Mr. Clemens

It doesn't work like that unfortunately but it certainly can catch people out. I once went to visit my son in Huddersfield where he lived at the time. We went across the road to the pub and sat with some of his mates. His friend mentioned to those present that he was going to put a £10 bet on a vital Glasgow Celtic/Rangers match. This was a couple of seasons ago when it was the closest race to the title they had in years, at the time, I think it was said. When Rangers were regarded as the 'form' team throughout the season. But he stated that he wasn't sure who to put his money on. Before anyone had chance to speak my son said 'Oh my father will tell you because he's psychic'. I could have kicked him off his stool. But his mate said 'who will win'? I was in the process of saying 'it doesn't work like that', when the voice said 'Celtic 2 - 1'. And I said 'Celtic 2 - 1'. He said 'No, no that can't happen Rangers are the form team and all the tipsters have said Rangers will win'. I said 'why bother asking me then'? But he asked me because he wanted it 'confirmed' that what would happen would be what he wanted to happen. As I did today. Anyway as i was somewhat interested in the 'outcome of this match' because of this incident, I actually watched the match. Celtic duly won 2 - 1. After the final whistle i actually began to count 1 - 2 - 3 and got to 10 when the phone rang. It was my son who said 'you were right'. And I said to him 'I know it was right. Tell your friend I want 10% of his winnings'. He said 'you can't have any money'. I said 'why' He said 'because he didn't believe you were right so he put his money on Rangers'. 'Tough rubbish for him', I said and hung up.

This of course is the problem with your psychic powers. The natural thing to expect is that the outcome will be what you want it to be. As it was when the 'spirit' told me at the start of the season that 'Tony Rickardsson would be world champion this year and lay the 'ghost' of Ivan Mauger to rest. As it was at the beginning of each GP this year when I was told that Tony would win GP's which he did. And while we're on with it he will win next Saturday too. The 'spirit' also told me that Liverpool would win the Champions League this season. I turned the TV off at half time and said to the 'spirit' Looks like you're wrong this time'. The spirit simply said 'there is another half to play yet'. I did believe that GB had the capabilities to mix it with the teams riding there tonight. The dire performances of both the Swedes and the Danes was tesimony to that, with GB being equally as dire. I was expecting the 'spirit' to tell me who would win the meeting as it often does. As I said, 'My belief is they will score 48 points for some reason. This figure sticks in my mind'. Of course it was GB I was hoping would win by that figure. In fact 48 was the points number that Poland scored and with which they actually won the meeting.

I believe Great Britain have it within themselves to win. My belief is they will score 48 points for some reason. This figure sticks in my mind. I think all the teams are on a par with each other with all the riders being quite capable of beating each other on the whole. It is in the promoters interests to run a fair meeting and prepare the track for all the riders to perform at their best. With that thought in mind, may the best team win. I believe it will in fact be Great Britain the one least likely to succeed in most peoples eyes.

Actually its the immortal Tomasz Gollob to get it precisely right.

It sure is

Unlucky or what??? >>> I didn’t even have time to alter my ego >>> spin into my colourful Halifax jumper >>> and make a cuppa tea >>> before a newly baptised and confirmed Belle Vue supporting nephew arrives >>> to watch his favourite rider >>> ‘cos unluckily for him >>> and th’australians of course>>> Jason’s not riding. The unlucky Crump >>> who ought to have taken advantage of this bit of luck >>> (if you think about it) >>> has contracted GB Maximum-Man’s lucky race winning bug >>> sick or what >>> eh >>> how??? But Jason >>> unluckily >>> felt too ill to take advantage of GB Maximum-Man’s lucky sickness bug >>>> (Not to be confused with that sick Millennium Bug) >>> and unluckily for th’australian stayed in bed. All this bad luck eh >>> and t’meetings not even started yet!!!!! Blimey O’Riley!!!! ‘Who’s riding tonight’ >>> asks already disgruntled nephew?? Th’unlucky Danes >>> th’unlucky Poles >>> th’un lucky Australians >>> (luckily you already know that) >>>> and th’incredibly unlucky Czechs. Wit’ pundits having already decided that th’unlucky Australians were going to be the th’unluckiest team on show >>> and would inevitably go out of the t’World Cup >>> and wit’ lucky Danes set to capitalise on th’australians bad luck >>> and wit’ lucky Poles on a track they’ve practiced on for a month >>> in a meeting that’s probably been fiddled for them to win anyway >>> On with the Motley !!!!! Heat 1. Hampel wins from gate (T’other three had no luck in their efforts to catch up with Hampel) Australia 0 Denmark 2 Poland 3 Czechs 1 Heat 2. Holta first. ‘I don’t agree with him riding for Poland’ quoth Kelv Holta’s luck is in and he his >>> eh >>> what?? Australia 1 Denmark 4 Poland 6 Czechs 1 Heat 3. Gollob brilliant win >>> great tussle between Andersen and Sullivan. How are you managing without Jason Crump asks the lovely Sophie??? >>> her of the profound intellectual in depth question. Jason who?? >>> ripostes Ryan >>> with tongue firmly in cheek >>> eh >>> what? (‘Sarky or what’, quoth disgruntled nephew??? ‘Watt’ll be riding instead of Crumpie’, chortles Uncle Mr. Clemens). Australia 3 Denmark 5 Poland 9 Czechs 1 Heat 4. Tricky Nicki first Th’equally cheeky and lucky Nicki moves at start. ‘Race should have been stopped’ quoth Kelv >>> but it wasn’t >>> was it > >> eh?? ‘Hungarian referee’s eh >>> where did they get HIM from’ gasps Kelv???? (Hungary of course, where else Kelvin)??? That cheeky Leigh Adams moved too but in the heat of the moment >>> myopic pundits didn’t notice till end of th’race. Australia 5 Denmark 8 Poland 10 Czechs1 TV pundit interviews Neil Middleditch ‘Are all of Team GB here tonight’ asks TV pundit? ‘Not all of them’, says Team Manager. ‘Unluckily Lee Richardson can’t find his way to Wroclaw’, quoth Mr. Middleditch, ‘Though he’s been here many times before’. ‘Perhaps he’s mislaid GB Maximum-Man’s lucky sickness bug’, says the nervous TV pundit. ‘No, no, no’, chuckles mildly amused Mr. Middleditch, ‘He loaned it to Jason Crump for tonight’s meeting >>> but Lee’s reliably informed me that it’s safely tucked up in it’s rightful place >>> his stomach >>> don’t worry’. Heat 5. Jonno excluded for not making contact with a bouncing Czech >>> Unlucky!!! Walosek wins rerun (Out of luck Czech comes in second behind fast gating Walosek >>>> Lucky!!! Australia 5 Denmark 9 Poland 13 Czechs 3 Heat 6. Walosek wins again TV pundit Sophie collars Walosek in the pits. ‘I don’t think he understands what I am saying’ grins the sophisticated, intellectual Sophie. (‘Does anyone’, wonders Uncle Mr. Clemens)??? Australia 7 Denmark 10 Poland 16 Czechs 3 Heat 7. Iversen first ‘That’s a surprising result’ quoth TV pundit Nigel Pearson (That’s because the fast gating out of luck Adams >>> is where he wasn’t expected to be >>> back in third place >>> unlucky!!!). Australia 8 Denmark 13 Poland 18 Czechs 3 Heat 8. Andersen wins ‘He’s a real battler is Jonno’ quoth Kelv >>> as th’unlucky australian goes round the inside but is overtaken by Andersen and Holta. Australia 9 Denmark 16 Poland 20 Czechs 3 Super Sophie interviews Boycie ‘You’re really missing Jason tonight’, aren’t you’, Sophie asks a disgruntled th’aussie Team manager? ‘When will you use the joker’? ‘I don’t know yet’, said th’australian manager, ‘but we certainly could have done with that GB Maximum-Man’s lucky sickness bug tonight’!!! Heat 9. Brilliant Gollob win ‘I wonder what he will have to say about that’, asks TV pundit Nigel >>> as Watt almost puts tricky Dane Nicki through t’fence??? ‘It’s been a tough race all round’ quoth Kelv, ‘luckily speedway riders are tough’!!! ‘You have to remember that Andersen rides for ‘Rotslav’ says th’informative Kelvin. (It’s Vrocslav Kelv >>> you pronounce your W’s as V’s)!!! ‘And Holta rides for Chestakova (Czestochova)’, says th’equally informative Nigel. (It’s Chelmsta-ova Nigel)!!! Australia 10 Denmark 18 Poland 23 Czechs 3 Heat 10. Pepe first ‘The Poles are laying down a psychological marker for Saturday’s final’, quoth Nigel!! (‘Where’, says disgruntled nephew ‘I can’t see it’)??? Australia 12 Denmark 19 Poland 26 Czechs 3 Heat 11. Adams brilliant win Superb race between Adams and Holta >>> no luck involved in this race. Australia 15 Denmark 20 Poland 28 Czechs 3 Heat 12. Gollob marches on ‘Is that Jason’s bike you were on’, asks fact finding TV pundit Sophie??? ‘I couldn’t possibly comment’, says th’rueful th’australian Jonno!!! (I wonder if Jason knows about that’, quoth wicked old myopic Mr. Clemens??? ‘He does now’, says a still disgruntled Belle Vue supporting nephew)!!! Australia 16 Denmark 20 Poland 31 Czechs 5 Heat 13. Adams >>> Protasiewicz >>> Andersen >> > Rymel Adams >>> a brilliant double points win ‘Meetings come alive’ quoth Kelv!!!! ‘Boycie got it right’, quoth Nigel!!! (Unluckily for th’danes >>> th’australians are ahead >>> without a th’world champ >>> with nothing else to hang around for >>> but who still couldn’t be bothered to wait for’t GB Maximum-Man’s lucky sickness bug to kick in)!!! Australia 22 Denmark 21 Poland 33 Czechs 5 Heat 14. Walosek >>> Shields >>> Nicki >>> in a thriller ‘With all due respect to Shields’ quoth TV Pundit Nigel ‘but he was lucky to beat Nicki Pedersen’. ‘Shields, brilliant reactions’, contradicts a more astute Kelvin!!! Australia 24 Denmark 22 Poland 36 Czechs 5 Heat 15. Hampel wins from Bjarne Pedersen >>> Sullivan >>> Ales Drymel Sullivan and Bjarne tussle with each other throughout >>> the Dane comes second ‘Bjarne Pedersen just had the legs there’, quoth TV pundit Nigel as Bjarne crosses the line just ahead of Sullivan. (‘What’s ‘just had the legs there’ mean’, asks a now perplexed and still disgruntled Belle Vue supporting nephew??? ‘It’s highly sophisticated technical TV jargon for summat that only th’educated Public School boys like Kelvin understands’, replies wicked old Uncle Mr Clemens. ‘Good job for th’danes though that Bjarne Pedersen’s got some lucky legs isn’t it? They might very well come in handy on Saturday night when they come up against GB Maximum-Man’s lucky sickness bug’). Australia 24 Denmark 23 Poland 39 Czechs 7 Heat 16. Tricky Nicki in for Bjerre. Shields rolls and almost touches tapes as race stopped with all four riders back in. ‘How lucky is that’, quoth Kelv??? Rerun Fantastic classic race between Nicki and Tomas Gollob, Pedersen wins on the line. ‘Pedersen has got the legs’, quoth expert TV pundit Pearson >>> eh >>> what??? (That’s two Danes that’s got legs now, I wonder if Nick’s borrowed Bjarne’s legs or has he got a pair of his own’, ripostes a wicked old Uncle to a bemused, perplexed, disgruntled nephew)? In order to discover the secret of these mysterious lucky Danish legs, for’t speedway viewing millions, roving TV pundit Sophie, corners an ice packed tricky Nicki Pedersen in’t pits. ‘Why are you wearing an ice pack Nicki’, asks the beaming Sophie? ‘It’s an old arm injury and the blood can’t pump through to my hand’, Nicki smiled. ‘But it’s a good job I have my lucky Danish legs. As long as the blood keeps on pumping through them I will be all right’. ‘You’re a real trouper’, Sophie giggled, in reply. ‘Tomas Gollob looks angry with his mechanic’, observes TV pundit Nigel. ‘I wonder what he’s saying to him’. ‘I don’t know I can’t speak Polish’, Kelvin replies. (In order to throw clarity on Gollob’s conversation with his mechanic, Mr Clemens called upon his Polish speaking, mother in law, for the translation into English. She kindly obliged and reliably informed him this is exactly what Tomas said. ‘Where was my pair of lucky Polish racing legs when I needed them, that’s what I want to know?? Tell me goddamn you’!!! ‘Rune Holta’s got ‘em on’, replied Tomas’ disgruntled mechanic!!! Australia 24 Denmark 26 Poland 41 Czechs 8 Heat 17. Pepe >>> Iversen >>> Sullivan Pepe shoots past a fast gating Iversen ‘Protasiewicz didn’t deserve to hit the front there’, quoth Kelv >> eh >>> what >>> why???? Iversen scraps with Sullivan but keeps in him third place. ‘Iversen’s got the legs on Sullivan’, quoth Nigel >>> eh >>> what >>> how?? (Where would th’danes be without their lucky legs’, chuckled wicked old Uncle Mr. Clemens across to his bemused, perplexed, disgruntled nephew)??? Australia 25 Denmark 28 Poland 44 Czechs 8 Heat 18. Walosek >>> Adams >>> Andersen >>> Ales Dryml Adams brilliant battle with Andersen ‘Brilliant’ raves Kelv, ‘this is what speedway’s all about’. (Is that why we watch it’, comments disgruntled nephew with a painful grimace!!! ‘Kelv obviously made this astute observation to remind all us supporters why we watch speedway in the first place. But I see Pearson failed to mention t’ fact that Andersen wasn’t armed with his pair of lucky Danish legs though’, chuckled Uncle Mr Clemens)!!! Australia 27 Denmark 29 Poland 47 Czechs 8 Heat 19. Tricky Nicky >> Johnson >>> Hampel >>> Topinka Jonno brilliant cut up the inside to head the race >> Nicki passes him end of lap one. (Unfortunately for th’australians this is their last bit of luck for the rest of the night). ‘If Poles win they will be awarded 100,000 zlotys’, quoth Pearson!!! (That’s zwoties Nigel you pronounce the L as a W). ‘I wish I was a Pole >>> Holta his’ chortles Kelvin!!! Kelvin almost chokes >>> has he realises what he just said!!!! Australia 29 Denmark 32 Poland 48 Czechs 8 Heat 20. Andersen double points win >> Holta >>Lucas Dryml >> Sullivan (for Watt) >> eh? Andersen super gate >>> Holta chases all the way. (‘Who needs lucky Danish legs’, says Hans, ‘some of us don’t’)!!! Australia 29 Denmark 38 Poland 50 Czechs 9 TV pundit interviews Lee Richardson who finally remembered where Wroclaw was. ‘I’m not nervous about Saturday’, says Lee. ‘I was too ill to think about the racing on Sunday. But I know I will be sick enough to race on Saturday as I have brought my GB Maximum-Man’s lucky sickness bug with me. It’s safely tucked away in my stomach. And anyway if Screenie’s had a shave it should prove to everyone that we’re all committed to a Team GB World Cup win on Sunday, beyond a 5 o clock shadow of doubt!!!! Heat 21. Pepe >>> Ales Dryml >>> Bjerre >>> Johnson Johnson boxed in on first corner by Dryml. ‘Jonno could have come off there, lucky he shut off at the last moment’, quoth Kelv. ‘Otherwise he would have been unlucky >>> if not he would have clipped Dryml’s back wheel >>> things could have turned ugly!!! Australia 29 Denmark 39 Poland 53 Czechs 11 Heat 22. Walosek >>> Iversen >>> Lucas Dryml >>> Watt Walosek passes Dryml round the boards >>> determined to get his maximum. ‘Breathe in boys’, yells Kelvin!!! Australia 29 Denmark 41 Poland 56 Czechs 13 Heat 23. Andersen >>> Lucas Dryml >>> Hampel >>> Shields Andersen forces his way past Dryml to a great win. ‘It’s all academic now’, quoth Pearson, in an aside to Public school boy Kelvin!!! (They must think it’s all over’, chuckled Uncle Mr. Clemens). Australia 29 Denmark 44 Poland 57 Czechs 15 Heat 24. Holta >>> Tricky Nicki >>> Rymel >>> Sullivan Nicki hits a hole thrown across track shoots past Holta who brilliantly repasses Pedersen for a great win. ‘Nicky almost stepped off the bike on his right leg’, quoth Pearson!!! (‘Good job he’s on his lucky legs’, chortles Uncle Mr. Clemens) Australia 29 Denmark 46 Poland 60 Czechs 16 Heat 25. Gollob >>> Bjarne Pedersen >>> Adams >> Suchanek Brilliant racing from Adams and Gollob but Czech bounces out of race. Rerun Gollob from the gate passed by BP >>> Gollob flies by BP on his way to a fine win. Australia 30 Denmark 48 Poland 63 Czechs 16 Now for the Grand Final along with all those lucky finalists. Lucky Great Britain > (and their GB Maximum-Man’s lucky sickness bug) Lucky Sweden >>>> (and their lucky th’world champ in waiting) Lucky Denmark >>> (and their cheeky little lucky Danish legs) Lucky Poland >>>> (and their lucky Norwegian Polish talisman) (Riding on their lucky favourite track >>> that they’ve all been practising on for a month >>> that will be probably be fiddled for them to win anyway) Good Luck to all of you and to all those lucky speedway supporters who will be privileged to have Kelvin Tatum and Nigel Pearson to tell us all what’s happening >>> and why >>> in case we don’t know!!! Lucky us >>> eh >>> what ???

After donning a certain colourful Halifax jumper, in a nearby public phone box, Mr Clemens transforms into his altered ego. (It’s a lot like Clark Kent turning into Superman as both these super heroes wear red and blue coloured costumes). Then sits down with his nephew for Speedway World Cup part 2. The sun is hot (as it always is) and the sky is blue. ‘Luckily’ Mr. Clemens has a refreshing cuppa tea at hand and a pen and paper to write down the scores. On with the motley!!! ‘Who’s riding tonight then’ Th’australians, Th’swedes, Th’poles and th’germans. Should be a good meeting if we’re lucky’. ‘I see Lee Richardson’s riding for Sweden tonight. Has he been given licence to do that??? I just can’t keep up with this international merry go round. All these riders swapping countries at the drop of a clutch’!!! ‘Put yer glasses on Uncle Mr. Clemens that’s Tony not Lee’. ‘I didn’t know Lee had a brother which league team does he ride for’? ‘No yer daft old myopic Uncle, it’s Tony Rickardsson th’world champion in waiting’. ‘Have you found out what he’s waiting for yet’>>??? ‘Just sup yer tea Uncle and shurrup meeting’s abart to start’. Heat 1. Adam’s wins from the gate, slick start from Leigh. (Nowt lucky about that eh?) Australia 3 Sweden 1 Poland 2 Germany 0 Heat 2. Protasiewicz wins in second processional race (No luck for AJ he can’t catch him though he tries hard to do so. Ryan’s off the pace again, it seems as though th’australia will be right out of luck tonight). Australia 4 Sweden 3 Poland 5 Germany 0 Heat 3. Holta first, T/R can’t catch him, Crump looking slow (Lucky that t’poles chose him to ride for them eh >>> what??) Australia 5 Sweden 5 Poland 8 Germany 0 Heat 4. Hampel around them all comfortable win. (Th’poles again, luckily they are well prepared for this meeting). Australia 6 Sweden 7 Poland 11 Germany 0 Heat 5. Gollob on fire back to his old self. (We could see Tomas at his best tonight >>> if we’re lucky) Australia 7 Sweden 9 Poland 14 Germany 0 Phase one was all very processional. Looks like our luck’s out for tonight’s meeting. Where’s the excitement of Sunday night that’s what I want to know !!! Lucky for this lot GB’s not in town tonight we’d give t’poles a run for their zlotys. Shurrup daft old Uncle the best is always yet to come. Heat 6. T/R cool as a cucumber Shields makes neat pass over Kasprzak. (Lucky for th’australia that Shields manages to keep them in touch. Lucky for th’swedes th’world champion in waiting wasn’t waiting for anyone in that race). Australia 9 Sweden 12 Poland 15 Germany 0 Heat 7. Karlsson an untroubled first. (Watt lucky not to fall off his bike has Protasiewicz almost fences him on the back straight. Luckily th’new th’australian manager didn’t think of using th’joker >>> eh >>>> Watt???) Australia 10 Sweden 15 Poland 17 Germany 0 Heat 8. Adams smooth as silk. (Lucky Lingren creeps at gate Adam’s round him in a trice. Unlucky Holta 3rd). Australia 13 Sweden 17 Poland 18 Germany 0 Heat 9. Hampel wins. (Lucky for th’poles they’ve someone coming up to take over Tomas’s mantel. Lucky for th’germans that Sullivan back pedals to last. Kelvin said th’germans might be lucky to score a point tonight. Luckily for th’germans Sullivan was unlucky). Australia 13 Sweden 19 Poland 21 Germany 1 What’s a mantel wicked old ancient Uncle? It’s a ‘piece’ upon which you put your clock. Heat 10. AJ flies from gate to win. (Luckily for th’australians AJ shuts off unlucky Gollob’s way through on t’back straight. Jason lucky to pick up an extra point he would be lucky to have otherwise). Australia 15 Sweden 22 Poland 22 Germany 1 Heat 11. Crump scores 6 points. (New th’australian manager with a lucky second opportunity to use joker comes up trumps. Unlike unlucky new Danish manager who chanced his luck t’other night by missing his chance to use his joker. Lucky for GB that happened >>> eh >> what??? Luckily Boycie has th’world champion to call upon. Jason having nothing to wait for heads off into the sunset). Australia 21 Sweden 23 Poland 24 Germany 1 Heat 12. Shield great win (Lucky for us a great race) Australia 24 Sweden 25 Poland 25 Germany 1 Heat 13. Holta licenced to win (Lindback almost touches tapes. Luckily for th’swedes Polish referee puts all four riders back in). ‘Lindback was lucky not to be excluded’, quoth Kelv. (Lucky Lindback out of gate first, in the rerun, passing and repassing with Holta. A great race. Unluckily for Lindback Holta pulls away and crosses the line first.) Australia 24 Sweden 27 Poland 28 Germany 2 Heat 14. Adams on top form. (Hampel and AJ fight it out in a real tussle for the minor places. Lucky for us these two are well prepared to mix it with each other). Australia 27 Sweden 28 Poland 30 Germany 2 Heat 15. Gollob wins thriller against TR. (Pundits can’t decide who won. ‘Photo finish’, growls Millard. Though it’s obvious to any myopic, senile, ancient, wicked old Uncle that Gollob crossed the line first). ‘Do you think Gollob’s luck will be in, there being a Polish referee’, quoth Millard? (Th’germans unlucky that Sullivan didn’t back pedal to last this time). Australia 28 Sweden 30 Poland 33 Germany 2 Heat 16. AJ super smooth win. (Lucky 2 points for Watt as Kasprzak looks down on power). Australia 30 Sweden 33 Poland 34 Germany 2 Heat 17. T/R as his brilliant best. (Nowt lucky about that). Australia 31 Sweden 36 Poland 36 Germany 2 Heat 18 Interesting conundrum Holta boxed in and falls after clipping PK’s back wheel. (A dilemma for th’polish referee? Will he won’t he, will he won’t he, exclude a Norwegian Pole???? Gor blimey and lord luv a duck, unlucky Holta is thrown out of the rerun. How unlucky is that and just when th’poles and th’swedes thought their luck was in with Ryan in this race). ‘He could have taken the easy option and put all four back in the rerun’, quoth Kelv. ‘Perhaps the referee excluded him cos he was a non Polish Pole’, mused th’wicked minded pundits? Sullivan wins rerun!!!!! (Luckily for th’australians Ryan had a fast bike tucked away. Th’germans pick up a lucky 3rd point as luckily there wasn’t any Poles in the race). Australia 34 Sweden 38 Poland 36 Germany 3 Heat 19. Hampel first (Hampel gates, luckily Crump passes Lingren but can’t catch Hampel) Australia 36 Sweden 39 Poland 39 Germany 3 Heat 20. Gollob at his brilliant best (Lindback gates Gollob passes him with his classic style of overtaking. How lucky we are that Tomas can still turn it on when he feels in the mood to do so). Australia 37 Sweden 41 Poland 42 Germany 3 Heat 21 Flyin’ Ryan on fire wins again (Luckily for th’australians, th’poles decide to put Kasprzak out on th’fastest bike they have Holta’s)!!! ‘Is that a wise move’, quoth Kelv? ‘Is it wise to go out in such an important race on a bike that is foreign to anything you have ridden previously in the meeting. (Luckily we have Kelvin to guide us mere mortals through’t th’intricate parts of a meeting with astute comments such as this. Unluckily for Kasprzak, Kelv was right again as he struggles to pass th’german. Luckily he does so by the end of the race). Australia 40 Sweden 43 Poland 43 Germany 3 Heat 22. Crump glides brilliantly round the rest of the field to cruise to fine win. (Unlucky Pepe’s bike packs up). ‘Are the Poles running out of luck’ quoth Kelv??? ‘Are they ‘throwing the meeting to ensure stadium’s got 40,000 fans there instead of 40 at the race off on Thursday’, speculate wicked minded pundit’s??? Australia 43 Sweden 45 Poland 43 Germany 4 Heat 23. AJ wins in comfort. (Great tussle between Shields and Holta passing and repassing each other providing the best race of the night. We were more than lucky to see that one. Great race). Australia 45 Sweden 48 Poland 44 Germany 4 Heat 24. Controversy has Hampel causes German rider to fall but who is at fault>??? ‘Tony was lucky not to be excluded’ quoth Kelv, ‘very fortunate indeed’. ‘Perhaps fortunate’, quoth Millard, ‘but on the other hand perhaps he was simply elbowing Hampel out of the way as the Pole seemed to be laying down on T/R’. ‘I think Tony is lucky he is who is’, quoth Kelv, ‘otherwise I think he would have been excluded. Luckily for him he wasn’t’. Heat 24. Rerun T/R cruises home. Watt 2nd >>> eh? Hampel a lame 3rd. ‘Hampel seemed subdued’ quoth Millard ‘perhaps he’s learned the error of his ways’. Australia 47 Sweden 51 Poland 45 Germany 4 Heat 25. Now known to one and all as the luckiest race of the night Luckily, because T/R was lucky not to be excluded in the last race, the unlucky 3rd placed Hampel was in fact lucky to come in third because the lucky Poles were now luckily 6 points behind the unlucky Swedes and were now lucky to be able to use their joker. Lucky or what >>> eh ??? You can’t get luckier than that can you?? ‘If Gollob wins this’ quoth Kelvin, ‘and PK is unlucky enough to come in last, we shall have a race off between Sweden and Poland. But PK knows what he’s doing and if he rides the race we know he can then Poland will finally run out of luck’. What >>> wait >>> who >>>> how >>>> why >>>> eh >>> who’s this? What’s Smolinski doing out front???? ‘Lucky or what’ quoth Kelv, ‘Smolinski moved at the gate, the ref should have stopped it and restarted as it put off PK’s concentration. Unlucky’!!! Luckily for Gollob the Polish referee didn’t stop the race. The unlucky PK was now stranded at the back of the field. Gollob was going like lightening but unluckily for him Leigh Adams was in front!!! No matter how hard he rode Gollob was right out of luck trying every which way to pass Adams. Great race. ‘You know’, gasped the excited Kelvin to Tony Millard, ‘Sweden have been lucky to win here tonight’. ‘Lucky Sweden’, quoth Kelvin, at th’end of a great night of speedway racing. (Tony Rickardsson and the rest of the Swedish team were last seen riding off into th’sunset singing ‘lucky, lucky, I should be so lucky’). ‘We’ve been lucky to see such a good meeting tonight Uncle Mr Clemens’, said satisfied nephew, ‘I can’t wait till Thursday night for t’race off’. (Knowing most of all of this had nowt to do with luck at all, Mr Clemens gave his nephew a stern look as he took off his colourful Halifax jumper). ‘Yep’ said Mr Clemens, ‘I imagine it will be a great meeting too, what with ‘th’unlucky Danes, th’unlucky Poles, th’unlucky Australians and the Czechs, who really haven’t had any luck at all, it should be a good meeting. Put kettle on and make another cuppa tea’.

In these circumstances I believe a person has a choice to make. When that choice is made then they have to stick to it. There will always be anomalies of this nature. I am thinking more though of those who have definite countries of orign, whose parents are of that nationality, having lived in that country all their lives. Also if the laws of the country of origin have connections to another country > Tasmania and Australia for instance > then it is lawful for the person to represent their country of origin. In my opinion if that person becomes a citizen of another country and lives there permanently then they are legally entitled to ride for that other country. But how many revert to their country of origin when it suits their purposes??

Thank you for the detailed answer > much appreciated.

Indeed neither should Rudeski play tennis for GB nor Hargreaves if he is not english nor zola budd or anyone else. It is a matter of opinion but I think that people should partake in sport for their country of origin whichever country that might be and I have always believed this and always said this. So my part of the question is answered. Also having been a member of the Polish community for 30 years I believe also that the Poles would much rather a Pole have ridden instead of Holta. In the play offs look for a Pole riding in place of Holta.

Being this person you are, you must be in a position therefor to answer the question 'why is it with all the riders that poland have at their disposal they should need to use Holta in the first place'?

Surely he will be riding on a speedway bike !!!!!

Holta shouldn't be riding for Poland, simple as that. He is not Polish whether he has a Polish passport or not. He could think of changing his name to 'Zola Budowski'. The question that needs to be asked is 'why is Poland, where the sport is at it's most popular, in the eyes of the people, with so many home born riders available, in need of Holta in the first place?

'Luck', said Mae West, 'luck has nothing to do with it'.

Simon Stead and Chris Harris must be given their chance to shine in Poland just as they were given the chance at Swindon. They will acquit themselves well in Poland just as they did last night. As for Screen, I will leave that decision to Joe's better judgement. If he personally believes he can perform in Poland then I am sure he will do. If he doesn't think so, then I am sure he will do as he did last year and step down in favour of the one he thinks will do a job he can't. I feel though that Screen will be there and he will acquit himself as well as anyone else.

Long live Floppyness

The reason why they probably didn't sing the National Anthem is because when they do so, Sky TV has a penchant for either sticking their cameras up the riders noses or down their throats. This is done in order to irritate and humiliate in the hope that a rider might stumble over the words, sing a few flat notes and generally make themselves look foolish. Most likely in the same way they were expected to make themselves look foolish on the track in front of the mighty Danes.

Congratulations on a great win to all of those boys tonight. Special kudos go to Chris Harris and to Simon Stead. Both these boys took the oppertunity on offer to them and excelled. They inspired the rest of the team to action, non more so than Lee Richardson, who answered all his critic with a brilliant 15 point maximum. Let it never be said again that Richardson cannot 'rise to the occasion when it matters'. Lee Richardson thread quotes My own quote on seeing him at Belle Vue 'I said he looked like 'death warmed up' in the pits on monday night. Looks like he's sunk even further into the pits.' Lee was there tonight 'looking as ill as ever' with the attitude, perhaps, that 'no matter what happens I will do my best for Great Britain'. QUOTE(cdl123 @ Jul 31 2005, 12:52 PM)taken from www.british-speedway.co.uk NEW GB FITNESS WORRYSunday, July 31, 2005GREAT Britain boss Neil Middleditch was left sweating on the fitness of Lee Richardson overnight ahead of their World Cup opener at Swindon.Richardson pulled out of Swindon’s Elite League clash at Eastbourne after three rides with illness.Middleditch said: “I sent a text message to Lee to check on him and he responded saying he had been sick and needed a good night of sleep.” My response to this was >> 'All the more reason for both Simon Stead and Chris Harris to take this opportunity to propel themselves to a higher status in Speedway. Good luck to both these lads and the rest of the team too. Nothing is a forgone conclusion and there is no reason why adversity (and the team being written off) can be the motivation to upset all predictions and come out on top'. From the 'Loram out Stead in' thread 'It's the oppertunity now for Stead to show he can mix it with the big boys. If he keeps his head and just goes out there and ride he can prove it to himself and everyone else.The Best of British Simon!!!!' This being being my response to the view that Denmark was guaranteed to win. 'Nowt like a good dose of defeatism to get the ball rolling. (Or 'realism as th'intellectuals will probably have it). The meeting (inclusive of typical reactions twixt Uncle and Nephew) Heat 1. Joe in last place (audible groan from everyone concerned with the fortunes of GB) GB 0 Denmark 3 Czech Rep 1 Russia 2 Heat 2. Simon in first place (a 'lucky' win for the lad over a GP performer) GB 3 Denmark 5 Czech Rep 1 Russia 3 Heat 3. Richardson wins (wow wasn't he lucky that Hans got excluded for falling) GB 6 Denmark 5 Czech Rep 2 Russia 5 Heat 4. Nicholls wins (well you'd expect him to wouldn't you he's captain). GB 9 Denmark 7 Czech Rep 3 Russia 5 Heat 5. Harris second (Well he isn't expected to beat Charlie on his home track). GB 11 Denmark 10 Czech Rep 3 Russia 6 Heat 6. Richardson wins (wasn't he lucky the ref excluded Charile pheew lucky GB) GB 14 Denmark 10 Czech Rep 5 Russia 6 Heat 7. Scotty second (well he spun at the gate and he's not Nicki) GB 16 Denmark 13 Czech Rep 6 Russia 6 Heat 8. Harris first (Wow what a great piece of overtaking Bjarne must have lost concentration for a moment). GB 19 Denmark 15 Czech Rep7 Russia 6 Heat 9. Joe wins (lucky for him that Hans can't get to grips with the track phew). GB 22 Denmark 16 Czech Rep 9 Russia 6 (Inexperienced Danish team manager fails to use 'Joker'. You live and learn eh) Heat 10. Stead second (that's more like it, the Danes are regaining their composure, this is it now. Good job, though, that Simon had the brains to stay in second place as it prevents another tactical ride. Pheew). GB 24 Denmark 19 Czech Rep 10 Russia 6 Heat 11. Scotty second (Yep the Danes are composed now). GB 26 Denmark 22 Czech Rep 10 Russia 7 Heat 12. Harris second again (yep Hans has realised he can ride a bike, this is it now) GB 28 Denmark 25 Czech Rep 11 Russia 7 (It starts to rain >>> hope against hope >> if we can make it to heat 15 we can steal a win >>> pheew >>>> rain damn you!!!!) Heat 13. Joe wins again (pheew !!! Good job he managed to pass Iversen but Joe's good in the wet >> lucky GB) GB 31 Denmark 27 Czech Rep 12 Russia 7 Heat 14. Stead wins (Charlie's trying too hard and it's wet and it's his home track >> good gate all the same Simon pheew) GB 34 Denmark 29 Czech Rep 12 Russia 8 Heat 15. Richardson first again (>> he must be sick!! >> Nicki lost control though and let him pass for tactical reasons >> not so sayeth Danish manager >> Nicki's not like that). GB 37 Denmark 31 Czech Rep 12 Russia 9 Heat 16. Stead second (Hans'll do it for Denmark now, for sure, with this double points score, this is it he's cracked the track) GB 39 Denmark 37 Czech Rep 13 Russia 9 Heat 17. Lee wins again (>>> is he sick or what >>> well he should be able to beat Iversen >>> he's a GP rider isn't he after all)? GB 42 Denmark 39 Czech Rep 13 Russia 10 Heat 18. Nicholls first (well Charlie's not doing as well has he should be on his home track >> luck's in again GB phew) GB 45 Denmark 39 Czech Rep 15 Russia 11 Heat 19. Harris second in rerun (lucky for GB again Lucas thrown out of the race >>>> especially when everyone thought Harris would be excluded for falling >>> pheew >>> lucky Harris was able to come out for the rerun >>> pheew) GB 47 Denmark 42 Czech Rep 15 Russia 12 Heat 20. Joe in third place >> groan (this is it now the Danes have GB in their sights ready to shoot them down) GB 48 Denmark 45 Czech Rep 15 Russia 14 (This is it now x 2 quoth pundits only 3 points in it but this is where GB's nerve cracks and Danes move in for the kill >>> but we'll be able to say they put up a good show >> but just couldn't cut it when it mattered >>> I wish it would rain). Heat 21. Harris wins !! (Lucky that Darkin packed up and lucky that Ales kept Iversen 3rd >>> but it's the Danish big guns from now on >>> so that's that for lucky GB tonight folks). GB 51 Denmark 46 Czech Rep 17 Russia 14 Heat 22. Screen third again (tut, tut Joe you're letting the side down >> as expected >>> but luckily Ales finally got to grips with the track >>> Charlie too). GB 52 Denmark 48 Czech Rep 23 Russia 14 (This it now though for sure >>>> Nicki's out in this one >>> this will be the first of a hat trick of wins that will seal it for Denmark >> with a bit of luck. Race offs here we come >> groan). Heat 23. Stead second (Wait >>> what's this >>> who is this >> who is Tomas Topinka >> bloke that won t race that's who >> what happened to Nicki >> why is Simon second >>> what's going on)??? GB 54 Denmark49 Czech Rep 26 Russia 14 (We could win this quoth pundit's >>> but we won't really Bjarne's bound to get a flyer and Lee's sick after all ineee eh >> what >>> Richardson sick >>> gerra way wi ya). Heat 24. Richardson first (Blimey Richardson's got a 15 point maximum >> what eh >>> how >>> who >>> why >>> are you sure >> well it says so here >>> mmm >> can't be right >> must be a dream >>> meeting will be on tomorrow >> >> Denmark ull win >>> make no mistake >>> GB's a sick team >> mark my words >> but Mark's not riding >>> yep I know >>> what did I tell you >>> Denmark ull win) GB 57 Denmark 51 Czech Rep 26 Russia 15 Heat 25. Nicholls second (Andersen in front >> must be a last heat decider >> Hans again >> these Danes >> No, No, Uncle Mr. Clemens wi your daft Halifax jumper >> with your chronic myopia >>> your inability to fill your program in properly >> yer senility's kicked in again >> Great Britain's won !!! What >> where (swindon yer dopey ol fart) >>> why >>> how???). You grew up tonight Simon Stead and Chris Harris. Good luck in the final. (They'll need it >>> what >>> eh >>> who >>> why>>>??? Well Th' australia's riding >>> they've got th'world champ and Leigh and Ryan and t'other two. And there's Th'swedes >> an they've got Th'world champion in waiting >>> why >>> what's he waiting for??? An't Poles >>> they've got Gollob and Hampel and t'other three >>> and it's their track >>> and it'll be fiddled for them t' win >>> and they'll have practiced on it for a month >>> like always. An' Nicki'll probably be there too >> wi them other lads >>> you know Hans >> Bjarne and t'other two. >>> what >>> uh >>> why >>> shurrup yer daft old fart).

All the more reason both Simon Stead and Chris Harris to take this opportunity to propel themselves to a higher status in Speedway. Good luck to both these lads and the rest of the team too. Nothing is a forgone conclusion and there is no reason why adversity (and the team being written off) can be the motivation to upset all predictions and come out on top.

I was talking pre meeting run round the track.

Nicki is a great rider and so is Jason. Calculate the points, TR would be in front of the next rider in line by in the GP's, if those two weren't there to entertain us.

Bjarne P will put Nicki P through't fence on't first bend (all in the cause of team bonding and Nordic brotherhood) that'll take care of him. You have to think tactically in these kinds of meetings.

I said he looked like 'death warmed up' in the pits on monday night. Looks like he's sunk even further into the pits.

If Alun Rossiter looks 'fed up' in the pits beware !!!!!

Nowt like a good dose of defeatism to get the ball rolling. (Or 'realism as th'intellectuals will probably have it).