BigFatDave

G'day cuz!! I'm just going by the programme stalls up by the car park and directly below where we were in the stands towards the first bend near the Kirbys from Labrador, Gold Coast, they of the inflatable Kangaroo - if any arrived after my last python siphon I'll stand corrected but I do know there were a few complaints and one mate bought a programme which was a bit ratty with a creased cover and was told it was the "lucky last"! Mebbe they brought some more in?

Yep, the glory days of instant qualification to the final round and great British riders like Briggs, Mauger and Moore are long gone, but the foundations are being laid for the future and you can thank Rob Lyon and his happy, united band of kids for that.

I'm trying to find one phrase or even one word in this post which is relevant to the topic being discussed, altho' TBH the thought of you attempting to swim to Norway is the best news I've heard in ages, especially for long term British Speedway fans.

That'll be a relief for Flyin' Ryan; he reported that having the first-up ride after each grading (when Oz drew red at P'boro) was extremely difficult in relation to set-ups for each race.

Thanks for the update, Phil. Great to know he's not lost to the sport - yet! PS I'll see you at Gillman for the Aust. Championships in January I hope. Johnno's looking after me dog while I'm overseas, but we'll try and get him down again for some solos this time.

Incredibly good value for a top-class meeting that will go right down to the wire, plus the chance of some inebriated fan getting past Polish Security and making it onto the paddock to disrupt the meeting would be virtually Zilch. (I doubt if I could climb the fence sober!!) For several years now the Race-off has equalled or surpassed the Final in excitement and great racing; Poole 2004, Reading 2006, Leszno 2007 being three examples. I'm looking forward to a ripper meeting. Go OZ!!

Right, just time to sit down and watch SKY's replay of SWC then its Adieu to Pomgolia for a few days and the delights of downtown Wroclaw. I'm expecting a fine TV show and am eagerly anticipating the informed commentary of messrs Tattum et al.

I can't understand your prejudice against Team GB, Snyper, they are your representatives and they did you proud. Maybe you need to clean those Tartan-tinted glasses of yours? There were plenty of Union flags in evidence, the team's T-shirts incorporated them and it said Team GB on the programme. Mind you, you had to be there early to get one. Apparently only 2000 were printed and they'd disappeared by seven o'clock. Might have been the only evidence of poor planning since they'd pre-sold over 3000 tickets.

What a great advert for Speedway. I've been a fan for over forty years and I'm pressed to remember a better race than that between Matej Zagar and Jason Crump. A well-prepared track, courtesy of a decent drenching shower at about 1600 hrs followed by a drying wind, not to mention some sterling work by the locals, set the scene for a truly exciting event. The team spirit was evident earlier on at practise and continued throughout the day - I was most impressed with Rob Lyon's performance as Team GB manager; he's created a well-bonded group of young riders which can only bode well for the future. I just wish some of the armchair critics would get off his back and give him the credit he deserves, but then judging by some of the comments on this thread the Whingeing Poms are in the majority on this forum - sometimes I truly doubt if many of them actually know what's involved with Speedway judging by their ill-informed diatribes, let alone whether they leave their keyboards and attend any meetings. It was good during practise to be able to observe at close quarters the way the four teams set themselves for the day. The easy-going attitude of Team Oz masking a fierce determination to win; the inner strength of the Slovenians aware they were on a hiding to nothing but set to show their best; the disciplined Polish side on a mission to succeed on foreign soil in front of their many British-based fans and last but definitely not least Team GB on a team-building exercise that not only proved fruitful but points to better days ahead. On a negative note I thought the ref was a bit harsh excluding Tomasz Gollob as the last race was held up for some considerable time by the antics of a genuine Wally and the ineffective efforts of Track Security to apprehend him speedily enough - I'm sure Tomasz would have been apprehensive of bodily harm from the potty Polish trespasser, and for me the whole episode took the gloss off what otherwise was a flawless meet. It was wonderful to catch up with so many old acquaintances and make many new friends - but onward and upward to Leszno I reckon, and hopefully I'll see a few of you there.

Of course there's absolutely no possibility of Poland tanking this evening in order to get the crowd up for the Race-off, is there? Seriously here's hoping for a meeting with the same excitement as Round One. Come On Aussie Come on.

All under 21 as far as I can recollect, given the deleterious effect this tour has had on me brain cells I'm amazed I can remember that!! A distinct lack of HalifaxTiger at Mildenhall yesterday was remedied by electing one of our number "HalifaxTiger for the Day" - sorry about that Neil but the rest of us agreed it was the right call!! On to Peterborough!

Hang on - this isn't going to turn into a Poole thread is it?

Heard last night it would be Jason, Leigh, Ryan, Chris and Adam Shields. Whoever rides I'm sure I'll be getting some serious flag-waving in.

No worries HT, I met a Fen Tiger Fan at Lynn last night who assured me I'd be amazed at the facilities there!! Chauffer-driven last night and tonight - Luxury!! (In a Yorkshire accent )

Mildewhall could be on for Sunday if I can get sponsorship!!

Rooboy and Darcy both having prangs has really thrown a spanner in the woodpile - maybe a call-up for Ryan or Troy? I can think of another bloke that wouldn't let us down either but he'll probably be working for SKY - go Johnno!!

Couldn't agree more mate.

Its a heap of fun, that's for sure!! Sadly I had to miss the party at the Legends Bar in Swindon last night; I was undergoing emergency surgery to re-attach me nuts after they froze off! After spending a while huddled for warmth around the glowing tip of a herbal cigarette I made it back to ye olde countrie pubbe where I was camped just in time to get heated up again inside and out. Good day today mostly, catching buses and trains by a whisker, the only bleak spot was yet another superior public servant-type who presumes everyone knows where they're going just because they do. I suppose they're everywhere but I've certainly met a few this time around; it gives me great pleasure to prick their balloons. I look forward with interest to how these people and their discourteous ilk will cope in 2012 when the Olympic Circus descends on London; it doesn't cost a cent to be polite and you end up being repaid a thousandfold. Anyhow, enough of the pontifications, I'm now comfortably esconced in a pub about a mile from Brandon - despite the bus driver's best attempts to lead me astray - eagerly awaiting tonight's match and enjoying the cricket.

Gregoric starts with a "G". Thanxx for the update BritPete - will we be seeing you there, mate?

What's your line-up, Tomaz?

What's your line-up, Tomaz?

Ah - Swindon, home of lotsa Aussies, and quaint rural pubs, and me! Hoping for a better match than last night, maybe even a performance to match the 'Elite" tag. There's a fair few forummers round here too, plus a good bar apparently - we shall see.

......and that saves them the postage & packing whatever or registered delivery etc which they've charged you for............. ........and if they keep getting away with it, why not?

Bit of a whisper going round about Leigh maybe withdrawing from Peterborough round - anyone got any hard news? Edit: Unconfirmed reports of a new suit of Kevlars being made up for a certain 16-y-old Wunderkind - maybe since we're gonna get in to the Polish rounds without too much drama somehow Boycey's thinkin' of bloodin' the young feller?

It was a big day's travel today, cuz, an exciting trip on the Puffer Train from Wolverhampton to Ryde on the idyllic Isle of Wight via a quick connection on the Tube from Euston to Waterloo, plus a ride on a Fastcat Ferry and I had to be up and happening at the crack of (engaged in an act of deeply physical intimacy) Dawn. I did manage to get in a tiny bit of trouble on an escalator, I'm a lot easier to go round than over, you know - anyhow, he didn't seem too badly hurt, just having a quick lie-down when I left. Had a quick stagger round hysterical - oooooops Historical Ryde, looking for a hole in the wall and a watering hole, plus a vendor of porky pies, and now I'm firmly esconced in the hotel bar connected to the ether. Showery but plenty of Sunshine so fingers crossed for the Sidecars tonight. I'll have one for ya!! PS I also managed to find a partially restored Victorian-style garden with a pleasant view of some Greenery - Bliss!! (Koff, Koff!)