Berwick ‘buy a brick’ Bandits 2025

[Jaizer]

1 hour ago, Pinny said:

Be stunned to see Kildemand or Cook line up for Berwick this season. 
 

Cook is an absolute disgrace and can't be pulling the mental health card - there is nothing wrong with him he is just an alcoholic. Nothing to do with mental health . Waking up depressed with a hangover isn't mental health related. 
 

He has always been a complete tosspot , was once a great rider at this level but never had the aura of a Stoney or Wilson. Proper characters who had a love hate relationship with away fans. Cook has always just been a complete emptyhead and now his speedway career is washed up, it is quite funny to think he will end up doing idiot all with the rest of his life. 
 

Berwick need to admit he wont reply to them, he has a drink problem and they have cut ties and are making other plans. 

Alcoholism is a mental illness. You should probably have checked that before this post 

[TheWellBehavedWorrall]

1 hour ago, Pinny said:

Use google and look up his name , its all on there. 

What do you mean? What’s there?

[Marksman]

1 hour ago, emilali said:

Kildemand has a concussion why wouldn't he be back after that….

I read he has nerve damage in his back. I'm guessing he will be back at somepoint, but if that's not for the start of the season, I'm guessing Berwick will be relying on having a guest facility for Cook and 75% facility replacement for Kildemand?

[Marksman]

On the Cook subject, it's all just speculation. Nobody who I spoke to on Saturday at the Pairs had any clue what's happening with him, and these are people who would usually know.

Last I saw of him on social media he was out in the lakes in February time with Dan Bewley and others on BMX bikes.

Hope the guy is okay.

 

 

[Pinny]

1 hour ago, Jaizer said:

Alcoholism is a mental illness. You should probably have checked that before this post 

Same as heroin addiction then or do you sympathise with them too? 

[Pinny]

1 hour ago, Jaizer said:

Alcoholism is a mental illness. You should probably have checked that before this post 

Same as heroin addiction then or do you sympathise with them too? 

[Jaizer]

27 minutes ago, Pinny said:

Same as heroin addiction then or do you sympathise with them too? 

Of course. I come from a deprived area in west of Scotland where it's rife. I feel for anyone with any kind of addiction having gone through gambling in the past myself. Is that one ok though because doesn't involve any substance?

[Pinny]

57 minutes ago, Jaizer said:

Of course. I come from a deprived area in west of Scotland where it's rife. I feel for anyone with any kind of addiction having gone through gambling in the past myself. Is that one ok though because doesn't involve any substance?

Its all self inflicted . 
 

for instance, someone going out and buying and trying heroin for the first time leading to addiction has nobody to blame but themselves. Why should anybody feel sorry for them?  Loads of people go through trauma in life, most dont turn to booze or drugs. 
 

i didn't hear anybody jumping to Darcy Wards defence when he turned up over the limit at a GP. Or is it different because he hadn't claimed he had a mental illness?

If cook has a genuine mental illness then he should not even be holding a license in the first place.  He would be a danger to others on track. 
 

regarding the Google point I made, well google his name and look at one of the first things to come up. 
 

 

[Catch Me If You Can]

Will Dayle Wood be at P and P 

Edinburgh Academy race Saturday night in National League 

Is he in the edinburgh team

[Jaizer]

4 hours ago, Pinny said:

Its all self inflicted . 
 

for instance, someone going out and buying and trying heroin for the first time leading to addiction has nobody to blame but themselves. Why should anybody feel sorry for them?  Loads of people go through trauma in life, most dont turn to booze or drugs. 
 

i didn't hear anybody jumping to Darcy Wards defence when he turned up over the limit at a GP. Or is it different because he hadn't claimed he had a mental illness?

If cook has a genuine mental illness then he should not even be holding a license in the first place.  He would be a danger to others on track. 
 

regarding the Google point I made, well google his name and look at one of the first things to come up. 
 

 

Tbh just embarrassing yourself now 

[screm]

The clock continues to tick and the silence is deafening. 

[Fromafar]

19 minutes ago, screm said:

The clock continues to tick and the silence is deafening. 

Nothing new there.

[scaramanga]

8 hours ago, Marksman said:

On the Cook subject, it's all just speculation. Nobody who I spoke to on Saturday at the Pairs had any clue what's happening with him, and these are people who would usually know.

Last I saw of him on social media he was out in the lakes in February time with Dan Bewley and others on BMX bikes.

Hope the guy is okay.

 

 

you didnt speak to right people then 

if what i was told is accurate lets just say people are being a bit hard on him 

was doing well till couple of months ago from tale i got told and the rest is not my place to say

[mikebv]

12 hours ago, Pinny said:

Be stunned to see Kildemand or Cook line up for Berwick this season. 
 

Cook is an absolute disgrace and can't be pulling the mental health card - there is nothing wrong with him he is just an alcoholic. Nothing to do with mental health . Waking up depressed with a hangover isn't mental health related. 
 

He has always been a complete tosspot , was once a great rider at this level but never had the aura of a Stoney or Wilson. Proper characters who had a love hate relationship with away fans. Cook has always just been a complete emptyhead and now his speedway career is washed up, it is quite funny to think he will end up doing idiot all with the rest of his life. 
 

Berwick need to admit he wont reply to them, he has a drink problem and they have cut ties and are making other plans. 

Disgraceful comments...

Alcoholism is recognised as being often directly linked to mental health issues therefore anyone isn't "just an alcoholic"...

I presume therefore that a rider must also have let down his team because he has broken his leg? 

Oh, hang on, that's visual isn't it? He MUST be genuine because we can see the plaster his leg is wrapped in..

It is only Speedway, a very, very tiny sport watched nationally by a very small portion of the country..

And by just a few hundred in Berwick...

If he doesn't ride this year, I am sure the world will move on..

No idea what is wrong with the lad, if anything at all, but, if there is, hopefully he can sort it...

Best Wishes to him...

Edited April 8, 2025 by mikebv

[Mr Blobby]

23 minutes ago, scaramanga said:

you didnt speak to right people then 

if what i was told is accurate lets just say people are being a bit hard on him 

was doing well till couple of months ago from tale i got told and the rest is not my place to say

Yeah it’s fair to say people don’t know a lot and if they did wouldn’t be as harsh on them as they have.

[scaramanga]

6 hours ago, Pinny said:

Its all self inflicted . 
 

for instance, someone going out and buying and trying heroin for the first time leading to addiction has nobody to blame but themselves. Why should anybody feel sorry for them?  Loads of people go through trauma in life, most dont turn to booze or drugs. 
 

i didn't hear anybody jumping to Darcy Wards defence when he turned up over the limit at a GP. Or is it different because he hadn't claimed he had a mental illness?

If cook has a genuine mental illness then he should not even be holding a license in the first place.  He would be a danger to others on track. 
 

regarding the Google point I made, well google his name and look at one of the first things to come up. 
 

 

there is a big list of speedway riders with issues some are open about it others are not 

its not that long ago danny ayres took his own life 

lets hope craig finds a different way for his familys sake 

[IainB]

1 minute ago, Mr Blobby said:

Yeah it’s fair to say people don’t know a lot and if they did wouldn’t be as harsh on them as they have.

The only thing we do know is that the day before Leicester's press and practice his father informed the club that he wasn't ready to ride Speedway. I think the clubs he was contracted to ride for, and their fans, deserve some kind of explanation, even if it's just a "personal reasons" statement and in Bewick's case some kind of acknowledgement of the events at Leicester... it's not too much to ask from a professional sportsman and or club. 

[Robinh88]

2 hours ago, scaramanga said:

there is a big list of speedway riders with issues some are open about it others are not 

its not that long ago danny ayres took his own life 

lets hope craig finds a different way for his familys sake 

I would expand that bracket to the general population for the record (1st paragraph).  

A wise man once said to me "you never know what is going on under a riders helmet". I agree I hope Craig can sort himself out.

Why Berwick signed him? Pass! Why he agreed to sign for Berwick? Pass!

[Pinny]

12 hours ago, Jaizer said:

Tbh just embarrassing yourself now 

Why, because you think people should feel sorry for addicts?

You don't hear people defending junkies on the street who are hooked on smack and crack and god knows what else. When they break into someones house or car or mug someone on the street. People want them slung in the slammer and rightly so as its where they belong.

Addiction being ruled as an illness or mental illness is absolutely ridiculous.

If Cook has a genuine mental illness and is traumatized by something then of course I would feel bad for what I have said regarding him. The rumors are (not for the first time) he has a massive booze problem and therefore is unable to show for work because of it. If that is false then I will be the first to apologize. 

I have sat through hours and hours of toolbox talks in Australia on mental health and have come face to face with people who have suffered massive family tragedy and come out the other side without resorting to drugs or booze (or gambling).

I will add that the fact gambling is classed as a mental illness is absolutely pathetic. If your thick enough to gamble away money needed to support yourself or family then that is your decision and yours only. Nothing ever comes good out of gambling that's why casino and bookie owners are so rich.

I am the first to admit I am outspoken at times but some of the reactions on here is exactly why the world is how it is today. Snowflakes and people tip toeing about in case they offend someone.

Craig Cook has let both Leicester and Berwick down at the drop of a hat right before the season starts and has still not came out and explained why. As I said before, why does he hold a current license if he has genuine mental health problems? People can say its a disgusting comment all they want, its still a very valid question.

[szkocjasid]

14 hours ago, Catch Me If You Can said:

Will Dayle Wood be at P and P 

Edinburgh Academy race Saturday night in National League 

Is he in the edinburgh team

From the Northumberland Gazette 2 days ago:

Dane Peter Kildemand is back on a bike after serving a nine-day concussion ban while countryman Bastian Borke is back riding after major knee and leg surgery over the winter.

New signings Sam Hagon and Craig Cook will be familiarising themselves with the home side of Shielfield Park’s pits bay while Dayle Wood will be the busiest man of the day.

The charismatic 30-year-old Australian will pose for the assembled media in his new R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS kevlars before heading north to Armadale where he will race for the Monarchs Academy in their opening National Development League fixture of the season against Middlesbrough Tigers.

Interestingly it mentions Craig Cook will be there.