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Great job from the Robins, well done lads. Hard lines on the Witches. Not sure why everyone is going so hard on Ipswich, they were written off as wooden spoon holders at the start of the season yet have still made the League final through a bit of grit and determination that would be a right tonic for a few other teams in this league. People can’t act all surprised and dismissive when they struggle against a massively strong team that underperformed for a lot of the year but really hit their stride since late August. Credit to the track guys at Foxhall for turning round what was probably an absolute quagmire into a decent racing surface. Some more workable lines would have helped the spectacle a bit and some dirt on the fence for their riders that like that might have helped them, but it wasn’t at all bad considering the weather we’ve had. Not sure if a big dirt line would have helped much anyway, you still need to make decent starts and riders like Doyle, Ellis and Rasmus have no problem with a bit of grip. It’s not like Batch stormed it tonight because it was bald as a coot. Only half time, but it would take something catastrophic to happen for the Robins to mess this one up.

Whilst I can't dispute your figures for this years rainfall and how many PP that would have caused, the simple fact is, October sees more average rainfall than September, so if you start the Play Offs in September you give yourselves more time to get the fixtures in and we don't end up with the farcical situation we currently have where there's only 2 weeks left in the season and the fixtures are run in poor conditions and whenever we can fit them in to the detriment of the sport and its supporters. How many people booked last Monday off work (Wolves v Swindon) and then couldn't go on the Weds? likewise this week, how many booked yesterday (for the biggest meeting of the year) and have to miss out because they can't get out of work the following day? Swindon have managed to fill a coach despite only knowing on Thursday that they'd definitely be in the final and with it being PP yesterday have managed to fill it again for today, how many coaches would they have filled if they'd had fair warning of the fixture? 2? probably 3? likely 4? possibly, the sport is missing out and doing itself no favours, forget all the usual nonsense about yellow helmets and 1 big league, the first stop is just better organisation all round.

Dreadful camera work

Both have their fair share of "pricks".

I believe Poole should enter into the Championship , continuing in a league which is in free fall through lack of numbers of clubs and riders does not make sense.We need to look after the sport in this country first and foremost. Costs will be cut .. which at this point in Speedway is required. The championship leagues seems a more viable stable option , and I believe promoted right the correct way to go. Commercially it is a more interesting league from a sponsorship viewpoint.The sponsorship can be sold , at a more economical price. More of them at a more viable price..Relying on a large main sponsor whilst good is also as proven not always a good thing, especially in this current economic climate. The club would be able to link to the current crop of sdl/mdl riders and bring riders through the ranks at reserve level. It worked under stewkesbury back in the day, and I feel actually it was more entertaining. Anyway just my thoughts

Well done Swindon - deserved winners on the night and surely there is no way they can lose it from here Special mention for Ellis Perks - he is the Massif man of the meeting

Ellis and Tobi won us this. Class tonight.

Ellis Perks.. What a tryer..

A bit like yourself

Shocking camera work

I had the flu in 2003. A cold it is not. Man flu it is not. I was laid out for over two weeks in bed and affected for well over a month Totally exhausted before slowly recovering. It is true to say that line that if a 50 pound note had Wafted past my bedroom window I would not have got up to pick it up. It really can be a life threatening illness for the weak and elderly. If a jabs available for free from the doctor don’t hesitate IMO.

I can understand your point Lisa although I don't readily agree with it. I see people as individuals rather than a collective and try not to tar everyone with the same brush, if I did, then I would see all Poole fans as tongue in cheek wind up merchants thanks to Steve (loves ya really Steve ). Instead I take each person as they come and work out the individual personalities and go with that. As for not posting, I did cover that further up. Updates, work, family and this season, a multitude of mad dashes to hospital in the middle of the night (for parents) leaves precious little time for reading let alone posting on here. Alongside this, I have had struggles with my mental health and a crisis of self confidence over the last few years which led to a massive reduction in posting not just here but on Updates (although I was still doing my normal organisation and chasing, just not active posting) , social media and other non speedway related forums preferring to be very much in the background. I realised just how much I had withdrawn a few weeks back when everyone was posting about Cardiff and have gradually over recent weeks, forced myself to stop hiding and to become more involved again.

They work in several places as you allude to... Therefore the 'skill' is there... All it needs now is the collective 'will' to make it happen... Even if just for TV meetings which provide the 'window' for the sport for so many to see in.. Far, far too often you read about meetings getting called off due to issues not actually on the day of racing but before. With the race day itself absolutely fine.. Covers would give TV a far more favourable impression of the sport as they wouldn't keep shelling out to pay for cameras, equipment etc for no reason, and also give fans confidence to attend on those 50/50 'on or not' nights whereby currently so many decide not to bother.. Getting information out to a pre positioned list of volunteers has never been so easy as it is today with this wonderful tool called the Internet... Therefore someone involved in the clubs, with even the most basic organisational skills, could I am sure deliver covers being put down and lifted... If the clubs really wanted to do it..

The Pirates are MY team and always will be. Whatever League we race in, I will be there. Once Pirate fan, always a Pirate fan. No other team will ever come close. I have said to friends for at least 3 or 4 years the we are no more than a Championship side with perhaps just one stand out rider. This season has proved we are no more than that level. It has been a struggle to generate any enthusiasm for the 2019 team,tbh. I think lots of people feel the same. On the occasions that I have been to Wimborne Road you can quite clearly see the lack of crowds, also there is a poor atmosphere. I dont drink or smoke. I can however relate to a smoker trying to give it up. I am fed up with it all right now. Once the season starts again, I will be following the Pirates in what will be my 65th season!

I would like to see for Poole:- J Holder R Wells THJ

Interesting first leg if not enthralling but plenty of incidents to chew over. Swindon’s top five could even cope with a poor night for Batchelor and still win comfortably, they have looked like the best team for a few months now. Fair play to them. Ipswich should be proud of their efforts this season, nobody gave them a prayer of anything other than 7th.

Congrats to Swindon, by far the better team. I won't slag my team off, as I only expected them to finish 1from bottom. So reaching the finals was a great achievement, and overturning Poole was a fantastic night. What I will say though is, one look at the track and it was clear who would come out on top. Which brings me to my next point,, please can we have a couple of boring gaters next season please, along with Allen. Oh and wow Perks is one hell of a battler,,, love him, never gave up or an inch, love riders like that.

Could be worse... could be at Poole.

When is your 3rd birthday?

If the boy is done for the season he is done. Maybe, just maybe he is riding in Germany as per the terms of a contract he has signed. This ‘International’. Match up is no more than just a filler. Be interesting to see how much it whets the public’s appetite. On a personal level you couldn’t pay me to go watch it. Im way to long in the tooth ( old) to stand out there freezing my conkers off to watch a nothing meeting.

And both clubs lose out having the final at home and miss out on revenue? Gotta be two legs

If anything I feel even more reckless at times mate....currently suffering with the after affects of mild concussion after falling drunkenly in King William Street after going to a house party Saturday with Ola ....could had sworn id put coke with that Jack Daniels!!!! May miss Thursday through 7 day ruling......never drinking again!!!!!

Obviously taking over from SCB who was always going on about old people. I'd rather be old than have a mind like his.

Both clubs would get a lot more attend if the final was either a Saturday or Sunday

Exactly , who wants a meeting over and done with in under an hour ? Certainly not me

Always was going to be. I think we would have put up a better fight but would have still be comfortably beaten over 2 legs. Swindon too strong this year. We can take comfort knowing we pipped them to finishing top, not that it really meant anything.

Stevie wonder would be a better cameraman

Camera man is rubbish faced

That’s why I like Perks - great battler

Why so many adverts for over 50s insurance plans? Are they trying to find their target audience?

A little unfair to be too critical of Ipswich as they HAVE done very well to get where they have this season. The final was always going to be Swindon’s (weather pemitting) and a bit of a non event (which is what is happening), but I still think Ipswich deserve some kudos, not criticism, for this season (possibly Iversen excepted!!!!)

Agreed if I was a witches fan I would be disappointed with him overall, add I King too

why the heck does a bloke walk out with a bit of bunting hold it up for 5 seconds then walks back into the in field ??? looks ridiculous ......

Farcical seen better from re run

Yes, sorry. I may be in a minority but for me this season has been pretty dull, largely I think because in my eyes this isn’t a Newcastle team. Maybe we’ve been fortunate in the past, I don’t know. Nevertheless, IGWT - I m sure he has a cunning plan to win us the cup!

If meetings were regularly 50 minutes you would have no crowd. 2 hours is a sensible and compatible duration to relate to say football as being a nights entertainment.

Admire anyone that travels on coach to meetings that may or may not be on. Lee has done a fantastic job and crowds have increased at The Arena this year. The sport needs more Kilbys, Bishops...

As our learned forumite, The Weasel, has already pointed out, the organisation and leadership of this organisation is shocking. We had a similar issue back in 2012 when 3 times the Poole v Swindon match was attempted before it was finally completed. That was in October too. Lessons learned - nope. As an example, I have been available to attend the original running of both Wolves and Ipswich but cannot attend the re-staged meetings as funnily enough, like most of us, I have work commitments and responsibilities. It is unbelievable that a group of people can continually make the same mistakes 'ad nauseum'. From a Swindon perspective 'young' Kilby seems to have an idea about how to engage the Swindon supporters and coaches have now run to Belle Vue, Wolves and Ipswich. He is also introducing a season ticket payable over a year to ease the tremendous financial burden families face but cleverly, you pay all year round to ensure a reliable cashflow to the club. The rest of the promoters, and I am sure that individually they are nice blokes, however, collectively I wouldn't p*** on any of them and trust them to organise the usual night out in the brewery. Typically, these dinosaurs are too selfish, shortsighted and refuse to see the bigger picture but like dinosaurs, you all know what happens in the end.....

Sun is still shining here in Ipswich so bring it on Whatever the result tonight and tomorrow, thank you witches for the ride in 2019.

From a Scunny fan, the team was hit and miss, probably performed as most predicted pre-season. The on track entertainment was excellent... however I echo everyone else's comments, the season was far too short, too many blank weekends, supporters just tend to lose a bit of interest. I'd like to see every track host a meaningful 4TT. Plus a round of a Championship GP style meeting....and a few more league meetings wouldn't go amiss.

Still plenty of time to sort that out. The positive is just how good a shape in looks in considering the last few days It is now possible to make it how the Witches want it rather than just how the weather dictates Bring it on!!

I could still do a donut on a bike and I am over 70. I bet Billy Bales could too! Riding at full racing speed in an international meeting ( even a challenge ) is a very different propostion. Back injuries are the kind of injury that you cannpt be too careful with.

Not true. I can't make (many) Thursdays due to family commitments, Wednesdays are fine and have always been kept free for Poole Speedway. The change to Thursday meant my attendance dropped significantly as I cannot change my family situation on a Thursday. So there you finally have what you've been craving... my reason for not attending much this year!

I believe the punishment for missing the NLRC is actually a 2 home meeting ban. (How that works for someone doubling up I am not sure, but assume it would only affect his NL club) For me what I would like to see is the cream of the NL riding in front of a big crowd in decent weather. My suggestion is hold it at Swindon or Somerset the sunday after the Cardiff GP, what are peoples thoughts.

That is not my responsibility, and if we can't get Split Waterman's passing on there, what makes you think we could get anything else changed? Have you ever considered that YOU may be wrong, and that this particular entry in Wikipedia may be inaccurate? I don't just assume that everything I read is correct (particularly if there is a question about it), so I will conduct my own research. I have always been under the impression that California (or California-in-England was not an actual place name, more a term applied to a certain area. I didn't actually know the history of the place until now, and so far, what I have found seems to agree with what The Doctor has said. The ONLY reference to California as a village is that single entry on wikipedia, which was submitted by an individual claiming supposed knowledge of the subject. We all know that due to the origins of the information on there, it is not 100% accurate. Steering away from wikipedia, a couple of the main resources I checked were detailed (and, it would seem, pretty accurate) gazetteer of towns and villages in Berkshire, and one of towns and parishes in Berkshire. There is no reference to it as a village, hamlet, parish, or any other locale with the actual name of California. All reference to "California: or "California-in-England" concerns the park. More to the point, if California WAS a true village or hamlet, then I am pretty sure it would appear on a map of the area. I have yet to find a map on which it is shown, other than in reference to the park.

Long time fans Rabbit and her husband stopped going. Admittedly only two but there were probably others who were affected by riding Thursday's instead of Wednesday's.

Yep, my reply was to tellboy really in relation to Riss. Wasn’t referring to Proctor but I think we did well to get a decent season out of him last year, he was pretty awful this season and his stick has fallen in both leagues unfortunately for him. Certainly wouldn’t want him near the team for 2020 despite his average.

Seems to be the case at most tracks these days.

Luke and all of his team are proud to be associated with Berwick Speedway the help support and encouragement we have had since coming to the team 4 years ago has been brilliant.