoldpassword or whatever you are called these days? Sat in the front row between bends 1 and 2 in your finest pulling gear! The Mr Clean Fan Club had a good old chuckle once we spotted you, I can tell you! Hope that you had a good one (despite the ticketing fiasco)!

I must admit that I'm surprised to see Stead in the side for this one. I don't know too much about how he rides Brandon, but he's definitely not having a good season and his poor form clearly continued at the GP Qualifier at the weekend. At the risk of agreeing with stevebrum, I'd have opted for David Howe, with Olly deserving the reserve berth. I can't wait to see Rico on the big stage again either; Cardiff just wasn't the same without him.

Despite leaving Blunsdon at 1230, we didn’t get to Cardiff until almost 4 because of accidents on the M4. We covered just one junction in the first hour and a half; a total nightmare. However when we finally arrived it was a quick march to the PoW to catch up on some serious drinking time! A fine time was had by all, and after over 2 years on the Forum, I can now say that I have finally met someone who doesn’t support Swindon or Poole! Well, 3 or 4 people actually, including some Monarchs and one very special Ace! I did spot the huge pile of pink hats upstairs near the front, but with numbers roughly 20 to 1 thought it best to leave the Bees contingent until I had a bit of back up! The “Mr Clean” flag was easy to spot on bend 2 during the repeat, right next to the one sponsored by the Noodle King. I wonder who’s that could have been?

I'd just like to echo all of the other sentiments. A fantastic night's speedway that more than made up for the miserable weather and the awful journey along the M4. Good to meet a few faces from the Forum too! Bomber was electric all night and just goes from strength to strength this season. What a start he's made, to what will hopefully be a long and successful GP career. Another final for Leigh too, so the Swindon fans had plenty to cheer; it's just a shame that he didn't sneak a podium place to narrow Nicki's lead a little further. Still, a British GP winner at long last! Top Bombing.

Cheers Gem. Leighrico had already found them a home, but thanks for your message. Mods - this thread can now be removed. Thanks.

This clearly isn't working as I planned... I had 1 spare this morning and, instead of getting rid of it, have 2 of the damned things now. PM before 10am if anyone wants them. We don't bite, I promise.

Adams, AJ, Hampel and Crump in that order. Howe to outscore Nicholls.

It's true! I now have a spare ticket to the meeting tomorrow (£45 seat, lower tier, bend 2) so if you'd like to come and sit with the Snail gang then please send me a PM and we can swap details. You can have the seat for £25, but if you pay the full price I shall put the other £20 into the Garry Stead Appeal. If you're travelling from the Swindon area I can throw in the coach travel as well, leaving from the Abbey at 1230.

Quo t-shirt on Saturday and Quo jacket in July? Respect is due.

I shall be updating the scores on a pre-printed scorecard this year and copying them over to my programme on Sunday. After an afternoon on the yeast my programme looked like it had been completed by a 3 year-old using heiroglyphics last year. Looking at it now, it would appear that orion, Donald Duck, Elvis Presley and the Tooth Fairy made the final. Can't make out who won though.

The Swindon regulars will no doubt be watching all the action in Rosco's pub. Are we allowed to post here, or do we need a separate thread?

Guilty as charged! I'll be the one with the "Mr Clean" flag, fraternising with sirmatty... it's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!