21st century heathen

At least if you plan on staying tight.

Well yeah I know that, but half of it as at the link below anyway now. I think that this is a cracking summary. Thanks for the link.

Yep, it's only Monmore Green on a Monday. Personally I couldn't even tell you the last time these two met. Anyway, I think Hackney have a solid enough line up but I would be rather disappointed if we didn't win with a bit to spare at home.

I'd take a point if you offered it to me now. Slick tracks don't suit our 'can't gate, won't gate' team.

That was representative of our normal crowd. I reckon if we get our own track and go EL we would see the crowd swell by at least 50%, perhaps double with the right promotion and a strong team that could challenge for silverware. ------------------------------------- Heat 9 from the Heathens website. http://www.dudleyheathens.co/extras/ytm_gallery/ytm.php?view=6uMP_awxi7M&p=1 Bit too much to ask for heat 14 really...

Terrific meeting. Full credit to both teams. I don't know what the official report will show for a fact, but I would guess that his disclusion from heat 15 will not be in the records as the meeting was abandoned. The result was declared by the meeting referee after 14 heats. At that point Ash had recorded four wins from four rides and therefore had secured his maximum before the abandonment. Spot on. There was a minimum of half and hour's work there I reckon. From the first part of the air fence on turn 3 to the apex of 3/4 was completely deflated and the posts relocated by the force of the crash. No prob. Ahh that explains that one. Cheers. Not in my opinion. One ride for Bekker, one for McKinna and two for Garrity. If Howarth needs a time out for a couple of weeks or so then I think the Colts can cope at home. Could be more difficult if he misses any away meetings though. Excellent news. I was quite concerned that it could have been quite a severe shoulder injury given that they took so long to move him and used a stretcher and Ambulance. Quite unusual for a shoulder injury. Great news if it turns out there's no significant injury. I would be amazed if either were able to get on a bike this week to be honest. It was a high speed crash. I can only recall two crashes at Monmore of this kind that were anything like this. Skornicki's crash a couple of years ago that screwed up his knee, and Stekkers perhaps 15 years ago. It's a true testament to air fences that both seem to have escaped serious injury. They have their faults but in this type of crash they are worth every penny and are potential life-savers.

Mostly overcast and dry. Could be a bit of patchy drizzle, but shouldn't be any sharp showers that could prove a threat. I'm happy to text if there's someone on the other end. Don't tell him Bob, he could be a cop!! *edit* According to Heathens FB page Adam Roynon will be there to help us cheer on the lads. Good on ya Royno.

Really looking forward to this one. BV are tipped by many to have a very good season, and they will certainly be up there in my opinion. So it is going to be another stern test for the Heathens, and our revamped team. Two riders making their debut and Franklin is mounted on new machinery. Armstrong returned from injury in terrific form, Morris is having a good season and Ritchings is looking to bounce back from a poor meeting last time out (well, poor score would be more accurate - he rode ok) and it's no secret that Perry is struggling to get going so he'll be looking for a big night. Coupled with Bekker and Howarth visiting having been mentioned by a number of people as potential signings for us, McKinna who would have ridden for us last season if not for an injury and of course the return of arch nemesis Jason Garrity and there should be plenty to keep us all entertained.

No problem. It sounds like it was just one of those things that happens from time-to-time. He's a bit of a panto-villain in these parts thanks to some of his antics last season, even riding into his team mates at Monmore Wood against the Heathens. He was booed, we love a bit of light-hearted booing , and seemed to get the wrong end of the stick. Apparently he went off on one about the Heathens fans on FB, though I didn't see it myself it was confirmed by a number of people on the forum and on the terrace, so I fully expect he'll get booed again. If you know him personally tell him if it happens it's just light-hearted and nothing to worry about. We booed Sam for 20 years and he just lapped it up and loved every minute of it. Likewise Hancock, who is one of the most popular riders in world speedway, was booed by the Wolves fans every time he turned up at Monmore for any of his British clubs due to the link with Cradley. Aside from that the Heathens fans may have been away a while but they know a good un when they see one. In hushed tones on the terrace there's plenty a good word spoken about his undoubted potential. As you say he just needs to learn when and where to use his speed and find a way to weave a route through the traffic rather than barge through.

I've mentioned him a few times since he left our shores. I think he could do a job over here again. But there have been a handful of riders on a 4.00 that have attracted the attention lately. Time it was changed to 6.00 but that's not for this thread. Good on him for winning this meeting and perhaps a few Promoters will have noticed the result.

My post was based on the comment on the Updates Forum, copied below. Comments: Stopped. Garrity rides into the back of Lawrence, both riders come off but the ref calls it as all 4 back. Referee has just become Mr Unpopular!!! Read more:http://speedwayupdates.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Mildenhall&action=display&thread=8068&page=1#ixzz1Ls3K198w Given that comment and his reputation I think my post was fair, particularly given it's obvious light-hearted tone. But if it reflects badly on him and he was not at fault I apologise.

Ouch. We do have 6 Brits under 21 in the team!! And we have given Perry and Ritchings their first full season's racing in successive seasons. It would be smarter to declare himself a Brit, as per the Woffinden route, if he wants a career racing in Europe. It will, surely, make life a lot more straightforward living and working over here. So, are you suggesting that it's your opinion that he won't be able to ride over here as he's not older enough to claim partriality and he will not get a work permit to ride in the NL? If so then it's the league's loss. I was really looking forward to seeing him ride. ------------------------------------------- I see Jason 'Demolition Derby' Garrity was up to his old tricks again. I was surprised to see he didn't win a race. Surely, that won't happen too often. Though once more at Monmore Wood next week would be okay by me. Good to see Mildenhall get off to a good start this season.

Genuine request please Jayne (not trying to stir or catch anyone out etc). Which rule do you believe would prevent Kyle lining up for the Heathens? You seem quite sure of you position, but Nigel seems equally so. Extract from the press release on the Dudley website. http://www.dudleyheathens.co/news.php?extend.309 Said Pearson: "Before announcing the signing of Kyle we checked with Graham Reeve at the SCB, I also personally checked with a leading referee, plus we had the support of Matt Ford at Poole and George English at Newcastle because we wanted to be sure they were happy with this move. Both are also BSPA management committee members. "I also double-checked with Peter Morrish, the National League co-ordinator, and there is no rule to prevent a young British rider appearing in three different leagues. We have done this in a professional and manner by going through the correct channels." It would be rather silly if there was a rule preventing DU Brits from riding in the NL but not No. 8's. In real terms it makes no difference to the Heathens as Poole could just drop Kyle as a DU and name his as their No. 8. They have not named a No. 8 this season so Kyle would be able to do that and still be called on by Poole as required. That said some EL clubs seem to think using your No 8 shouldn't be allowed!!!

The reason I guessed at Baseby was that I wasn't expecting a second change to be made despite hearing on Tuesday that it could be the case. Happy to have Kyle signed up though. I think he'll do a good job and could put a point on his start average. Welcome aboard Kyle. Enjoy the ride!! ------------------------ Re: The rules. Which rule is believed to prevent him riding all three leagues? Wasn't Roynon named in all three leagues at the start of the season? Didn't Cook have a place in all three leagues last season? Cheers.

I'm guessing Baseby and I bet he didn't take much time to think about it.

I think the fall count was 5 to the Saints and 1 to the Heathens. But the Heathens also had 3 engine failures (and we were missing our 11½ point man in Royno - r/r got 8 I think). It happens. If you can't get around 4 laps or keep the bike running you won't score many. Both sides threw points away. ---------------------------------------------------------- Cracking meeting. Well done to both teams for serving up a treat, but particularly the Heathens for pulling one out of the bag when we were up against it. For the Heathens Armo was immense, Morris continues his good start the NL season (bit gutted he didn't translate it into more PL points) and Franklin was much improved with some sharp starting and looking much quicker. Perry was a bit nearer the pace with some decent efforts to close in on other riders but there's still something missing as we've still not seen anything of the form that regularly saw him breeze past two or three riders in most of his races. Ritchings was a little off the pace last night compared to his first couple of Monmore Wood meetings but I think he's got a great style and was battling away and not too far from the pace, just giving too much away at the start last night. And finally Chessell who was much more steady last night and did what was needed more than anything else so far this season by staying rubber side down and getting some laps under his belt. The visitors were, clearly, served well by the Worrall's. They were well worth their points and looked classy in most of their heats. Blair was frankly pretty poor if I'm honest and Wrathall had a poor one too, with one last lap error under no pressure costing him dearly when he was having his best race of the night. Birks just had a nightmare from the start and never recovered but I'm sure 2 points will be a rare blip rather than the rule for the season, while Irving had a shocking start to the meeting but improved immeasurably in his last 3 rides. He certainly deserves credit for turning his night around and I'd say that as much as anything contributed to the Saints taking a point away. That just leaves Nielsen. We didn't see enough to judge him on performance so a 'no comment' on that side of things. Any injury news from him this morning?

Cheers. Wasn't sure.

Sneak it? I think we'll be the ones trying to sneak it. On current form we could get smashed. I'll back the boys louder than ever but it's backs to the wall for us tonight. R/R for Roynon, Armo just back from injury, Perry badly out of form and looking sluggish, and Luke struggling badly. Ash and Darryl are the only ones to really click into gear so far. There will never be a better time to visit Monmore Wood as it's become known on a Tuesday (mix of Monmore Green and Dudley Wood), especially seeing as it's another wall-to-wall sunshine day here in the West Midlands (an the wind has finally dropped!).

My post copied from Cradley forum Right, having sat back and thought it through a couple of options present themselves. In the absence of a full 2011 rules and reg's book I may be coming to some wild conclusions. The new rolling averages have come in to play for those that have done enough meetings. Joe Haines is listed on the BSPA website as having a 2010/11 PL RA of 3.43. Assuming a conversion rate of x2 that makes his NL average, if it becomes applicable, 6.86. He is by far the best option I can find as a straight replacement for Roynon, and leaves us .91 under the points limit. A similar alternative would be Newman but I think he's an Aussie? Next up would be Charles Wright who would be 7.34, but I'd prefer Haines. Baseby has been mooted by many on his NL ave 6.93 and/or Danny Warwick on 7.41. Each of these could do a solid middle order job. Anderson has been mentioned too but unless the rules have changed he could not come back in, even if he could be tempted over, without permission from the MC under rule 17.4.3 (preventing a rider in last seasons 1-7 but not in the initial declaration being re-introduced). James Birkinshaw is another to have been mentioned and could certainly do a job at this level. In fact, given his link to Bham I was a little surprised he wasn't with us last season. He doesn't fit as a direct replacement. His last average in the NL was 8.42. To bring him in we would need to release another rider which could leave room for the like of Wrathall, Dallaway or Young. Thoughts? Additional What average would Simon Walker be on? p.s. Dyer would be in the same boat as Anderson re: rule 17.4.3 even if he were otherwise eligible.

Well as gutted as I am for Roynon our season must go on. Armstrong and Roynon are out injured and in May we face at least one challenge, one KOC, three league and one A.N.Other (Hackney?) meeting. So where the hell do we go from here? Roynon is irreplaceable on his average so a like-for-like change is off the table. We can't cover with r/r particularly as Armstrong is also out, Perry hasn't found his form yet and it's not quite clicked for Franklin either. Clearly they and one of the reserves can't score Roynon's points, although we're lucky Morris is going well. So do we make multiple changes and re-declare under the points limit as though we're starting the season from scratch? That's likely to result in an unwanted early season casualty to make room for new riders. But who's out there that can come in to a 'redesigned' line-up?

Providing the guest assumes the average of the rider he's replacing rather than his own average being applicable then Evans will ride at 1. Further assuming the rest line up as they did on Tuesday then it should be as follows. 1. Evans 2. Franklin 3. Perry 4. Morris 5. Roynon 6. Ritchings. 7. Chessell The more I think about it and having seen the lads in action I fancy us to push this one quite close. Evans looks in decent enough form so should do a good job for us at 1. Roynon and Morris looked sharp in Tuesday. Ritchings and Chessell improved with every ride. Franklin was solid, scoring in every ride and we all know Perry in an unknown quantity on a new track. His gating seems a little better this season but he's been a touch off his best in the couple of meetings I've seen him in. If he clicks as well we could be looking at the top four scoring quite heavily. Heeps is a big miss for Mildenhall I feel.

Rant over hey Kev?

I would suggest a home win is likely with Armo missing and 'Fred' having never ridden there. It could be that a little bit of punch at the top end is missing because Brundle and Hargreaves are no mugs so Royno will have his work cut out to continue his superb start to his Heathens career. If 'Fred' takes to the track and scores big we could keep in tight. if not and only Ash offers good support to Royno then we'll be lucky to take the losers point. Fingers crossed that Evans has sorted his bikes out over the winter!!

Don't forget Kenny too. He was doing okay last season until he broke his leg. ----------------------------------------------- Buman was very good value last night. Fair play to the lad because when others were struggling to get around 4 laps early on he rode steady, got there and picked up the points. He was still able to hold his own as the track improved too. So a bit of fortune about a few points but he would have scored double figures anyway. ----------------------------------------------- Sorry if this has been covered, I don't have time to read through the thread. The programme stated that Novratil has twice broken his ankle recently and that was the reason for his late arrival. He fell in his first ride last night and despite looking to have fallen very heavily on his shoulder (looked a likely collarbone break the way he went down) he obviously aggravated the ankle injury because he limped off track and took no further part as a precaution. ----------------------------------------------- I've seen the Americans at Perry Barr and Monmore in the last week. Some of the lads are clearly not up to our NL standard but c'est la vie, the rest have been very good value. I've left both meetings feeling I had my money's worth. Castro v Royno in heat 11 was a cracker last night. *hopes it makes its way on to the Heathens website*

Looking forward to seeing the team in action for their first home meeting. It should give some sort of indication of what we can expect in the season to come because the Americans have a few that could cause us some problems.