Bryn

No worries Sandie - you should be happy with Rooboy reaching A Final and finishing third. Now joint third overall after two rounds with Leigh behind Crumpie and Johno.

All I'm trying to say Mother Theresa is that it literally takes seconds to type something like "Thanks to Ron & Shona" for the updates and a "thankyou" does not go amiss surely and is plain good manners to my way of thinking? And who said anything about thinking that others are automatically claiming the results as their own? . I'm stopping with the Malms at present (Sir Lunchalot has been too up to this morn - he's now flown back to Melbourne) and they put a lot of effort into these updates as do others who do likewise from all other tracks. I'm sure Shona would have much preferred to have had an early night rather than be here on the puter till gone midnight.

"Noddy" is Chris Holder and has yours truly to thank for giving him that nickname when he fist arrived on the Island - you're prolly too young to remember Noddy Holder the lead singer of a group called Slade. Well done to SunArisen for thanking Ron (big Ron Malm that is) for the updates and thanks should also go to his other half Shona who whacked details onto the Yahoo list as Ron texted them through to her from the track. Would have been nice (and common courtesy I would have thought) for others to duly acknowledge the source of the info they posted. Extremely (and I mean extremely!) big and narrow track but racing was much better than many might have expected. Crump awesome: Holder unlucy having "won" his opening race finishing ahead of Leigh Adams in the process only for re-run to be ordered. Good young guns coming through down here in Oz and didn't the "old boy" Johno do well AGAIN! That's two A finals out of two - one wonders what the whiners on this and the Oxford forum following his signing will say now!!!! Nothing I suspect!

Scorers (in programme order): Elliot Myers 0 Trevor Harding 10 (4th after run off) Mitchell Davey 6 Kozza Smith 9 Arlo Bujega 4 Mark Jones 8 James Holder 7 Robert Ksiezak 6 Tyron Procter 12 (3rd) Cory Gathercole 14 (1st) Ryan Sedgman 3 Jay Herne 10 (6th after run off) Lee Herne 10 (5th after run off) Tom Hedley 13 (2nd) Aaron Summers 7 Daine Stevens 2 Kane Munro (res) 0 Great meeting and what a run off for the final place with Harding and LEE Herne (not Jay as announced) swopping places several times before Harding snatched victory re-passing LH exiting the final bend. Top four go thru

You are jesting of course Jimbo! There's loads of room out here!

Pop rode on Saturday night Nevsy but was unable to return on Sunday as he was setting off on the "short" drive from Brisbane to Perth. I say "short" because without exact measurements, I'm, led to believe it's something like 5000km at least - certainly a five hour flight so probably 2/3 days by road! In his first ride on Saturday, from the outside gate he finished third behind Josh Grajczonek and Richard Sweetman and ahead of Andrew Aldridge, the New Zealander. In his other ride he finished send behind Kozza Smith with Michael Slade third and Elliott Myers fourth. I had a chat with Pop who asked me to pass on his very best wishes to all connected with the bid to resurrect speedway in the Exeter area and to bear him in mind when it comes to team selection! The 'old boy' hasn't a lot of hair left nowadays - none at all in fact!

Yes indeed Kozza did run into Trent who unfortunately locked up badly coming out of the final bend when seemingly set for second place. Sad to hear Trent has possibly broken a bone in his wrist - let's all wish him a speedy recovery.

To emphasise the point - The 12 seeded riders for the 2007 Linddales Labour Hire Australian Motorcycle Speedway Championships have been confirmed by Motorcycling Australia’s Speedway Commission. Seeded riders: - Jason Crump (2006 World Champion – Queensland) - Leigh Adams (Defending Australian Champion – Victoria) - Scott Nicholls (2006 British Champion – UK) - Simon Stead (UK) - Troy Batchelor (Queensland) - Steve Johnston (Western Australia) - Chris Holder (New South Wales) - Jason Doyle (New South Wales) - Rory Schlein (South Australia) - Travis McGowan (Victoria) - Cameron Woodward (Victoria) - Mark Lemon (Victoria) These 12 riders will be joined by four additional riders who will qualify through a qualifying meeting to be conducted at Gillman Speedway in Adelaide (South Australia) on December 30. Those attempting to qualify for the Linddales Labour Hire Australian Motorcycle Speedway Championships are: - Arlo Bugeja (South Australia) - Mitchell Davey (Queensland) - Cory Gathercole (Victoria) - Trevor Harding Junior (Western Australia) - Tom Hedley (Victoria) - Jay Herne (New South Wales) - Lee Herne (New South Wales) - James Holder (New South Wales) - Mark Jones (Victoria) - Robert Ksiezak (South Australia) - Elliott Myers (New South Wales) - Tyron Proctor (Victoria) - Ryan Sedgman (Victoria) - Korey Smith (New South Wales) - Daine Stevens (New South Wales) - Aaron Summers (South Australia) - Kane Munro (Western Australia – Reserve) Shipping containers holding the equipment of all European based riders – including the full Speedway Grand Prix outfits used by World Champion – Jason Crump, Australian Champion – Leigh Adams and British Champion – Scott Nicholls are in the final stages of their journey to Australia. The revised complete calendar for the 2007 Linddales Labour Hire Australian Motorcycle Speedway Championships is as follows: RD 1: Newcastle Showground Wednesday January 3, 2007 RD 2: Sydney Showground Friday January 5, 2007 GALA DINNER: Pacific International Hotel Parramatta Sunday January 7, RD 3: Olympic Park, Mildura Wednesday January 10, 2007 RD 4: Gillman Speedway, Adelaide Friday January 12, 2007 RD 5: Borderline Speedway, Mt Gambier Saturday January 13

Well for starters Kent Boy, welcome to the forum and I can bring you news on one or two. "Gentleman" George Barclay, as everyone on here will know, has been working tirelessly over the past two years or so to raise funds to enable the dream of a Speedway Museum come to fruition and the dream will be coming true sometime next year. I see Pete Wigley once a year when he comes over to the Isle of Wight with his missus Chris - Pete works for the GPO. Paul Whittaker was doing some long distance lorry driving when he phoned me last. So that's the thread begun...be interesting to hear from anybody else on the subject and I'll post more in due course but, right now, I need a beer as it's 36C here at 10.30am in the morn!

The 20 riders named for the main event in this meeting that takes place on Saturday at the Gold Coast are: Jason Crump, Louis Myers, Sam Taylor, Troy Batchelor, Jon White, Kozza Smith, Luke Slade, John Oliver, Anthony Perks, Ashley Cathcart, Michael Slade, Mitchell Davey, Elliott Myers, Scott Smith, Dave Watt, Trent Leverington, Dennis Hall, Richard Sweetman, Josh Grajczonek and, coming out of retirement I'm told none other than Alan "Pop" Rivett! Reserves: Steven Reid & James Bevan. In the "B" division, riders include: Steven Reid, James Bevan, Tim Chilcott, Hugh Stephens, Tim Murray, Brad Alleyn, Ian Robertson and Kade Smith. The day begins at around 2.30pm with the junior heats - their semis and finals taking place in the evening. There's also 4 youngsters on 350cc bikes in the evening, sidecars etc etc etc. Going to be a great day! Bryn

Confirmed as I thought - Steve's missus wouldn't let him go!

The missus said you couldn't go huh?

New Wightlink Islander Cory Gathercole took the honours in the solo section of last Saturday night's meeting at Olympic Park, Mildura. He led the final from start to finish to head home Tom Hedley, Ryan Sedgman and Ben Welsh. The main event was the Atlas Sheds Sidecars Masters in which the Warren Monson / Marty Underwood partnership got the verdict in a hard-fought final ahead of Clint Mayes and Mark Lucas. Third spot went to Andrew German and Sean Colby who recovered from a fall in their first heat to qualify

Would love to be there with one and all - alas it's a bit too far to travel - will have to content myself with toasting everyone in Bundy!

How we gonna cope without you Ozyace?

No Kevin Doolan? No Adam Shields? No Davey Watt? No Jason Lyons? I know Shane Parker is wintering in the UK (hope he doesn't get too cold!) and, perhaps, Lyonsy has much to do before his Testimonial meeting at Mildura, but am surprised particularly at Doolan's omission in particular. Any ideas?

First opportunity I've had to post on the subject following the news of the call off as I've been out all day visiting Matt Jones of MJM Speedway Spares, his mum Lynne and sister Kylie. The Jones family have, over the years, extended their fabulous hospitality to a whole host of speedway riders, officials and fans whom I'm sure are every bit as grateful as myself. Now onto the call off of Saturday's meeting and whilst there really was no alternative given the current seriousness of the bushfire situation, you have to feel for the SSRAV and everyone involved who have put so much effort into organising the event and one can only hope that a suitable re-staging date can eventually be found. I was really looking forward to the meeting as, I'm sure, were a whole lot of folk. For those back in the UK though, trust me when I say having seen the news pictures earlier tonight of the bushfires, the situation is pretty serious indeed with something like 2000 firefighters deployed working around the clock in 12 hour shifts and the army has also been called in. So, another first for yours truly - a meeting called off not, as usual by rain as they are back in the UK, but by bushfire! Anyway a rapid change of plan is thus required, alas, by Lunchy and myself and so we've decided to nip up the mere 550 or so kilometres to Mildura on Saturday morning for the meeting there as, alas Pioneer Park in Queensland for Saturday's State Championship is a tad too far for Lunchy to drive - 2,000 miles PLUS he tells me from here in Melbourne!

I KNOW I'm availing myself of your great hospitality this week Lunchy but boy-oh-boy you HAVE had too much Bundy!

24 riders will contest the 'A' grade Solo section, which will be the main attraction, at this coming Saturday's meeting dedicated to Ash's memory that takes place at Broadford, here in Victoria. The 24 'A' graders will be split into two groups of 12, the top two in each group progressing to the semi-finals where they will joined by riders from repercharge heats involving the next four placed riders in each group. The two groups are as follows (NOT in riding order): 1. Leigh Adams; Chris Holder; Kevin Doolan; Lee Herne; Ben Wilson; Adam Vandirek; Mark Jones; Tom Hedley; Tyron Procter; Matt Jones; Jay Herne; Sam Dore 2. Travis McGowan; Cam Woodward; Jason Doyle; Cory Gathercole; Filip Sitera; Andrew Aldridge; Michael Slade; Jason Stewart; Arlo Bujega; Karlis Ezergailis; James Holder; Ryan Sedgman.

Veteran Kiwi Mitch Shirra showed that, on occasions, there's no substitute for experience on his way to recording his second successive victory at the North Queensland venue of Pioneer Park. Having seen young Mitch come over to the UK as a teenager, and ride last Saturday night, tis hard to believe he'll be 48 next birthday! Anyway Mitch dropped just one point in the heats when beaten by John Oliver who was having his first meeting at the track since returning from his successful season with King's Lynn in the UK. In that heat Oliver just got the edge at a hard fought first bend to take the chequered flag despite Shirra pushing him hard for the entire race. Earlier Oliver, testing out a new GM, had to be content with second places in his first two rides being surprisingly headed home by firstly Mitchell Davey and then Jon White. White took the third qualifying place in the final but Davey faded after his opening ride win and it was Scotty Mckenna, despite not recording a race win, who took the fourth slot. The final proved a disaster for Oliver who was left stranded at the tapes when his engine dropped a valve and that led to Shirra leading from start to finish to take the honours although White pushed him all the way to the flag. Speaking afterwards Shirra said, "I'm really enjoying my racing and there's no real pressure on me like there is on some of the youngsters. If I win great, if I don't well life goes on. I'm having fun!" QUALIFYING SCORES: Mitch Shirra 11, John Oliver 10, Jon White 10, Scotty McKenna 7, Mitchell Davey 5, Michael OÇonnor 5, Ashley Cathcart 5, Roy Stout 5. Shane Oats 2, Tim Chilcott (reserve) 0. FINAL: Shirra White, McKenna, Oliver (ret). In the sidecar division, the brothers Aldridge raced to an untroubled victory, with Cohen/Shaw stopping with a mechanic problem. In the earlier heats there had been some great racing with Cohen/Shaw providing some stiff competition. 1st J Aldridge/J Aldridge 2nd R Laycock/K Laycock 3rd J Sinnott/H Golding Cohen/Shaw DNF In the Junior Solo Final, which as is always the case was a hard fought affair, Jonathon Lewis took a deserved win as he stormed past Clinton Dennis in a move which also saw Nick Morris sneaking through on the inside through for second after he had made what can only be described as a woeful start. He used his head though, cut to the inside line from gate 3 and, as I said, eventually got through for second. 1st Jonathon Lewis 2nd Nick Morris 3rd Clinton Dennis 4th Jack McLean Finally, I've managed to work out how to creatye a blog so go to: http://brynboy.blogspot.com/ And keep up to date with my latest Aussie trip.

Ok Lunchy - how many beers does that now make it I owe you?

I'll get details and post them. Meanwhile yours truly has now made his way down to Melbourne from Queensland - bit colder down here I've got to say - might even have to go out and by a sweater as I'm allergic to cold although it's going to be 36 degs tomorrow, and I'm already looking forward to the meeting which is less than a fortnight away now on Saturday 9th. Confirmed riders I'm told are Leigh Adams, Chris Holder, Cameron Woodward, Mark Jones, Travis McGowan, Kevin Doolan, Cory Gathercole, Karlis Ezergailis, Arlo Bugeja, Jason Doyle, Filip Sitera, Adam Vandirek , Ben Wilson, Andrew Aldridge and more to follow. Admission will be $15 for 15yrs & over, Under 15's - Free. Gates open at Noon; Practice 1pm, Racing starts 2pm at Broadford Speedway, State Motorcycle Complex, Straths Creek Road, Broadford. For those who don't know, Broadford is situated approx 72km North of Melbourne GPO, and approx 5 km East of the Broadford Township. Further info will no doubt be available at the SSRAV website at: www.ssrav.org.au Looking forward to seeing a great meeting and, hopefully a good crowd to pay tribute to the memory of the rider who so tragically lost his life over a year ago now with myself & Lunchy commentating. Bryn

World Champion Jason Crump is amongst the 10 finalists from a whole heap of nominations for the top award as "Queensland's Sport Star of the Year" at this Friday's 12th Annual Queensland Sports Awards ceremony to be held in Brisbane. Other finalists are: Leisel Jones (Swimming), Bronwyn Thompson (Athletics), Andrew Symonds (Cricket), Emma Snowshill (Triathlon), Kristy Munroe (Surf Life Saving), Duncan Free (Rowing), Darren Lockyer (Rugby League), Libby Lenton (Swimming) and Robby McEwan (Cycling). A full house of 800 plus will be at this, what I'm told, glittering affair at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Gavin & I heard the bad news this morning Ollie. A sad, sad day indeed. R.I.P. Dave Bryn

If there was, I wouldn't tell ya! Neil (Machin) can do his own scouting!