Tsunami

Still guessing Mike.

The DMU agreement usually only requires the club to be responsible for returning to Denmark for O19, O21 and Danish Championships only. The rest of their trips home is down to the rider. In the opposite corner is the SVEMO agreement, which puts a limit on the cost of all meetings, and once reached the rider is responsible for them. Could have changed, but that is the difference between the Scandinavian nations.

Late January was the last date mentioned.

Actually both James and Charles Wright nearly became Newcastle riders in 2003 without them knowing. Both Kenny Smith and I had heard about James being decent and we wanted him to join the then Gems. We put feelers out and were told by quite a few people that we should go for Charles as he would become the better rider. I think he had the better style and was younger, and I think he crashed more. Though Kenny we made an approach for both of them, only to find out that Jan Stachman and his mechanic( Darren Hartley the ref ?) had just taken over the Buxton licence from the Moss family for one year, and that's ofcourse where they ended up. Imagine a team of Willie Lawson, Jamie Robertson, Richie Hall, along with both Wright's and both Branney's at that level. Not bad.

Yes, I think they were Steve. Saw them start in the 60's when their uncles were riding for the Monarchs.

Many thanks for you update Joe much appreciated. Yes we really struggled at the start with, Don Wilkinson was our top rider when he had done very little before that. He rose to the challenge and did in fact become a decent rider and captain. Due to the rise in the number of new clubs in 1960 and 61 in the new Provincial League, we struggled to get anybody of decent quality, and had to rely on riders like Gordie Mitchell, Jonny Green, before drawing on the London based riders like Pete Sampson, Pat Flanaghan, and of course my favourite rider the Late Gil Goldfinch. The later 2 used to travel up by train on the Monday and stay over night before returning home on the Tuesday. Happy days for me as a 19 year old getting my own Newcastle team to follow, following on from my first visit in 1949 as a 6 year old.

Correct. He rode as a guest with Willie against I think Wolverhampton in our first meeting in our opening season in 1961. 40 -38 defeat I think.

Is that the extent of your knowledge. ?

For most of them, the reason has already been stated on this thread. and some would never ride cos they don't like the track.

Good try. but the question was to the Village I***t. I could give you the reason for all of them why they are not at Brough. Nice try but.

Obviously you're new to this game of signing riders. With your great depth of knowledge, which riders did we miss out on.

Hard bugger on the track in the 60's when riding for the Monarchs against the Diamonds. Always entertaining, and always talked about after every meeting. RIP Dougie. NB. Actually he once rode for the Diamonds. Any guesses when ?

George Stancl brought him across mid season to see how he did and he did OK. George says he is good on small tracks and I notice he rides big tracks with the tight on small track style so I am not really concerned about him. He'll do OK.

I think that you and your fellow village idiot RedcarRacer, could be in for a few surprise this year, and we have 2 points up our sleeves just in case.

If you look at the styles of both riders in some of their clips they can certainly ride big tracks. In most of their rides they are last, but only just and the opposition are usually world class and sometimes GP quality. The Czech rides the big tracks very tight which is a good sign, and George Stancl, who I believe will be in the pits with his fellow countryman, has said he can ride tight tracks very well. OIven where they are now, and who they regularly ride with, I don't see them being on 5 very long. Same goes for James W, who still rides grass tracks very well, and once he gets back to regular riding will not be at reserve for very long. That would be good news, but it would also use Rider of the Year Max to go down to reserve again and that will makes us about the strongest team in depth, with heats 13 ad 15 being our only weakness. It's great, and our history to bring on foreign riders bring them on for eventually to the world stage. As Fromafar has said above, we could've been stuck with riders getting on season after season, but it's more exciting that you know you are developing riders and watch them grow as riders. We already have that success with the Gems team, so why not for the DIamonds as well again. Breeding 4 World Champions has been very satisfying in the past, so let's see what we can do with our two latest riders. Great night tonight, the PTE was packed out with several new fans amongst us, along with a nearly sober team manager and owner who also supplied the buffet on offer. Things are looking good, and there is currently a great anticipation with the return of the DIamonds and everything that is happening at the moment. I thing most people would just like the season to start now. How things change Eh.

Quite correct Rob. Some people have been known for believing what's printed in the The Guardian. Not that many, as they are always pleading for handouts.

And the rest of us.

Unusual move but has a lot of credit. He rides Brough well through being with the Gems this year, and proved a good test for Josh at no 2. Always good to sign assets especially when they are young, and we can stand back and watch his progress like other good ones we have produced.

I stand corrected on that. I'll trump that but with the many times during this years BYC final where Jordan won with the twins behind him and my rider Freeman in forth place. Jordan was outstanding in the BYC and was No 1 in the Colts team starting from No 7 at the start of his year. Didn't get beat much to be number 1 in the Cubs lineup with an 8.82 average and scored a 15 point maximum in his first NL meeting..

Knowing all of those riders, I doubt either of the twins beat Palin last year.

Brough Park Newcastle - Apparently worth over half a million pounds to them.

Just divent whip your skirt off.

I think it was THJ the other day that said, even if the riders who get signed now don't cut it, in about 1-2 months into the season the non riding squad players in the Polish teams will be looking for a team in the way that Lewis Rose suddenly signed, and also with Tero.

If he's inconsistent at 8..43 that'll do me He'll be on a 4 but is still riding grass pretty good. A surprise signing, but a good gamble to have to only beat a 4 average and could be a match winner. One minute people are decrying the loss of the club hoping someone will come in, and then when someone does "I don't think I'll go or I'll just and choose me meetings.

Didn't Hans Andersen ride for Poole awhile ago ?.