Sidney the robin

Unofficially in Alan's amazing career he rode in over 500 meetings a record to be proud of.It would be interesting to see how many meeting's both the Boocock brothers rode in,, Ashby, McKinley, Street all those guys did some meetings.

Yes remember Clark Facey, Billy Wall, Martin Hitch., Melvin Soffe, Kevin Pope, Richard Evans all getting opportunities.

There were a few riders over the years who were not really ready for the BL even before the junior scheme came in.King's Lynn gave a few raw youngsters chances over the years ( i.e.) Sparshott,Dye, Framingham, Mallett Swindon- Simpson, Cross Halifax- Westwell, Stansfield, Baker( decent) Whittaker, Oxford- Butler, Surman, Stevens,( i liked) Cradley as you said Fryer( RIP great value), Leaver,Bostin.In the old days if a top rider was out somethimes you promoted a number 8 which was a big ask but a few riders developed there careers coming through that way.

Others that i can remember just going straight into the BL Rob Foy, Graves, Eccles( useful was he a promoted junior??)

Yes Owen, Jackson, Sampson, Lawson, ( Perks was he one of the first to ever go full time without any other league experience??) were all great cover.There was always that saying of being a big fish at a lower level but all those riders were BL riders in there own right.

Just listen to you KNOW IT ALL who decimated the Corona thread jeez gotta laugh.

I would not take those ranking's Iris to seriously to be honest.

Woods for me was a very talented rider he retired prematurely for a while but like Courtney a couple of moves never quite worked out for him at Arlington he was very good.

For Eastbourne along with Kennett, Preston, Schwartz, Woods in certain years they had a real top end strength.In later years Eastie had Dugard, Norris as examples who were real homers.Dont think Kelly wasted his career he enjoyed his life and what he did and boy he was good to as i said before a real nice bloke bloody good rider .

Great rider a bundle of fun remember him coming over here not riding BL at the time riding in the test matches, he looked rusty but his natural talent keeping him on the level.Met him once a really nice guy he never thought or acted like he was a star but he was mega talented rider a special talent nice bloke as well.

Far from it Chunky i enjoy your posts very much and you are far from being a prat.No malice on my part and a full opology from me which is geniune ok.

I agree 100 per cent with you is it right or wrong? who knows it is just funny that Chunky never responded to you.Yet he concentrated all his efforts on my posts not a surprise really.!!!!

You have to look on how Chunky sometimes talks down to people Norbold nothing to do with being right or wrong.Yes i get it WRONG 99 per cent of the time i admit that sometimes the word FACT gets used wrongly.I don't dislike Chunky never met the guy but it is odvious he dislikes me and usually gets himself involved in twit/for tat with me.The shame of it is that Steve, yourself, Bewitcher, Split ( etc) add great contributions to the forum and it is usually enjoyable to read.

No please Iris don't lecture me !!! you Chunky,Bewitcher are joint at the hip grow a backbone be independent believe in yourself.You three are all predictable a real shame as you all have a lot to offer

Chunky you are a fraud and you have an agenda certainly against me if i said it was white you would say it was black.All would say is don't get to stressed don't make your self ill maybe Bewitcher could help,you.?

Have you ever made a sensible post Chunky ? unless you really believe in yourself?..Your latest statement shows me you have a real,arrogance my friend can you ever look at any other people's opinion and maybe come in the middle i,think not you feel you know best sad really.!!!!

I think not a different era a different challenge believe it or not we are all entitled to maybe have a different opinion.?

He was on the day i went , Nielsen, Lee, Carter,Sigalos , Gundersen, Sanders all failed to beat him on that given day.

You summed it up nicely you needed alot more luck to win in the old format.

I am not , but you getting irate and annoyed cannot be good for you.Chunky every point you have made tonight i RESPECT ( Believe it or not).

It is stale and boring and when most of the older riders exile it will move on again.And Muller as much I disliked him winning in 83 he was to good on that given day you need a SKILL to be able to do that.

Don't get stressy cant be good for you take a deep breath.!!!

A closed shop no Drabik yet, no Smektala, Lambert will get there hopefully with luck.!!!'any fresh blood anytime soon Witcher.!!!! Winning a one off final is harder than just aiming for the semi / Final scenario over a ten round period.

But Norbold with him out of the way aged 29 and he was approaching his peak it was was a whole lot easier.Plus Moore had his six year exile as well in which has to be considered.

Maybe i was wrong and you have over the years given the riders named credit. But???!!!! Tai never ever won a one off final over one given day has he ? was Peter or Michael ever given that chance to ride in a series.Dress it up as much as you like but the series now is a closed shop needs reinventing becoming boring.