TotallyHonestJohn

Aye pushing Edinburgh to the limit tonight... one meeting doesn't make a season but if am honest it's one more away point than I thought we would get... (Oh hang on cup match no points Doh!) wished I had made the effort to get up there tonight but it would have been a hard pull as I didn't finish in Appleby till 17.00 hrs... but well done to the lads tonight what a great performance and maybe this will quieten some of the detractors... Looking forward to Sunday and seeing how the little fella Tero does back at Brough as I believe he got amongst the points tonight after sorting out his mechanical problems... Regards THJ

By lad Soupy ya pushing this one mind... lol... it was posted last month Kyle is guesting up at Edinburgh... read back in the posts more than the last half dozen... Tero Aarnio now guests for Newcastle at home on Sunday... Regards THJ

Yep I do but I don't think it is my place or would be appropriate for me to put it on here Regards THJ

What did they buy with the 8k they raised on that go fund me thing because the tractor they were using broke down and I have a bigger watering can for the garden than the browser they were using to water the track... Regards THJ

Honestly you couldn't make it up... Ricky Wells has dropped us in the pony for Sunday and has now pulled out of his Guesting opportunity... The promotion are now working on a couple of others... soon as i hear owt I will stick it on here... Regards THJ

Good question Steve The important one to note is that the bars are card only.... (so a better tell me old pall Doug to bring their lasses debit card) However for the catering, the programmes and track shop you can use cash if you want or card but it was impressed that card would be preferred... Agian if you want alcohol it's card only... you have been warned... Regards THJ

Aye but at least you are out of hibernation now Paulco and that methanol smell has brought you out of your slumber so things can only get better from here on in... nice to see you back... Regards THJ

Well Well Well The debacle that purported to be a Speedway meeting in Birmingham last night has certainly heaped the pressure onto this Newcastle meeting that's for sure, I have been told from my pal at ARC that not only will there be 6 Covid Policemen in attendance from the local authority ensuring the Covid rules and regulations are being complied to and with by the promotion but due to the fiasco at Perry Bar (also owned by ARC) that Arena Racing are sending up another half dozen or so of their top brass to ensure that there are no problems and I have it from good authority that if they don't like what they see they will abandon the meeting... Pressure or what... So possible pinch points or areas where issues may arise that folk need to be aware of are; wear your mask at all times; don't congregate around the entrances and toilet facilities; get your grub; get your programme and get to your spot ASAP and settle there; oh and wear your mask. If sitting in the stand you can take your mask off whilst sitting down but if you get up to go anywhere you must wear a mask; Standing on the terraces you should be wearing a mask at all times however as long as you are in your group and standing in your spot you may be allowed to drop it for comfort but if you need to go for food drink or toilet facilities you must wear your mask; and if you think you are exempt from wearing a mask you will need a note off either your Mam; your Doctor or Boris Johnson (or be under the age of 16 and be able to prove your age) otherwise you will be given a mask and if you don't wear it I have been advised that they have a stapler and are prepared to use it to ensure its stuck to your napper... so common sense really and did I mention you must wear a mask! also there will be Security Staff on the day who will be able to advise and assist in complying with the regulations and guidelines so please FFS listen to them don't get arsey as they are only there to help... Honest As we are all ticket and there is no paying on the door there will be no need to sign in; (big brother knows who you are) the toilets will be fumigated and cleaned regularly for Covid; there will be face masks available should there be a need for one and there will be that lovely lube oil that masquerades as hand sanitising gel at the entrance for you to have a bath in to ensure you aren't carrying any Germans into the stadium... Stay safe follow the rules and we should get over this hump together and hopefully after the 21st of June we can put all this hydraulics (had to put Hydraulics because it didn't like the other word I used for testicles) behind us... Regards THJ

Did ya not see the post above yours Regards THJ

Well for those who have seen.the state of Ben Barkers hand on social media they will fully understand as to why Newcastle are running with not only a guest on Friday at Edinburgh in Kyle Howarth but have drafted in the services of Glasgow rider Ricky Wells for the return leg two days later at Brough Park... So for our first meeting back at Brough after 20 months we get a guest in at Number 1 for both clubs with Steve Worrall standing in for Edinburgh in place of the unavailable Sam Masters... Roll on Sunday... Regards THJ

You recollections are spot on Al... but don't worry it will be nothing like that this time round... Regards THJ

Looks like Sam Masters will be missing for this one due to a Polish commitment on the Sunday and there could be a doubt over Ben Barker with his fractured finger... Although Ben reckons he will be fit in time for both the away and home legs of this KOC tie... Regards THJ

Well here's the first one and its been a long time coming 06/06/21 1600 Newcastle v Edinburgh (C-KOC) Followed By 1800 Newcastle v Armadale (NDL) The teams for the KO Cup meeting should consist of the following riders Newcastle; Ben Barker; Connor Mountain; Max Clegg Adam Roynon Matthew Weathers James Wright and Joe Alcock Edinburgh: Sam Masters; Nathan Greaves; Josh Pickering; Kye Thomson; Richie Worrall; William Lawson; Joe Lawlor So this Knock Out Cup clash brings back a couple of old Newcastle favourites lining up for the Monarchs in Worrall and Lawson and I can see this only going one way (unfortunately) The NDL meeting however at 1800 which sees Newcastle v Armadale (NDL) will be a different matter and should provide a good home win for the Gems The teams for the NDL meeting should consist of the following riders Gems; Max Clegg; Ryan Terry-Daly; Josh Embleton; Joe Alcock; Kelsey Dugard; Archie Freeman; Danny Smith; Armadale; Nathan Greaves; Tom Woolley; Danny Phillips; Sheldon Davies; Lewis Millar George Rothery Gregor Millar So this brings us (or me anyway) on to what was our biggest home defeat by the Monarchs over the years and consulting my copy of the History of Speedway at Brough Park Newcastle 1929 to 2018 (as compiled by Joe Wake) the biggest ever home defeat at the hands of Edinburgh was dished out on Monday the 10th of July 1961 in the Northern League where Edinburgh went away with a 24 - 54 reverse and the scorers were as follows... ND. Don Wilkinson 10 Slant Payling 4+1 Russ Dent 4 + 1 Norman Johnson 3 Vic Lonsdale 2 George Glen 1 Freddie Fewsdale 0 Stan Pennell 0 EM. Doug Templeton 12 George Hunter 11 + 1 Wayne Briggs 9 + 3 Willie Templeton 8 Bill Osborne 6 Alf Wells 5 + 1 Jimmy Tannock 3 + 1 Newcastle ended up bottom of both the Provincial and Northern Leagues in 1961 so lets hope the Diamonds of 2021 can put on a better show some 60 years later... Oh and just for reference our biggest ever home win against Edinburgh... well that came in the October of 1983 in the Quarter Final second leg of the Supernational when Joe Owen posted a 5 ride full max and Rod Hunter Bobby Beaton and Martin Scarisbrick all got 5 ride paid maximums and Bernie Collier got a 4 ride paid max in a 16 Heat 75 - 21 victory for the Diamonds and the main resistance came from Sean Courtney with 8 and Roger Lambert with 7 + 1; both scores off 7 rides... to date and although over 16 heats this was the biggest ever win for Newcastle at Brough Park in the history of the club... oh happy days... My predictions 35 - 55 in the KO Cup match with Worrall; Masters and Josh Pickering who posted an excellent score in 2018 for the Monarchs at Brough and seemed to like the track somewhat proving to hot to handle at the top end of Edinburgh for Newcastle to get anywhere near. However in the Gems meeting I fancy them to win 50 - 40 in the NDL Meeting... Got my tickets and I am raring to go... looking forward to it starting... Oh and a quick message for Rob Grant "put two Hogg roasts on cos I am saving myself from now" so one for everyone else and mine... and all you need to do with mine is just wipe its backside; give it a shave and slap it in the bun cos am ready for a feed... Regards THJ PS. Many thanks to Joe Wake for allowing the use of the information above from his excellent book "History of Speedway at Brough Park, Newcastle 1929 to 2018"

Jesus strong feeling of déjà vu here...

I somehow think the Gems meeting will be a dam sight closer than the "Big Boys" with Kelsey "Do-gud" Dugard (Newcastle Diamonds latest asset) wanting to show what Eastie will be missing out on and I have a "Gallon" says he gets into double figures... Any takers? Regards THJ

Some people tear ligaments, tendons and other tissues when they dislocate their shoulder. A rugby team mate kept dislocating his shoulder and went in for "the muscles" "tightened up" (whatever that involved) and he ended up missing a season and if I remember correctly Richard Lawson had to have a similar op because his shoulder kept popping out and he missed the tail end of a season and it took the whole winter for him to recuperate... so it can become a major issue as the slacker the muscles/ligaments/tendons holding the shoulder in place get then the only option is for the operation. Also Johnnie Wilkinson had the same thing and his was that bad it took 18 month following the op before he came back; his shoulder popped out prior to one match just pulling his shirt on... So it depends how bad the dislocation was and how badly the muscles/ligaments/tendons that hold the shoulder in place are damaged; but away from the doom and gloom young bones and muscles can take a fair bit of punishment and they do tend to heal quicker... On replacing the rising star which I believe has now been change to something along the lines of "you can replace any rising star as long as you had the space in the team at the start of the season" Henry is a 2 star so you can have a 2 or a 1 star obviously however because your team 1 to 6 combined total is less than 38 I believe you could actually use a 3 star if there is one available... Regards THJ

Think what Speedway Fan is trying to point out is that clubs are having to look at alternative ways to selling tickets as most local authorities are discouraging the use of turnstiles as it is difficult to maintain social distancing... You aren't the only one who isn't a whizz kid and most if not all promotions will assist and accommodate their fans Regards THJ

It's blocks of 6 what they want to fill as a 6 if possible but if a pair wanted a slot they could use a six block and still just pay for 2... if that makes sense... Newcastle did have limited numbers of 2 slots and 4 slots anyway and it's all down to social distancing... It looks like Poole can have 30% of the max capacity of the stadium and I don't know what that equates to so say 900 fans if the place holds 3000... therefore that's 150 plots with 6 people in spaces 2 metres apart... So... and not having been to Poole Stadium I don't know... could you fit 150 blocks in the stadium that will allow for the recommended space of 2 metres social distancing... Will they get 900 or whatever fans coming to the meeting because let's be fair these promoters aren't daft and want as many people in they can get and they certainly won't be charging one person the price of 6 to get in the stadium ffs if they cant fill all the blocks... Why does everything have to be taken to the ridiculous end of the spectrum... give the Promotion a little credit they want as many in as possible but at the same time the have to ensure everyone's safety... and no doubt they will... Why turn a drama into a crisis... email the club tell them your predicament and I am sure you will be accommodated... As you rightly say Mike there is always the opportunity to "bubble up" with other Poole fans to make a 6... become a Speedway Bubble... Regards THJ

Hope I'm wrong but I doubt there will be wholesale dropping of "Covid Mitigation's in the stadium" as you put it any time soon; I think there will still be restrictions and protocols to be adhered to right up until Christmas and maybe even beyond that; such as masks and spacing etc hopefully all less intrusive than the current regulations... Your last line is spot on and I think as everyone is tired and fed up with the current situation; hopefully the streaming works for Glasgow and that all these "Stricter Measures" are temporary but I don't think we are out of the Covid woods by any stretch of the imagination yet... Also if Buffoon Boris lifts certain restrictions Nippy Sturgeon will probably not follow suit just to be awkward... Regards THJ

It's off... First meeting to fall foul of the weather... It's like we've never been away... Regards THJ

Spread clotted cream on the scone first, then finish with a dollop of jam (and ffs don't get it the other way round or you will be called a Cornishman) Regards THJ

Well a was pretty wild back in the day especially with those two wild guesses and I am still standing by them... One for One so far... lets see if I can get the double up... Regards THJ

Stupid is as stupid does but is life really like a box of chocolates It just tries to maximise the numbers through the door... Regards THJ

The following is the link to book your tickets for the Edinburgh Double Header on the 6th of June 2021 Please follow the link below to access the online booking portal: https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAVF Remember if you can book in blocks of 6 all the better and there are approximately 44 blocks left so to maximise the entry numbers please try and link in or join up with others as its the difference of getting 44 singles in to the ground or 264 in!!! which will make a massive difference... Regards THJ

Lol -PMSL But you have sparked a definite interest... If you can find two mopeds reinforced and strong enough to lug two fat old farts like me and RG round the track then I'm in... might have more luck with two mobility scooters... they are greener... But on a serious note not a bad idea... and I am deffo in... Regards THJ Oh and two wide load signs for across our backs...