Bryn

Who's that then Parsnips old fruit? Don't stress too much though if you can't remember as I'm told the memory banks started to fade once you reach 50 years of age. Certainly not looking forward to that when I reach that milestone as I see you do today!

Can only add my condolences to those messages of sympathy already expressed towards Ray Mascall following the sad loss of his wife Jean. Our thoughts are with Ray, his family and close friends at this sad time.

Ah - now I know! Ta muchly 'screamer'.

I wonder if "Five Laps" has any more of an idea than I have (which is none at all! ) of what sort of distance 75mm actually is!

Under the rules 'wightlink flyer,' (14.10 to be precise) that initially comes under the start marshal's duties! He/she must ensure, amongst other things, that all riders' front wheels are within 75mm (don't ask me what that is in English!) of the tapes before signalling to the ref that he's happy for the latter to assume control and start the race. No - merely stating facts / my opinion based on experience 'salty.'

Fair enough 'foreverblue' BUT: * Can you give us examples for possible discussion? ** Your understanding of 'blatently wrong decisions' is based on what evidence? Again have you any examples you can put up for discussion, other than those going against Poole? *** I don't know personally whether any ref has / has not been stood down after assessment - why not try and have a word with any ref adjudicating at a match you attend in future, prior to the action getting underway, and ask him / her? I think you'll find that most, if not all, are approachable but do bear in mind that they have several tasks to undertake pre-,match such as track inspection, checking licences etc etc etc.

I've had the pleasure of sitting alongside nigh on all the current British referees and others who no longer officiate 'foreverblue' when announcing at various tracks over the years, and I'm look forward to doing so with those I haven't done as yet, primarily the ones who have qualified this year, in due course. My experience is that ALL referees, when called upon to adjudicate upon any incident occuring during the course of a meeting do so objectively, honestly and base any decisions they make in terms of how they view any particular incident from what they see from where they are standing / sitting. Now from the tone of your posts 'foreverblue' you clearly aren't happy with many decisions referees make that go against the side you support and that probably is the case with most fans on the terraces, certainly immediately decisions are made, although on reflection some will honestly admit some such adverse decisions were possibly / probably right. You advocate sacking of referees so I wonder if you are under the mistaken impression that referees are paid a 'living wage' for their services? THAT I can assure you is NOT the case. I would state with almost total certainty that most, if not all current referees combine their refereeing duties with a full time occupation. Primarily they, like myself and most of the people who frequent this forum are, first and foremost, devotees of this sport. They decide that they both want to, and importantly have the time to get more involved as it were and thus volunteer to undergo a lengthy period of training, travelling to meetings learning 'the ropes' as it were alongside established referees and eventually undertake testing that they hope will lead to them qualifying to take control of meetings themselves as qualified referees. ALL refs, even long established ones are independently 'assessed' periodically, as indeed they were last year. Now if your suggestion that those who make decisions that you don't agree with should be sacked, what happens then? Who'd replace them? You perhaps? The SCB as I understand it, are always willing to look at new applications but there's rarely, if ever, a stampede of those. Referees aren't perfect but there again none of us are - or are we 'foreverblue?'

I'm not talking nonsense at all "home straight!" Whilst you personally might be of the opinion that Sky TV replays should be used in televised matches, an opinion you indeed have the perfect right to express, there's nothing whatsoever in the rulebook to say a ref can't refuse to use them or indeed has to use them!

So Mother T, by you saying "New technology, it's gotta be used to benefit the sport..." you are making a case that cameras / replays should be available at ALL matches aren't you? And that clearly ISN'T on! And treat yourself to a dyson if they're that good!

Are you 100% certain then Mother T, and prepared to cross your heart and hope to die if you're telling a fib, that you have NEVER criticised any decision (especially one going against Kings Lynn riders) by, for example, Mick Bates?

On that basis Mother T, then surely the referees' association could insist on three or four cameras in different positions at ALL meetings to make things fair - and that clearly is not on! Why have one set of parameters to work within for televised matches and another set for others?

I would doubt that any referee would watch TV replays before making any decision during the course of any Sky TV match they are officiating at - afterall they wouldn't be able to consult such replays at any other match would they?

And how exactly would you expect them, i.e. the SRBF, to be able to attract a huge turn out of fans from all parts of the country such as we witnessed yesterday at whatever track such a mid-season meeting was held, let alone put together a star studded line up with matches taking place up and down this country on the same day and given riders foreign league, Grand Prix, World Team Cup etc etc commitments?

And constructive thoughts Sandie which I would hope, in fact feel sure, will be noted and worked upon by the SRBF for next year's meeting. No one involved 'behind the scenes' as it were in this great sport of ours, least of all myself I would hope, is above what I term as 'constructive criticism' - in fact I most certainly welcome it as indeed I'm sure others do, and am more than willing to discuss such matters face to face, by email phone or via the private message facility on this forum with those offering same and I'm sure most others would too. But am I alone in thinking that it's all too easy, and increasingly prevalent, for some to post on this and other forums that 'such and such or so and so' was/were crap whilst hiding behind the comfort of some made up nickname to avoid identification?

"The other guy" you refer to was me 'Blazeaway' - sorry don't know exactly who you are - and I went along today to watch, paid my admission bought a programme, began to wish I'd worn a heavier coat and jumper pretty quickly was then asked circa 90 minutes before the start time if I wouldn't mind doing the box as Craig was going to go on the radio mic rather than be up there. Sorry if I was a "tad dull" but having only had five hours kip last night, having done no preparation as I just didn't expect to be doing anything other than watching and enjoying the meeting, I can only apologise for my dullness! Just glad to see such a big turn out for a very worthy cause for which, hopefully, much money was raised. Bryn Williams P.S. being even more pedantic it's bleeding NOT bleedin!

Sunny and not a cloud in the sky.

Wish I had a quid for everytime I've heard that, or words to that effect, from a female member of the human race Mother T! Guess every other male member of this forum, or indeed on this island would too!

I'm sure if you say please 'Vicar' someone from Kiwiland will help in due course but right now, given the time difference, I guess they're all tucked up in bed fast asleep!

Conniptions? Er.... are they painful?

And YOU didn't volunteer for the role BFD?

T'was John Hibben

This coming Saturday I'm off to help out the regular announcer at the meeting being held at Maryborough in Queensland and as well as Darcy Ward, Joe Haines, Damien Koppe, Mitchell Davey, Scott Smith etc being amongst the solo nominations there's also a certain CRAIG HYDE! Really looking forward to catching up with Craig again and seeing how he fares on track too!

Was pleased that "The Prince" finally found a racesuit he could get into prior to the start of the meeting! From memory (it's been a long drive back to Melbourne today!) that suit was predominately purple in colour so is Ronnie now to be known as Prince the Purple People Eater?

Unconfirmed expected line up (NOT in order): Darcy Ward Ryan Sedgman Justin Sedgman Robert Branford Tyson Nelson Richard Sweetman Josh Grajczonek Dakota North Jake Anderson Hugh Skidmore Todd Kurtz Josh Auty Mason Campton Sam Masters Taylor Poole Michael Penfold plus two reserves Should be a great meeting then it's onto Gillman on Sunday for the South Australian title. The large group of New South Welshmen includes, Sam Masters, Michael Penfold, Taylor Poole, Mason Campton

Confirmed starters as things stand (NOT in riding order): Troy Batchelor Cameron Woodward Tyron Proctor Cory Gathercole Josh Auty (Eng) Joe Haines (Eng) Robert Ksiezak Justin Sedgmen Jake Anderson Damien Koppe Taylor Poole Todd Kurtz Arlo Bugeja Robert Branford Ryan Sedgmen Dakota North Ben Turner (res) Ben Hatcliffe (res) Should be a good un following on from Aussie Under 21 at Mildura the night before.