crescent girl

It is correct that Romano Hummel has been 'protected' as a Berwick asset for twelve months by the BSPA, but also correct that the Dutch federation appear anxious to keep him away from speedway in favour of long- and grass-tracking. Oh well.

Track covers are not a miracle cure-all. When there is rain on the day of a meeting, but forecast to clear by evening, they work -- two meetings have been staged this season which would not otherwise have gone ahead. 100% success rate. Yesterday's meeting faced a terrible forecast for the afternoon and evening, plus a football match, and was not a situation for covers to be deployed.

"a date which will live in infamy" (FDR)

Yes, no chance of racing tonight, with horrendous afternoon and evening forecast. Correct decision to save a four-figure sum by early call-off. Rearanged date to be announced.

BSPA have alternative raceday officially listed as Saturdays at 7pm.

Home rider? No further action --- like Sam's assault on Bjerre. None of the local officials "will have seen anything" and any case reported to SCB by the referee will fall because of lack of witnesses. Away riders who act like this (Hall, Tungate) get one-month suspensions, however. Everybody sees those incidents!

Ricky Wells for Josh, Victor Pavlova for Jake, Rob Shuttleworth for Zach and r/r for Charlie Chuckles. Plus three real Rebels.

I have to agree. Maybe won't solve the problem every time, but.... Berwick have used their covers twice in 2016 with 100% success rate. Both times the meeting referee reported to SCB that match could not have proceeded without the covers having been deployed.

Newsletter was certainly correct to qualify line-ups as 'anticipated' --- Somerset are much-changed from what might have been expected. Berwick's release to media this morning tells that the teams will be: Bandits: 1. Kevin Doolan (captain), 2. Dawid Stachyra, 3. Theo Pijper, 4. Matty Wethers, 5. Thomas Jorgensen, 6. Dany Gappmaier, 7.Liam Carr. Rebels: 1. Josh Grajczonek (captain), 2. Charles Wright (r/r), 3. Michael Palm-Toft (guest), 4. Paul Starke, 5. Rohan Tungate, 6. Bradley Wilson-Dean, 7. Dan Bewley (guest). Which is better than they're getting up at Edinburgh, where the Rebels don't even have Grajczonek!

Peterborough have -- obviously -- a habit of pulling out surprising performances at Shielfield Park, as their undefeated-in-18-years run testifies. But every streak must come to an end -- is tonight the night?

Don't let the Glasgow folk hear you praising Edinburgh, it isn't allowed! I'd strongly recommend getting train into Edinburgh -- it swings all through August, packed with tourists (hardly any locals!) until the small hours.

No Germans at Berwick, mate...

No changes for weekend, it would seem. Standard Panthers' line-up announced on Berwick match thread.

As reported in Bandits' e-Newsletter, the Panthers are very much a bogey team for Berwick, who haven't registered a win against Peterborough, home or away, since 1998. To quote: LET'S BEAT THE HOODOO! As we have been telling you, Peterborough's Panthers haven't lost to Berwick's Bandits this century! That's home or away --- and this Saturday night, it is time for your Olympus Marquees Bandits to beat their bogey team. "I'm told we haven't managed a win over Peterborough since 1998 -- which is quite ridiculous" said John Anderson. "Eighteen years is quite long enough and I'm certainly hoping to see the Bandits combining to get the better of the Panthers this week". With Craig Cook and Ulrich Oestergaard leading their attack however, Peterborough are nobody's idea of easy meat, and this week's meeting has all the hallmarks of a real classic encounter. "We have an improving team again, with Dawid Stachyra and Dany Gappmaier gaining in confidence every meeting" said John. "Also, Liam Carr must currently be going as well as any No 7 in Britain -- it isn't going to be easy, but with everyone getting behind the team, I'm really and truly hoping we can beat these Panthers at last, and this most unwelcome hoodoo can at last be forgotten about!" The last time Berwick did get the best of a Panthers squad (on September 26th, 1998) it is interesting to remember how the scoring went. Both clubs deployed rider-replacement, for Scott Robson and Glenn Cunningham respectively: Bandits (48): James Grieves 14, David Meldrum 13+1, David Walsh 11+1, Peter Scully 4+2, Wesley Waite 3+1 and Martin Dixon 3. Panthers (42): Nigel Sadler 16, Brett Woodifield 8, David Howe 7+3, Phillipe Berge 6+3, Oliver Allen 3+1, Simon Stead 2. So, will the Gypsy Ged's curse be broken on Saturday? The guys who will make it happen (or not) are expected to be: Bandits: 1. Kevin Doolan, 2. Dawid Stachyra, 3. Theo Pijper, 4. Matty Wethers, 5. Thomas Jorgensen, 6. Dany Gappmaier, 7. Liam Carr. Panthers: 1. 1. Craig Cook, 2. Emil Grondal, 3. Tom Perry, 4. Nikolaj B Jakobsen, 5. Ulrich Oestergaard, 6. Ashley Morris, 7. Zdenek Holub.

How about Ipswich?

I think Worky's away form will eventually see them slip out of the top six. Amazed to realise Edinburgh now fractionally ahead of Glasgow in +/- and could be runners-up in the table with the advantage of being seeded in play-offs. All in all, it is getting interesting.....

A good performance tonight, team working well together, pulling Devils' lead back to four points and holding them over the dreaded last three races. Some very good races, with Matty Wethers very much involved in most of them. A good match to watch.

David isn't always available at weekends. Which was a reason he has opted to be loaned to Thursday circuits.......

Forecast much brighter than was suggested yesterday. XC Weather shows no rain after 3pm, and clear skies and sunshine by 7! Here we go --- 44-46!

Accomodation might be harder than parking, which -- as Scem has said -- is free. Height of the holiday season means many places will be full. Cara House is the club's recommended B&B, and should be your first point of contact (call Pam on 01289-302749) and, even if booked up, Pam may be able to recommend someplace else. Alternatively, there is the Travelodge (0871-9846279)

An awful lot of 5-0's and 3-2's there, Ed! Let's go for 63-27!

Still can't handle replying on a phone! As the teams aren't mentioned in today's newsletter, l don't really follow your comment.....

Teams will be: Bandits: 1. Kevin Doolan, 2. Dawid Stachyra, 3. Theo Pijper, 4. Matthew Wethers. 5. Thomas Jorgensen, 6, Dany Gappmaier, 7. Liam Carr. Rockets: 1. Edward Kennett, 2. Kaspar Lykke, 3. Cameron Heeps, 4. Leigh Lanham, 5. Stuart Robson, 6. Robert Branford (guest), 7. Ben Morley. Shielfield regulars should note that season tickets are NOT valid for this meeting, as it is a KO cup-tie.

Berwick, another weekend track operating on a tight budget, had an (approximately) 8-point hole to fill when Seb Alden crashed out, and took several weeks and tried numerous riders before locating David Stachyra. Plymouth did very well to recruit Brady K when Gjedde walked, they'll need a miracle (or a big, big wallet) to do as well again