Parsloes 1928 nearly

Gosh, that's a cheery post Andy!!!

Hmm, any reason why so..??!

Er, well Crayford in international Kent ( ) staged a qualifying round of the World Championship in 1981 (a round won by Barry Thomas ) so can I mention that now sadly defunct venue please!!!

Well, having followed Eddie's career since he was a 15-year-old first riding in the CL I most certainly DO welcome this decision... IMHO, if we'd had a proper World Championship as in the days when Peter Collins and Michael Lee were coming thru' then Eddie would have made a World Final by now... The closed-door of the GPs has to date sucked everything out of his international career. The decision to replace no-hopers like Nicholls, Harris and Richardson with the two brightest prospects I've seen in this country for years (Ed and Tai) is a MASSIVE step forward. Most of you GP apologists don't want positive changes, you love your status quo with cuddly Greg, Leigh etc. too much... I wouldn't cross the road to watch a GP featuring the usual GB 'picks': Ed & Tai though is an entirely different proposition...

Steve, An excellent posting with which I agree 100%. It is a massively positive step forward to have Eddie & Tai in the Series- one which should be warmly welcomed...

Well, I think this would be SUPERB news if it's true... Tai and Eddie in the GP is just the fillip the series needs.. Certainly will make me buy my ticket for Cardiff...!!!

Jeremiah Thelaus..? Who is he then..???

What's with the (AU)..??!!!! Someone tell the Swedes!!!!

Hmm, a lesson in the great tradition of Finnish free speech.. NOT!!!!

Er, haven't you noticed that the World Final (which otherwise would indeed have this 'title' of longest running indiv. event) was abolished back in 1994.. Thanks SG - THAT is interesting....

I agree 100% - unfortunately it stopped being that in 1996 when the greatest World Championship in international sport was replaced by a hugely flawed 'old boys network' GP series...

Then by following your 'argument', Hans doesn't deserve to be there - as he didn't qualify..! There are two routes to qualify...: one for those in it, by finishing in the top eight; another via actual qualifying rounds...: for which those in it can also use as a route... Hans chose - I believe - not to enter the latter, risking all (in ultimate vain...) on the former... So can't see how you can pick and choose your logic here... If you say Tai didn't qualify then you have to say likewise about Hans...

Thanks 'Jack'. As an event which started in 1966 - albeit it hasn't I think ran every year since...) does this indeed mean it's true it's the "longest running individual event in the UK"..? Not as long as the ELRC (if you count the BLRC..!) IF Lakeside had run the LRC this year THAT would be the longest..!!

You can't SERIOUSLY believe Chris Harris in again is a good idea..!!! There is literally no question whatsoever that Tai would do far better than Harris...; and be a massively bigger draw...

That's a big disappointment... Anyone know the full line up then, coz as a potential attendee I have to say the lack of any info AT ALL on the Wolves site hardly encourages me to go...

Settle for Richardson and we're certain to have a Brit finishing 14th. or 15th. again next year...

The whole 'system' is utterly flawed. When riders as good as Hans and Freddie fail to make the top eight there's an assumption that they should be in... But that devalues the concept of only the top eight remaining in...: it effectively means 9th. & 10th. each year have a close to automatic right to be in the next year... Surely the solution is either (1) return to the previous system of qualifiers and those out side the top eight meeting in a Qualification meeting; or (2) start the new year with qualification meetings so that those who only know they've missed out in the last GP know they have a qualification route to the next series.. The current way things work is just about the WORST organised 'system' in world sport...: making literally NO sense...

I would say those four are spot on... I assume from his comments after winning the U-21s, Darcy's not up for it.. IF he is, though, I'd select him ahead of Andersen... - though I am a big fan of Hans...

Ah, right...: I just thought that meant Nicki Pedersen had been excluded again!!!

Bloomin' 'eck, you've a good memory... I've heard it said you can even remember your Highway Code even though you took your driving test years ago... Whereas, I........

Well I guess there isn't. But do you deny it's either him or no-one. The two this year have been a total embarrassment. I'd bet my house on Tai doing FAR better in 2010..

After ANOTHER shockingly poor showing by the two Brits today there can now surely be only one conclusion. Harris is as dead in the water as a GP rider as Nicholls...: for 2010 it can ONLY be Tai or no-one...

Hmm, but Bernt Cake is funny. Mike just doesn't take the biscuit!!! 'Course, if former Wimbledon skipper from 2002 & '03 Chris would've had a riding brother called Mike that WOULD have been funny...!!

Two 'Olympic'-based titles these but what's their full history..? Am planning to go up to Wolves on Monday for this year's running of the Olympique: a handicap-based event now, has it ALWAYS been so..? And I must admit I'd assumed this particular 'classic' individual to have always been a purely Monmore Green-based event but I now read it was (originally..?) at Newcastle in the mid-60s.. But was 1966 the first staging or does the name go much further back into the annals..? Must admit it sounds like the kind of name which might've been used in the real pioneer days of the late '20s and the '30s..? Suppose it was Mike Parker who moved it to Wolves and he also came up with a sister event at Second Division level which was originally (I assume...) staged at his other track, Crayford in 1970.. When did THAT meeting last get raced...?: last trace of the Olympiad I can find was at Edinburgh in 1980.. With 2012 looming, I wonder if anyone would resurrect the Olympiad title... You'd like to think that the most local track to the Olympic site Lakeside might, but after the debacle of the 'ghost' LRC I'm not sure that would be a great idea... Rye House then maybe..?

The inference in the Star is that all seven of the title-winning Wolves will ride plus those listed by superguest above and Ingalis as you mention, David.. That makes 16. I do think personally it's a bit of a shame to have so many home riders in the line-up: only because it reduces the interest overall in the field which is after all an individual (and a very long standing one at that - dating back as far as I can see to 1966 when Briggo won it at Newcastle...). However I can see in the circumstances that as a 'homecoming' after their heroics at Swindon the club would want to give Monmore Green fans a chance to celebrate with them all.. Let me jinx his chances by predicting a surprise win for Darcy Ward...