crescent girl

On Bandits' website: Despite the defeat, everyone at Edinburgh was delighted to see Matty Wethers in the pits, lending moral support to his team-mates. Still very stiff and sore, Matty admitted that any attempt to get back on board the bike this week would be impossible -- but has set his sights on rejoining the rest of the lads for the home meeting with Redcar on August 30th! This is good news indeed, putting the Speedway Star's suggestion that he would be sidelined 'indefinitely' into perspective. Now he needs to get his equipment replaced after those big crashes, with the Bandits Supporters Club holding a collection tonight for that very purpose.

Berwick's release this morning: Blame – or thank – the Gods of Weather. So much Saturday-night rain has descended on Tweedmouth during 2014, Berwick’s high-flying speedway Bandits (sponsored by New Holland Agriculture) have been forced into the unusual step of staging two complete matches on one evening – this Saturday night! 30 races on the bill! “We are on course to qualify for the end-of-term play-offs for the league title,” explained co-promoter Ryan Anderson yesterday. “However, to do so it is necessary to complete all our home matches by mid-September, and all the rained-out meetings now mean there are more outstanding matches than Saturdays to stage them on! “As a result, we are doubling-up – beginning racing at half-past six this week, taking on Rye House Rockets, catch our breath for twenty minutes or so and pitch back into action against Newcastle Diamonds! Getting everything all done and dusted by half-past nine, as usual, we hope. “All for one admission price of course, and we’ll be offering a bumper 36-page programme to what we are hoping will be a bumper attendance!” Adult admission for the 30-race bonanza is £19, OAPs £12 and all accompanied children up to 16 are absolutely free. Hospitality seating in the guest lounge, including admission, programme, buffet and refreshments is £35, but must be pre-booked with Commercial Manager Lani Rae on 07779-227535. MATCH #2: BANDITS v NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS: In the second part of the extravaganza, there are no guests, no replacements, in a determined bunch of Diamond geezers! Bandits are hoping to take three league points from both matches, hoisting the (un-fancied by all pre-season experts) border side into the top three of the table, with matches-in-hand over the clubs above them. Newcastle are clinging to a play-off place by their fingernails, and must eke every single point out of their remaining fixtures if they are to stay in the magic half-dozen clubs contesting the lucrative end-of-term play-offs. Team manager-for-the-night Alan Hedley will have his charges revved-up and ready to go, perhaps hoping that fatigue to men and machines might affect the home riders in the later stages of the second contest. Bandits: 1. Claus Vissing (captain), 2. David Bellego, 3. Steen Jensen, 4. Matty Wethers - Rider-replacement, 5. Kevin Doolan, 6. Alexander Edberg, 7. Matej Kus Diamonds: 1. Danny King, 2. Lewis Rose, 3. Stuart Robson, 4. Lewis Kerr, 5. Ludvig Lindgren, 6. Simon Nielsen, 7. Chris Mills

Berwick release this morning: Blame – or thank – the Gods of Weather. So much Saturday-night rain has descended on Tweedmouth during 2014, Berwick’s high-flying speedway Bandits (sponsored by New Holland Agriculture) have been forced into the unusual step of staging two complete matches on one evening – this Saturday night! 30 races on the bill! “We are on course to qualify for the end-of-term play-offs for the league title,” explained co-promoter Ryan Anderson yesterday. “However, to do so it is necessary to complete all our home matches by mid-September, and all the rained-out meetings now mean there are more outstanding matches than Saturdays to stage them on! “As a result, we are doubling-up – beginning racing at half-past six this week, taking on Rye House Rockets, catch our breath for twenty minutes or so and pitch back into action against Newcastle Diamonds! Getting everything all done and dusted by half-past nine, as usual, we hope. “All for one admission price of course, and we’ll be offering a bumper 36-page programme to what we are hoping will be a bumper attendance!” Adult admission for the 30-race bonanza is £19, OAPs £12 and all accompanied children up to 16 are absolutely free. Hospitality seating in the guest lounge, including admission, programme, buffet and refreshments is £35, but must be pre-booked with Commercial Manager Lani Rae on 07779-227535. MATCH #1: BANDITS v RYE HOUSE ROCKETS: In the first match, Berwick will face a guest-strengthened box of Rockets, as the Hertfordshire side have had an unfortunate glut of riders withdrawing from their squad. Edward Kennett is returning of course, and will be a popular visitor - he turned out for Berwick for a period last season to cover for the injured Ricky Ashworth. He leads a team with former Bandit (and British U-21 Champion) Ritchie Hawkins replacing Luke Bowen, and tenacious Aussie Mason Campton in for Jason Garrity. The Rockets will use the rider-replacement regulation to cover the races of Anders Mellgren, who has withdrawn from UK racing to rest an injured back. Regular Rockets Steve Boxall (himself riding through the pain from an injured ankle, experienced Jason Bunyan (who has appeared in three Grands Prix) and Olly Greenwood complete their side. The Bandits list their regular squad. Bandits: 1. Claus Vissing (captain), 2. David Bellego, 3. Steen Jensen, 4. Matty Wethers – Rider replacement, 5. Kevin Doolan, 6. Alexander Edberg, 7. Matej Kus Rockets: 1. Edward Kennett, 2. Ritchie Hawkins, 3. Steve Boxall, 4. Mason Campton, 5. Anders Mellgren - Rider replacement, 6. Oliver Greenwood, 7. Jason Bunyan

Far from it, I was genuinely impressed by the stat, and thought I was saying so. The follow-up was just my own observation on the importance of solidarity.

Thanks to our "Proud-to-be-a-Fanny" Tourettes, for that. Good, indeed great, stat! Demonstrating it is more important to assemble a team which can collectively win matches, especially away from home, than build a team to the limit based on average, no?

No, I think toothless refers to some of the attempts by the usual suspects (on this fine forum) to deny Berwick's promotion credit for what they have achieved, on and off track, since taking over at Shielfield....... (cue usual suspects)

The Diamonds will be manoeuvred by Alan Hedley on Saturday night. A rare missed meeting for George.

Word from Armadale on Aaron Fox is he is to see the doctors today, still feeling pain in shoulder and chest. His avowed intention is to ride if given the medical all-clear.

Very well said, very well put. Should you be coming on here, Steve? Making sensible posts like that?

Deniers? Isn't that the linear mass density of fibres in my silk stockings?

In addition to his injuries, Matty again suffered a huge financial blow last week, with his bike, helmet and neck-brace all wrecked -- virtually the same damage suffered in his big 'off' during the match against Redcar. Total replacement bills from the two big crashes getting up towards £4,000. The club have already been contacted by a supporter who read about the helmet 'doing its job' in a recent newsletter and will be contributing to purchase of a replacement helmet and brace, and the Bandits Supporters Club have the promotion's blessing to hold a collection between the two matches on Saturday night.

Very sad when this forum is used to spread untrue rumour. Deliberately? The allegation that Berwick will be short-handed at Edinburgh had no foundation, posting it could only discourage supporters to follow their side up the road on Friday. Repeating it without asking a question (and question that was not) wasn't clever at all. Nice to see Tourettes stepping in to deny the tale, confirming the Bandits expect to be at full strength. Like every club, Edinburgh need every spectator they can entice through their turnstiles, and they might have lost a few if the story had taken wings. In John Campbell's programme column last week, he referred to "our internet friends, some of whom now seem intent on damaging our business here". If that cap fits....

*Refer to forum rules on starting duplicate topics and on one topic per meeting* Yesterday evening's e-Newsletter, it say (with slight amendment, if Luke Bowen's out): DOUBLE-BUBBLE! As previously announced, we have a bargain for you on Saturday (23rd) when we attempt to reduce our backlog of home fixtures by presenting a very rare double-header of two matches on one night! Not just Rye House Rockets, but Newcastle Diamonds too! 30 heats of Premier League racing, and six vital PL points up for grabs. The Rockets will be spearheaded by our good friend Edward Kennett of course, and with multi-GP rider Jason Bunyan in support will be offering a spirited challenge of our bold Bandits -- and after that, Newcastle will be rolling their bikes into the pits, still intent on snatching every league point going as they claw for a foothold in what is becoming a hotly-contested battle for places in the top six! As we explained in our last Black-and-Gold Bulletin, racing will start thirty minutes earlier than usual, at 6.30pm sharp. Adult admission to the entire meeting will be £19, with senior citizens on £12 and kids of course absolutely free, as usual. The turnstiles will be opened at 5.45pm. As we announced during the Somerset match, there is no plan to offer a "one match only" deal on Saturday. As Dick said, if you go to a concert, or a music festival to see just one of the bands playing, you will still expect to pay for the whole show! Your programming will comprise 36 pages (£2 as always) and will feature the programme printed for the original Rye House fixture, plus an 8-page wraparound to update both teams, all the latest news and pictures and incorporate details of the visiting Newcastle riders.

Meeting begins at 6.30pm. Admission £19 and £12 for oldies. Children free. 36-page programme £2.

Not really, with diminishing return from a knock-out cup -- after the first round, you've lost 50% of the competitors. As the poster above says, currently there are still ten out of thirteen clubs involved in the play-off chase.

With the Grand Prix cancelled, there might be a few folk who were going to watch it deciding to come along to see Bandits taking on the Rebels instead.

As advertised in Berwick's regular e-Newsletter today: SEVEN EXTRA RACES Once again offering value for money, Berwick are staging the Northern Junior League U-16 Riders Championship (sponsored by Colin Easton Plumbing) after the Premier action (versus Somerset)is over tomorrow evening. This six-heats-and-a-final event features the brightest and best of the underage skidders who are contesting the NJL this term, and will be run once the big guys' racing is completed. Contesting the Championship will be Leon Flint, Kieran Douglas, Carl Basford, Jamie Halder, Kieran Taylor, James Hitchen, Jack Wright and Luke McKenna.

I think the GG tribute act has got it right. Good observation.

OK, so the question to be asked is, where did the big crowd -- and it was a big crowd -- all come from on a Tuesday night? Obviously not to see big tractors, excellent New Holland banners or listen to a good pipe band -- although these things all helped the sense of occasion once folk were in. Was it a big crowd because of the novelty of the off-night, the Sky presence or maybe the £10 deal? Or the posters? Any thoughts?

Berge wouldn't be available, he isn't even riding for Glasgow this weekend.

Not really. There have been three meetings cancelled at Berwick since June. The FIM meeting had a lovely day, official practice was in sunshine, and when rain followed in mid-afternoon the track covers (which Berwick have) were put down. But the rain never stopped. The Edinburgh and Rye House matches at the end of July followed virtually perfect weather most of the day, but were cancelled because of ferocious thunderstorms and downpours betweeen six and seven. No track covers in the world would have saved those situations.

Don't the top two just take turns to pick their opponents in the two groups?

Why? If one team has failed to fulfil fixtures (maybe because of too many deliberately blank nights and/or cancellations for other than weather) why should others' post-season fixture list be messed up?

Berwick's e-Newsletter this morning keeps the pot boiling..... Only a tenner to come in on Tuesday, and you can bring the kids for free! On Tuesday 12th, we presume you might just be aware of a midweek visit from Edinburgh Monarchs, plus the cameras and crew from Sky TV! Having lost to Edinburgh here in April in the Premier Trophy, but then defeating them soundly last month in the KO Cup, honours are even so far -- Tuesday may therefore be looked on as a decider for the Shielfield Park bragging rights in 2014! The eyes -- and the cameras -- of the world will be upon us! This meeting is a really tough test for your New Holland Bandits, and with the miracle of planet-wide live television focussing the eyes of the world on our efforts, the boys are going need all the support we can muster. Your attendance, along with as many friends, maybe first-timers, will be really welcome. Tell everyone you know -- it's only a tenner on Tuesday, you can bring the kids for free, and they are allowed to wave at the cameras! Don't miss it!

Berwick's e-Newsletter reports: The last time Edinburgh's fast-starting Justin Sedgmen raced as a guest at Berwick, it was for Peterborough Panthers -- and we all know just how good he, and the Panthers, were that sorry, sorry night! Tomorrow brings Sheffield Tigers back to Berwick and, needing a guest to replace the unlucky Andre Compton, who does wily manager Joe Screen call? Sedgy, that's who! The Steel City boys are led by Team GB's WTC Finalist Simon Stead (an absolute master around Shielfield, and their top scorer as the Tigers snuffed out Workington's spluttering Comets 52-40 last night) and have the "tiny tadpole" Taylor Poole at reserve -- the position he was in as he collected payment for no less than 17 points against mighty Somerset last week, live on Sky Sports! His fellow reserve Josh Bates took a tumble last night and had to withdraw from the meeting, although we obviously hope he will be fit to race tomorrow. However, our own riders are now hungry for the points that will consolidate their position in the top three of the Premier League. From here on in, home wins are a must! Get your backside trackside on Saturday, and cheer them on! Having now won five away fixtures to boost ourselves into the magic half-dozen, it is imperative we hold our place by winning at home, and Saturday's visit from the steel-city Tigers is the first of eight vital home encounters. Bandits: 1. Claus, 2. David, 3. Steen, 4. Matty, 5. Kevin, 6. Alex, 7. Matej. Tigers: 1. Simon Stead, 2. Leigh Lanham(R/R), 3. Ben Wilson, 4. Mason Campton (guest), 5. Justin Sedgmen (guest), 6. Taylor Poole, 7. Josh Bates (if fit).