PhilK

Last night at Mildenhall Stadium, Peter Moorish said the fixtures should be out this coming Thursday

I think we both know who I'm talking about refereerick

I thought Kevin Jolly said they were still working on trying to persuade Mildenhall's most legendary rider to take up the post Fingers crossed they suceed!

All is looking extremely postive! Really looking forward to Saturday evening and catching up With everyone!

Well said Simon! Here we have someone who actually makes statements based on fact rather than a somewhat twisted mentally!

Get you I do hope you will journey down on Tuesday for this massive fixture, you will be made most welcome at The Ram.

I only used the CMA's but thanks for clearing that up Malcolm, I've burned the book (only joking )

Interesting point Neil, I did think much the same. Using Malcolm Vasey's excellent 'A Complete A-Z of all riders with Averages, CMA's or other records 1994-2009' Jack Hargreaves record is as follows 2003 - Wolverhampton 4 meetings - CMA 3.24 2004 - Stoke 23 meetings - 6.86 2005 - Stoke 24 meetings - 9.32 2006 - Stoke/Cleveland 11 meetings - 9.42 2007 - Stoke/Cleveland 7 meetings - 6.00 So he has not ridden in the National League for the last three seasons,although he did ride for Birmingham in the Premier League in 2008 2008 - Birmingham 17 meetings - 3.66 Maybe a fairer average would have been doubling up his 2008 PL average to 7.32? as it is hard to see where 8.30 comes from. But then I think we have been here before at the start of the 2009 season Whatever if his passion is still there for the sport and with the guidance of our three promoters I dont see any reason why Jack cannot post an average similar to his 2005/2006 efforts.

Excellent start to team building Interesting to see on AndyP's 2010 greensheet averages the name of Leigh Boujos on a 3, who was looking to ride for us at the start of 2009! Did he ever become an asset?

Good news indeed Rob, although I too prefered a 3pm start! Scorpions v Ipswich followed by Saints v Mildenhall Would be a perfect D/H.

I see in tonight's newspaper, that Mildenhall are looking to announce their first riders for 2011 next week

But only 5 at Scunthorpe, as the other 9 will be away meetings! Don't get what you are trying to say there?

I knew there was a reason I always look forward to your postings Kev

I guess we all have out favourites, but I'm just glad to see the club looking to be on really sound foundations at last My daughter meanwhile has picked up on the Ipswich link and just hopes Taylor Poole turns up every sunday

Taken from the Mildenhall Speedway website FEN TIGERS READY TO RACE By Mildenhall Speedway ~ Tuesday 8th February 2011 The Mildenhall Fen Tigers will race again in the 2011 National League under the promotion of Kevin Jolly, Chris Louis and Michael Lee. After an untimely closure midway through last season the British Speedway Promoters Association has accepted a rescue bid. Mildenhalls faithful fans thought that all hopes of the team returning to the track had been dashed when former Rye House and Wimbledon promoter Steve Ribbons bid had been turned down at the Leagues AGM in January. Ambitious plans to run an Academy alongside the team undoubtedly played a part in the BSPA’s decision to accept the eleventh hour bid. The new promoting team of Jolly, Louis and Lee couldn’t hide their enthusiasm as they spoke of the new era for the Fen Tigers. Kevin Jolly; I was certain that the proposal that Steve Ribbons and myself had put forward last month was sure to be accepted at the National League AGM so It’s an understatement to say I was shocked and disappointed at being turned down. Steve had put a lot of hard work in and I have to say that without that hard work we wouldn’t be where we are now, I am disappointed for him but it seems that the Academy being run alongside the club had a big impact on those making the decisions. Chris Louis; What a hectic winter it’s been for me in the Speedway world! After making the move to the Premier League with Ipswich any thoughts I had of taking a breather went to one side as soon as I heard of Mildenhalls failure to get back up and running. Something had to be done and when my calls to Kevin and Michael were met with such excitement and enthusiasm for getting behind the Fen Tigers we had to move fast. I have to thank the BSPA and Dave Coventry the stadium landlord for their cooperation as things had to move very quickly but they felt that we had the backing and they are very much behind our idea to get the academy up and running. It’s great news for the Sackers Witches too as I’m sure it won’t be too long before we see some local young talent finding their way up the ranks and hopefully making that short journey south! Michael Lee; It’s quite well documented that my involvement in Speedway has centred on helping young Brits over recent seasons not only through my engine business but passing on my knowledge and experience too. My work with riders like Danny King, Tai Woffinden and the lads at both Rye House and Mildenhall has been great so when I received the call from Chris I just could not pass up the chance to carry that on in a big way. To say I’m excited about the whole project would be an understatement but I’m just so pleased for the local fans that love this club and now they can continue to enjoy their Sunday afternoons at West Row. Simon Barton and all the many people supporting the SMS project have to be thanked not only for keeping Mildenhall in the forefront of peoples minds but also highlighting the great support the club has. Incorrect statement: It has been stated elsewhere that Steve Ribbons is funding the new promotion team at Mildenhall Speedway. This is not correct, Steve Ribbons has no involvement with Mildenhall Speedway whatsoever.

I have to be honest and admit that after last season my energy and interest with Mildenhall was waning somewhat, but this news is surely more positive than anyone could have ever imagined . For some time a group of us have been saying that a tie up with Suffolk's other ( ) speedway team was the way to go. Now we have it and I for one cannot wait for the 2011 season to start. Also the running of a Speedway Academy is further good news, and just maybe we may ,in future years, see a return to the days when Mildenhall produced some of the best young riders in the sport. I would expect young riders to be queueing up to learn from these three guys! A big thank you to to Dave Coventry for his positiveness about speedway remaining at West Row Stadium since our closure in the summer:approve: There is a SMS quiz night on Thursday 10th March at The Barton Bull, hopefully plenty will turn up and turn the evening into a celebration, I'm sure Simon may lead a warcry or ten Someone mentioned the 2011 team, well I'd guess at Barrie Evans, Joe Jacobs, Ollie Rayson, plus four of Scott Campos, Matt Wright, Adam Kirby, James Brundle, unnamed Aussie!,Mark Baseby and Chris Mills plus many others I haven't thought of.

Not sure about Lewis, but I believe the other reserve Tom Stokes is related to the Blackbirds.

I wouldn't be surprised to see more than one ex Mildenhall (2010 season) rider in the line up.

They did indeed Bob, a very good evening Although if memory serves they never fully finished the finals, and it was a somewhat shambolic ending

Pity then Derek, that there were a number of clubs happy to vote a fellow club out of the NL, and in doing so effectively kill seven potential places in speedway for British riders!

From the Cambridge Evening News - So now we know!!- Morrish: Why we axed Tigers National League co-ordinator Peter Morrish has outlined the reasons why Mildenhall were denied a return to the sport, but insisted the door was open for 2012. Morrish praised the West Row set-up but said the uncertainty following last years mid-season closure and the continuing stadium court case were the deciding factors in the National League promoters delivering their damning verdict in a majority vote earlier this week. Last year took a considerable amount of sorting for the BSPA, said Morrish. It always does when a club folds mid-season. I agree that wasnt the fault of this promotion, but over the years the club has had a string of promoters which is very worrying and doesnt inspire confidence. There is also the court case and it went to the vote. The BSPA or myself do not vote. It was the promoters of the other clubs which decided not to have Mildenhall coming into the league because of too much uncertainty and to let it lie fallow for 12 months.But the door is wide open. No-one wants Mildenhall to close, it is not in the BSPAs vested interest we need tracks like them as we are now down to only three stand-alone teams. If they can sort something with the stadium then wed love to have them back. I dont want to see it close. I spent hours on the telephone last year with (stadium owner) Dave Coventry trying to keep it going. Maybe they can run some open meetings this year. It is a great place with a super stadium. It is as good as anything in the National League and is better than the likes of Plymouth and Buxton. I love going there and always get a good reception. It has a smashing atmosphere and I have the greatest respect for it.

Further light on the decision taken, maybe? .. Quoted from todays Bury Free Press with comments attributed to Moorish in bold However, BSPA co-ordinator Peter Moorish this week quashed any hopes of a Fen Tigers revival - for this season at least. "As far as I am concerned, the vote has been made at the BSPA and it has been decided that Mildenhall Fen Tigers are not in a position to be granted a spot for the forthcoming NL season." The Tigers folded in August after former promoter Ray Mascall failed to find a buyer and, according to Morrish, that was the underlying reason behind the BSPA's decision. "The decision is completely fair," he said, "there is nothing worse than a club folding halfway through a season. It cost the BSPA a great deal of time and money trying to fix what was a total collapse at Mildenhall. I alone sacrificied a whole week of my life in the summer trying to sort the problems at the club. Since then I have been working long and hard with Dave Coventry in search of a new buyer, but in six months nothing of note has materialised" Looking ahead to the 2012 NL campaign, Moorish did offer the club some chink of light. He said " Mildenhall has a super stadium and everything going for it. I love the club and would certainly want it to make a return at some point". There is a lot more about this issue, but thats probably the most interesting part, along with a small piece about young Ollie Rayson being left in limbo and looking for a club for 2012! Lets hope this promising youngster finds one soon.

TAKEN FROM THE CAMBRIDGE EVENING NEWS SITE [b]Rejection means end of the line for Tigers by David Crane Kevin Jolly admits he is still reeling from shock after being told Mildenhall would not be accepted into this year's National League. The former Fen Tigers rider was given the news by league co-ordinator Peter Morrish and BSPA committee member Jon Cook after a ballot in Rugby on Tuesday. And he conceded, along with stadium owner Dave Coventry, that the West Row outfit will now be forced into closure. Jolly said: "I had spoken to Peter prior to Tuesday and asked if we were wanted, to which he replied yes. We had put a very sound business package together and were keen on discovering new talent. "This was possibly the club's last chance but it seems our faces didn't fit. "I was very shocked at how the whole situation was handled. There were four teams waiting for acceptance and I felt that we had an excellent set-up. "They said that Steve (Ribbons) being involved was a reason but the main factors were the stadium's court case and that they did not wish any further embarrassment after last year's closure had caused them a lot of work. "They told me that we couldn't appeal. It could be the finish of Mildenhall. "It is very sad and disappointing and it is the fans that are the ones who lose out. "We couldn't have done any more. We didn't get a chance to put our case across." Coventry added: "It never ceases to amaze me the decisions the BSPA make. "We have the stadium, the origins and the right men to run it. "It looks like speedway will have to be on hold for a year. There are no other serious parties in the pipeline."[/b]

A Secret vote! Incredible this is supposed to be a professionally run sport, not the Masons! Although thinking about it .........

As a Mildenhall supporter since 1976 it is not that easy to look at this latest setback objectively. However I can to some extent see the concerns of the BSPA here. It has to be said that the last five years of our existence have been somewhat difficult and I'm sure the very sudden closure last season did nothing to endear Mildenhall with the powers that be!!. Personally rather than throwing stones on this forum surely what Mildenhall supporters and the stadium owner need to know quickly is whether this is a personal issue between them and Mr Ribbons or with Mildenhall running under any promoter. The suggestion from Mr Ribbons that kevin Jolly would be issued a licence suggests it is the former. Therefore with the season not needing to commence for around 3 months a more suitable partner (in BSPA eyes)for Kevin needs to be sought, maybe Dave Coventry in the interim? After all it is the clubs sustainability that is all important here another blank season could just about finish the club, and we shouldn't lose sight of that.