topsoil

Good luck with that. This is a Berwick thread. Moaning is a default setting. I agree with both of your points on social media and online shopping. I have seen at first hand how a good online shop can bring in money to a club. As usual, however, both of these would probably rely on volunteers, people who both the time and necessary skills, to run the social media accounts and look after the online shop. Getting people to volunteer their spare time is a hard job these days.

I would have thought any potential sponsors / speedway image links would have concentrated more on speed, power, noise, danger, thrills etc rather than guests, r/r, averages, double points, t/s which, really only speedway anoraks are interested in. I doubt if any potential sponsors of football tournaments are put off by VAR.

And the logic behind this theory is?

Craig Cook should take it as a compliment. Lets face it, all the sportsmen fans "love to hate" is basically because they are successful and a threat to their own team. How many mediocre sportsmen fit into the "love to hate" group? Craig Cook is probably the best rider in the league, the average shows it and as such every rider will see him as a scalp, that's probably why a lot of riders go daft when they beat him, they see it as a major scalp. Personally I love to see him at Berwick (and I would reckon most fans are the same, they boo him, but love to see him race), because he is bloody good. I also like to see him miss the gate, because you know there is going to be some great racing. I've seen fantastic races with him there in the past, Bellego, Doolan and Jye in heat 11 on Saturday.

To be honest I can't see what all the fuss was about. Craig Cook went for a gap, he's a racer, it's probably instinct. The gap closed, there was contact, Jye was brought down, Cook was excluded. All the bravado that followed was good theatre, but it amounted to a great deal of not much. The crowd got wound up and it just added to what was already a great atmosphere. Cook apologised, the riders probably talked it through and the world goes on turning. He may have had hid troubles lately but I can't see hiw the race on Saturday night had anything to do with that. He wanted to win the race and saw an opportunity to do so. Brilliant meeting, the crowd got something to talk about and speedway for me was the winner. I would love if every meeting had the atmosphere Saturday night had. A big crowd, fans giving each other friendly banter and making a load of noise. It was great to be a part of.

That would be something special

Heat 15, he went for a gap to overtake Jye Etheridge, there was contact, Jye came off, Cook was excluded. Nothing wrong with the move, it was hard, there was a gap, he went for it. The decision was right. There was bravado afterwards, finger pointing, threats, pantomime stuff. It all added to the atmosphere. The noise generated by both sets of fans in the second meeting was brilliant and this just ramped it up a bit. Glasgow meetings are always special, because they bring a load of fans. The more fans create a better atmosphere. There is a good bond between the two clubs as well. Cook is the rider Berwick fans love to hate, mainly because of his time as an Edinburgh rider and the fact he is so bloody good around the place. I reckon if you asked Berwick fans they would say that they love booing him but they also admire him because he is damn good to watch around Shielfield.

Same old nonsense. I could mention Barker third to first in heat 6, Gappmaier third to first in heat 8, Doolan passing Heeps in heat 9, Pickering passing Barker in heat 10, Etheridge third to first in heat 13 and Barker passing Heeps in heat 13 but I must have dreamt it. Take your frustration out on your own riders.

Yes there was. The noise in there was fantastic, all good natured and a lot of fun. Always a good meeting when Glasgow come down, bring a load of fans and builds up an atmosphere.

Cheers, thank you

This might sound like a daft question, but it this actually at the stadium, as I seem to remember a couple of outlets around the town centre, but I can't remember which streets?

Where can you buy tickets on the day? I'm thinking of doing the same thing.

57.3?

Somerset is a good track, usually provides good racing and in the summer the surroundings are nice. I just wish they provided more food / drink outlets and toilets for those fans who stand on the back straight. Two portaloos just don't cut it. Redcar did a far better job with the Fours last season. That said, still looking forward to the meeting this year.

Gives him some much needed competitive action

Probably a good idea. It will be a hell of an ask for r/r for a double header.

Chuffed with the win. Before the meeting I thought this would be a tight match. Quite impressed with Tomas H Jonasson on his debut. He can certainly gate (always helpful at Berwick) but looked as if he could do with a bit more speed. No doubt set up will come as he learns the track. Solid performances from Captain Kev and any as well, but for me the standout for Berwick was Jye, who looked very impressive tonight. Felt sorry for Matty Wethers. He always gives 100% and came down giving it a big run round the fourth bend trying to pass Dany. His race with THJ in the first running of that heat was brilliant. Not often you get three passes in a race at Berwick. Tommy Jorgensen was also involved in a few good races tonight.

Great news. The supporters club have done great work in the past organising tours and nights and donating towards riders' costs. The club will be much stronger going forward with their help.

I blame forums like this as much as anything for team changes. There are loads of pages full of "we need to replace xxx".

He speaks highly of you as well

Well they had to dig deep and did it without their top two riders (and with the captain still in a lot of pain after Wednesday night), but Berwick capped off an excellent eight days with another win. Dany Gapp and especially Jye did a lot of good work. Berwick continue to climb the table. Having seen him come through the NJL ranks I would like to see somebody give Josh Embleton a place in the National league to help his development. He didn't score tonight but also wasn't far off the pace. Jason Garrity always gives 100% and Adam Ellis showed how much he has improved in the past couple of years.

Based solely on the updates, Garcia hot and cold tonight, two heat wins and two lasts. Last in heat 12 when he was up against Nathan Greaves, who was also in 14. Close call. Hard to tell without actually seeing the races to fully judge what's going on. Don't think it mattered in the end, we got a point.

Good point away to a team which look like they are destined for the playoffs. A win tomorrow night will cap a good week for Berwick.

Unfortunately, we have to work with what we have, round the football pitch, which isn't the ideal shape for racing. What we would give for a custom made track like EWR. Never been myself, but from all accounts, provides good racing. The track was slick last night, as you say, probably due to the weather yesterday. You can tell when the likes of Ben Barker and Simon Lambert are struggling for drive, there mustn't be much there. As you say, can only commend Simon Lambert on his lay down last night. Lightning quick reflexes.

Had it been a bit closer then no way Coty would have taken the r/r ride in heat 13. Nothing you can do about Kevin Doolan's chain coming off in heat 14, just one of those things. It left Leon exposed. He was inconsistent all night, well off the pace one minute, brilliant the next. The management wanted to put Leon into heat 15 which, looking back, could have been down to Spud's machinery not being up to it, after his non start in heat 10 (which would also contribute to the 5-1 in heat 13), Kevin being injured after heat 14, Jye already being in it and trying to protect Dany's paid max, so Dany was only brought in at the last minute. It was a very strange end to the meeting. It could be looked on from the outside as taking your foot off the pedal, but there may be more to it than that.