Grachan

I give up. You all win. He should have got a visa.

They don't need to give a reason. He does not fit the criteria for a visa. That's all the reason they need. They haven't moved any goalposts. They have stayed within the exact original criteria. My opinion might chsnge if someone can conclusively prove that UKVI gave an endorsment, which has been suggested. Otherwise, it's a case of people complaining about something they have nothing to complain about. I am kind of repeating myself now. Time to agree to disagree, methinks. discretionary dɪˈskrɛʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/ adjective available for use at the discretion of the user. "there has been an increase in year-end discretionary bonuses" synonyms: optional, non-compulsory, voluntary, at one's discretion, up to the individual, non-mandatory, elective, open to choice; open, unrestricted; permissive; rarediscretional

And it's at their discretion whether they give them or not. He has no right to a visa, and, by keeping the cut off point clear, they are keeping the goalposts stationary. Sorry. Duh me, eh? Wish I knew what discretionary meant.

No. I'm not dumb. I know what discretionary means.

The reason is clear. It is an easy concept to understand. Criteria for a visa for a USA is finishing in top 4 of the national championship. The reason is, he didn't.

That's fine. They applied for a discretionary endorsement. It failed. It doesn't say it will be granted. Just that they can apply. Surely it is better just to follow the rule to the letter barring something exceptional.

A few people are saying there was testimony from UKVI. From my own dealings with them I find that unlikely, although it would be interesting if someone could post exact details of what is meant by this. If there was, genuinely, approval from UKVI, then there is no reason for him to be refused. My own guess is that this is just the standard 'you have a right to appeal' type of statement that appears carte blanche on all refusal letters. So, perhaps, someone could post exact details of this UKVI testimony. The fact is, people in this country have been crying out for years for tougher immigration laws, but when they get them it becomes a bad thing because speedway riders come under the tougher rules.

I don't know the whole story, but from what I can see, this is how it is. Edinburgh tried to get a rider who doesn't fit in with the requirements. They must have known this? They asked the mc for approval. No harm in asking, right? They were told that he doesn't fit the criteria. That's the end of it, surely. I see no problem in how the BSPA have acted here. If Edinburgh want to keep this going, they should contact their local MP and get him to persue the case. It worked for Swindon with Jimmy Nilsen all those years ago, when you needed to be a 6 pointer to get a work permit. Don't blame the BSPA here. Their sponsorship license is at risk if they let someone slip through the net.

Absolutely. I said the same thing myself, elsewhere. The Sun front page today was criticising the decision. There was a front page story opportunity there for the taking by supporting these girls who are being victimised.

For the same reason they assessed Martin Vaculik below Nick Morris and Jacob Thorsell. Whatever that reason is.

Have we? Lindgren and Bjerre out. Vaculik and Iversen in. Plus Holder and Batchelor back. I'd say the top end is stronger over all, although Lindgren is a big loss.

I believe that's the title of the film in the USA.

Spot on. It's about the same over all. The weaker clubs have gained and the top 3 clubs have dipped due to being over the limit and losing an 8 point rider. The one-over-8 rule was completely uneccesary, as proved by NKI and Vaculik coming in. There was no need to lose Lindgren and Bjerre. The low teams basically voted for themselves to be better at the expense of the top clubs. Unfair. People say it was because of cost, but Vacuik and NKI coming in show no sign of cost cutting. Somerset have signed the World Champion, so presumably could have signed anyone they wanted at number one. So why force Swindon to lose someone? Rye House indicated they wanted a GP rider, even if they never signed one, so cost couldn't have been an issue there. The points limit could have been higher this year, with the new riders coming in. A wasted opportunity to improve the strength of the league.

Apparently it's not.

So the plan now, it seems, is for the new stadium to be built on the same site as the current one. If new one is worked on and changed, then fine. If the current one is to be demolished first, then not fine.

Just stating what I'd read. It's not always a good thing to pick a side and blindly believe everything from that side, while refusing to believe what you see from the other side. This is just an interview with them. I'm just saying what they said because you refused to believe it.

Seek and ye shall find. "The stadium is home to the Mildenhall Fen Tigers speedway team, but also hosts banger, stock car and greyhound racing. Ms Lawrence said activities could last until 1am, with clearing up until 3am"

Google is your friend, Adonis. It was noise from the stadium, not just racing. http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/west-row-mildenhall-stadium-row-couple-claim-they-had-no-option-but-to-take-their-legal-battle-to-the-supreme-court-1-3376217

It would be interesting to see a few Bristol meetings at Blunsdon, although I would have thought Somerset was a more natural venue for them.

If you read about the Mildenhall case, there was an issue with noise coming from the stadium at 2 or 3 in the morning from banger racing people, which was the issue. I think anyone who could hear that at night would get a little miffed in the end if nobody was prepared to keep it down during the night and be reasonable. I have a friend who used to live in Church Rd (I think), about 20 yards from Exeter Speedway. I've been at his house when the racing was on and couldn't hear a thing. It was actually having hoards of people walking past his window that caused him more bother than the racing itself.

1 - Poole. Look really solid. If Woryna and Holder improve their averages as expected nobody will stop them. 2 - Leicester. With the signings plus releasing Jim Lynch, they are showing that they mean to be taken seriously. Now the other teams - the ones without riders on dodgy averages. 3 - Belle Vue. Will be pretty strong again, particularly at home with Tungate rampant. What is it with him and that track? 4 - Somerset. The Doyle factor. 5 - Swindon. The lack of Doyle factor 6 - Wolverhampton - The lack of Lindgren factor 7 - Rye House. Disappointing that they never brought in a GP rider. Should have signed Andrew Silver to bring down the average age a bit. 8 - King's Lynn. Obvs.

You seem to have a low opinion of your new number one, saying he would have dropped Swindon at the snap of his fingers. Well, it was the other way round wasn't it? You may think he is something of a prima donna who is after a large fee. So why would Somerset sign him? Surely they couldn't afford him if he was. Enjoy having Jason. British speedway doesn't deserve him.

Agree Sidney. A very big thing for me that we lost the World Champ. I never went when Briggo was winning titles. This could have been the moment I'd waited 40 years for. I know some people think that having the top riders doesn't mean much, but things like this really drains my enthusiasm. Will Somerset, King's Lynn etc gain as many supporters as Swindon will lose from this rule? I doubt it.

Doyle would have been at Swindon if a little gang of promoters hadn't ganged together and voted to make sure that the top clubs had to release a rider over 8. I'm sure Jason will be happy at Somerset - and may stay there in the future - but there's no way he would have been there if Somerset and the like hadn't voted for it. Anyway, the result of the supposed restrictions everyone decided to place on teams is that everyone is going to get stuffed by Poole again. So well done all.

Riding at 2 or 4 doesn't neccesarily make you a second string rider if your average is that of a heat leader. Ivan Mauger sometimes rode at number 2 for Exeter as a tactic to give him a ts ride later in the match if required in KO Cup matches. It didn't make him a second string rider.