tigerowl

I think I would like to see Timo Lahti for Simon (if he is available and eligible) and Garrity for Bellego. Wait to see how thinks pan out when David is back and take it from there.

Really gutted for Steady. He has been immense so far this season. I hope we don't resort to guests for the rest of the season and we look at a replacement (hopefully relatively short term). Korneliussen is a good shout. Possibilities include Klindt (excellent at Owlerton last year), Magnus Karlsson, Timo Lahti, Adam Skornicki, Kenni Larsen, Linus Sundstrom, What about Jason Garrity? Nowhere near Simon's average but would score well and would also leave some scope for a further team change later in the event of loss of form / further injuries?

Tom was born in 1911 and was older than Bob by 10 years. He started in 1948 - aged 37 - but still went on to have a good career. He retired in 1954 and died 10 years later.

1. Cyril Roger - 93 - born 27.12.1921 2. Split Waterman - 91 (27.7.1923) 3. Arthur Payne - 90 (30.8.1924) 4. Dick Bradley - 90 (28.11.1924) 5. Fred Brand - 89 (3.2.1925) 6. Chum Taylor - 87 (4.4.1927) 7. Eric Boothroyd - 87 (26.4.1927) 8. Derick Close - 87 - (13.5.1927) 9. Geoff Mardon - 87 (24.11.1927) 10. Billy Bales - 85 (6.6.1929) 11. Olle Nygren - 85 (11.11.1929) 12. Rune Sormander - 85 (29.11.1929) 13. Jack Geran - 85 (10.12.1989) 14. Bryan Elliott - 84 (12.4.1930) 15. George White - 83 (24.5.1931) 16. Ian Williams - 83 (4.8.1931) 17. Per Tage Svensson 83 (16.10.1931) 18. Peo Soederman 82 (29.10.1932) Not 100% sure the two Swedes are still with us but haven't heard any information to the contrary..

DUNTON, Denis Clifford (Danny) Born: May 13, 1924, Cholesbury, Buckinghamshire, England. Danny burst onto the speedway scene in 1949, showing astounding early potential despite being plunged straight into Division One speedway with the Harringay ‘Racers’. He had originally been earmarked to join Third Division new boys Oxford but, taking advice from such stars as Vic Duggan, Geoff Pymar and Lloyd Goffe, Danny scored in each of Harringay’s 44 official fixtures that season and was talked about as being one of the brightest prospects in Britain for years. He did not disappoint in 1950, scoring his first maximum before the end of May, claiming the third heat leader spot at the Green Lanes track behind Vic Duggan and Split Waterman and reaching the World Final at Wembley in only his second full season in the sport – an astonishing achievement for a rider of so little experience. After scoring a respectable five points at the Empire Stadium in front of 93,000 fans, the stage was set for Danny to become one of the world’s leading riders but he was never to reach the same heights again and his scoring tailed off dramatically, particularly after leaving Harringay. He was to become something of a journeyman rider, representing many different clubs over the next decade and having his most successful spells with Ipswich in the mid 1950s and at Long Eaton in 1963. After the end of his racing days, Danny became one of the sport’s most well known promoters, notably with Oxford and Peterborough Career Record: Harringay 1949-52, 1953 Birmingham, 1953 Yarmouth, 1954 Harringay, 1955 Weymouth, 1955 Bristol, 1955 Birmingham, 1955-58 Ipswich, 1959 Belle Vue, 1960-61, 1963 Oxford, 1963 Long Eaton, 1964 Swindon, 1964 Belle Vue, 1964-65 Oxford, Individual Honours: World finalist 1950 (13th). Team Honours: National Trophy winner 1952. RIP Danny

If anyone is thinking twice about going to the meeting, then watching this video should make your mind up how important it is to do so. Ricky was a true 100% speedway rider and was an absolute pleasure to watch in action. Although the video is heartbreaking, it is great to see him still with us and making progress, however slow. Let's give Ricky and his fantastic family the support he deserves.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Arthur ride for us and it's a congratulations to the promotion for putting together what looks like a good, exciting side. The key for me is that Steady and Ash are Sheffield lads, Josh is from Barnsley, Arthur is going to be based in Barnsley and if Proctor signs as well, that will be five South Yorkshire based riders. Hopefully good for team spirit.

Phew, Wells to Workington. Thank the lord for that.

I like the yellow and black helmet colour and I am buying a season ticket on the strength of that news.

Has it been confirmed that Devon are not competing next season?

As well as home wins, fans want to feel that they belong to something and the riders play a big part in this. I have just posted on another thread the team line ups for the PL in 1999 and I was struck by how many riders were British and local to their tracks. Sheffield won the league that year with a team which consisted of all English riders with Simon Stead, Scott Smith, and James Birkinshaw being from the city, Sean Wilson, Andre Compton and Simon Cartwright from Yorkshire and Paul Lee, Adam Allott, Andrew Moore and Peter Boast all from the north of England. There was no doubling up and it felt like the riders were Sheffield riders and wanted to be so. In the last few years we have had less local lads, and some of the doubling up riders clearly did not want to be there. The crowds have dropped accordingly.

Thanks for the kind comments about the site on behalf of all the contributors. There are some brilliant files submitted and I have the easy job of putting it all together. Would love to hear why you love it and hate it SCB!! Matt 1999 riders league and cup matches only: Arena-Essex: Leigh Lanham, Troy Pratt, Colin White, John Wainwright, Roger Lobb, Gary Corbett, Matt Read Berwick: Alan Mogridge, Scott Lamb, Mick Powell, Jan Pedersen, Dean Felton, David Meldrum, Gary Phelps, Phil Pickering, Freddie Stephenson, Jittendra Duffil, Wesley Waite, Gary Flint, Darren Groves, Claus Kristensen, Tom P. Madsen Edinburgh: Peter Carr, Kevin Little, Justin Elkins, Stuart Coleman, James Grieves, Jonathan Swales, Stewart McDonald, Brian Turner, David McAllan, Gary Phelps, Blair Scott, Ross Brady Exeter: Michael Coles, Wayne Barrett, Peter Jefferey, Mark Simmonds, Graeme Gordon, Lee Dicken, Kevin Phillips, Gary Lobb, Chris Courage, Chris Harris Glasgow: Les Collins, Sean Courtney, Paul Bentley, Mick Powell, Stuart Coleman, Will Beveridge, Dean Felton, Brian Turner, Darren Smith, Jittendra Duffil, Janie Smith, Scott Courtney, Emilliano Sanchez Isle of Wight: Neville Tatum, Wayne Carter, Scott Swain, Tommy Palmer, Phillippe Berge, Gary Phelps, Chris Courage, Nick Simmons, Danny Bird, Jeremy Barraud, Glen Phillips Newcastle: David Walsh, Derrol Keats, Jesper Olsen, Jonathan Swales, Stuart Swales, Anthony Barlow, Paul Gould, Peter Johnson, Robert Eriksson, Mark Blackwell, Neil Painter, Gary Phelps, Darren Smith, Jittendra Duffil, Danny Fairburn, Steve Jones, Lee Smethills Newport: Scott Pegler, Frank Smart, Bobby Eldridge, Andrew Appleton, Anders Henriksson, Craig Watson, Graig Gough, Chris Neath, Bjorn Gustafsson, Emil Lindqvist Reading: Dave Mullett, Justin Elkins, Phil Morris, Petri Kokko, Paul Clews, Jarno Kosonen, Shane Colvin, Peter Collyer, Marc Norris, Per Wester Sheffield: Adam Allott, Sean Wilson, Scott Smith, Andre Compton, Peter Boast, James Birkinshaw, Simon Cartwright, Paul Lee, Simon Stead, Andrew Moore Stoke: Rene Aas, Paul Thorp, Mark Burrows, Paul Fry, Tony Atkin, Wayne Broadhurst, Jon Armstrong, Paul Pickering, James Birkinshaw, Richard Moss, Rob Clarence, Nick Simmons, Joachim Kugellmann Swindon: Oliver Allen, Neil Collins, Steve Bishop, Steve Masters, Glenn Cunningham, David Mason, Krister Marsh, Seemond Stephens Workington: Carl Stonehewer, Geoff Powell, Wayne Broadhurst, Peter Scully, Barry Campbell, Brent Werner, James Birkinshaw, Mark Blackwell, Grant MacDonald, Gary Phelps, Darren Groves, Danny Hughes, Peter I. Karlsson, Lee Smethills.

Good signing. Should prove a solid middle order scorer next season. Welcome home Ash.

I suppose it's all about what you want from the sport. If you are happy checking the results on the speedway updates pages, looking at various forums for gossip which often turns out to be inaccurate and listening to people with some odd views, then the Star is probably not for you. If you want a magazine that you can read, save and look back on in years to come as a pretty comprehensive record of the sport then it is the best money you will spend all week. I have every Star since its inception and many other magazines dating back to 1928 and it is better that it has ever been. People are too concerned with living in the Twitter era where they want instant news at the expense of accuracy, rather than considered reporting in print form. Call me old fashioned, but if the day came when the Star closed, then there would be many people around the world who would miss it.

Paid my first visit to Buxton for quite a while today. It was a cracking meeting and just what National League racing should be about. Two teams largely made up of young riders, 100% commitment, some cracking racing and a pleasure to watch. Really impressed with Ellis Perks today and the young lads must have learnt a lot riding against Tony Atkin who was superb.

If you want speedway to continue and hopefully see better times, then yes, turn up on a Thursday and pay your £15. If you're not bothered and others aren't bothered it will probably go to the wall and then you'll be moaning.

Some excellent stuff tonight. All the Rockets impressed at some point and made it a good meeting. Kennett was always in the mix and I was shocked he only got 5 Bowen - one very impressive outing Treasrrieu - very impressed with him - would love to see him as a Tiger at some point Garrity - nice and solid, rode pretty well Boxall - a bit like Bowen - one good outing but not so good for the rest Bunyan - a sensational blast to beat Steady but cocked up his tactical ride Nielsen - unlucky not to score, big crash when second to Josh Bates Thanks for a good meeting (and the points!!)

Your reply is also reasoned. My point is not that Matej or the Bandits are doing anything wrong by any means and if he is not fit, then so be it. I agree that he would be a threat at reserve as well. The point I was trying to make is that while ever these rules are in place, people get sick and tired of the sport and vote with their feet. I can't think of any other team sport that benefits from team members being ill or injured and it is stuff likes this that means the tracks are struggling to pull in the crowds.

This is not a pop at Berwick by any means as all teams seem to be at it, pushing the rules to the limit to gain an advantage. If Matej Kus was fit enough to ride in Czecho last night (and I haven't had confirmation that he did) then Berwick should not be allowed a guest facility. Many track are complaining about the numbers on the terraces going down and down, but is it any wonder when the sport treats itself as a circus with some riders riding for three different teams in the UK every week before stuff like this happens. Jorgensen for Kus makes the outcome of the aggregate score pretty much a formality if Jorgensen rides like he did a couple of weeks ago. I am sure some people will think its not worth bothering attending and once again another nail is hammered into the coffin of British speedway by the person croaking for life inside the box.

I think that has got to be the end of the road at Sheffield for Leigh. I had high hopes of a seven to eight point average for him, but he'll be lucky to average five at this rate.

Part of the problem is the cost of speedway. Alan Phillips has complained about crowd numbers but it's expensive to go to speedway. Two adults and two kids would cost £40 before programmes, car parking and any drinks the kids might want - call it £50 per week. Times are tough and most tracks run every week. Even at three times per month, families can't afford £150-£200 per month on speedway. There's no easy answer to it because if the clubs ran every other week to cut costs then a rain off or two might mean no home meeting for a month. With riders refusing to ride if someone spills so much as a cup of tea on the track, people are unwilling to travel far if the weather is bad.

Lanham has been awful. Poole looks promising in patches but his bikes seem too unreliable and its frustrating to see Josh top scoring for Leicester and picking up only the odd point for us. As for Proctor, a total disaster so far but I think he'll come good.

He was a non-riding reserve I believe, so haven't included him in the list.

I've just seen what looks like a comprehensive review of Henry Long's career on a South African speedway website and it gives Henry's date of birth as July 1927. Taking that to be correct, I think the current list looks like this: 1. Cyril Roger - 92 - born 27.12.1921 2. Split Waterman - 90 (27.7.1923) 3. Danny Dunton - 90 (13.5.1924) 4. Arthur Payne - 89 (30.8.1924) 5. Dick Bradley - 89 (28.11.1924) 6. Fred Brand - 89 (3.2.1925) 7. Chum Taylor - 87 (4.4.1927) 8. Eric Boothroyd - 87 (26.4.1927) 9. Derick Close - 87 - (13.5.1927) 10. Henry Long - 86 (?.7.27) 11. Geoff Mardon - 86 (24.11.1927) 12. Billy Bales - 85 (6.6.1929) 13. Olle Nygren - 84 (11.11.1929) 14. Rune Sormander - 84 (29.11.1929) 15. Jack Geran - 84 (10.12.1929) 16. Bryan Elliott - 84 (12.4.1930) 17. Ron Johnston - 83 (31.12.1930) 18. George White - 83 (24.5.1931) 19. Ian Williams - 82 (4..8.1931)

I was debating whether or not to go tonight - six home matches and the third visit of Scunthorpe. I did go in the end, but came out after heat 13. There was nothing wrong with the racing and no complaints about the result but, yet again, on a perfect night with only one fall which didn't delay the racing, it was 9:35 p.m. as I got back into the car. 110 minutes after the meeting began I has seen 13 minutes or so of racing and had therefore spent 97 minutes watching the tractor going round, watching the riders gardening at the start line and watching some woman trying to open a box with a key that didn't fit and watching nothing much in particular. When I was a kid and there were 13 heats, my mum and dad wouldn't let me stay for the second half on a school night and, living 12 miles from the track, I was generally in bed for half past nine. Now, if I stay for the 15 heats, living three miles from the track, I am rarely in before 10:15. Looking around the crowd tonight there was hardly any kids there. I wouldn't take kids on a school night with the presentation as it is. Looking round the stadiums and seeing the ever dwindling crowds is it any wonder that people aren't coming. The presentation is awful and its too expensive to be on every week. Please, just get on with it and let us get home at a reasonable hour. It's boring.