Ommer Mon

Two blank Mondays coming up at Monmore Wood. Why not switch it?

If Ash and Cleggy are riding for us it will be hard to look beyond them for winners. Their understanding and team riding at Monmore has been superb this season. In Heats 13 and 15 of the Semi against the Brummies they produced two superb 5-1s and not from the gate either. Ash stayed wide to block Tom Perry and Cleggy sneaked round the inside. After that it was shoulder to shoulder all the way with Cleggy shutting off to make sure Ash got his maximum. Its the sort of understanding weve seen before from Penhall and Schwartz and Hamill and Hancock. Great to watch (unless you are on the recieving end). Good luck to them.

Not a bad meeting. Ash and Cleggy were magnificent yet again and their team riding in Heats 13 and 15 was some of the best I've seen for a long time. Some very subdued celebrations from Danny Ayres last night, which is hopefully a prelude to him putting pen to paper for next season. I loved Ben Hopwood's impression of Danny after his first win. Hopefully we will be able to plan better for next season and get the balance right. Still, this year may not be quite done yet - all we have to do is turn Eastbourne over at Arlington! Good luck to the Brummies for the Final

I've been practicing being objectionable ever since the Wolves won the Play offs so I may just give it a whirl tonight if the opportunity presents itself! Still as long as is a good night's racing I think we'll all go home happy. Here's to next season!

Looking out of the window there is plenty of blue sky around and the forcast is for a dry evening with a minimum temperature of 10C. Probably the last chance for Heathens to get their speedway fix at home this year so a healthy crowd is expected bolstered by a number of gloating Brummies no doubt.

Well the odds are stacked firmly against us but anything can happen on the night so let's stay positive. I see the Brummies have nabbed Danny Ayres to guest for them and that is an excellent move given his recent performances at Monmore. Can't see us progressing unless our bottom end all have the best meeting of their lives simultaneously. Spare a thought for Luke Chessell. He has been a real success this season and is really unfortunate to be missing the crucial matches. Looking forward to a good nights racing whatever the result may be................and you never know.

- says it all!

If you want to explore mysterious absences where is richard andrews?

I'm struggling to see any weak links in the Birmingham line up and I suspect our chances overall will hinge on Cleggy and Ash racking up the points at Perry Barr. If we can keep the gap down to 10 I will be very happy indeed. To be honest think it could end up double that. Good luck to all the lads. Here's hoping for some good racing and a minior miracle.

It was Ted Flanaghan if I remember rightly. He was an excellent track curator and spent a long time with the Dog Heads. PS For the sake of a balanced view - Good luck to Belle Vue for the Play Off Final!

Great article on the Cradley website today with Danny thanking the Cradley fans for their support the other night and saying how sorry he was to mess the first bend up in heat 15 and cost us the win. Danny don't beat yourself up! You were brilliant and I'm sure the faithful would greet you with open arms if you ever decide to leave Kent. He'd certainly be top of my shopping list if available.

I think the Brummies main concern will be avoiding any more injuries with their epic encounter aginst the Heathens looming. A good and safe meeting to all concerned.

Just read a great article on the Cradley website where Danny has thanked the Cradley fans for their support the other night and said how much he enjoys riding for us. He's be top of my shopping list if available.

I've got some great memories of Ladbrokes Stadium Perry Barr. Finn Jensen beating Ole Olsen twice in one meeting, Pehhall and Schwartz guesting for Brummies and King's Lynn respectively and ending up under the fence as they piled into one another on the first bend (who thought they wouldn't take it seriously!), Bruce Cribb unscrewing and smashing his exclusion light and Ivan Mauger's 17(6) for Hull including a last heat 5-1 to win 40 - 38 (that's after the Brummies were heckling him as 'past it' after Andy Grahame beat him first time out). .........................and last but not least our 23-55 (or thereabouts) win on the very last night there. Our 1983 Team was one of the best ever.

Really good match last night with some great racing. After a gift 5-1 in Heat 1 Cradley never looked like pulling away and getting the 14 point minimum lead they needed to make the second leg interesting. Richard Andrews never got going after missing his first ride with bike troubles. The conspiracy theorists had a field day. Same story as usual with our tail end not firing with the exception of Bradley. Eastbourne chose their guests well with Brennan and especially Jenkins looking good prospects. They will be hard to beat in the Final. Danny Ayres, as ever, was worth the admission money on his own. He would be a great signing for Cradley next season and he already has the leathers for it!

Really enjoyed reading that article. I guess that's how many of us started. I used to do Friday night at Monmore to shout for the opposition, Saturday at Cradley for the serious stuff and Monday at the old Ladbroke Stadium Perry Barr to enjoy the racing as it was a great little track before the bulldozers moved in.

Overall I think Eastbourne will progress to the Final due to their home track advantage but not before the Heathens have netted an 8 point lead from the first leg. I think today's Buxton result may be a pretty poor form guide for a meeting that matters! Come on you Heathens and I hope Brad and Ben have a good night at reserve. ...............................and don't forget it's on Tuesday 27th.

There's a couple of Team Nicknames sneaked in with Liverpool Chads and Yarmouth Bloaters but what about the Bradford Boomerangs - that's one that's unlikely to come back!

Well, no surprise there then. It should only go one way but the joy of sport, and ours in particular, is that you can never be certain. Anything can happen on the night. Good to see Bradley and Ben finding some good form last night. Let's hope they are saving their best 'til last!

Enjoyed the meeting last night. All completed in double quick time too. The final result flattered us somewhat. Some decent racing and Kent are clearly a top team with some very 'experienced' riders. Shanes and Ayres were well worth the admission money. Have to say I was very surprised that their reserves didn't have a better night. It's rare for us to dominate in that department. Thanks to Tom Perry for doing all that was expected of him as a guest. Laugh of the night was the Kent riders complaining about Porky's arm waving at the starting gate when the tapes went up. The Chubby Chappy was on his best behaviour after that. And so to Perry Barr..............................................

Were about 10 miles from Monmore and its grey but no sign of rain. Looking forward to a good night's racing. I think it could be close and Cleggy and Ash won't have it all their own way tonight. Still fancy us for a narrow win though.

Porky dubbed Lewis Blackbird the Beast from the East. Great story for his time with the Heathens - from zero to hero!

How about Kelly 'Jellyman' Moran presumably named after all the contortions he pulled on a bike. Great entertainer with Hull, Eastbourne, Sheffield and the Brummies and sorely missed.

We christened Steve Knott 'FA Cup' due to his rather generously proportioned ears.

Another that sticks in my mind is 'Scud' for Scott Smith. Named after the Iraqi missile he was extremely quick but liable to take off in any direction! Great character who was usually worth the admission money on his own.