norbold

Funnily enough, that was the only time I ever saw Southampton. For some reason I had missed them in both 1960 and 61. The score was P.L. 30 Southampton 46. PL Select: Colin Pratt 11, Ivor Brown 8, Les McGillivray 5, Ray Cresp 3, Trevor Redmond 2, Danny Dunton 1, Pete Jarman 0 Southampton: Bjorn Knutson 11 (beaten by Colin Pratt), Ross Gilbertson 8, Chum Taylor 7, Colin Gooddy 7, Reg Luckhurst 6, Peter Vandenberg 5, Alby Golden 2

Just out of interest, following your post, Split, I looked up the end of season Southampton averages. After Knutson 10.6 and Briggs 9.7, they went: Peter Vandenberg 6.0, Alby Golden 5.9, Cyril Roger 5.5, Reg Luckhurst 5.5, Dick Bradley 4.3. Which very much bears out what you said.

10 September 1976. Peterborough 40 Oxford 0 (National League) All the Oxford riders, Carl Askew, Brian Leonard, Mick Handley, Jim Wells, Phil Bass, Roy Sizmore, Kevin Young scored no points! Oxford refused to ride due to the conditions and the match was called off after 8 heats but score stood.

I can't think of anything worse than a fraudulent pedant from Pedantarctica.

Pedant.

Ronnie Moore represented Australia, New Zealand, Australasia and Great Britain. And that's just one generation. Does that count?

During the last six months, with not much else to do, I have been spending some time sorting out old boxes, files, etc. that have been lying around at home for years, shoved at the back of cupboards etc. Yesterday, I came across a notebook with a number of things in, including some speedway notes and records. It dates from 1962 and one of the things I had noted was the number of times speedway was mentioned on TV and Radio. So here goes....: BBC Grandstand 17 February: Grandstand Television Trophy 1st leg at Cradley Heath; 24 February: Ditto, 2nd leg Today's Sport 8 September: Report on World Championship ITV Sportscast (No dates): Film of European Championship, Wimbledon (? Don't know what this refers to), Film of Internationale; 8 August: Rye House; 5 September: Preview of World Championship. News 9 September: Film of World Championship London This Weekend (no date): Preview of Internationale; 7 September: Preview of World Championship Saturday Sportstime (no date): Mention of John Burton, son of Squib Burton, famous speedway rider Radio Sports Parade 8 September: Mention of interview with Ove Fundin in Sports Report Sports Report 8 September: Interview with Ove Fundin Children's Choice (no date): Request for "When the Red Red Robin" requested by Swindon supporters; 8 September: Request for Flight of the Bumble Bee from Coventry supporters, wishing best of luck to Ron Mountford, Ken McKinlay and Nigel Boocock in the World Championship Final Housewives Choice (no date): A record requested for a Mrs Hart, Robin Richmond muses, "I wonder if she is any relation to Oliver Hart, one of the last of the leg trailers." Here's hoping things get back to normal soon and I can get out more!!!

https://www.facebook.com/BMRFlatTrack

I think a lot of table tennis players are just interested in playing themselves rather than going to watch it live or even on TV. I don't think it's a matter of "refusing" to watch, it's just a lack of general interest in the wider world of table tennis.

No mention of table tennis anywhere. As a participation sport it must be right up there, though as a spectator sport, probably less than speedway.

Don't forget I run a theatre. We can do wonders with make-up.

Me.

Great idea. I'd be happy to sell the rights to Tom Farndon for a couple of million. Not a lot when you consider how much of a blockbuster it will be.

There you go. Sorry, quality's not too great. In fact, it seems to be non-existent. Let's try again!

Yes. Would you like the New Cross 1963 list?

West Ham 1972. The last fixture that was actually raced was 23rd May v. Hull.

85 years ago today.

Certainly not Jack NICKLAUS but apparently not Gary Player either: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/07/14/luck/

He was my first favourite rider. On the night I first went to speedway, New Cross were racing against Norwich in the Britannia Shield. They had had a poor start to the season. On that night Ove Fundin and Aub Lawson were almost unbeatable. Ove scored an 18 point maximum, while Aub scored 16 paid 17. The only New Cross rider to beat him was Jimmy Gooch. He instantly became my favourite. Especially as he top scored for New Cross and the Rangers won their first match for several weeks. At that time, the final heat was a nominated riders' heat and New Cross nominated Split Waterman and Eric Williams to loud boos from the New Cross supporters who thought the hero of the night, Jimmy Gooch, should be nominated in place of Split. As the race started, Split reared at the start and a re-run was ordered. Split was unable to take part, so, in true poetic justice fashion, Jimmy Gooch replaced him. Although Ove and Aub scored a 5-1, Jimmy came third, beating Eric Williams. He remained my favourite until New Cross closed at the end of 1961....though Reg Luckhurst did run him close when he became a regular Ranger.

Tom Farndon!

Did you hear me in the crowd being irate?

He would certainly have made a good Pacemaker.

It's a good theory, chunky, but I feel I must make an admission here and that is that I was never that keen on Peter Craven!