daveallan81

Many thanks. Forgot to ask, do you know who Weymouth's #8 was?

Does anyone have a meeting-marked programme that can confirm the reasons for the following changes (reserve replacement/tapes exc/2 mins exc): Heat 01: Nigel Couzens replaced by Brian Paddington Heat 09: John Wilson replaced by Chris Quigley Heat 13: Dave Gifford replaced by Chris Quigley

Does anyone have a meeting-marked programme from 7th April 1975 Crewe v Coatbridge? I'm primarily looking to confirm the rides taken by Brian Collins & Paul Heller. Please get in touch if you can assist.

Thanks for the info. I went through the 1977 season file last night and found another 4 matches where this had happened, 2 with r/r in operation and 2 without. All the rides came in heat 2 so I assume you couldn't just use the #8 as a supplementary reserve throughout the meeting.

Can anyone confirm the forename (and correct the surname if necessary) of a G. Rand, who I have riding in a second half race at West Row in 1977?

Steve Wilkes requested information for this meeting a couple of years ago but unfortunately none was forthcoming. So I thought I'd try again. Essentially the Speedway Star report appears to be a load of honk. Scunthorpe seem to track 8 riders, 1. Allott, 2. Whiting, 3. Baugh, 4. McNeil, 5. Sid Sheldrick, 6. Young, 7. White and 8. Mick Sheldrick. There doesn't appear to be any r/r in operation. Further confusing the issue, Mick Sheldrick is reported in heat 2 as a replacement for Danny Young. I'm not aware of a rule that covers this but I'm open to correction. This is Mick's only ride in the meeting. There is also confusion surrounding heat 13 as Steve says "Speedway Star states Collins, Baugh, White (f exc), Richardson (exc), S.Sheldrick (fell), I am not sure how White has managed to appear in this heat. The report states White was with Sheldrick in the original running of the heat with no mention of Baugh." It should also be noted that the yearbook reports scores for all 8 Scunthorpe riders. Only a marked programme can sort this mess out, so if you can help please get in touch.

Including last night's fixtures rider replacements clock in at 272. Combined guest & r/r total is 838 from 413 matches. Regarding Peter Oakes' figures, I don't know what date he used as his cut-off but it obviously wasn't as late as the 11th so I would expect my figure to be higher. Considering there have been 41 guests used in the last 7 days, our two totals certainly appear to be in the same ball-park.

The total includes all 411 completed league, knock-out cup and National Trophy matches. Postponed matches or matches abandoned without a result being declared are not included.

I've only tracked the number used, not the reasons.

Not so Phil, I've been tracking the figures all season. 562 up to and including 11th September.

562

Oh aye, you were a wizard with the spelling

I've used the averages from the SGB website 'Stat Attack' pages to come up with a rough guide. Guest appearances are not included. Riders who switched teams during the season have had their figures combined. There are currently 32 riders doubling in the Premiership & Championship. The top 10 by all points scored including bonus points: Danny King 599 (564 + 35 from 57 meetings) Rory Schlein 590 (551 + 39 from 56 meetings) Nick Morris 532 (502 + 30 from 47 meetings) Kyle Howarth 530 (486 + 44 from 54 meetings) Josh Grajczonek 516 (496 + 20 from 51 meetings) Steve Worrall 499 (464 + 35 from 49 meetings) Craig Cook 488 (469 + 19 from 42 meetings) Robert Lambert 480 (455 + 25 from 46 meetings) Ricky Wells 466 (437 + 29 from 49 meetings) Sam Masters 446 (427 + 19 from 45 meetings) The top 11 by matches raced: 57 Danny KIng & Jack Smith 56 Rory Schlein 54 Kyle Howarth & Paul Starke 53 Lewis Kerr 51 Josh Grajczonek 50 Nathan Greaves 49 Steve Worrall & Ricky Wells & Charles Wright

Steve Lawson scored 16 out of 23 (69.56%) for Glasgow at Arena Essex in 1985.

You could take 2 r/r rides (and a tactical sub ride if necessary). The rule changed at the end of 1977.

I wonder in how many seasons that feat was possible. Interesting to note that Cradley were never behind in that match. Kenny McKinna recorded 20+1(7) at Berwick 11th September 1982. Only 19 years old at the time, youngest ever 7-ride max?

These next ones are from Glasgow season files. 16th May 1982 at Rye House v Glasgow & Edinburgh, Bob Garrad scored 14+1(5) and 15(5). 15th July 1983 at Weymouth v Stoke (NL) & Glasgow (KOC), both Martin Yeates and Steve Schofield recorded 15(5) in each match. And we have a new leader: 21st August 1983 at Rye House v Edinburgh & Glasgow, Bob Garrad scored 15(5) followed by 18(6).

I've looked through results from 1965-78 and found one top league equal in Ole Olsen. 6th August 1971 he recorded back-to-back 15(5) scores for Wolverhampton against Poole (BL) and Oxford (KOC). Three weeks later he repeated the feat, this time against Sheffield (BL) and Cradley (Dudley-Wolves Trophy). In the second division, 3rd August 1977 at Newport v Peterborough & Glasgow, Brian Woodward recorded 15(5) in each match. John Goodall came within a point of matching him. As an aside, I also found a couple of instances where 3 riders were unbeaten over 8 rides. 19th September 1974 at Sheffield v Hackney & Leicester, Bob Valentine (11+1 & 12), Reg Wilson (11+1 & 11+1) and Doug Wyer (10+2 & 12). 10th August 1975 at Eastbourne v Peterborough & Crewe, Paul Gachet (9+3 & 10+2), Steve Weatherley (11+1 & 11+1) and Neil Middleditch (12 & 12).

The closest I've found so far is from 18th September 1994 when Newcastle & Exeter visited Shawfield. Nigel Crabtree scored 14+1(5) and 15(5) - Glasgow were operating rider replacement but Crabtree wasn't eligible for an extra ride, his 5th ride was courtesy of a nominated heat. David Walsh was eligible and he racked up 17(6) and 18(6), Stuart Robson being the rider who stopped the 12-ride full house. Plenty of examples of one or even two riders going unbeaten over 8 or 9 rides. Charlie Monk & Jim McMillan both recorded back-to-back 12(4) scores at Hampden on 26th September 1969, Oxford and Sheffield being the vistors.

A bit of a punt, but could the 'R' denote 'Restricted'?

From 1964 to 2016 the longest gap between scheduled home meetings is 21 days. Including cancellations, the longest Tigers fans have had to wait for their fix is 28 days. If the 12th August Edinburgh fixture goes ahead it will have been 27 days since Ashfield saw any track action. Full analysis here https://app.box.com/s/ahlpg8ib3mmr6l0ndf39w35a25861iiy

Martin Smolinski. Next in line Max Fricke.

I've read some crap on here in my time but this one is up there with the best. At NO time in my years watching NL/2nd division racing did I see any rider who was incapable of sliding the bike hold down a team place. Convenient that you can't remember the year...or the track...or the rider. Total dung.

1st July 1998 v Ipswich (EL) - Poole website gives it as 27-63 although an (unchecked) results sheet reports 26-64.

Yes two nominated heats.