crazysue

Very well said Shazzybird....sounds like our households are the same, all my neighbours thought I was barmy. We should be proud of our country not knock it all the time.

At the start, quite a lot were saying we would be lucky or it would be a miracle if we reached the final (something we have not done for 2 years) so we did reach a better that expected position.

I get really annoyed with the attitude of some sports fans (any sport or event) that when things are going well, they are right behind their team/individual but when things start going wrong are the first ones to say what a bad team we have. We have to remember that we were not expected to get into the final, we beat Sweden in the race off, we ran Australia very close before that. There were other riders there that did not live up to expectations but we don't seem to be having a go at them. We also have to remember that two of our riders had no international experience before this and rode out of their boots in the first two rounds (and Norris kept that up in the final). All in all, I think team GB exceeded our expectations. Sorry I couldn't stay on the fence about this, I'm usually the one that takes the middle line and mediates to keep the peace but it riles me so.

Although I supported team GB all the way, I had a sneaky feeling Sweden would do it, so much so that I put a bet on it (as well as GB). I will be off to the shops during the week to spend all my winnings.

There are lots of things that I found hilarious, especially David Norris' comments but the thing I found really good was the concern shown by all the riders when someone fell or was excluded, this was especially shown by Jason Crump who made sure he talked to Havvy when he went down, and also when he congratulated Sweden on winning. Good sportsmanship and it's made me respect him more.

Well, I believe that he did a good job this year, so no reason for him to step down. It is not his fault if riders get injured, it's an occupational hazard for a speedway rider and given the circumstances he picked an excellent team for the job this year, all of them did us proud.

Well done Sweden, and well done to our boys.

I agree, you may not have got on the rostrum but you did us all proud. Well done lads.

You have proved quite a lot wrong, but you have my support. Good luck tonight. The boys have done us all proud and the riding has been awesome. Go Great Britain

I had the updates texted to me but couldn't bear to look, hubby was at home recording it for me....I didn't want to spoil it, and I wasn't disappointed.

I assure you he is not joking, just checked out the official website and it is true.

Come on Team GB, show them how it is done......I need something to keep me entertained on Saturday.

Well done David, I knew you could do it.

Just to echo what everyone else has said WELL DONE GB, it had me jumping around the front room all night and I am hoarse from shouting at the telly. I think it shocked the Australians a little but we proved that we can pressure the (supposed) world leaders.

I agree, GOOD LUCK TONIGHT GB. Prove to the doubters that they are wrong.

My first meeting would have been in July 1988 at Exeter, I can't remember who it was against. Only went because we made a deal with a friend of ours who was a mad speedway fan that if he came out with us to celebrate an anniversary then we would go with him to the speedway. We were on holiday at the time so thought we would give it a try. I was hooked straight away (although Exeter won by a mile). My husband was less than impressed and couldn't see the attraction. As soon as we came home, I started going to Foxhall and went every week untill near the end of the 1993 season when I then had to go into hospital to have my first son. Went to the first meeting of 1994 and then couldn't afford it anymore. For the next eight years kept tabs on what was happening by news reports/ceefax and later sky. Finally got around to going again last year(again when we were on holiday) at Poole (thanks to the same bloke who first introduced me) this time taking my eldest son and got hooked again....and so did my son.