Grachan

Great race, though - young Ole's opening ride. I was on the edge of my seat for that one.

Ah, but Bernie shouldn't have even been in the run-off because he should have been excluded from his second heat! It was, though, a very good performance by said Heathen, if a little, shall we say, 'Pedersen-esque'. On the subject of the 1972 World Final - how daft was Ole Olsen to throw it all away like that in his first ride? I have this meeting on DVD. It's regularly available on ebay.

Maybe you could also interview Barry Briggs and get his opinion on Bernie Persson's in the 1972 World Final.

If you read the post, it says rode in 'a British league', rather than 'the British League', so the NL would qualify under that description had she ridden in it - which, apparently, she hadn't. If it wasn't her, then I suspect there wasn't another female rider who rode in a league, although I do remember there being another one around at the same time but can't remember her name.

Lisa Whibberley?

Possibly the same stuff I have from the early 90s. Coincidentally, I watched an old highlights tape the other day and was surprised by two things. One was the fact that Henka was totally amazing, and was passing anyone he wanted at will. The other was just how good Gary Havelock was. Not sure about putting him in Backtrack, though. He is in the Oxford team this year, after all. (Mind you, who isn't. Ho ho ho.)

There was Johnny Hole too. I recall Derek was the son of one of them, though I'm not sure which one.

Hearty congratulations to Leigh 'World Number 3 and top of the EL averages' Adams. Not bad for a below par year, is it?

It's 11-15. They already extended it by 15 minutes didn't they? If meetings are going to overrun by so much, you can't blame the schedulers.

Looks like another good GP win for Trick, firmly establishing his position as the second greatest rider of all time. Tonight was all about one man though - World Number 3 (that's THREE), Leigh Adams. At last!

Oh quit your moaning. I didn't get to see any of it and I'm happy.

Post subtly edited later in the hope that nobody will notice that I was completely wrong because I didn't realise Greg Hancock could still have caught Leigh. Too busy concentrating on NP you see. Still, nobody reads these old pages so nobody will ever know.

Great result for Leigh. Still can't believe it though when I think of some of the meetings he's had this year. Hoooorah!!

If he deserves it he'll get it.

I was kind of wondering that myself.

BIG chance now for Leigh Adams to make World number 3. He'll be delighted if he can do that. Come on Leigh! Hard to believe, though, as it seems as though he hasn't had a particularly good series.

Arrr, that it be.

I know who it is now. Initials CG.

There's a new picture from Oxford v Poole on my signature. Bob Kilby in the lead, but can anyone recognise who is behind him?

My mum used to go to Bristol in the forties and often told me about Mike Beddoe - the guy with half a foot.

May be wrong, but the Kings Lynn rider second from bottom could be Peter Collins or Chris Morton. Kings Lynn rider in the first picture - David Gagen?? Just guesses though.

If anyone's interested, there is a programme from Ivans's Farewell meeting on ebay at he moment. Clicky clicky.

Olly never touched Steen. He just cocked his foot, and, yes, he was completely wiped out. Some of the Eastbourne fans whipped themselves into such a frenzy about it they started to believe their own nonsense. Does this mean Balinski will be free to ride in the UK for the rest of the year?

It is. It's Trevor Geer.

Not Neil Middleditch either. Still involved at Eastbourne.