Mr Snackette

Neither have I!! Are you saying you have no idea about the topic, or Jerzy Szczakiel in particular? Please explain and I will try and help!

Oh the shame!! Mind you that probably just underlines my case perfectly......I could always spell Jerzy Szczakiel.......and apparently I still can!!!

it isn't a question of patience, the more extreme BWitcher's comments, the more amusing they become! With his (or her) argument hopelessly lost, he (or she) is adopting classic deflection tactics. Only an idiot would even suggest that the Quiz Master was one of the "quizzers" or contestants, particularly as I originally posted: ".........I'm not suggesting that the contestants in my quiz were a representative cross-section. However they are keen quizzers with a good general knowledge... yet not one of the could recognise nor name the current world speedway champion!! I wouldn't suggest BWitcher is an idiot, just that he (or she) is attempting to deflect attention away from the silliness of the hole he (or she) has dug for him (or her) self!!!! Anyway, I think enough's enough....adios amigos (or is that amigas)!!

I agree Grachan, but back in the day "The Bubble" was big enough that Briggo was second in SPOTY, and was the subject of an episode of "This is Your Life". Some might go as far as to say that "The Bubble" isn't just getting smaller .........it's almost burst!!!

Martin we now seem to have gone full circle. I entered this debate to comment that, in my totally non-representative quiz, no one recognised (nor heard of ) Woffenden. As you rightly say, WE know him, but sadly outside the "Speedway bubble" he is a relative unknown!

Grechan, I really can't be bothered to look, but given that the sport received £6.5 million in the four years leading up to Pyeongchang 2018 from Sport England I'm guessing they recognise it as a sport!!! For more information try reading the following: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/winter-olympics/2018/01/09/skeleton-funding-could-slide-failing-tocommit-success-winter/ I hope this helps allay your fears!

I stand to be corrected but I could swear I thought I heard mention of Georgia Hall's achievement....but then again! On a point of information it was the first British winner since Catriona Matthew some 9 (not 16) years ago! Now forgetting our friends from North of the Border would be an editorial faux-pas!!

On that Steve we can agree. I don't think that showing a picture of "Sprouts" acknowledging his achievements on his passing would have damaged the show's editorial integrity! On a lighter note, I was amused to see at the bottom of my last piece, an emoji which said: "Tsunami is Sad". Something I have thought for years!

A thoughtful piece, but sadly so full of generalisations that it loses any meaningful creedence! You appear to suggest that I am someone who “wishes to knock the sport”, and my rationale for doing so is that “many of those no longer attend ……….. do so in an attempt to justify their own decision not to go any more”. Here are some facts for your to absorb. My comments were not designed to, in your own refreshing expression, reflect the views of someone who “wishes to knock the sport”, but to point out that in my non representative quiz, no one recognised Woffenden...FACT. I have no need to justify my own decision not to go any more, given that my nearest track is some 2,300 km. away. That said when I do return to the UK (visits that are now admittedly becoming more infrequent) I tend to take it a meeting. I was, in my own clumsy way, pointing out that the BBC had an editorial choice to make. The fact that few people apart from the likes of us have actually heard of Woffenden, let alone recognise him speaks volumes. By contrast I’m no authority on Skeleton Bob Racing, but have I have heard of Lizzie Arnold, and so to have others...as my unrepresentative quiz illustrated! “Your view (because you have stated no criticism of or opposition to her nomination) is that they should be treated entirely differently.” Another of your wild assumptions. I have never expressed such a view. I respect the BBC’s editorial judgement, and if they decided that others should be nominated ahead of Woffenden, is a decision for them. Whilst I may or may not agree with it or not, is not an indication that I consider that they be treated entirely differently. So I am not biased, far from it, but I feel your failure to understand ( and accept) the reasons why the BBC reached the decision they did, does say (perhaps) a little more about you!!

Indeed you're correct. That said Spain is not known to be a hotbed of American Football or Cricket, yet los señors, señoras y señoritas had little difficulty in identifying Tom Brady and Jimmy Anderson!! One wonders (as indeed does Juan!) what point you were trying to make...if any!

I am rather intrigued that there are so many “fanatics” who refuse to accept speedway’s declining support, and see it all as some media conspiracy against the sport. As others have said, apart from those who live inside the “speedway bubble” the sport is now an irrelevance. That’s not diminish Woffenden’s achievements, but to the great British public is this anymore noteworthy than Chris Anderson picking up his fourth successive world championship at Cooper's Hill this June? I would suggest..not! It isn’t the media’s fault that Speedway finds itself where it is…..and the reasons for it’s spectacular fall from grace have been well documented. Now in my lifetime 1966 was a very good sporting year. Unsurprisingly the top three in the BBC Sports Personality of that year, was in third place England World Cup hattrick hero Geoff Hurst, with Sir Robert Moore the winner…..and sandwiched twixt them was a New Zealander by the name of Barry Briggs! In addition, a few years later Eamonn Andrews surprised Barry with his big red book and the famous line: “Barry Briggs….This is Your Life”! For any youngsters out there “This is Your Life” was serious mainstream telly. It was broadcast when there were only 3 channels available, was on at primetime, when the audience was counted in tens of millions, not thousands! Barry Briggs was (and probably still is) a major personality….sadly over the ensuing 50 plus years speedway had become so marginalised that folk no longer can name / recognise the current world champion...or in a lot of cases even know (or care) if the sport exists!

That's the big advantage of being the quiz master....you're always right! Regardless!!!!

Good call, and I really don't know the answer…….The next time I do a sports picture quiz I’ll include her. That said in previous quizzes I have included photos of Marc Marquez, Aleix Espargaro, Jorge Lorenzo and Cal Crutchlow, and ALL have been easily identified. Interestingly Woffenden joins a rather unique group, which gained zero recognition in previous quizzes. The others Santiago Abascal (leader of Spain’s fascist party VOX), Elena Farga (runner up in Factor X), and Scott Morrison (the Australian PM). That said Woffenden does become the first “sporting personality” to get a big fat ZERO!

As I didn't include any pictures of netball players in the Quiz, I can't say for sure! But given the two of "my regulars" are members of the local netball team, and joined Tracey Neville's squad when they were in Spain for warm weather training....I'm guessing the answer would be "YES"!!!!!

Oh dear we have touched a nerve!! Lizzie Arnold clearly has more recognition and a higher public profile than Woffenden.....I'm not saying that's right or wrong. It's just the way it is. The fact that over 60 quizzers in Spain had never heard of, or recognise the world speedway champion, is slamming indictment of the sport. Add to the list Steve mentioned we have Stuart Smith Junior, Billy Wood, Callum Smith, Charlie Edwards, Josh Warrington etc etc....and I'm sure there are plenty of others who deserve a mention. However the BBC has to produce 2 hours of entertainment, and providing a list of names, no matter how worthy, of people that few have heard of isn't going to cut it!

In my opinion the key word in Sports Personality of the Year....is personality!! One key component of being a personality is the ability to be recognised by the public at large. Now living in Southern Spain, I help organise a weekly "pub quiz" for fellow expats. We start the quiz with a themed photo round, last week entitled Sports Stars of 2018. There were pictures of the following: Geraint Thomas, Andrés Iniesta, Tom Brady, Luka Modrić, Lizzy Yarnold, Marc Márquez, Lewis Hamilton, Tommy Fleetwood, Luka Dončić, Dina Asher-Smith, James Anderson, Sergio García, Harry Kane, Alberto Contador AND Tai Woffinden. Over 60 people took part in the quiz. The bottom in the recognition stakes were Dina Asher-Smith (5 right answers), Luka Dončić (3 right answers), Lizzy Arnold (2 right answers). Only one sports star received no correct answers at all.....yes Tai Woffinden! In fairness someone did recognise it was a speedway rider, but thought it was Jason Crump, as that was the only name of a speedway rider he could remember! Ok I'm not suggesting that the contestants in my quiz were a representative cross-section. However they are keen quizzers with a good general knowledge... yet not one of the could recognise nor name the current world speedway champion!! That says volumes!!!

....or indeed a television?

As someone who lives in Spain, football programmes are non-existent. Indeed you rarely find a football programme anywhere on the Continent. It is very much a British phenomenon! As for speedway programmes, they hail back to a bygone age. A one-page scorecard would meet the need, given out with admission, with adverts on the reverse to pay for the printing costs.

That's rather a dangerous comment. Are you suggesting that once they flog all the properties in Armadale, that planning permission should be granted? On that basis, the Monarch's may need a new home sooner rather than later!!!

It has been said before, but it is well worth repeating....the cost of admission is only part of the reason why people choose (or choose not to) attend an event. Wasps Rugby use the Ricoh, and average 18,000...with their highest attendance this season just short of 27,000. They charge up to £56 a seat, and don't have to give tickets away to get a decent crowd. The lesson to learn is to produce a package of entertainment that fires the public's imagination and makes it a "must see event" each and every time. Then the price of admission is not so important!!

Alternatively, they could dress in the uniforms of Nazi Storm Troopers, and ask them to distribute "Britain First" literature before and after the meetings. That should help make certain right-wing loonies ecstatic!!

I'm not sure if the "Gate Girls" are paid very much (if anything) but given the parlous state of speedway's finances, getting shot of them might save a few bob!

You really do need to take a little water with it.....and perhaps seek some anger management therapy!!! For those who REALLY DO ENJOY THE SPORT, I repeat you can watch the movie whenever you choose on Terrarium TV. No egos required for that!!!!

You really seem to have something an attitude!! I was pointing out for those who have a life and can't necessarily sit around waiting to watch something on an obscure minority channel, that they have the option of viewing anytime on Terrarium TV. Why shame on anyone, or any channel? Personally, I find it a delight that there is more than one source to view this film.

Sold to 02? Still owned by the public purse I think, currently under the auspices of the Homes and Communities Agency and operated by Anschutz Entertainment Group. Ill-informed? Surely not!!!