crescent girl

Richard Lawson booked in to cover for Lewi Kerr.

No 1 race-jacket at Berwick, over the years, has been a poisoned chalice....

Eeeek! Duly edited. Apologies to Sedgy

Following two popular home wins (and one away victory) Berwick's Jewson Bandits have made the best-possible start to their season, and will be optimistic that news of their early-season successes will help bring even more local spectators along this Saturday -- although their first two attendances have looked to be more than just OK. Things are looking up! Edinburgh are in town again, bringing their own supporters of course -- the Monarchs are now the closest club to Shielfield -- and, having squeezed a last heat victory out of their last visit, may be in an optimistic frame of mind. Probable teams (not officially confirmed): Jewson Bandits: 1 Lewi Kerr, 2 Danyon Hume, 3 Jye Etheridge, 4 Drew Kemp, 5 Rory Schlein (capt), 6 Freddy Hodder, 7 Bastian Borke Stellar Omada Monarchs: 1 Josh Pickering, 2 Lasse Fredriksen, 3 KyeThomson, 4 Paco Castanga (capt), 5 Justin Sedgmen, 6 Connor Coles, 7 Max James Usual details -- tapes up at 7pm, 10% discount if you buy tickets online before midnight on Friday, cash only at turnstiles on Saturday. Tickets from: www.berwickspeedway.com/tickets

The difference this time is that it was a reserve rider who returned the non-negative result. Last year (and the year before, when Ben Barker was snagged) it was riders in their team proper who had their licences temporarily suspended (rightly and properly, rules is rules) on the night, in which case the programmed races could be covered by the team's reserves. Eliminating the problem of a three-rider race, which seems to be the main factor in getting people's knickers twisted. So, if it happens again -- and it will, sure as God made little apples -- if it's a rider in the team's 1-5, no problem, no 3-man races. If it's a reserve, Heat 2 has to go with three riders -- hardly "cheating the public" and certainly a fair price to pay to keep the sport free of banned substances, no?

Looks like it'll be dry, maybe sunny, but breezy! Wrap up well, folks!

First meeting

Website is pretty up to date, and the link to Bandits TV is there, on the drop-down menu?

But you also thought Cookie was a good captain, didn't you?

Well, l disagree, but that's what a forum's for.....

The advantage of buying online, in addition to a discount at some tracks, is that your refund goes straight back to you automatically. No queueing, no fiddling with tickets, no riots.....

Everybody's got a great plan, a superb solution. Until they get punched in the nose. What happens when you have two six-man teams, each using r/r, and there's a four-man pile-up in Heats 1 or 2?

It surely is! Bandits TV (see club website) from 6.50pm....

With their match at Scunthorpe rained off, the Border Trophy leg at Shielfield will be a debut night in British team racing for Workington's three newbies.... Adding interest to what was already an intriguing encounter.... Tapes up 7pm. Free parking.

This is the time! Not a wheel turned as yet, so every follower has their hopes and dreams intact, hoping that this will be "the year"...... By Sunday night, with six of the nine teams having hopefully raced, prospects will be clearer. But right now, the sky's the limit!

How much you willing to wager?

At a risk of attracting howls of disapproval, can I just say that, for an adult who wants to sit, under cover, to watch speedway, Berwick are offering the best deal in the Championship. Especially when you take the 10% early-bird discount. Only £18 -- and you could bring a couple of young teenagers in with you free. I'm not going to list all the other clubs' prices -- that's their business -- but the Jewson Bandits are certainly offering the best deal around this year. Oh, and parking's free, too...........

The cheaper option is to buy online and save £2! Stewart is Jewson Bandits' team manager, by the way. Ian Rae is track curator.

Many, many times. Like a cracked 78rpm disc. Like the Burnley and Sheffield United supporters who currently believe they'd get access to better players and get off the floor of the table if soccer across the nation would only go to ten-man teams.....

Maybe 80% in the south of England. The rest of the UK has always found riders from a much wider pool.

Isn't this the same as Nicholls coming in at Birmingham for Pawlicki?

So you say, but despite your opinion, F1 generates millions, maybe billions, worldwide. British GP at Silverstone in 2023 attracted 480,000 paying spectators, every one paying at least three times as much as it cost to get into Cardiff. I think we'd all like speedway to do the same, no?

If he became 'available' he would NOT be granted an ACU licence. He might get one from NORA, however. Which wouldn't help Plymouth, but thankfully keep him away from our leagues.

Try again, Phil? Tarasenko's definately there. So is Musielak.

PRESS & PRACTICE It’s been a long winter but the Jewson Bandits powered by Keenwood Karpets are back on track at Shielfield Park this Saturday night from 6:30pm! Here’s a summary of all you need to know Gates open at 6pm. Entry by donation. Season passes available to collect from the box office at the stadium entrance from 6pm until 7pm. Alternatively between 3pm and 5pm in the Black and Gold on March 30 or collect it on the night of our opening Border Trophy first leg against Workington Comets. Please note there is no season launch night on the Friday night but the riders and management team will be attending the Black & Gold immediately after Saturdays practice session. We can’t wait to see you all trackside once again!