crescent girl

OK, just for KevH (but he'll need to sign up for future releases)... NEW SEASON, NEW RIDERS : To end ill-informed speculation on social media, and allow potential club sponsors to step forward, John Anderson and George Hepburn have tonight confirmed the club's intentions for 2015. "We will be running as usual, and in the Premier League" said Anderson. "We have made no secret that sponsorship is needed, but to be fair to those we are talking to on the subject, and to supporters who might be wanting to take up the attractive offers on season tickets as Christmas presents, we feel a statement has to be made, so many stories are flying about" While emphasising that, if the club's financial situation is not improved after 2015, the end of their efforts to maintain the sport in the borders could come to an end, John and George have announced it will be all systems go -- and have released the names of their first three signings! Berwick have moved quickly over the past seven days to tie up three new faces and will be working to tie up the remaining four places for a 2015 team as soon as is feasible. Chairman John stated tonight: “We are announcing initially these three new riders and feel that these captures will excite potential sponsors --- as well as fans of course. We can only reiterate that we need the support of a new main sponsor as well as associate sponsors as announced earlier, but by pushing on with progressive team news we feel this can only encourage folks to support and back the 2015 Bandits” BEN BARKER : The signing of the season! Agreeing terms to become a Bandit in 2015 is Cornishman Ben, a Team GB rider and regular British Final roster-man. At 26, he could be poised for an excellent season, and Bandits are delighted to have agreed with his parent club Coventry Bees for his link-up at Shielfield Park. Ben is heading to Argentina to race down there from mid December into February and will hopefully be fully race-fit when he returns to the UK in preparation for the 2015 season after having his 2014 season curtailed by a shoulder injury. He is a rider loved by the Berwick fans for his all out action style when appearing at Shielfield as a visiting rider and he has produced some big scores in Tweedmouth on his visits. Truro-born Ben is looking forward with optimism to joining Berwick a club, to quote him “ A team I have always wanted to ride for” He comes in on an average of 8.91. George Hepburn added “It is no real secret that we would have liked Ben in our 2014 team but for various reasons it did not work out, but it will come to fruition this season and we are delighted. He comes in on a 8.91 average and we thank Coventry Bees, Mick Horton and Neil Watson for all their assistance. Ben hopes to ride Elite league too and when Berwick meetings allow, matches in the Polish Leagues” THOMAS JORGENSEN : Also coming on board will be 22 year old Danish rider THOMAS JORGENSEN, who joins us from Scunthorpe to fill the gap created by David Bellego (away to Sheffield, as his extensive continental engagements currently require David to be loaned to a midweek circuit). Thomas also wanted a change of home track this coming season and had some very impressive scores on his travels last season. He will also ride regularly again in the Danish top league and Berwick beat off a lot of competition from other Premier League tracks to snap the likeable Danish youngster up. He pushed his average up to 7.09 in 2014 last season and is a rider with undoubted talent who will fill an ‘engine room’ role at Berwick. John said tonight “ Thomas guested for us a couple of times last term and despite illness on one occasion impressed us greatly. His performance for us at Sheffield In the KO Cup really made everyone sit up and take notice” JAKE ALLEN : While the signing of any Australian or non-EU citizen these days has to be tagged as "subject to his getting a visa" 19 year old Jake, from Queensland, Australia is a capture for the club, adding a talented young rider to the Shielfield stable. Jake has made more than a few pundits sit up and take notice this winter, recently finishing second, beaten only a wheel, in the Queensland State Championship two weeks ago -- this ahead of UK-proven riders such as Tyson Nelson, Ryan Douglas and Kozza Smith. Jake Allen has recently performed exceptionally well in the Hefferman Speedway series ‘down under’ and in 2014 won the Darren Winkler Memorial Trophy ahead of a talented line up of riders who race in the UK. The speedway press in his home country have publicly stated “ Jake Allen is the most improved and talented young rider in Queensland this winter” He now goes on to ride in the Australian Championship series as well as the Under 21 championship. Bandits' resident globetrotter Dick Barrie has also commented favourably upon Jake's style, having watched him with interest in Australia earlier this year. John Anderson praised Dennis for getting the deal done, quietly and efficiently as always. Dennis added ”We have now obtained a UKVI Certificate of Sponsorship for Jake as he meets the guidelines of the BSPA (finishing in the top four of his State championship). He seems a very committed and sensible young man, very determined to come and carve a career for himself in the UK and is now going through the process of getting his Visa, so hopefully this all goes to plan". "Remember too he has been in this country before as a 17 year old touring around tracks and from memory won a meeting at Scunthorpe, so he is not totally new to folks, but has improved by leaps and bounds this winter in his homeland” Jake will bring a CMA of 5.00 to the squad, becoming an asset after the required number of matches.

You don't get links, you sign up and get an e-mailed Newsletter. Over 400 go out every time.

Oliver Allen has a superb record around Shieldfield Park.

Unlike other clubs, I think the attitude at Berwick is not to spend money you don't have. Which makes the above post pretty straightforward.

And gave you a bouquet of flowers!

Ah! You know the admission prices, too? I think you know very well that A&J Scott, having agreed at two-year sponsorship package for 2010/11, were pleased enough to extend their backing for a third season in 2012. That sponsorship having run its course (as they all do) Berwick engaged New Holland Agriculture for 2013, with that deal also being extended for a year last season. The club do well from major sponsors, and with both these organisations having extended their agreed tie-ins by an extra year, it seems sponsors are pleased by what they get in return from Berwick. Certainly New Holland landed lucky, with FIM events, the BenFund Bonanza and two live Sky matches during their watch. The club has plenty to offer, and it is probable moves are being effected behind the scenes to tie up new deals, which we'll all learn about when all i's are dotted and t's are crossed.

Cannot imagine the promotion putting discussion of pending commercial matters into their e-Newsletter. Indeed, there's a Newsletter out this evening, with the usual informative information about fan events and the like.

Problem is, clubs in question would have to fund three away meetings from one home gate. So it won't happen.

From Berwick's e-Newsletter: LET'S PARTY INSTEAD ! With todays meeting at Glasgow being rained off , we simply cannot end the season with nothing . So TODAY at Berwick Rugby Club you are all invited to come along to our End of Season get together. The event will start at 3pm going on until 6pm, With all the usual speeches and presentations taking place and of course the Bandits will be present too . Free Entry , all we ask is if people could kindly bring along a raffle prize & buy some raffle tickets . See you all at 3pm.

and Plaid Cymru?

Well, no dance then: THE DANCE : In a season so-spoiled by those record-busting nineteen postponed meetings it was hardly surprising to learn our plans to stage an End-of-Term Dance have been completely wrecked by rearranged fixtures, too! The Dance -- long-term planned to be at the Black-and-Gold on Friday, October 24th (arranged months ago, as soon as our participation in the PL play-offs was confirmed) -- had to be cancelled of course, and now the Glasgow restaging has wiped out the back-up plan of a party on Sunday afternoon, too! "It is a real shame" said Dennis McCleary on behalf of the promotion, as he confirmed that there would now be no end-of-term function. "Our commercial manager Lani Rae had everything arranged for the first date, and then brilliantly set up the Sunday function at short notice to replace it -- now that one must fall by the wayside, too". "I really feel for Lani, who does such an amazing job. She even had two further dates (Friday 31st and Sunday November 2nd) provisionally booked but we're faced by the cold hard fact that the bulk of the team -- Claus, Steen, Matej, David certainly, and I think Alex too -- will have gone home by then, and only Kevin, Matty and the two injured back-up boys Liam and Stefan would be available". "Which is really, really unfortunate, as we see the social side of our club to be important -- but at the end of the day, our business has to be about contesting speedway matches and co-operating with the other PL member-clubs, and that's what has cost us this year's dance". Dennis and his co-promoters are truly disappointed by these exceptional circumstances, and will doubtless be planning something special in springtime to kick-start the 2015 social, as well as speedway, season -- and your Black-and-Gold Bulletin will bring you the news of when, what where that will be, just as soon as plans have been laid! Questions over tickets, etc, should go to Lani on 07779-227535 or Lisa Youngman on 07773-759864. All tickets will be refunded . (From Berwick e-Newsletter)

....and you think he'd get a visa?

Of course, everyone would. Because back then, you got on a Thursday and literally everything in it, news, track stories and detailed results were absolutely fresh and new to you. Times change, and the Star has to do as well. I think the poster who commented on it being more enjoyable in the close season has a point. I hadn't thought about that until now, but I reckon I might do so too.

What a great opportunity for the "average fixing" conspiritors to assume every slightly unusual race result at Ashfield that afternoon to have an ulterior motive.......

Still German, like the article said......

OK then, Mister T: Who do you suggest, who will be (1) available, (2) is under 7.52 and (3) would be guaranteed to out-score Vissing, Doolan, Bellego and Jensen/Wethers around Shielfield?

From the Bandits' e-Newsletter (which must be doing well, it doesn't attract too much criticism): TROPHY TIME! With the Border Trophy added to the final home play-off match, Saturday's send-off to our 2014 term of trading should feature a packed party-night programme of racing --- just the thing to wrap up this successful season. The club are 'pretty pleased' with our fourth place in the PL standings, our solid squad's performances both at Shielfield and on the road -- in short, the plan is to celebrate the season on Saturday night with (in addition to a first-leg win) a 'bit of a party'. On track, the party features our age-old opposition from Cumbria, who are clearly seeking that Border Trophy, with big-name Dane Ulrich Ostergaard in as a guest for Josh Grajczonek (swapping one scrabble-friendly name for another?) and Britain's 20-year-old Kyle Howarth coming to the party on the back of a truly stunning performance last night in the Elite League play-off match at Swindon where, live on Sky TV, Kyle headlined a shock Coventry victory with 13+1 points and victories over all the big-name Robins such as Troy Batchelor and Peter Kildemand. With form like this going for him, Kyle could be on fire on Saturday -- but no-one said this was going to be easy! It might be a bit colder than high summer, but the meeting marks the close of our 47th season of speedway, our most-successful for a decade, we want it to be one great big hot party -- and you're invited! Teams: BANDITS: 1. Matej Kus (rider-replacement -- Matej is racing for his Czech nation's championship), 2. David Bellego, 3. Kevin Doolan, 4. Steen Jensen, 5. Claus Vissing, 6. Alex Edberg, 7. Matty Wethers (captain). COMETS: 1. Ulrich Ostergaard, 2. Ricky Wells, 3. Rene Bach (captain), 4. Mason Campton, 5. Kyle Howarth, 6. Joe Jacobs, 7. Simon Lambert. BORDER TROPHY - A HISTORY: This weekend's two meetings celebrate the fourteenth staging of the Border Trophy, which was first contested in 1970, the year Derwent Park opened for speedway. The first-ever meeting on the left-hand coast was for the Trophy, with Bandits winning 39-37, with our top scorers being Andy Meldrum (8) and Maury Robinson and Peter Kelly, each with 7. The return leg (44 years and eight days ago, on October 3rd, 1970) saw the Trophy clinched by a 6-point aggregate, our top scorers that night being Maury again with a 12-point maximum and guest Alan Wilkinson with 10. The most-recent Border Trophy clash was in 2000, when we took the pot with a 22-point aggregate victory. The Trophy has been captured by our Bandits eight times over the years, against (obviously) five by the Comets. WEATHER: The fearsome storms which have been sweeping through the nation of late will, we understand, have abated by the weekend. The forecast for Berwick-on-Tweed on Saturday currently offers less wind, and just a hint of a couple of lunchtime showers -- but by tapes-up time, it should be dry, if a little autumnal -- wrap up!

It's talking already?

Absolutely. Which would you prefer, £45 per point, paid in cash the following Saturday night or £75 per point, never paid in full anyway and the other part after months of wrangling?

Sky might hope it does! Certainly there will be a lot of people tuning in to see if it does.

Great stuff! Don't any of you folk go to ice hockey?

Now confirmed by prompt e-Newsletter: Matty will be replaced by --- Sam Simota!

Simota for me, he was a willing stand-by when there were doubts about Matty returning from his big crash, and Czechs are always good value at Berwick.

Max Clegg is at No 7 for Edinburgh. Deek is unwell.

Although that wouldn't matter if it happened, since southern finalists won't be known until about then anyway!