scribbler

I have done ... on many occassions... The National League is - in the Official Rulebook - known as the National Development League. I am also one of a fairly vocal minority of supporters who think that the reserve places in the PL should be young British riders. I also think that there should be a minimum number of British riders (2 ?) in the EL. My reasoning in all this is that Team GB will cease to exist in the near future if young British riders are not brought through the Leagues. Promoters seem to think that foreign riders must be better riders... If you read the thread National Development League you will see varying opinions on the subject of age and nationality...and I stand by my opinion that I gave in the quote that you used...

Given the inexperience of 3 of the 6 riders Saints, all in their first season - with Richie Worrall his first meeting - I think the scoreline was very respectable against an experienced home side.

Inclined to agree... IOW reserves = Dean Felton - 40+ and had his first season riding in 1994 Tom Hill - 24 and first season riding in 2003 - although there are gaps in his career. Perhaps reserves should be under 18 or in their first 2 season in Speedway...at least under the old grading system for this level of Speedway it couldn't happen...

Money? Contract with an EL Club - so that they could be loaned to other clubs willing/able to pay? Promises of...? As Jame's case has (sadly) proved - expectations are not always fulfilled - on ether side.

Of which Scunthorpe is the only place I can see on the list that is anywhere near the North of England (it's often classed as East Midlands)... and the only place where League racing also occurs... I'd be interested to know how often promoters or 'club scouts' attend these amateur events...

And I'm a Brit fan who sticks up for her own and knows how hard it is for British kids who want to have a go at their chosen sport - and knows that once they reach a certain level over here many are sidelined because Australians head over here...and can't go to Australia and gain team experience because there aren't any Leagues. We're 'singing the same song' to different tunes...

I think that their differences in opinions are that one is a speedway supporter and a speedway team supporter...

That's what several/many supporters over here are saying - but then we have to put up with insults about racism etc... Promomoters just seem to care about their wallets - and not the sport... Such strong words from you marcusthepom - I can feel the emotion from here. You work so hard for British lads giving them 'the Australian experience' ... without detriment to Australian riders...

It's amazing the difference in attitudes between BigFatDave and marcusthepom ... I believe that they're both ex-pats...

That 'obsure pdf' happens to be the 2010 Rulebook - can't get more up-to-date than that...

YUP!! 17.4.7 National Development League ps. National (in my Collins Concise...) = belongining or pertaining to a nation Development = improvement, progress, grow to maturere state

Which is what Rob Godfrey and Malcolm Vasey tried to fight for at the last AGM...and they started the season way below the points limit. Scunthorpe Saints - an all British team - aren't doing too badly... considering the multi national riders they're up against... but then again the promoter doesn't just put his hands to his wallet - Rob Godfrey works hard on the physical jobs required to make his teams successful and give British riders a chance...

There are talented British youngsters - but only the brave/foolish bother to continue their racing. and their families continue sacrificing their time and money. I'd love to see a two/three year ban on foreign riders in the National Development League and see how the League handled it and how much more the promoters supported their British riders - and whether they started offering the freebies they give foreign riders. If, after that time it was proved that young Brits were not good enough then let foreign riders back into the National Development League. Of course this would never happen because promoters would have to do something more than pick up a phone... they'd have to provide facilities and training to young Brits, rather than just buy vans, bikes etc. Most promoters have gotten lazy - reaching for their wallet is as much as they want to do. Of course you'd have to also insist that reserve berths and at least one rider in the main body of the team in the PL and EL were also reserved for Brits - just to ensure that the progress of British riders carried through to the top... As I said in a preious post - I'm dreaming the impossible dream...

I dream the impossible dream... That the National League will become a league for Brits only - no patriality... and that the PL and EL have to have a minimum number of British riders in their teams. It will never happen whilst promoters have the mentality that any rider that is not a Brit Must be better than a British rider... and I rejoice every time a non-Brit is found lacking. The problem is that another non-Brit is then brought in to replace them. Perhaps replacements, especially at NL level, should be Brits only. I dream the impossible dream...

Join the club - you'll probably get shouted down, the same as I do... but sadly one of these days - in the not to distant future - we will be proved right when there is no-one of a high enough standard to ride for Team GB...

Most of me is yet again angry with the attitude of many teams in the NL ... and the BSPA who will not learn until there are no exceptionally talentes young British riders coming through. Brits need to be exceptionally talented, non-Brits just need to show a bit of promise and the EL, PL - and now the NL - will give them a place. A little bit of me (sorry ) wants to say 'I told you so' to this youngster who left Scunthorpe - if he had stayed there I don't think that he would now be waiting for his third team in a season and a half of riding...

I'll remind you that he's trying to come back from injury... and he's trying to do so far to soon (in my opinion - given that I know what some of his injuries are...) He'd been doing pretty well for the team until he got injured.

I visited last year and left vowing not to return whilst he was still promoter... and I think that Weymouth supporters were embarrassed by his 'performance' on the centre green. From what I've seen, just in one encounter with his 'style' of promoting, I would say that it's probably justified...

As individuals... not taking team places...

Perhaps the reason that Plymouth are doing less well than they have previously is that young potential riders are told that they cannot double up, and then, perhaps, decode not to ride for Plymouth. I think that Plymouth is the only team that does this...

So Australian youngsters really wouldn't mind riding for Team GB - against Australian riders - in International meetings? That really surprises me...

If these youngsters use their British heritage to ride in the NL then perhaps the BSPA should use it to insist that they ride for Britain and not the country where they were born... (just turning the arguement around...) How many young riders would come over using their patriality to ride here if it was turned back on them and they had to ride as Brits if they got up to the required standard...

I totally agree with both points. Rob Woffinden must be so proud to know that his son will be riding in the Cardiff GP - even though he won't be there to see him.

Has anyone got any more info on the National League 4TT Ipswich Witches No.2 race jacket - sponsored by H.E.A.T. ( no idea of the year) that I won on eBay. It was part of Kenny Smith's collection and I'd like to know more about the meeting so that I can add more history to it. Thanks in advance to all you knowledgable people

This has happened in Scunthorpe