BertHoven

The implication being that Coventry is not a professional club? Very naughty. Be careful! Mr sanhu may ban you from the stadium!! I jest.

Thanks for the pics, Nikki. Didn't know Steve Shovlar looked like that! I've just sent photgraph to Special Branch. Just joking, Steve. It was the Auntie Terrified branch. Copies to M5 and M6 because anyone who can keep moving on there deserves to escape.

You know what your country's governing body are paying their riders. Why are you interested in what other nations will pay theirs?

Shazzy, me dear, that's a wee bit politically incorrect and naughty. The cross of St George is the English flag. As has been stated elsewhere the team is Great Britain [which, incidentally, is also incorrect as Great Britain does not exist]. However the flag you should fly from you window is the Union Flag [sometimes this, also incorrectly, is referred to as the Union Jack. The Union Jack is the Royal Navy flag]. Isn't life confusing? I think I'll go and lie down in me darkened padded cell. Regards to the former Mr U&C! Joy to you, Bert.

Read my post again, Rabbit, and you will see that I did not refer to the England team but to the English lads. That is a correct reference as there was not a Welshman or a Scot in the team in which the English rode. Could I be right in thinking you are being a tad racist in that you did not mention the male residents of Northern Ireland. They are as British as I am and, possibly as you are. This being so they too are entitled to for Britain! I jest!

More than a hint of bigitory in that post I fear!

Yes, Forrest, all the English lads pulled out all the stops but I feel that particular mention should be made of Simon Stead and Chris Harris. They are two young men in their infancy in top flight speedway. Tonight was their first full internationl contest. They each scored twelve points - that's as many as team captain and GP star Scott Nicholls. They beat some seasoned international and world class riders. Simon, incredibly, beat Nikki Pedsersen. That was in his final race when he was surely feeling the strain. Well done Simon and Chris. You are a credit to England!

Hey never mind singing the national anthem. Some need first to learn to stand at attention; or if they are too tired to do that they might find it a little restful if they at least stood still. I noticed also that most put their hats on before the national anthem had finished. Could it be that the offenders only competed for their pay cheques - or for personal glory? For whatever reason they competed the English lads won even though they were classed as the underdogs and for that feat I give them unstinted credit!

If you feel that a fit Mark Loram must replace Joe Screen, why do apologise? Could it be that you are not entirely convinced yourself? I wonder!

Those of you who were pouring scorn on Lee earlier may have noticed that he has just scored a faultless and convincing maximum at Swindon - or were you still wearing your blinkers.

I'm hoping he does too, Fudge. Simon has certainly come a long way this season. I'm certain he'll be up for it tonight!

Maybe my ageing mind is missing something here. Perhaps you would help me by explaining how 'pressing his right leg hard down' [on his footrest] can be brutal towards other competitors, please.

Firstly, you should realise that meteorology is not an exact science. How can it be? The weather is an act of God. Secondly, I would point out that, bearing that in mind, you have to realise that no weather forecast can be anything other than a scientifically based approximation. My main point, however is that many weather forecasts, including the BBC, cover a geographical region [e.g. Manchester is included in the forecast for the North West region of England]. On the link I gave individual towns are covered. The forecasts are taken locally [e.g. the readings for the city of Manchester forecasts are taken from the weather station at Manchester Airport] so, therefore, they are more likely to have a greater incidence of accuracy than any regional one when a forecast for the city and it's suburbs is required. The international version of the Weather Channel [www.weather.com] is very good for holiday forecasts in my experience.

I am far from local but I can direct you to a superb weather forcast link giving hour-by-hour forecasts for any town. Log on to www.weather.co.uk; enter Swindon in the town dialogue box. Hit enter. On the page for Swindon click on the Hour-by-Hour tab. There you have a very detailed forecast for the day. Today looks very good - partly cloudy and dry. Enjoy the meeting.

Iris, You don't realise what you are missing. I've been a subscriber to Vintage Speedway Magazine for quite some time, well before it became part of McDonalds empire! Seriously, it's a really good journal reflecting the time when speedway racing was simply that and not the circus it is in danger of becoming now. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in the sport of speedway. Joy to you, Bert.

I believe Paul still competes in grasstrack racing.

Many people at Belle Vue are waiting to see Norris perform there. There is a widespread concensus of opinion in Manchester that Mr Norris considers that the northern air can seriously damage his health.

With you all the way on that, Fudge. I could be a tad biased though being an Aces fan. There's no doubt about it, Simon has done really well to get a full international call-up in his first Elite League season. No-one can deny that! Enjoy your speedway.

My first meeting was at Belle Vue in 1946/7. I can't remember any details except that it was a league match. I went with my mate whose name was Bob Hunter (I think he later became Financial Secretary to the Treasury!) Forgive my vagueness but it was a very long time ago I was a wee nipper of 14 at the time. Now I'm an old codger and my 73rd birthday is looming on the horizon like a dark cloud with a very large silver lining! It's me bedtime now so I look forward to reading all your reminicences tomorrow, my friends. BTW, contrary to rumours emanating from Broxbourne, AndyM is not thirty. God bless you, my children! Bert.

As an addendum to my earlier comments, Sube, I would add that any suspension should be from all competitve riding for a fixed period. This, of course, would have to apply to all riders and would carry the right of appeal. Such appeal to be heard within seven days of the imposition of the sentence.

"assuming we ever get an effective disciplinary code policed consistently, without fear or favour. And as I say, it'll be too late by then." I doubt whether the Brirtish domestic authorities, as they now stand, can achieve that. That's why I included 'internationsl'; i.e. the FIM who could, hopefully, put very large rockets under certain chairs at Rugby! Glad you like the avatar- apart from the moustache it-s not a bad likeness!

Each man is the master of himself, and, to some extent, his destiny. If Nikki Pedersen needs to be 'sorted out', it can only be done by Nikki Pedersen. Inflammatory statements such as 'nominating' a rider to sort him out on the track are utterly stupid do nothing less than bringing discredit to the sport and to the writers of such comments. Should Mr Pedersen be unable or unwilling to make any necessary changes to his riding style and attitude then it is incumbent upon the contolling bodies of speedway, both national and international, to do so should they consider it necessary.

Andy, Sorry to hear your recent adventures in Poland have cost you so dear! As I sit at my keyboard and shed a tear I really have a brilliant idea; At both next weeks matches I'll make a collection. At each match I'll go from turnstiles to borders Watch out for the postman with two ten bob Post Orders!! Seriously though, and I am when I must, Ken Bjerre will mount top rostum - I trust! James Wright's a good lad, lacks experience - too bad. In two years top spot will be there to be had.