crescent girl

Dan Bewley's CMA is 3.55. This rules out several No 7's with higher averages. The only riders who seem qualified to replace Dan would be Messrs Hume, Phillips, Halsey, Perks, Payne, Wajknecht and Bailey. Rob Branford's average fits, but I don't think he's a registered No 7 -- Ben Morley is, I believe, Rye's man for that job.

Scott is also smart enough not to return to the job if an incoming owner wasn't his cup of tea.

MPT will be at No 1 for Rye.

For what it's worth, to suggest Dennis Hush had 'fallen away' from supporting the Bandits in recent years is nonsence. He and Sandra, along with Billy and Sian, have been regulars all the way as much as business permitted, and if other 'fans' were as dedicated -- Dennis and Sandra were even at Ipswich to cheer us on in the KO Cup last season, on a (great) night not too much black and gold was in evidence!

Due to difficulties imposed by football being on, compounded by funfair still in situ, proposed car-wash has been cancelled. Instead, a fund-raising collection for the Duns academy project will take place during the match, at the interval.

A preferred bidder would surely be one whose bid (for anything) matched the financial and moral requirements of a vendor. But as they say "we do not expect to be making any further public statements" I guess that's that until a (hopefully positive) announcement is made.

To amplify your wish, I hope they will go with the one who will secure the long-term future of Berwick speedway

....and here we go, courtesy of today's e-Newsletter: Saturday night will pull down the curtain on the 2016 Shielfield season, with Rye House Rockets the team facing your Olympus Marquees Bandits as we seek another three Premier League points, perhaps consolidating ninth position in the final table. "We've raced Rye House three times already this season" said Scott Courtney "Adding up the points scored, at the moment they are ahead by 136 to 134, so that's pretty tight". "Edward Kennett is a superb rider, as we found out to our cost on Bank Holiday Monday, and well worth the money to watch. It could be a good night out, and if it is to be the final countdown on the 2016 season --- well, it's a long. cold winter with no Saturday speedway, so come along and make the most of it this week!" "A win on Saturday might help close the season with a smile, and I hope there will be a lot of people there to watch the show -- with so many people currently talking about the speedway in and around town, everyone knows this match is on!" Confirmed line-ups: Bandits: 1. Kevin, 2. Dany, 3. Theo, 4. Matty, 5. TJ, 6. Tom, 7. Liam. Rockets: 1. Edward Kennett, 2. Kasper Lykke, 3. Cameron Heeps, 4. Leigh Lanham, 5. Stuart Robson, 6. Rob Branford, 7. Ben Morley. I told you once and I told you twice But you never listen to my advice You don't try very hard to please me With what you know it should be easy.......

So, are your Panthers going to get all three oustanding matches in before the cut-off? Failure might mean the door opening for Ippo or Worky?

That's a nice positive post. Let's go racing!

It is obvious that a prospective purchaser -- or competing purchasers -- will make their enquiries and any ongoing interest will undergo rigorous due diligence. On both sides of the bargain. This is unlikely to include allegations or accusations posted on here -- either in condemnation or support of the parties concerned. Let us hope for a continuation of speedway at Shielfield, not just for a fiftieth season but for many years thereafter.

Ah, so you know the asking price? Pray tell, as this may allow a prospective investor's mind to be made up.

Nathan Greaves will be #7 for Rebels on Monday.

First meeting is over 15 heats regardless. Second could be curtailed by curfew (regardless of scoreline) but hopefully after Heat 10.

A nice weekend double coming up, with news, interviews and presentation of ideas on the subject of the Bandits Speedway Academy at Duns taking place in the Black & Gold on Saturday night (September 3rd -- admission by donation) and then a MONDAY visit from league-leading Somerset Rebels. With news just in of forward-looking changes being made by Scott and the promotion, it could be a bit brighter a weekend than the doom'n'gloom merchants are chanting about. The future just might be a bright black and gold after all.....

While your constructive criticism -- the kind that is always welcome -- is appreciated, I have to take issue here on behalf of others. The electronic signs DO regularly carry news of speedway events, there ARE regular activities featuring local radio and this year our commercial guys have continued as they began, with the regularly-updated posters in many, many more shops around town than ever before. The big banners are also out -- in regularly-rotated sites -- each weekend. The Isle of Wight club are doing much the same, and will hopefully succeed in keeping the sport on the island. But it is a really tough task (down there and up here) nobly carried out by just a few hard-working folk who are prepared to actually do the jobs.

Last date to make team changes was yesterday at midnight. Ya gotta dance with who brung ya!

Tomorrow (28th) is the last day for changes. 31St is the date such changes take effect.

Fine for us in the north, or in the deep south for travelling - but not for clubs 'in the middle! Also (mark my words) the southern clubs would get all the big names.....

For league fixtures, it is September 19th (already put back from 12th, because of so many postponements) For team changes to a 1-7 it is August 28th (this Sunday) effective Wednesday 31st.

AN ACADEMY EVENING With no racing at Shielfield next Saturday (September 3rd) we will be hosting a fund-raising evening to allow progress in creating our Speedway Academy at Duns to be maintained. This will be in the Black and Gold from 7pm. Scott Courtney and Gary Flint, the prime movers in the Academy project, will be launching and explaining a range of sponsorship packages, explain the finer details about the projected completion of phase 2 and from there look towards the exciting phase 3 which will see the shale going down and the creation of the safety-fence and pits area. This would be a good time to give the BSPA credit for their assistance with the Academy. Simply, we wouldn't have been in a position to commit to the project as soon as we have without their help. The BSPA, so-often maligned, gave us a total of £5,000 -- being £2,500 grant and a further loan of the same amount. Already, that £5,000 has been committed to the mammoth project of levelling the land and installing land drainage. "It was crucial that we had a laser-levelled base for the installation of our track" explained Scott. "We are effectively perched on the side of a big hill!" "We completed phase 1 primarily down to the financial help of the BSPA and for that we are very grateful". "Also, without the marvellous help of Jewsons at Tweedside Estate we wouldn't be so far along, that's for sure!" "They have sponsored us for the use of a mini-digger, which was used to establish a track drainage system that we feel will be very effective all year round. We need to emphasise this help from Jewsons, as machinery has been very difficult to come by thus far". "Now we're well into phase 2 of the 3-phase project. This consists of track drainage, supplying and installation of fence posts, laying of our access road and the first step towards establishing the first layer of our track base, We are well on with the track drainage and our access road is due for installation this week". "Flintie and I are working closely with former Edinburgh skipper Derek Sneddon, one-time Bandit Tamas Sike and Glasgow skipper Aaron Summers on all aspects of this wonderful project, ensuring we can build a facility that will cater for every rider's needs -- from absolute grass-roots beginners to professional riders that need practice time". Gary Flint added that the "Academy Evening" in the Black and Gold on September 3rd is primarily to announce and fully explain the availability of sponsorship packages. "Everything is in place with drainage and sub-base ready, we now really want to organise a cash-flow to augment the BSPA money". "It should be a pretty good night, apart from fund-raising we'll have the usual pie'n'pea suppers, maybe a quiz, some speedway-related chatter and patter and hopefully a few off-duty riders in attendance". (So said the e-Newsletter yesterday)

Somerset at Workington, as VFTTB has explained. We are already racing that night against Rye House. Let's turn it round: What is wrong with Mon 5th September?

Berwick v Somerset will be restaged on Monday, September 5th at 7.30pm.

It won't be very high -- nothing like Perry or Carr. Maybe 3.5 at most.

As per today's e-Newsletter: Scott Courtney: "We have an exciting weekend ahead of us, Workington at home in the second leg of the Border Trophy should be pretty good". "We need to claw back those 15 points -- but if our performance on Sky Sports against the Comets is anything to go by we are capable of achieving that, and getting our hands on the Trophy!" "Unfortunately, Theo has to miss out on Saturday, as he'll be in Finland, racing in the Long-Track Grand Prix at Forssa". "Because of the Border Trophy being outside regular PL rules, Workington have allowed me to bring in a guest for the match, which is great. So I've invited Scunthorpe's young Aussie Ryan Douglas to step into Theo's clogs on Saturday. He certainly won't let us down". Workington will be without reserve Matt Williamson on Saturday, as he has been released to race in the NL Pairs at King's Lynn, and they will bring in Mitchell Davey as their guest. Both missing riders will return for the league fixture on Sunday. With a fairly full evening in prospect -- the SRBF collection and a six-heat NJL mini-match, plus several presentations at the interval will add to proceedings -- it is hoped to start the parade spot on 6.50pm, with the tapes going up at sevon o'clock sharp. Season ticket-holders are reminded that their tickets do not cover this Border Trophy match. Declared line-ups on Saturday night: Bandits: 1. Kevin, 2. Dawid, 3. Ryan Douglas (guest), 4. Matty, 5. TJ, 6. Dany, 7. Liam. Comets: 1. Ricky Wells, 2. Mason Campton, 3. Kenneth Hansen, 4. Rasmus Jensen, 5. Claus Vissing, 6. Adam Roynon, 7. Mitchell Davey (guest).