East End Fan

Well, Teaboy..I think you are over-optimistic. This match could surprise a lot of people. Anyway it looks vulnerable to the weather. Forecast as at this morning ( Weds) is for continuing rain all week including Sunday.

Crikey "Sings", what a cynical view of life !

Buxton may surprise a few people on Sunday with their double header. Kent in particular look vulnerable to me. Their record there is not that good anyway and would have to be on top of their game to win...doubtful IMO

Well, GiveusaB, My experience over many years tells me that the reason that less important dates such as National Trophy are run early in the season is so that riders and tracks can get dialled in before the league matches come in. Not that I consider Trophy to be un-important, if you win it, you'd crow about it, I think.

If only the crowds had been that good all along ! Drawn out evening, but a decent farewell and a good result. Bring on Rye !

Well, teaboy279, if YOU suffered a dislocated knee, broken wrist and ribs, I wonder if you'd consider those "life changing" ?

Agree with Cityrebel. Maybe I had better expectations that he did, but it was a very good meeting sadly ruined by an injury to Paul Hurry who got taken off in the ambulance. Don't know his injuries, but the meeting was held up for half an hour, so it wasn't just bruising. Some of the overtaking moves had my heart in my mouth with Stoneman in the thick of it..

Stupid of me..I should have looked on the Kent web site myself .

Hi Hammer180. Can you enlighten me about the impendings news for Southern based clubs? I have heard no rumours. Not sure what to make of the move to Rye House. Better than complete shut-down but not ideal. What will Rockets' fans make of it ? At least Saturdays makes it easier travel-wise.

As a long standing older fan, my own criticism was never the track, it has always been the lack of comfortable viewing and his has affected my attendances in recent years. Unlike most, I enjoyed our year in the National League. I'll probably go to some meetings at Rye House. There are a few seats there, though not as many as in past years. I was told last week that Lakeside are putting out a National league Select side very soon. Can anybody tell me anything about it ?

As a long standing older fan, my own criticism was never the track, it has always been the lack of comfortable viewing and his has affected my attendances in recent years. Unlike most, I enjoyed our year in the National League. I'll probably go to some meetings at Rye House. There are a few seats there, though not as many as in past years. I was told last week that Lakeside are putting out a National league Select side very soon. Can anybody tell me anything about it ?

Where did you pick up the 23rd date ? I have seen nothing published about this match.

Have to agree with most of the comments on this thread so far. It was very noticeable that the Mildenhall riders were handling the track better in the early races with Kent appearing to improve in the later stages as the track slicked out. Must be a lesson to be learned form that I think ? Paul Hurry's bike looked very slow and packed up completely in the first heat.

Mikebv makes a good point if you look at it in the simplest terms. however, we must consider that all of the riders in the National League are at best semi-professional, many are just out of school and rely on parents taking time off work to carry them to meetings, and, of course, we suffer a large number of injuries. All of this means that teams have riders missing on many occasions. So, what is the alternative to the present system of guests and/or r/r ? :Personally I can't think of one unless you allow European riders into the league on an ad hoc basis to be used as and when required to cover absences....but, frankly, I doubt it would work...would be against the ethics of the league as a starting place for bright young Brits......and would cost far too much money.

Unlike some of the posters, I WAS at the meeting and it was one of the best meetings I have seen in many a day. As to the remarks about the track. I was talking after the meeting to a member of the track staff. He told me that the track was under water first thing in the morning with rain all day on Sunday. He had spent all day ( apart from during the Dog meeting) drying the track in time for racing. No riders got in any trouble with conditions, far from it, that is until the last part of the meeting when a soft patch seemed to appear on bend 3/4. It did not affect most riders, but one or two, including the unfortunate Danyon Hume, were caught out. My guess is that the previous day's rain had softened some parts of the track. To call it disgraceful is far from the truth. I have seen many tracks start their meetings in much worse conditions. The Kent track has been very good on every occasion I have visited this year ( about 6 times). I was a happy contributor to a very big Ben' Fund collection. A very worthy cause..

Since there is a chronic shortage of capable riders in UK ( and in fact World-wide), we should not try to stop ANY rider who has a legitimate British Passport from riding in the "Training area" of the National League. If he has lived in this country for many years, and has no intention of returning to Poland, we should regard him as British. That is the law of the land. I do not see a problem. Good Luck to Birmingham if they sign him.

I think many clubs like to use the early season Trophy and challenge matches to test out their new riders and let their more experienced members settle in and sort out their bikes. So starting from the very beginning with important league matches will not seem too attractive.

Seems that Jack Thomas was kept at home by the family due to the fact that his grandfather was about to pass away. So he didn't "just not turn up". Must have been a huge shock to Chris Hunt who was already without Hurry.

A 17 point away win when your top two riders are missing, and only a facility for one of them is, as you say, impressive. Stoke must have been well out of form on the night. The bouncy Spooner seems to have found a way to win races. Well done to him. At the start of the season, few people gave him the ghost of a chance.

No, Kirkylane, Paul Hurry is at the opposite end of the scale, but is a very accomplished rider. Had an excellent career blighted by injury, but in recent times has performed among the best on Grass and last year was a top heat leader for us at Lakeside. I admire him a lot. I think your sarcastic remarks may come to bite you in the bum.

Can anyone actually be sure that we are to move into Rye House ? To me it sounds like one of those rumours that start because someone suggests over a pint in the pub that it might be a good idea. A few Chinese Whispers and it's quoted as a fact. I can't see Jon Cook taking such a gamble. Mind you, from a personal point of view, there are a few seats at Rye House. Car park is a bit off putting with all the potholes.

Strikes me as a good signing by Kent given all the circumstances. He performed very well for us last season and had a great influence on team spirit. He lives at Kings Hill, I think, so not far to travel. Has a lot to offer in spite of being on the wrong side of 40.

What has now happened to Rye House, GWC ? For all the years you "suffered", at least you had something to suffer for. I remember in the early 70's when Rye House took over the Rayleigh team and joined the professional league, no one gave them half a chance of survival. I think Colin Pratt was also involved at the time but eventually Ronnie Russell took over and it closed when he was in charge. Looks like history has repeated itself.

Very short lived performance. Hope he did not break his wrist.

Richard Weston cannot have been at Kent on Monday night. He describes their performance as a poor show in the face of adversity. Christ knows what he would have considered a good performance since they wiped the floor with Plymouth ( who recently won AT Birmingham) and did it without a number One. Cannot recall any comment of any kind from Kent claiming to be "Hard Done By", so what is friend Weston talking about ? And what on earth does he mean by "Dynasaur stuff coming out of Central Park" ? One of the youngest teams in the league......but I've just realised, Weston is an Eastbourne fan. So he is entitled to make poor and unfair comments about their nearest rivals.