Lord Antebellum

Steen Jensen was suffering from flu last night, didn't take his final ride. May be out for tonight, which would give Bandits r/r, with Bellego, Doolan, Wethers and Sargent available as cover.

So, if it turns out Worky miss out by being unable to stage their last two matches before the cut-off -- those would be the two meetings spoiled by the medical folks' problems, rather than the actual promotion? There you go!

Well, tonight's result didn't harm their cause. Edinburgh now face three very stiff tests in the next three nights. Somerset face a tough weekend.

That was most certainly Berwick's brilliant foam-fence. Along with King's Lynn's, these are the two safest fences in British speedway. If it had been an airfence, Matthew Wethers might have been even-more badly hurt.

From Berwick's programme dated May 10th this season (when Scunthorpe were due to visit) although actually used the following week after a rain-off: "Tonight, we have Scunthorpe here in Tweedmouth. Sunny Scunny, where the World Champion was born. A Lincolnshire town of many tracks and nicknames. They raced as Saints at the big Quibell Park athletic track, and later as Stags at the little circuit in Ashby Ville. Now they are Scorpions, and firmly ensconced in their purpose-built Eddie Wright Raceway at Normanby Road. I’m glad they’ve settled down in a good home at last – full marks to Rob Godfrey, his helpers and buddies over the past decade – but they really need to decide on a permanent nickname…… Maybe history can help. Scunny wasn’t the first speedway in Lincolnshire, you know. Before and just after the war, the Tulips (now there’s a nickname!) raced under open licence at the wonderfully-named Bell End speedway, close to Holbeach. This was to be the venue for the first-ever England v Denmark Test – in July, 1947! Sadly, the Danes – citing a lack of transport for their bikes -- had to call off at the last minute, even after programmes were printed (any anorak-wearing avid collector got one of those?) and the meeting quickly became England (top scorer Split Waterman 17) against The Rest (Tiger Hart 15) with the English side winning 61-46. Thus, due to post-war logistical problems (they should have had a good shipping agent, but I was only four) Bell End Speedway could only end up boasting of hosting “the international that never was” So I put it to the Scunthorpe folk – why dither about between Stags, Saints or Scorpions? Look back in history, and use a club nickname that resonates of speedway in Lincolnshire during the glory years in the late 1940’s – why not call yourselves the Bell Ends?"

Aye, there's the rub. Berwick inherited the meeting (and the Supplementary Regs) from the Austrian place, and FIM didn't notice, and remove, the Sunday date. The riders who were hoping to ride in the SEC qualifier at Monday must all now be at Berwick. Although the ones with meetings in Poland tomorrow will be there, as will Craig Cook and Matej Kus be at Newcastle, and a few others at Glasgow.

Berwick tonight confirm (e-newsletter) that it's Proctor for Grajczonek. Also advise that spectarors watching the practice will be invited to take part in a raffle for two free tickets to the evening show!

By all accounts, Matej Kus was very unlucky not to score more last night. Giving Ben Barker the 5-1 treatment with Matty W in Heat 10 until they got a bit mixed up on last lap, Matej was hung out to dry a bit, and Barker nipped into 2nd. Much the same in Heat 12, he held a 5-1 with Steen until Kalle K produced an amazing outside blast on the third lap to get a good 2nd. Matej Kus scored 5+1 last night -- it could easily, on a luckier night, have been paid ten. Also, Liam Carr's three points made the difference -- again -- between the team getting four or three league points.

Last night was Steen's 4th away match, meaning he gets a 'real' average, effective in seven days (ie, before Newcastle visit). I leave it to others (or the BSPA) to calculate what it is, however!

Because he'll be about fifty by then?

Will the shape remain the same after an airfence is installed? Will the outside fence be pushed back to accomodate the barrier, or will it just be plonked down in front of the existing fence, narrowing the bends by a couple of feet?

A cert to go back in at Armadale when fit.

Eh? Didn't South Africa get tossed out the Commonwealth about fifty years ago? Harold MacMillan's "wind of change" speech, and all that?

Lose like a team........

Fair enough. Your suggestion, please, of a "young Brit" who isn't an asset of another club, is available now and will outscore Mr Ringwood?