norbold

It is a perennial problem. It's like a pyramid really. At the very top are just a few outstanding riders but as you get lower down the order the numbers widen out. By the time you get past the top five or six, the next layer widens out more and more, so by the time you get to around numbers nine to twelve, there is a much wider pool who could be considered. Assuming no. 9 gets a wild card, as has invariably been the case (I believe it's only not happened once, though I'm open to correction on that), the three others chosen are not going to be significantly better than any other three from that ever widening pool of riders. As we have seen above, a case can be made for at least five or six riders, maybe more, and there is no real definitive answer to this. The only way it could be solved is for all the seven riders after the automatic eight to go through some sort of qualifying system, whether the current system or the bottom seven versus a qualified nine. Otherwise this dilemma will happen every year. Even this has its problems, because it doesn't account for injuries, but then neither did the old one-off type of World Final. But then, of course, if it was all done through qualifiers, we wouldn't have endless fun speculating who might be chosen.

I'm not sure I can think of any riders in that category, Sidney. What I can remember is that the first time I saw Roy Trigg and Dave Jessup, who was 15 years old and having his first-ever competitive ride, I thought they are going to be good. Funnily enough, Dave Jessup's first race was against another first timer, the 16 year old Barry Thomas, who actually won the race. But there was something about Jessup's style and determination that convinced me he was going to make it and was a better prospect than Thomas. I suppose of those I mentioned, the least impressive at first sight was Malcolm Simmons, but even then, although maybe not showing signs of the great star he was to become, certainly showed the makings of a good team rider.

Yes. Going back to "my" day, the second half novice/junior races were where I first saw the likes of Roy Trigg, Barry Thomas, Dave Jessup and Malcolm Simmons. It was great to see them progress through these second halves, into the team and then on to even bigger things. Is the fact we don't have these regular opportunities to race competitively in front of crowds to gain experience now, the reason we don't have as many up-and-coming riders as we did back in the 70s and 80s and don't have as many world class stars like we did back then as well?

When I wrote my booklet, Two Wimbledon Legends, I asked a number of riders for their memories of Ronnie. I think this quote from Alf Hagon sums up Ronnie's skill and contribution to Wimbledon and speedway nicely: “I was Ronnie Moore’s partner at Wimbledon. He was by far the best rider I have ever partnered. He could do anything on a bike. They called him Mirac and he was. He could ride full throttle, half throttle, change directions, tootle round slowly, ride the inside line, ride the outside line. He would even shout instructions at me as we were going round."

Sad news today that Ronnie has died. Sincere condolences to family and friends.

Yes, Steve: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crazy-Speedway-World-Bert-Harkins/dp/1909885169/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1534493612&sr=1-1&keywords=bert+harkins

Not one for cliches then, Odds On....

An impossible task, Sidney. Mine changes from day-to-day! Here's today's list (in no order) - FUNDIN - MAUGER - RICKARDSSON - FARNDON - BRIGGS - HUXLEY - NIELSEN - DUGGAN - WILKINSON - YOUNG. Come back tomorrow for a new list!!!!

Very sorry to hear this. Always figures in anyone's list of the all-time greats and probably could have won even more individual titles if he hadn't been such a committed team rider. Probably, in that respect, he actually was the greatest ever.

Let's face it, none of the riders in the final yesterday are likely to trouble the likes of Tai, Magic, Emil, Freddie or Bartosz very much next year, which is why they are in the qualifiers and not the GP. So we are really only looking for riders who might just make the top eight and all of those who qualified might just make that. But they have all qualified properly and the only way to overcome the "problem" would be to do away with the qualifiers altogether, which I guess not many here would agree with as we would then have to rely on picks, and who would be picked in their place? Again I can't see many riders outside the top 8 likely to challenge the top 5 or 6 at the moment. The alternative really is to encourage younger riders in order to give them the experience. Maybe bring back the automatic qualification for the Under 21 Champion? And/or reserve a couple of places for under 25s?

I think you completely missed Walter's little in-joke there. It wasn't aimed at you!

Indeed. But the point I was making was that the OFFICIAL record will always show Robert to blame.

Poor decision yet again by the ref. Of course, the important thing is that Jason Doyle is ok, or at least not too seriously hurt, but the problem is that by making that decision it means that Robert Lambert is now held officially to blame for whatever happens to Doyle, when, quite clearly, he wasn't.

Isn't it about time Nige and Kelv understood how the scoring works?

I'd say that was only true for a v ery limited period. His best years were really before and just at the start of the Big Five's dominance, from 1953-1954, when he was, indeed, one of the world's best riders along with Ronnie Moore and Jack Young and maybe just into the early days of Fundin, Craven and Briggo, 1955-1956. After that the Big Four of Moore, Craven, Fundin and Briggs began to dominate and Crutcher was left a little behind. Still a great rider but not quite in their league any more.

I left school in 1965 and went on to Teacher Training College. I had to make my choice in 1964, so for my first choice I chose Keswick Hall, which is about three miles south of Norwich. I was fortunate enough to win my place there. I chose it specifically so I could go to Norwich speedway. Of course, they closed at the end of 1964, between my successful application and going there!

Interesting to hear that the Aces are leading Belle Vue!

England won 76-47, scored under the 4-2-1 system. England: Ginger Lees 20, Eric Langton 16, Syd Jackson 15, Tiger Stevenson 13, Jack Parker 7, Wal Phillips 4, Tom Farndon 1, Claude Rye 0. Australia: Vic Huxley 12, Dick Case 8, Ron Johnson 8, Bluey Wilkinson 8, Lionel Van Praag 5, Ernie Evans 3, Jack Sharp 3, Max Grosskreutz 0.

Once a Jolly Swagman is on Talking Pictures (Sky 328) tomorrow (30 June) at 6:00 p.m.

It's a shame Len Read never made it to a final. Now over 100 and still quite sprightly...

I've still got all my Speedway Stars going back to 1960! But, I feel I have better things to do with my time than trawl through nearly 60 years worth just to catch Philip out!!!! Maybe writing another speedway book on "Good Tactics in the Speedway of Nations tournament".

Just as well you couldn't be bothered any more and didn't want the last word.

??????

It's not hindsight, everyone knew the rules beforehand.

And, in the context of the final, what's the difference between a 2-4 and a 3-3, where your three points come from a win?