Had a call from the father of one of the riders immediately after this meeting which got me thinking. The gist of it was: "We've just finished, everything's OK, so his mum and I can relax tonight after the drive home. He's really enjoyed it, desperate for another go. Oh, and by the way, he scored x points so he was really pleased with that."
I wouldn't mind betting that this sentiment broadly reflected the view of every parent there. How appalling it must be to have a child who wants to ride speedway – that parental mix of 80 per cent encouragement and support for your offspring's dream mingled with 20 per cent of blood-curdling terror every time he or she throws a wheel over a bike. I would dread it were any of my four that way inclined.
But, given that desire – and there's no way you can eradicate it from the human psyche – how fortunate that so many people give of their time and talent to ensure proper training under appropriate conditions for these youngsters.
Congratulations to all involved and I trust the news on the injured rider is better than it appears.