Barney Rabbit

That's not what you asked and that's not what I answered. I agree that Woffy, if he were available, would put a few bums on seats but he's not available so not in the equation.

I don't know because I haven't gone round and canvassed folk at a meeting where a guest #1 was used and asked them if they'd still have been there if a junior rider who could ride the track, doubling-up anyway and possibly every bit as good as the team's regular #7 had come in at reserve. Many 2nd highest average riders are capable of beating an opposing #1 anyway, especially at home, and there was a time that people would turn up to see the top men beaten by 'lesser' riders. And, quite frankly, since Woffy isn't an option, I can't see any rider currently riding in the top tier making much difference to the crowd anyway. And, as I posted, Doyle would not be replaced by a junior since that junior would not ride against the opposing #1 in a programmed ride as Doyle would have done. In effect, there would be a series of replacements culminating in the junior replacing the #7.

Because Doyle could come in and score points for a team that's vying for his own team's qualifying spot and could score the point that puts his own team out of contention for the play-offs. Surely you can see the lack of credibility in that. And the junior will replace the #7. The heat leader will be replaced by his team's next lowest average rider.

I point I made some time ago but was told in no uncertain terms by an ex promoter on here that if I could just stop going for the reasons I did it was because I was never a fan in the first place. That despite having been to every track in the country, gone to most GP tracks, watched domestic speedway in Australia, Poland, Sweden, USA and New Zealand over a period of over forty years.

Whilst many others have found other things to do after getting peed off with what happened in/to the sport and now go bowling, pass the light summer evenings in their gardens or allotments, play walking football, do any amount of things they found happen whilst they've been attending speedway meetings all around the world in the past. Not all older people who quit watching speedway are ready to sit and vegetate at home!

They wouldn't be taken by a junior, they'd be taken by the next highest average rider in the team. The junior would take the #7's rides and, as far as I know, isn't programmed to ride against the opposing #1.

You don't. The missing #1 is replaced by the second highest average rider, the junior comes in at #7. Don't go now so don't know who rides in which heat but will the junior (at #7) even ride against the opposing #1 in a programmed ride?

Before just about giving up on British speedway I attended a match at Alwalton and took a friend with me for his first taste of speedway. The match itself was non-descript really but had one noteworthy moment - Panthers reserve Ricky Ashcroft up against World Champion elect Jason Crump. Ricky jumped out of the gate first, got in front and stayed there, using everything he knew to keep Jason behind. Ricky took the flag first to tremendous applause, everybody on their feet cheering at the finish and on his well-deserved lap of honour. My mate Rob didn't see the point of the applause, to him, it was just a case of first away won!!! Reserve beating World Champ, ex home #1, ex track-record holder meant nothing to him. Ricky started first and won. I found that, to most newbies, it doesn't matter how good the speedway is, how good the team riding is, you need passing. Without it they're less likely to come back.

I also don't recall Matt Ford taking the credit for Chris's original appearance on these shores back then. He was instrumental in bringing him back over when he started riding here though. It wouldn't be impossible to confuse the two issues ten or so years down the line.

Course they were. That's why he had several spins round Peterborough and stayed with a Whittlesey landscape gardener when Mick Poole (not Poole Speedway) brought him over here. Mick's intention was for Holder to sign for Panthers. Yes, more fool Peterborough, but don't make out every rider coming to this country that Ford gets his mitts on is discovered by him.

Let's not go ott here. Ford never found him, he found Ford (via Mick Poole). Mick Poole contacted Ford when Peterborough failed to do anything about signing Chris after he'd had a couple of after meeting spins round Alwalton on machinery borrowed from Jason Crump.

A sanction that I suspect would not hold water legally if taken further by the rider.

He rode for Sheffield Prowlers in the Conference back in 2001/02.

If that is the case, it explains everything.

Ah, ok. Thanks.

See, this is the bit I don't get. Why were Lakeside 'told they couldn't use Scott' if Cook was at the AGM and knew what was decided? Why would he have needed to ask if he was already aware of the rule and that he couldn't use him.

Was it decided then? http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.33591 No mention of it here.

And ain't that the truth! I went along once last season on the spur of the moment after several years away to watch a match. I'd had long enough out to not know who rode for which team or, indeed for how many teams and fairly enjoyed it. It was a little disjointed but, having followed the sport around the world, I accepted that as part and parcel under the circumstances and I was happy enough to give it another go. On the selected day I did check the old interweb for team news and guess what - the visitors 'team' was going to comprise of five guests and rider replacement. How the hell can that be taken seriously?

I remember one meeting at Stoke in 1999 standing with the Worky fans - three coachloads of them. I remember the year because I was wearing a t shirt with the names of Panthers' (eventual treble winning) team on the back. The names on that shirt started many a conversation.

Ridicule it as much as you like, but it shows interest in Swedish speedway was on the rise prior to the introduction of the play-offs.

I notice crowds went up by 65% the season prior to the introduction of the play-offs. How can we know that the improvement would not have carried on had the play-offs not been introduced.

Well, yeah, but the majority of finals are one-off affairs played in a super-duper stadium somewhere with comfortable seats, proper facilities and an excellent view. I'd pay well over qualifying match prices for that.

I (and Mrs R) attended my first speedway meeting in this country for a few years a couple of weeks ago and decided to give it another try today. Since Cradley, the only team operating at the time of my regular attendances at meetings I hadn't seen ride, were at Mildenhall I decided to give it another go. That was before I looked at the (visiting team's) website to see that they were using four guests and R/R - now five guests and R/R. How can I honestly claim I have seen Cradley ride when what they are putting out is no more than a NL select side? That's lost the bit of interest I got back a few weeks ago.

Peterborough's 1999 treble winners. Managed it with just the seven riders. Crump, Howe, Tesar, Sadler, Sullivan, Andersen and Jirout.

Now that is a fact. I remember early June 2002 very well, Ryan Sullivan winning at Cardiff. I've never been more animated at a GP than when Ryan hit the front in the final much to the chagrin of the English flag wearing lady on my left (my family were to my right and were just as animated). I was wearing my Panthers' shirt with 'Sullivan' on the back and I couldn't have been happier when he crossed the line in front. My daughter had a Ryan Sullivan banner and she held it up for ages. When we watched the recording the next day her holding that banner was used by Sky as a backdrop when they rolled the credits.