Parsloes 1928 nearly

I've never said that the proper 20 heat format necessarily leads to an amazing climax - by definition it's possible it may not. Not every football match ever played or shown on TV is a thrillier to the last minute. It's called sport and it's unpredictable. But to manufacture an exciting finish regardless of what's right in terms of giving the best chance for the best rider to succeed is to abandon the principles of sport for a more show biz approach. Fair enough if that's what you want; but personally I think we should leave the tried and tested format alone and remember it often in any case gives us fantastically exciting meeting conclusions like last night..

Pretty thin argument there. Oh dear we've just had a brilliantly exciting heat 19; but curses, now we're going to have to suffer the extreme tedium of an oh-so boring heat 20!! Do you set off to the car after heat 12 when an EL match is decided that early!? Your point about gamesmanship also makes not one iota of sensre. Starke's cheating (gamesmanship's just semantics, it's cheating...) would've benefitted his team mate massively more if they'd been a Grand Final; as it was, it only ruined the chances of two other riders for third place which though I feel for them (especially young Robert), it's not as bad as the thought that the Dudley pair's actions could've had led to Blackbird winning the title itself. I wasn't a Cov on Friday, so I bow to your better judgement but seems a strange comment to put it mildly to say that Morris wasn't the best rider when he completed a 15 points maximum after the 20 heats...!

Extraordinary comment! The two big indivs over the last two days shows unquestionably exactly WHY the proper 20 heat formula is the best - and how unnecessary and unfair the semis/Grand Final 'system' is.. At Coventry for the U-19s you had two riders unbeaten on 4 wins apiece meeting in heat 19.. What a climax that would've been. Except because a GF awaited it didn't matter barely a jot who won that race and who was second. Then come the GF you have the rider who had achieved a 15 point maximum failing to make it six and losing out to a rider who'd scored just 12. I accept that was the system but it made for a less fair outcome and actually denied the public an exciting climax in the way an indiv meeting SHOULD be dedided. The NLRC thankfully doesn't go for such nonsense. And with heat 20 there again huge drama. Boxall needs to win to force a run off. Up against Blackbird who (despite blatant cheating from a team mate) actually can't now win but could possibly still get second - Blackbird leads and Boxall gets past him in a breathtaking pass (it wasn't a 'rubbish' meeting btw!). And so two riders tied on 14 and there's a run off which is right and proper but nothing like a manufactured GF. As for the run off , well Lewis tried to pass caughgt Steve's back wheel and the lad himself admitted it was his fault. What a brilliant sporting comment by Lewis who's a credit to himself and the sport. Sadly the antics of the Dudley pair can't be spoken on as falling into the same bracket..

Actually denied Robert and also Steve Worrall that run off alongside Blackbird. Starke's move was indeed a disgrace and I can't understand why he wasn't excluded for his actions. But let's not concentrate on that - a great meeting, showing the 20 heat format does not need daft semis and 'Grand Finals'! A massive well done to Stevie for a btrilliant victory pleasing a huge turnout of Kent Kings fans and fair play to Lewis Kerr who was so sporing in defeat.

Well I wasn't there, so no idea what the racing was like but the comments about how "rubbish" it was seem to me way OTT. For goodness sake, we have an exciting crop of young riders coming through and this was clearly a very competitive meeting at the top end. Under the correct format it would've come down to heat 19 with two unbeaten riders head to head for the title. Instead there was a Grand Final and a shock in that. Surely as indiv. meetings go that produced enough excitement in itself did it not? Sometimes I actually think there are some people who only go to Speedway to moan about it.. Well done Stefan and Ben. Bad luck Ashley & Adam. I for one applaud your efforts and am looking forward to seeing you four resume battle alongside the likes of Boxall, Blackbird, Starke, Wright, Perry & Lambert this evening att Rye. Phew, what a prospect tonight's NLRC is... Though no doubt some will come on here to say it's "rubbish"..!!

Remember the Croppers have a Stoke Speedway sticker on their car!!

Has the promise of a good meeting. Pretty big lead for Dudley but KL can on their day be vey strong at home. Hoping to get up for this one!

Hmm, not on the BSPA site, not listed in the Star and not even on KL's own web-site!! If it's next Wednesday it's certainly a fixture being kept very quiet!!!

Right, thanks. Only it's yet to appear in the fixtures on the BSPA site...

Hmm, think you've posted this in the wrong place! I assume you mean at the NLRC - Armstrong was NOT down to ride in the Silver Ski!

Good crowd (actually sold out of progs which I don't think has happened before...) and a good number in Dons' colours. Race jackets NOT auctioned as the plan (as I understand it) will be to repeat the fixture for the John Cerans Cup next year and onwards as an annual feature.

I thought the second leg of this KOC semi (rained off last Weds) was meant to be tonight.. Now I see it's EL action at the NA so when will the second leg at KL be now?

Well he SHOULD have been pissed..! Then he wouldn't have hurt himself at all! All the best for a speedy recovery mate. Crayford Dinner & Dance in just over a month's time..!

Yes Stoke can stage meetings on Sundays - they did so with the NL4s just a few weeks ago in fact. Is it viable though, to follow a Stock Car meeting which can be, er, challenging to track conditions (especially, as you say, in these autumnal conditions) with a Speedway meeting less than 24 hours later..?

Well Sept 21st out of the frame as that's the NLRC at Rye House.

Anyone know if there's a rearranged date for this match yet? Stoke website can't help as it's apparently been 'suspended'...

Surprised no-one's mentioned Simmo. Took him 12 years from first riding BL to reach his first World Final and was 30 when he finished runner up (in his second WF).

That's not correct actually. Though the London Council elections are indeed next year (May 2014), the election for the London Mayor is NOT in the same year. The London Mayoral election is not until 2016. So Boris is NOT up for re-election next year; though all of LB Merton's Cllrs are of course.

Not sure I get that logic! It wasn't Stevie's fault that he was given that crazily high (and God only knows how calculated - nowt in the Rule Book to justify it!) starting average..! The 11.38 scuppering our team building plans and meaning we couldn't have Mason & Compton together until after the averages were reassessed denied Kent a place in the play-offs.

Hmm, interesting.... Seems like this is probably good-ish news - will certainly be if the Sec of State approves.. Mind you, been a sporting site since the 1920s so in a way seems odd one has to apply to KEEP such a status..

I doubt that... I know both lads of course, so difficult to comment but it's certainly a real shame that Jack's not in this meeting as he thoroughly deserves to be in there.

I think that was Hunty's point.

I'll talk to Ian after the meeting - am sure he'll be able to feedback.

Ah right - only the BSPA website doesn't show that change. Was planning to go up next Weds (ie the 18th.) for the KOC second leg... A 'dead rubber' NL fixture ain't nearly such an attractive proposition...

In what sense.? If you mean riders then there could well be a reason: fixture clashes for one...