rabbit

Ouch...don't hold back Liverstam, just tell us what you really think Can someone confirm that Freddie Eriksson is confirmed for Hammarby in 2008? He seems to appear in some lists and not others so wondering if he was a late addition?

SJL - There is some limited standing at the front of the grandstand at ground level which would shelter you (as long as the rain's not driving in from the west!) In additional to the old grandstand there's the new glass one where you could go, plus some limited shelter in smoker's corner and around by the 3rd bend. Only thing I'd say is that everyone else will probably have the same idea! Jac - I'd assume that in line with any other meeting, if you couldn't make any re-arranged date, then a letter to the speedway office would see you given a refund. Believe that Matt is away at the moment, but if I remember I'll ask him when I see him and post here the definitive process. But then it's not going to happen - I know for fact that March 9th is going to be a glorious sunny Spring day!

Guess we won't be seeing you there then Eastie...such a shame! What's wrong with posting again on this thread? You could always start a new 'Why do we need to know about Poole' one like you usually do if you prefer? Four weeks and counting...how many more times can we get it to the top of the posts?

Inclined to agree, but to be honest, I wouldn't even really bother replying to the petty posts. Whether it irks some of the small-minded or not, it will be a great day for those attending (particularly the Poole fans) and those involved in the presentation, and that's the bottom line - it's part of the celebration of Poole's 60 years - fans of speedway itself will also love it for the line-up on view and that's all that really matters - not some bitter comments from a very small minority that in the general scheme of things mean diddly squat. They probably won't be there so who cares?

We did have one of those meetings at Poole last year. Damn good entertainment if I remember correctly. Beat some of the EL offerings...

Nice one Chris. Good result for Proctor - be interested to see how he does over here this year. Definitely one for the future. Aussies are racking up the quality youngsters at a rate of knots. Good to see for the future of antipodean speedway after a slightly dodgy phase.

Nope, I'd considered BV. Gjedde is too hit and miss, get him on his time of the month and he'll do diddly. Will stand by my prediction for now. ...unless they do move it to Oxford that is.

Hmm...reckon it'll be Peterborough winning it. Lakeside have a good shout too and I'd almost go for Eastie or Poole for 3rd. Where's it to this year?

Shock horror - a promoter might make some money!!! Why is it that as soon as a promoter looks like getting a bit of a money-spinner you can hear all the murmurings of discontent. If a promoter, and I include absolutely any promoter in the country in that, wants to take a risk on an event (and this is, even with all the luck in the world still a risky enterprise), that might make them some money at the end of it, then all I would say is bloody good luck to him or her. What exactly is wrong with a club making a profit? A profit that might offset other costs? A profit that might secure that club financially for a while? A profit that might go to paying a transfer fee outright to another cash-strapped club for example? Cos I'm damned if I can see a problem with a promoter making some money - after all isn't that what every person goes into business for? Why should speedway be any different? The way fans go on, anything that might net some cash is frowned upon as if living on a financial shoestring is the only acceptable means of operating. It's beyond me I have to say. I swear that there will be some fans sat at home, between now and the 9th March, praying for rain, willing for something to go wrong so that the event isn't a success, just so that they can have their little gloat.

We're talking advance ticket sales here, not turning up on the day. So the BIC charge £4 quid - that's what they do. Hell, I've had to pay that fee repeatedly in the last year when going to see gigs and shows there - must've forked out nearly £50 in booking fees alone there in 2007 - lucky Brighton if they only change a quid or so, other venues charge differently around the country. Fact of life but if you want to see something you pay it. I really can't see why you're making such a fuss - this is a Poole meeting, for Poole fans to celebrate our anniversary, but one which will appeal to others too. If you don't like the terms and don't want to pay for it, then don't go!

Well there's an obvious answer - park elsewhere then. Poole stadium is smack in the middle of the town centre and I can tell you of about 6 or 7 car parks within a 5 minute walk but for some reason people don't seem to use their loaf and think of using these but would rather whinge about the stadium one! That's in addition to the many roads round here where you can park for free. Don't people like to use their legs any more or something?! I doubt very much you'll be asked to pay a great deal on a Sunday in the stadium carpark anyway to be honest. During a weekday it's a fiver to park there so can't see the fuss - it's a public carpark, owned by the council - absolutely nothing to do with the speedway. As Steve says, the BIC are dealing with the advance ticket sales (something which doesn't usually occur for most UK meetings) and it is their fee. What I can say, and this was confirmed to me by Matt, is that anyone who has bought their tickets from the BIC will be getting their program for free on the day. Apparently this does appear in the advertising, but I've not seen a Speedway Star recently so can't vouch for this. Seeing as the programmes are likely to be around a fiver, I'd say that isn't a bad trade off.

It has everything to do with it at Poole, Chris. The stadium owners wanted double the amount of rent for running conference meetings as opposed to an EL meeting when this was mooted a couple of years ago. The Academy League meetings have luckily been the break that Poole have been able to make use of.

Must be a bummer when there's a rain-off!

That's the one...home of the Russian fleet. Mad how far away that is...

Bliss...does that mean no more posts from you about us then?

Bet if it was at the mecca of speedway called Arlington you'd have got your ticket already. Best you stick to conference league footie for your £9.50. Personally I'd say that was a rip-off Don't worry, we're not selective, opposition riders get the treatment too

Haven't heard that he's not going to be there - don't think that the names in the news article are the definitive list though - Adam Shields isn't on there either and I'm positive he was also named previously.

You are a cheerful little soldier today aren't you? I'd say over a thousand advance ticket sales was pretty good, that's about 1/5 or 1/6 of them sold two and a half months before the event. Expect people will carry on buying them up to the day so if they can flog nearly 50% in advance that's guaranteed cash in thw bank. And you really think riders will pull out from a meeting with that prize money up for grabs...I thought you knew riders and the way their minds work.

Good for you. Buy why criticise a company that for many takes the hassle out of traveling to a GP? Each to their own - some people are happier paying a company to sort things out for them and the fact that many people go with them often repeatedly proves they must be pitching it at an OK level. A bespoke travel company is always going to be more costly than a bargain bucket trip but just because you've managed to do a good deal for yourself doesn't mean everyone has the time and inclination to do so.

Jeeezus - that is some set up! Is that stadium for speedway alone?

Well having seen the demographic of most speedway crowds, I doubt that many people are going to be missing because of Sunday football. Besides, a lot of matches take place in the mornings so may well be over by the time the meeting starts anyway. Don't you fret Eastie, I'm sure we'll get a decent crowd

But then, as everyone is so fond of telling us, Poole fans don't have any big football teams to compete for their leisure pounds down here

Are you for real?

For Gawd's sake Sube give it a rest. You're like a terrier with a rag about Middlo at the moment. Now just a polite and respectful suggestion and request - this thread is about Poole's jubilee meeting, not Team GB, and Middlo's tenure as Poole manager is not open to debate. So can we please, please, please keep this thread to the meeting in question and leave your mission to oust Middlo to the appropriate threads of which there are more than enough. I'm still intrigued why someone would suggest us holding our 60th anniversary meeting at another club.

Not rubbish at all and in your haste to reply you're missing my point. I'm just saying that it's still pretty much the same blokes riding bikes for 4 laps so why the problem in paying more for admittance for this meeting at Poole? It's still cheaper than the GP (unless you talk the real cheap seats at Cardiff). I'm not talking about the importance of the GPs as opposed to this one off. Just surprised at Kev's dismissive comments is all - he's usually more reasonable than that.