vog

There has definitely been some rain, I just walked in it! However, it isn't a large quantity, and hopefully it was just a passing shower

Has been light rain upto this point. No idea if it will be enough to put the meeting in danger though!

I have no idea with Gareth. He seems quick enough if he gets out in front, but he doesn't gate enough to rely on that, and doesn't seem to have developed the track craft to win without gating. He almost seems afraid to use the outside line. When he drops to reserve, he has to start scoring, and that will probably come with gating. He really needs someone to be at the track with him for a few days just sorting out his gating.

So, tomorrow see's the Scunthorpe Sheffield Saints (Triple S...catchy) in action at Sheffield in a double header, with first Buxton, and then Stoke aiming to come away with a point or more. I have no idea who the Buxton team will be (I'll leave that to Jayne!) but according to the Stoke website, SSS and Stoke line up as follows: SSS: Paul Cooper, Ashley Birks, Gary Irving, Steve Worrall, Greg Blair, Adam Wrathall, Stefan Nielsen Stoke: Simon Lambert, Jaimie Pickard, Gareth Isherwood, Tony Atkin, Tim Webster, Ben Reade, James Sarjeant I honestly believe Stoke can get at least a point here. Lambert will be tough to beat, and towards the end of the meeting the fact that SSS will have had 2 meetings may begin to show. The key will be the reserves and middle pairings I think. Also, a quick question for anyone who knows, is it normal admission cost?

I very much hope that Stoke are up there at the end! I think we will know more when we race Sheffield on Thursday. If we can get a point there, I may begin to believe we could be a force. The good thing is that our top 4 are averaging close to 33 (Closer to 36 if you include bonus points) 2 riders who, thus far combined have added 5 points to their averages mean we are looking ok!

Given your team contains mainly former Stoke riders, it's only fair!

Started on a 4.24, now averaging 7.5 from all meetings! That's the kind of improvement a team needs!

Thanks for the updates Halifaxtiger, and thank you all for the reports! Jamie seems to go from strength to strength, and I doubt if there is a better number 2 in the league at the moment!

Looks like a very good performance from Stoke. Hopefully some of the people who went can fill us in?

So long as Stoke win by 8, I'm happy

You would think Woffinden is nailed on for one, the other...Auty or Stead?

I did love, at the Sheffield meeting, when the announcer kept thanking the riders for giving their time to be there. Given that it was a choice of turn up or face a 28 day ban, there was only really one option!

I would argue that, given our only meeting this season ended in a draw, and both teams could claim to be missing key riders, this argument is best left until June 28th, when we prove that we are the best team in Staffordshire

And if they chase the dirt they have a hell of a long way to go! When Stoke went down there, we were 10 down after 4 and lost by 12. Shows how important the track knowledge is!

Hackney to win on the basis that it takes you a race to learn how to ride Lakeside! As proven against Stoke, those first 4 heats are a killer!

Newport away.

He is due to guest for Stoke on Saturday, so I hope he's ok!

Whoops Apologies!

Not really. Given that BV were 6 points down, and Dudley had a rider excluded, there was nothing to race for. Belle Vue get a point but couldn't have got any more, Dudley get 2 and would have been relying on an EF or fall from either BV rider in heat 15.

I wish I could be there, gutted to be missing this one! Still, hope the Potters get a good win, 49-41 will do though

Lambert rides, this time it's Buxton replacing their number 1 with a reserve Still, can only see one winner, and they aren't from the land of sheep!

So, tomorrow sees Buxton as the visitors to Loomer Road, hoping that a one point lead from the first leg is enough to take them through. Personally, I can't see it, especially given that Ben Taylor is a doubt, and Rob Branford won't be there (Riding for Redcar at Leicester) Stoke, however, appear to be at full strength, and should seal their progression into the next round, though stranger things have happened!

So, Kyle Newman it is. And another change needs to be made. Wonder who will be dropped.

No, they changed the rules in the off season.

It looked like they had just painted a white line on the car park