Leaderboard

Good evening, am posting this with the blessing of the gaffer, The reason for the back straight and turn two get churned up with tractor tyres is as follows, we have take 80 to 100 thousand ltrs of water off the track and from the drains over the past week or so, the only way of doing this is by tractor and water bowser, which only holds 4 thousand ltrs at a time, so you can work out how many trips that takes, the only place we can put this water is outside of the stadium, our only exit from the track is along the back straight and turn 2 through the pits, we have no choice, can't leave water on the track, can't get it off without causing some damage to the track. We will do our best to get this meeting on. I have worked on that track for nearly 6 years now, have worked with the best track curators there are , So I find it disgusting by someone on here claiming I did something to the track which caused SD to end up in hospital. That 1 post has upset me big time.

Feel genuinely sad and sorry for the Promotion here. They have battled on against all the odds really to stay running as standalone NDL as they simply can't afford anything else but can make NDL work. They have to deal with Stocks wrecking the track on most Saturday nights giving them minimal time to prepare and take all the flak that generates from some keyboard warriors who haven't a clue about the work involved and the work they put in. They continue to develop talent and should be roundly applauded and supported for that. Not their fault that sometimes other clubs can't do Sundays; and they have no doubt been forced by circumstances mostly outside of their control to run what should be "seasons biggest matches" in October when it's convenient for Clubs who are running 2 teams. Lets hope they can continue and can thrive and not be another lost NDL Club like Stoke and Buxton. Iwade have shown the way and another that deserve massive credit, hopefully Workington will provide new and fresh impetus for this vital tier.

They can keep mine thanks. It was the Scottish Open/Farewell to Armadale. Pre-meeting the tone had changed and I think everyone who was there or supported the meeting realised it might not be the end and are now very thankful it isn’t.

Could always put 5 or 6 of the Poole fans from here on the track. They blow enough hot air out there ar*es too dry the whole track.

Can we just accept that: 1) it has been very wet recently 2) that at this time of the year restoring a sodden track to a state fit for racing can be tricky 3) Leicester are exercising their best endeavours to get the track ready for tomorrow 4) weather forecasts are not 100% guaranteed predictions, so we are hoping for the best tomorrow. And having got that off my chest, see you at Beaumont Park tomorrow.

Of course it shouldn't. If that was the case, any side who tops the table but loses heavily in the first leg away could just decide not to stage their own leg and be declared champions. If any side fails to stage their leg of the final, then the title should automatically go to the other team.

Brilliantly put. Mildenhall is a great little stadium that has survived against the odds due to the hard work of its promoters, management, riders and supporters. It has a proud history at this grass roots level of the sport, and long may it continue.

Thanks for coming on here & giving us all a genuine insight as to the difficulties faced in the last week. Those of us that live locally know just how much rain has fallen, how little chance there has been for any drying of the track to take place. Appreciate all your efforts & hope we can have some racing tomorrow night

I don’t believe that Leicester are playing around here, they are the victims of certain other club dragging their heals all season which has led to this final having to take place at a time which should be reserved for end of season bashes.

Nobody is ever going to want to take that decision on! It's laughable all these Poole fans coming up with wild fantasy scenarios... Leicester will hold the 2nd leg on their own track, when it is in a fit condition after a period of dry weather, end of! Personally I don't see what the rush is, I know Poole will want their Aussies to be there, it's really up to them to make sure they are.

Shovlar speak...for-: I've got some more mucky photos but i've got in to bother with plod before for sharing mucky photos

The thread running earlier this year about British Speedway being a joke seems quite apt. How come one sport can end up with such an incompetent bunch ruling over what use to be an enjoyable past time but has become a farce. Well done all on the top table, you have earned dick heads of the year for what must be the umpteenth time. No wonder Speedway is on it knees.

Great point. They should abandon plans for next season for this very reason. So many mugs in speedway it’s unreal.

Plus clocks go back this weekend, so they have an extra hour

Any more photos from this afternoon you can describe to us?

It is what it is, perhaps Leicester could have done something differently or perhaps Leicester's track doesn't dry out as quickly because of the clay content (as mentioned on here before). Nobody really knows apart from those preparing the track - which certainly isn't me, and I doubt it's you. Every track is different. Fact is, if it wasn't for the rain, this wouldn't be a problem would it? Do you think Leicester are doing this on purpose?

I agree, in these circumstances the final league table has no value in deciding the champions. If we go by Mr Shovlar's reports as truthful and accurate, then a decision has to be reached as to whether or not Leicester is likely to be capable of staging this match within a reasonable timescale (I suggest that by 31 October is adjudged to be "reasonable"). This would require an independent assessment to be carried out by a person of relevant expertise appointed by the SCB for this as a one-off task and for his decision to be final. Such assessment would need to be carried out and completed by no later than 9.00 am on Saturday. If he decides the Leicester track is unfit, and to be in such a state that, with likelihood of further rain across the next few days (i.e. until 31 Oct), then Leicester would have to declare their stadium as unavailable for use for the foreseeable future, and would be obliged to seek an alternative venue to stage the match within a timescale specified by the SCB, failing which the championship would be awarded based on the result of the completed first leg at Poole.

Basically, the way I see it, the following should be applied in order of preference... 1) Leicester host second leg at their own track 2) Second leg hosted at a neutral venue 3) Poole host second leg 4) Second leg not staged, result declared from result of first leg

Who cares , they're back . They can have another farewell meeting next year if they want

Yeah, I’m sure they will come up with a solution. It’s early days, so plenty of scope for further stadium enhancements. As you said, I’ve also got nothing but praise for all the promotion have done this season. The fact it’s such minor niggles that are mentioned is testament to the job they’ve done.

Are you saying no one would have turned up if it was just The Scottish Open Championship?

Truly a ridiculous way to run a sport.... Any sport.... Even worse when it tries to pass itself off as "professional"... The only year I think the sport has been well ran and organised in the past three decades or so was when Covid shut it down... The end to this season, indeed the season in total, has been particularly poorly delivered..... Next season no doubt will be a similar 'rinse and repeat' story line with absolutely nothing learned or changed off the back of it... Hence so many passionate fans of the sport will pay infrequent visits, if any at all, once again, yet spend plenty of money watching it elsewhere...

Keep up the good work! The track has been the best it's ever been this season! Whatever happens tomorrow I think you've all done a grand job in very difficult circumstances at the worst time of the Speedway season

The most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Could do one meeting but not the 2nd because he didn't have an average... Sums the sport up completely.

Some common sense! I'm not sure why all the Poole fans are up in arms about it...whatever the outcome, it's more likely to benefit Poole than Leicester. If it takes place at Leicester, it’s less likely to have a home bias given the state of the track. If it’s a neutral venue, then Poole definitely have an advantage as they were able to have a home leg. If it doesn’t take place at all, Poole will more than likely be given the title seeing as they are 1) not at fault for Leicester’s track, or 2) already ahead from the first leg. Chill out!

Your first sentence sums the situation up perfectly. Since last Thursday I don't think we've gone through a 24 hour period without any rain. The heavy rain we had for more or less 48 hours that started last Thursday & didn't really stop until after dark on Friday was I suspect the main cause of the problem, although Saturday was dry, at this time of year no way was that going to dry out. Then it started again Saturday evening & Sunday I woke up to absolutely torrential rain. And this week the pattern has been the same, we've had a couple of dry days, but not together, then it has rained most nights or early mornings & it's been steady rain over a number of hours each time.

They have mellowed to the infamous race night flyer sure it has increased to 52.

Just watched the latest forecast and it’s a dry afternoon with a fresh breeze at Leicester so a good drying wind with temperature up to 20 degrees C . The issue is rain in the early hours, clearing by 10 am to leave a dry, breezy but warm day tomorrow, so there’s an opportunity. What we don’t know is how the track has responded today and whether they have managed to dry it out. Or simply bladed the slosh off to the inside.

Laker was always programmed to ride at no 6 in second meeting. Boughen couldn't ride in the second match without obtaining an average so had only been booked for the first.

People were saying that on here! But of course we're just keyboard warriors!

Ah but. You heard it here first (well sort of)...... Edit: All joking aside, Congratulations to the Edinburgh promotion on securing another year at Armadale. And a sincere hope that the future of speedway in Edinburgh can be secured going forward.

Buster has sold the club to Rick Frost and he has purchased the showground track and grandstand from the developers and given it to Poole as a sponsorship deal

Does the semi final now count as a guest booking for Chris Harris as this will leave Mikebv so estatic that Bomber has managed yet another booking for 2022

another absolute farce by the people trusted in protecting this sport for future generations

Quite. Speaking generally on the subject of farewell meetings, we never had one at Hull. In 1981 when speedway ended at the Boulevard; huge shock years of 2 hours enjoyment once a week - gone, don't think anyone saw it coming, was reported the very next nite in local paper, Hull Daily Mail. Similar with speedway ending at Craven Park in 2005 with 2 matches outstanding, though thinking back and reading between the lines, prob less of a massive though unpleasant surprise, still upsetting. Same as happeend at Worky; following a very successful season + massive wage bill due to the many pastings handed out, financial issues affecting the next season. Least if fans see a farewell meeting they get to say 'goodbye' to their team & track (though hopefully not forever) they have some kind of closure. Makes a difference. My advice, as always 'enjoy your speedway while you can, wherever & however you get to enjoy it'. But good news for Monarchs fans, Scottish speedway and speedway in general....

I have no loyalty to any team now the Diamonds are gone, but looking ahead to 2023, all this points to doing one of two things. a) Scrap the Play-offs altogether OR b) Top 4 reach the play-offs (Semi Final 1v4 & 2v3). Get the League programme done and dusted by the end of August and Play-offs, Cup Finals etc., can be run in September. It shouldn't be difficult. Just not as many "blank weeks" in the fixtures, when teams can be running in the summer.

Two meetings a season against Edinburgh who bring across 50 fans is hardly going to influence any decision about moving up a league.

Ellis isnt UK based, flies in and out for every meeting from his home in France

There is an expert on preparing clay based tracks around 70 miles away.....get him over to sort it out.

Or December??

Do you seriously think it's something other than water that's causing this issue?

Less ludicrous than drawing lots though!

I can’t share the photo as I was told when receiving it not to post it. Sorry I would if I could. the whole of the back straight is in the photo taken from the pits gate looking towards the third bend, with a back of a tractor in the forground. The grader is plastered in very wet slosh, and it is the same the whole way down the back straight. You would need a pair of wellies to shuffle through it.

Surely a blindfolded 3 legged egg and spoon sack race would do the trick. Or the teams go round and round the stating gate to music,, and when the music stops, the tapes go up,, first pair through the correct side

a runoff would have worked, anyone remember those? one rider from each team, easy really

Just got back from meeting the true "LEGEND" of British Speedway that is PC... A phrase far too often overused but one million per cent applicable on this occasion... A good crowd it appeared so hopefully he will make a good few quid from the book.. And he looked really well, which was also great to see... PC....

It's more like Bullseye. You get your bus fare home..... But come and have a look at what you could have won.

Spoken with common sense, unlike a few on here.

I'm no Poole fan, but there's no way the result can be declared based on the league table at this stage.

The food isn't brilliant there though