21st century heathen

Just to reiterate what others have said - It's was in jest (though as an in-joke I wish I spotted it so I could have posted to clarify earlier). Dan actually quoted it on his Facebook page yesterday with a "haha", and part of my opening post too. Dan has pretty much daily banter with the Heathens (and others I'm sure) fans through his Facebook page. He gets a lot a stick for his steel shoe problems (which came up again last night as he was 'worried' about it happening again ) and the fact that he posts more 'selfies' than a teenage girl. Top bloke and well liked by the Heathens faithful. He seemed a bit down after last night and very quickly had lots of support. I wasn't worried and of course we were huge favourites, which I stated. But last season we had some dreadful results, even at home, when we were huge favourites. They just had to guard against complacency and make sure the points were secured. Everyone involved has done a good job of making sure our riders stay fully focussed and do not take their foot off the gas. Of course the fans enjoyed it. We were without a team for a very long time and are enjoying seeing the very rare sight of a group of riders all clicking and improving in the same season. It's an absolute pleasure to see in particular what Tom, Ash, Dan and Darryl have achieved this season. It's such a shame that some are so blinded by their petty sniping that they can't take a moment to acknowledge these young lads. Porky announced at the end of the meeting that he was okay other than a cut to the head. Starke and Warwick did well at times and forced the Heathens riders to work very hard, especially early on in the meeting. Unfortunately they weren't able to reproduce their generally good starts in the latter heats so the entertainment tailed off for the last few races. Starke in particular rode with his head as much as his throttle and knew exactly where to put the back wheel to block numerous attempted moves by Tom and Ash a couple of times, though ultimately beaten all-but once. It was a tricky one. I can understand the management's point of view. IOW and 3rd in the league and they wanted to show respect to them as being a pretty decent team. Also, how many times do you hear fans moan about not having a full 7-man team out on track? I can also see the view that it would have been a chance for our riders (4 at least) to get an extra ride). It was a bit of a no-win. --------------------------------------- There was some decent to very good action at times. I would say off the top of my head that at least half the races saw a visiting rider make a good start and a Heathen have to make an early move (first corner or on the first lap) to hit the front. A few races were very good value with three races involving Starke standing out. A quick mention for Darryl who recorded his second successive maximum and for Dan who rode very well indeed and was disappointed not to get the nod for heat 15. It shows just how far he's come in a year since his return to the sport. I was very pleased to see James pick up some good points and look better last night. Well done all.

So the last league meeting rolls around for the Heathens, and all-too-soon. It brings with it the opportunity to top the pre-POs table for the second time in the three years since joining the league. Take the points tonight and there's nothing Mildenhall can do to catch us, so little if any motivational speech should be needed ahead of tonight's meeting. Obviously we are massive favourites to record another straight forward home win, but after some of the results I saw last season I will take nothing for granted. The boys have to turn it on every time they go out on track, and cannot approach the meeting with a 'turn up and we will win' attitude. Ashley Birks has been booked as a guest for Adam Roynon so it's clear the management team are also of the opinion that we have to respect IOW and approach the meeting in a professional manner, and make sure there are not silly slip ups at the last. The boys were flying last week before the rain off. The only concern has been James' form as it seems to be slipping. He's put his average up a touch so he's doing his job, but his confidence seems to on a downer for some reason. He can still make some lightening starts but doesn't seem fully committed to the corners. Ahead of the POs and KOC Final I'd like to see him post a better score and start riding full of confidence. He still has such an important roll to play. I'd like to see Darryl keep the ball rolling after his first maximum last week, and Dan scoring big and keeping his confidence up will be very important come the big meetings too. A big welcome back to Dan Stoneman tonight. He's very popular with the Heathens faithful and will either get one of the biggest cheers or the panto boos. Either way Dan will love it. Back in June Dan topped scored for the Islanders (incl bonus points) with paid 9. Here's to another good pay day for him, as long he doesn't inspire his team mates too much. Is anyone making the long trip up? Can any IOW fans give us the low down on how the boys are riding of late?

I've not changed my opinion. I believe he should ride NL. Not because the competition will sharpen his skills but because our tracks are probably a lot different to what he's used to in size, shape and surface. Of course the weather is different too. He will face very different conditions here. A relatively easy time in the NL, if only for a year, will help in the long-run I believe. It will give him a chance to get used to the tracks and give him chance to play around, to an extent, with the bikes so that he's more ready for the step in to the PL. Don't tell me that any youngster can't learn a thing or two from some of the old uns in the NL.

Apologies if I'm mixing him up with someone else but I thought he'd dropped his average a fair bit.

I noticed his Tweets too. Sounds as though he's a dead cert to be back for the next GP and no re-break for Jason so he should be there too. Good news all round. I'd have thought Hampel is nailed on for a permanent wild card pick next season. It'll be interesting to see who else gets one because there are quite a few that have impressed when they're ridden a GP. Unless any of them put together a stunning end to the season and qualify by right then it certainly should not be Andersen, Harris, Pedersen, Ljung (although he's done better than expected at times to be fair) or Bjerre.

No Jacobs or Reade? Branford is a strange one to me. He's not having a great season, is he?

Just struck me I didn't post my congratulations to Mildenhall. Mildenhall were by far the best team on the day/night (by the time it finished ) and fully deserved the win. I can't say what I would like to about the meeting as I would have to ban myself. Dreadful surface that clearly hadn't been worked on until close to the start. The inside was like a sticky pudding that they were trying to dry out. Meanwhile the tractor and wonder wheel going around was kicking up clouds of dust on the outside so that had to be watered. It was a long and drawn-out affair with pretty much no redeeming features whatsoever. And worst of all - when a rider is posting a picture on Twitter of a piece of metal he found on the track then there is something very very wrong indeed!!

It's true to say that there aren't enough meetings for the NL riders that haven't picked up a PL place. Some of our riders have had the same problem at times this season. Somebody like Ritchings, for example, is a great prospect but just isn't getting enough meaningful meetings. He's just finding his form over the last few weeks, though some blips along the way, and the season's end is nigh! I do genuinely expect some of the visitors to give our boys a real run for their money. They will need to have their gating gloves on though because it will most likely be a hell of a struggle if they give our boys a head start.

The only action in British Speedway tonight sees the Heathens back in league action at Monmore 'Wood'. Following the disappointing performance in the final 8 heats of the 4TT on Sunday I consider this a bigger meeting than it would otherwise have been. It would not be biased or cocky to suggest we are favourites to take the points, especially with r/r for Garrity (gutted he's not able to ride tonight), but the actual performance is now important. The league meeting last week was a little shaky in some areas so I feel we need a very solid performance throughout the team. I think we need to put down a marker as Mildenhall could be building some real momentum at the right time. We should not have to worry about Roynon, Perry, Morris or Bekker when the big meetings come around. I feel we will succeed or fail on the scoring of Greenwood, Ritchings and White-Williams. With that in mind it's these three riders I'm hoping will score well tonight and get some confidence ahead of the POs and KOC Final. It's Perry's last meeting at reserve, thankfully, so that means either Ritchings or Greenwood will drop back to reserve. Perry will be fine in the 1-5 and either of the others will be better at reserve than in the 1-5. There was not much between their averages and I'm not sure who is in line to drop down. I'm hoping that Ritchings has overhauled the ¼ point (ish) advantage that Greenwood held as I feel Ritchings coming in to form will be better equipped to take in the roll of a number 2 (most likely position). Back to tonight. As I mentioned Rye come with r/r at 1 which is not ideal for them, and a let down for us as speedway fans wanting to see as competitive a meeting as possible. Chessell has some Monmore 'Wood' experience under his belt and can be a very quick from the gate. He doesn't keep the rubber side down as often as he should but he could easily prove to be nuisance value if nothing else. Morely, Hazelden and Sarjeant should give our top end and middle order a real work out. There's real scoring potential there and we will have to be on our guard to see them off. I can see there being some great racing between these three and the Heathens riders. I'll be honest and state outright that I've no idea what to expect from the reserve pairing of Tokley and Coles. It's a lovely late summer day today with no threat of rain later so after the even watering the track will have had yesterday I hope for a cracking night of speedway tonight.

I don't think there is a favourite to be honest. It's too close to call. Mildenhall have proven so far that their top end can more than match ours as they've taken the two major trophies on offer, but I would accept an argument that we may have a slight edge at reserve. It's only a slight one though as JWW is not in good form and needs to turn it around quickly. If I remember rightly the two recent league meetings resulted in a one point aggregate advantage to Mildenhall. I know neither team had their first choice 7 (let's not open that can of worms again) but it's still representative of how closely matched the teams are. Comparing like-for-like through the teams from 1-7 there's nothing in it. Perhaps where people might see the Heathens as favourite is by looking at some of huge scores recorded at times, but that doesn't take into account that Mildenhall are far superior to those teams we beat comfortably.

Close call with some dark clouds knocking about but the rain remains just to our west. Still no rain at all today. Dry but dull. *edit* Sun is having a go - 16:03 *edit* As above. Safe journey. 16:28

Roynon has been robbed and he's not very happy about it. #JusticeForRoyno

Lets leave the past in the past and move on now please. ---------------------------------------------- The rain out west has not affected the West Midlands up to now. I'll post again later.

Mildenhall had an awful start to the meeting last time at Monmore 'Wood'. Off the top of my head I think they edged the second half of the meeting. If our boys are not at their absolute best I wouldn't be surprised if Mildenhall take a potentially vital away point. We have to set the target with maximum points from our last fixtures and then it's over to you to see what you can do. It's dry, but dull (again). Could cop a shower, I'll let you know as the afternoon progresses. What time will you be leaving?

Not sure about Rye but yesterdays reasons for people being wound up are now well documented. At Buxton the fans reacted to the shocking behaviour by the start marshal and inconsistent, to be polite, referring on calling back rolling starts. On the DVD, and less subtly in person, Jon Armstrong let it be known how he'd have reacted if the start marshall had treated him the way he treated Ashley Morris that day. And it's usually the way that fans react to something, and rarely if ever is something started on the terrace. It's a reaction to a perceived injustice and in that regard the entire speedway body must play its part too. The only time/s I can recall ever knowing Police called to a meeting was Cov v BV and it happened twice. That was not too long ago. Would I label all the BV fans idiots (or similar)? No, and that's the thing that winds the rest of us up. We keep reading people slagging of "Dudley fans" when it truth it's perhaps a few out of a small number that travel out of the normal large home crowd. Nielsen is one of those that, to me, seems to quietly go about his business and not always get noticed. Certainly a threat and one to watch. Nice to read Bekker was mixing it. He had a shocking start to the season with a series of falls, crashes and bike problems. He seems to be getting into his stride now. Ritchings was happy with his performance and score. He's another that had a slow start to the season but we're starting to see what he can do again. He might just be about to peak at the right time from our point of view. Love his style on the bike and he never gives up. I just wish the lad had faster bikes and more consistent starts. If he does next season I can see him doing what Perry has done and could turn into an out-and-out heat leader 'overnight'. I guess from your comment you would more-or-less ditto that for Halsey and be hoping he peaks at the right time too? I agree that hurling obscenities is OTT, but he's fair game for a bit of booing. As I said yesterday I do think a ride in the top 5 came a bit too soon for Greenwood. He's a bit of a victim of his own success and Perry having to ride for Somerset on a couple of Tuesdays so not getting his new average. I'm sure he'll learn a lot but I hope his confidence isn't knocked in the process. It's certainly a problem for riders like him and Ritchings, that have the ability to move up the speedway ladder, that they can't get more meaningful meetings to keep their eye in, so-to-speak. Ritchings is better equipped, in my opinion, for a place in the top 5 at the moment, though Greenwood has had a remarkable return to speedway so far. I've trimmed the quote right down just because my post is going to get very long. Respectfully, you mention the 'Internet commandos' but you've done the exact same as those you point the finger at. You've just dragged up the start time again. While I agree that reports of what some Dudley fans may have said/done is not on, again it reads as a long post taking a swipe at all the Dudley fans while glossing over, with only a brief mention, of the part played by some at Mildenhall. It's just not fair on the majority. A Mildenhall fan is said to have told a Dudley fan to 'F' off and called him a 'W' and from two separate reports it seems Mr Lee told one of our riders to 'F' off back to where he came from. I've since read a comment on FB that some Dudley fans were taunted by a Mildenhall fan being told they were only there because they had no jobs to go to. I wasn't there but I can take it all in and come to the fair-minded conclusion that there were clearly faults on both sides. Given what went before from our clubs neither really come out of it with any credit, though the on-track result was very much deserved looking at everything I've read about the racing so full credit to the riders for the result. You sound almost disappointed. He was a Brummie wasn't he. Don't confuse The Black Country with Birmingham. Perhaps, in which case I offer the contributor my apologies.

That's a silly first post but hey-ho. ----------------- Cheers. I have been a little concerned that Dan may be delivering a little too much too soon from reserve, as strange a comment as that may seem. I'd like to have seen him have two full years at reserve on his return to the sport, or at least in and out of reserve like Darryl has. Darryl should be ready to take it on now and I suspect he can. Apologies re Louis. It was a bit of a sweeping statement that the like of him and Mr Lee probably won't be concerned by some booing and geering. Some Heathens fans are none too pleased that some, and I reiterate again 'some', people went over the top. There are a few comments on FB about it.

What a surprise. Heathens fans get slated in detail but the part played by the other side is somewhat glossed over, and Roynon gets a mention even though we didn't track him. Given the run-up to the meeting it was obvious there would be some tension. Booing Jason Garrity is down to now long-standing banter between him and the Heathens fans. It's pantomime stuff and he revels in it. He plays up to the crowd, especially at Monmore. It's a bit of banter, that's all. The boos for the Mildenhall management are not really a surprise and I'm quite sure Mr Lee and Mr Louis have heard it all before, if not worse 'back in the day' when big biased crowds turned up for speedway, so it's almost certainly water off a ducks back. A Dudley fan had her flag (or flags - not sure) taken down and thrown on the dog track. Two sources report hearing Mr Lee tell a Dudley rider to 'F' off back to where he came from. A Dudley fan reports he was told to 'F' off and called a 'W', and admits he reacted to it. Will I sit here in judgement and label all Mildenhall fans a disgrace? No, of course not. Should Dudley fans as a collective term be slated to the extent we are? No, of course not. Every club will have a problem with some fans going over the top in one way or another. The whole issue could, and should, have been avoided. Mildenhall should not have changed the start time at late notice following a previous agreement. Dudley should not have backed down once the BSPA ruled in its favour and the having made a ruling the BSPA should have insisted on the earlier start time (if anything both clubs should be fined for not adhering to the BSPA ruling). But none of that excuses the reported behaviour of fans on both sides. I suspect the ill-feeling will rumble on for the rest of the season with a significant chance we'll be meeting again in the latter part of the season, but I sincerely hope that everyone calms down and is able to have enjoyable banter and not let it spill over into an aggressive tone. I believe both clubs now have a duty to help calm the waters and smooth things over a little. Whatever they may feel or say behind closed doors should not necessarily be reflected in public statements. Now, what I'm really interested in is the racing. Can anyone report on the racing please? I'd be particularly interested to know what people thought of Ritchings and Greenwood and how they coped with riding in the top five. *edit* I forgot to add that apparently a significant sum (not my place to disclose the actual amount) was donated by the Heathens' fans on the bus to Mildenhall. It will be split evenly between the 7 riders that represented the club yesterday - a gesture I understand the guest riders are surprised by and appreciative of in equal measure. Well done everyone, I was surprised to see the amount raised.

Everyone has had their say about the lead up to the meeting. So now it's upon us it's time to get back to what matters most, which is the racing. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Personally I think our boys + 1 can still give them a meeting. Our bottom 4 have all, at times, proven to be quick and smooth taking some big scalps.

Right, I think everyone has had their say now and the thread is just going around in circles. The meeting goes ahead at 16:30 on Sunday with the teams to be confirmed and no amount of arguing on here will change anything. So before it gets out of hand I'm going to lock this thread and set up a new one. It will be strictly for discussion about the on-track action so please respect that from the outset. Cheers everyone.

Well that's new!! I've ridden on the road in mist/fog and can tell you it's no fun. Not only are you trying to see through the fog but you get moisture resting on, but not running off like rain would, the visor/goggles. Imagine trying to look through frosted glass on a foggy day!

There's no point fans getting 'ratty' with each other. The Heathens fans were under the impression it had been changed because that's what we were told. Mildenhall fans will just have to accept that as fact, why would Heathens fans lie about it?! The Mildenhall fans have heard nothing of the sort and state there have been no announcements about a change of start time. Heathens fans will just have to accept that, why would they lie?! The Heathens' management view seems to be backed up by Leicester and by something in the Speedway Star (I haven't seen that myself as I don't buy it). Also, the fact that the Mildenhall website was updated just after the home defeat at the weekend has raised a question (I first read that on someone's FB), though as I stated previously there could be a legitimate reason. The real issue here is not that Heathens will have riders missing, we all accept that because riders are often called up for higher level racing. It happens in the EL just as much as the NL. Just a few weeks ago 7 of the 14 regular riders were missing from a meeting at Coventry. The real issue is whether or not the Mildenhall management have made a late change to a previous agreement and the reason for it.

From the Leicester website: http://leicesterlions.co/2012/07/ Fixture amendments Monday, July 23rd, 2012 | Fixtures, News Beaumont Park will host the inaugural Midland Development League Riders’ Championship Final when the top riders from the seven clubs will compete for the title. The event is planned for Friday 28th September with a 7.30pm start. A new staging date of Sunday 19th August for the recently abandoned rain-off meeting against the Workington Comets has been agreed between the two clubs which will now become the 2nd leg of the Knock-out Cup Quarter Final. The meeting will start at 7.30pm to allow Lions rider Lewis Blackbird to compete earlier in the afternoon for Mildenhall before making his way to Leicester for the cup tie. A new date has been agreed for the Premier League fixture that was rained-off in May. Leicester will now visit Edinburgh on Friday 21st September.

Their scores were not an unfair reflection of the way the night went, but before the meeting I would have had them down for more than one race win each. I should have included Reade too, because he had a sluggish start. Lambert is up their with Roynon at this level. He's been a PL second string, and a very useful one at that, in the past. Birks has been in cracking form lately and rode well at Monmore just a week ago against strong opposition. Reade may not be in quite the same form as Perry but he's having a superb season (doing what I expected of him last season) and has been banging big scores pretty much everywhere. The fact that the bottom end for Stoke is much weaker than ours meant that keeping these three relatively in check was the reason we ran out such comfortable winners.

From the Dudley Heathens website... HEATHENS chiefs are to voice their objections after learning that Mildenhall have reverted back to a 4.30 start for the league clash between the sides on Sunday week, August 19. The club were originally told it had been moved to 3pm in order to allow Mildenhall star Lewis Blackbird to also ride at Leicester at 7.30 in the Premier League. That would also have frees Heathens aces Adam Roynon and Ashley Morris and agreement had been reached between Dudley and Workington for them to do both. Now, it seems Heathens will be forced to go into the meeting without Roynon, Morris and Tom Perry who is in the European Grass Track Final. Heathens are refusing to comment until they are given a reason why the change has been made. http://www.dudleyhea....php?extend.611 The Mildenhall fixtures page was updated at 23:22 Sunday 5th August, shortly after the club's shock home defeat at the hands of Stoke. Is that a coincidence (just to update scores) or a conspiracy (to deny the Heathens a chance to use Royno/Ash)? http://www.mildenhal...p/fixture-lists Whatever the truth behind it the fans are the ones that miss out on seeing two top teams going at it, which is a real shame. EDIT - It's correct to say that Tom Perry would be unavailable that day whatever the start time.

Cracking performance again. We can point to a few things such as though mentioned above where a few points slipped away, but Stoke could point to a few subdued performances. All-in-all the few points we let slip are cancelled out really by Birks and Lambert not winning as many heats as you would usually expect. Heat 1 by Perry was a cracking race under somewhat tricky circumstances. How he managed to mentally block out the broken suspension and go wheel-to-wheel with Lambert I'll never know. Heat 12 was a race of the night though. Full credit to all three riders for the part they played. Fingers crossed we can keep everyone fit and healthy to the end of the season with a minimal number of dates clashing with other commitments.