oldswindonsupporter

From someone who hasn't been to the Abbey for a couple of seasons.... For me, the meeting was too drawn out, it was not until post the interval that things seemed to get slicker, 5 heats in 20 minutes, meeting over at 21:10 which might argue was good but still, far too much waiting between races and too many tractor laps. I remember the old Belle Vue not needing grading at all, why was that? Anyway, onto the racing, after the 2nd bend, passing was at a premium, Blackbird in heat 2, Bech passing Nicholls in heat 7, Howarth passing Lawson in heat 11, Lawson passing Nicholls in heat 13 and Morris passing in heat 14 along the back straight 1st lap. The track to me never looked like it would encourage passing or offer the racers something to pass with, disappointing given Swindon's track record. Atmosphere was not existent, given the closeness of the scores, you might have thought that would have generated some excitement. Perhaps it was the aftermath of Monday, who knows. Entertainment value, about 6 out of 10, star of the meeting, Hans Andersen, rode as a true number 1 and reminded me of Martin Ashby in heat 1 when riding the white line. Tom Perry not competitive at all, didn't seem to learn what lines Eliis would ride and never close enough to pass. If Lawson had been better, it might have been a different outcome. Boxall did far better than expected, always could gate which was a bonus last night. For me, it will be Somerset as a first choice, I came, I saw, I wasn't impressed. Maybe that is Elite league racing but it just wasn't entertaining enough to prompt a return. Some say the product is good, I'd agree but tracks need to encourage racing rather than riding and present / promote a show. £17 to stand around getting cold and wishing the night away says it all. Just my view of course. I'll take my money elsewhere thanks.

Just been informed there heavy rain in Clevedon, two junctions up on the M5, therefore, would also appreciate a weather update from those closer to the OTA and or the track. A

Thks for the update. Well decision just been made, started to pour down here!

Can anyone give a weather / track update for tonight's meeting, currently debating whether to go or not. Thks A

Thanks to Penny Cross and Former Devil for the information - I shall be contacting Groupon forthwith, shame Groupon didn't contact the buyers of these as they obviously know the buyers! Not a good PR move by the promotion though especially for those who turn up expecting them to be honoured. Did the promotion put a new item on the web site to the same effect? If not, why not? Thks A

I have a spare Groupon voucher entitling the owner of the voucher entrance for two adults to a home fixture i.e. one of Plymouth v Somerset or Plymouth v Sheffield. Save yourself £££'s on the admission price of £28, offers upwards of £11 before 18.00 on Thursday. Voucher sent electronically. PM if interested. Payment by PayPal only.

The scoreline is a true reflection of the difference between the two. Expected far more from Newcastle.

Park and ride unless you are there early enough to park on the road between the park and ride and the stadium. See you there as I'm planning to go although the round trip is only around 250 miles for us! A

No surprise even if he is a nice bloke and all that, wasn't aware of how old Chris is but if 30 then I would have preferred to have gone with some-one with more potential and improvement, I.e. throw a youngster in. That said, the reserve berths do not seem to be earning enough points, with both Ashley Morris and Chris Mills at 6 and 7 Chris never strong enough to cover Ashley and vice versa imo nor one would one those a rookie be strong enough unless you had a Steve Worrall / Lewis Kerr. Seems sticking with the pair for so long has possibly cost the Comets points. Just my view!

Lord Lucan - deciding the star performers from the updates and their scores is probably not quite as good as seeing things for real! For the record OA could have easily been in heat 15, he wasn't so on the basis of the performance from 4 rides, he was a star performer and on that performance, providing he stays injury free, he is going to be an astute signing - as others have said, Garry May deserves credit for putting this group of seven together. I'd say the Rebels were more than solid, all won races, guest apart, OA won the most, in terms of race wins / rides, OA still comes out on top. On last night's showing, I would think Chris Mills days are numbered. Lewis Rose just wasn't competitive at all. Rebels outscored their fellow reserves by paid 17 to 1 and that is a very accurate statistic as to how superior the Rebels were in that department.

It wasn't a classic by any means, a few decent races but Somerset far quicker out of the gate and were gone...all over after four heats in all reality, one 3 - 3 and then three 5 - 1's.

To be fair, it was classed as an interval, extended track grading but overall the time period was not excessively long unlike some, have to agree in this day and age with no 2nd half, why there is a need for an interval at all really ought to be looked at. On the way home at qtr past nine!

Not a Rebels supporter but planning to go, looking forward as a neutral to see Somerset attempt to claw this back, will be even better if Worky have their trapping boots on forcing some passing!

According to the BSPA web site, Lewis Rose guests for Ashley Morris, R/R for Ricky Wells.

So the question therefore is, who is Lemo referring to, does anyone know? Answer - from the Somerset forum, looks like Jason Doyle.

Slightly off topic, haven't received my printed copy of the Star this week, anyone know if there are problems generally as just trying to understand whether it is an isolated incident? Thks A

Just had a live from the track piece on Points West about tonight's tie! It did say that they just had a rain shower - track had water on it but it was said to be rideable.

The way I saw the Newman incident - he had not gone round Birks at all, perhaps level entering the 3rd bend and both riders out wide. As for ht 15, you paint a very different picture, all the action happened between the start and the apex of the 1st / 2nd bend, that fact is not stated, therefore, making it sound more impressive than it was, although PH never squeezed NK up against the fence at all as NK was quick enough to try the cut up the inside and all that round the 1st bend - my words on NK never got close enough was after the back straight, which is true, he didn't...we do seem to have seen different matches!

Just when you thought he couldn't trump that he went from 3rd to 1st, outside the very impressive Ash Birks and steamed under Nicolai Klindt taking him right to the fence. Not in ht 15 he didn't, on the inside gate, trapped and when straight out towards the fence, NK then tried to come under him but couldn't quite make it going down the back straight and that was that, NK close but never close enough.

Going to be a windy one down the OTA tonight, judging by the wind coming up / off the Bristol Channel! Hoping to see a cracking meeting between these two, no allegiance to either, hope the racing is good that will do me fine!

Yes it was an honest apology and sure is welcome but the rub here is that this should have been said last night - see was available, she was involved in the decision making process, they have a roving microphone, had she done so, that gesture would have been far better received instead of waiting for it to appear on the internet. Missed opportunity last night I feel and time to move on.

What you believe from afar i.e. not being there apparently is probably better answered by the riders concerned.

Not to try and sort it out earlier and before any racing was in my book, totally inept, is there any reason why that wasn't done? The only announcement I heard was that they were valid for the Newcastle meeting which by then there was a fair few walking out of the stadium!

In fairness, Nick Morris was interviewed and wasn't overly up for it, I believe he said it needed work! Bit of an understatement!