arnieg

As a travelling fan I have occasionally asked for a refund. I have always got it, but it never ceases to amaze me how grudging, obstructive (and often rude), people have been. What exactly do they achieve other than increasing ill-will and discouraging visiting fans from returning? The only exception was Peter Toogood who was polite, cheerful and sympathetic when organising a refund on the spot.

Excepting a few time-bound dispensation/facilities coming to an end, isn't every change by every team made with the intention of increasing the chances of winning things (even if it's only the great A47 wooden spoon derby)

If I'm remembering the 2021 Euro under 19 correctly, then ok may be stretching it a bit.

I think at this point the objective us to get through to the end of the season. I can't see how throwing money at Bickley is going to help that.

Kyle Howarth (29) is the youngest Brit in the field. And only Pickering (26) and Basso (22) are younger.

Think you may be overly pessimistic. While forecasts show high percentage chances of rain through the day (like the last two weeks) the BIG difference is the volume of rain. The last two weeks forecasts were (accurately as it turned out) showing 12-15mm of rain. Today we are looking at light intermittent rain amounting to no more than 3-4 mm (if the forecasts are right).

36, and to do that they MUST win at Wolves. So the pressure is on Ipswich. Leicester and Wolves will get 5 points to share between them in the B fixtures and matches against Lynn and P'boro offer further opportunities for points. The most plausible route to qualification is Sheffield failing to complete their fixtures. As it stands they have 2 dates to arrange and not a single Monday or Thursday available to them until after the cut-off deadline (unless it is extended again).

Well I've bought some raffle tickets so I've got something to look forward to.

Surely the first thing you see on entering Monmore Green is Elliot the world's most perpetually cheerful raffle ticket seller

Close. It is his average from 2014, but he rode more recently - in 2016 but without getting a new average.

Surely Lebedevs replaces him and a new wildcard (most likely Gusts) is named. That's what happened last year at Cardiff in SGP2. Brennan was wildcard and series first reserve. He replaced someone (Salonen?) and Flint took the wildcard spot.

And think of the brouhaha if he 'accidentally' failed to score

BSPL site shows tonight as the A fixture with 4 Sept for B fixture

Peterborough already have- Wojdylo, Harris and Tarasenko all coming in. And Lynn have made 4: Laguta , Breum, Lambert and Rowe

Can only guest for one team per tie. So as there are only 3 ties it ain't possible. .... unless there is a special dispensation

Soon I hope Just so I can see all the dinosaurs have apoplectic fits.

The big question is how many times will I write Colin in my programme?

Assuming both win at Edinburgh and lose their remaining away match (Cheetahs at Glasgow, and Poole at Scunny who are going well at the moment) then it all comes down to Wednesday's bonus point. If Pirates win at Scunthorpe next Friday it's probable top spot goes to Poole regardless of Wednesday's contest. Not impossible, but winning at Glasgow would be a tough ask for Oxford. And if Poole have a poor night at Scunny and lose by 10 they miss the bonus, meaning it could all go down to race points (based on my initial assumptions with Pirates getting Wednesday's bonus).

But I can't conceive how he could be assessed at anything higher than 8.00, so really never an issue.

Club Statement about the GoFundMe I would like to ease your minds about the GoFundMe that was started this week. The history behind the request is this. I am the main sponsor of the club. Last august, as some of you may remember, I had to have heart surgery because of a disease called Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy. At the time, I also owned Iwade Garage, who you will recall as being the teams title sponsors in 2021 and 2022. Due to staffing problems, and then combined with my cardiac issue, it was necessary to give back the lease on the garage as the time being spent in the workshop drew me away from my actual job - Consulting Chief Security Officer. In December my mum Ros, who many of you will have seen on the gate with her dog Grace, went into hospital, where she had open heart surgery. After complications she finally came home in June, but the visiting and staying on top of the medics who didn't listen, it meant I was further diverted from my day job. We came into the 2023 season without a named title sponsor - because this year its fallen to me personally. Normally, a home match sets you up financially for the away leg, but we have two away trips coming up, and the abandonment of the Oxford match at home, and the subsequent home match taking a lesser gate as fans used their re-entry, means that the clubs bank account was severely depleted. The need to purchase the tyres for the remainder of the season added to the financial woes. My priority is always to ensure that our riders are paid promptly - for without them, we do not have a club. As I haven't been working as much in the last 8 months, then my reserves were also depleted. Although I am back consulting, it takes time for clients to settle their invoices. The support that those who have contributed to the GoFundMe has given the club is heartfelt, and I thank each and everyone of you for that support. I am also greatful to every paying fan who comes to our home matches, and I ask you to get behind the club and come along to as many meetings as you can, and give the riders the support to urge them on to win. We have six matches left, and the fight isnt over for the Royals. However, I need to do what my cardiac consultant tells me, I need to ease up a bit, I will need at some point in the future more surgery, hence my words in the programme recently. Its not just me that puts hours into running things, my whole family helps. Many of you know my mum from the main gate, who as I said has been very ill recently and still has a long road to full health, Andrea who helps on the gate and helps massively behind the scenes too, and my son Drew from the sweet stall. Drew is planning to head off to University in September, and Andrea has another operation coming up at the end of this month. I have kept The Royals going for two years post Uncle Len but we are unable to commit as much time going forward. Therefore if anyone is interested in coming on board then please do speak to me.

Perhaps because they have other things on their mind at the moment.

And the 'fan'?

Gusts surely.

Last year 122 riders competed in the DMPJ (including 23 foreigners, mostly Czechs and Latvians - both of whom entered a team - but also Argentina, Australia, Ukraine, France, Finland, Estonia, Germany, Denmark and GB [Brennan]) That's 99 young Poles, before adding in those who filled the lower placings in the NICE Cup

Second and fourth in Ekstraliga averages. (Woffinden and Doyle are 18th and 19th)