screm

5pm it is,though the Ben Fund organisers are asking speedway attenders not to go into the car park before 4-30pm to let the football crowd out. Hopefully that might appear in this weeks Speedway Star,if not Im sure it will be on the Berwick or Ben Fund site sometime between now and saturday evening.

Will there be an idiots guide to this for those of us who are hard of understanding.

This meeting, which raises funds for seriously injured riders, is now the traditional opener for the British Speedway season, and Berwick follows previous stagings at Sheffield, Rye House, Scunthorpe and Birmingham. Organiser Paul Ackroyd gives very careful consideration to choosing the venue each year. He says "We need to move the meeting round the country, and it's only fair that the northern supporters get a chance to see the meeting. "Berwick have always had good track collections for the Ben Fund, in fact they have been the highest for the last three years, so obviously the people there are keen to support the Ben Fund. "With the air fence, and the stadium the way it is now, the improvements that have been made make it an ideal venue and opportunity for us to have the meeting there To those who wonder why the meeting is being held at Berwick.

We`ve known this meeting was being held at Berwick for ages now,and for those who are asking why Berwick,well why not.We arent living in the dark ages up here,and there is life outside the EL tracks you know. Its also no good having a go at the riders who are not appearing at Berwick,we dont know how many riders have been asked and said no,the Ben Fund organisers could announce that I suppose but what good would that do,I wouldve loved to see many GP riders at this meeting but thats not going to happen so lets look forward to the meeting we have.

Hopefully this weather holds till the meeting,its glorious in Berwick today and has been over the last few days.

So its everyone round to yours then.

You can add four more names to the Ben Fund list,Theo Pyjper and Craig Cook from Edinburgh,Ludvig Lindgren from Newcastle and Mark Lemon from Plymouth.

Obviously its not going to be on Sky but its got to be live coverage for me,a highlights package days or weeks after the event wont be supported through viewing figures IMO.

It`ll be "yawn" right enough this time next year if the Sky deal isnt renewed and theres no speedway atall.

You think,over the last few seasons Ive went to Berwick and recorded the GPs.I normally avoid the scores and watch it late saturday night or first thing sunday morning,if the only GP coverage live will be through a link on here then theres a decent chance I`ll do that,and give Berwick a miss. Ive got Sky Im not likely to take out any extra subscriptions for ESPN or Premier Sports etc,Ive spoken to a couple of people who have already said they wont be going to Shielfield on a GP night for much the same reasons.

Surprised and disappointed that Sky wont be showing the GPs,what chance now that the Sky deal for showing EL speedway will go the same way after this season.

BERWICK Bandits Speedway are hoping to secure planning permission for extra practice sessions on the Shielfield Park track when staging national and international meetings. The club has submitted an application requesting permission for practice sessions for a maximum of two hours between 11.30am and 2.30pm on the Saturday of such a fixture. However, its application to Northumberland County Council states that it would be for a maximum of two times per season. The club held its first ever FIM (Grand Prix Qualifier) event last July which attracted a crowd of nearly 3,000 despite dreadful weather. Visitors and the speedway governing bodies were so impressed with the event that Shielfield has been awarded another international event in August and the possibility of a future national event. The club says that competitors in a national or international meeting must be given the chance to practise beforehand, especially as the majority will not have raced at Shielfield before. The club also stresses that the normal Saturday evening restrictions will be adhered to and that strictly no racing will be permitted during the practice session. Its application also points out that the event will bring business for accommodation providers. Taken from Berwick Advertiser on line.

Amazing isnt it,even more amazing we also have hot and cold running electric now,internet and mobile phone connection,it modern miracle these new fangled things. Dont forget there are still places to fill for the meething at Berwick,Im sure the organisers are doing all they can to get the top riders to support the cause.Apart from SCB,who believes Berwick -upon-Tweed is on another planet,travelling shouldnt be an issue,riders these days skip from Britain to Poland to Sweden on a regular bases so a trip to Berwick can be a big deal. I thought that riders gave their time for free for testimonials these days,maybe they get their expenses paid for.

Take it you didnt go to the GP meeting we had last season.

Sad to see any rider having to retire due to injury,Havelock had a great career and got to the top. Best wishes for the future.

Cant Peterborough buy him,just in case Swindon fancy loaning him again next season.

Thanks for that.

Hoping someone out there can help. Ive recieved a PM from someone who has a Berwick Bandits race jacket from the year 2000,with the ACC sponsorship logo on the front.Its the No2 race jacket,does someone know who it couldve belonged to.Ive looked on the archive sites but have drawn a blank,at a guess Im thinking David Meldrum or David Mcallan. Thinking caps on.

It was in the December 22nd edition of the Speedway Star under the headline "Stars Lined Up". As Berwick gear up for the start of the 2013 season the club has confirmed that some of the sports top stars are set to ride at Shielfield in March. A club spokesman has revealed that following a meeting with organisers of the Ben Fundraiser which is to be held on March 9th six riders with GP experience have already been identified for the line up."At this moment in time we have been asked not to name names,but we can confirm that six of the riders who have been presented to us so far have either raced in the GPs last season or will be doing so next year. One of the reasons the Berwick meeting is able to attract such big names is the fact that it is Swede Freddie Lindgrens Testimonial at Wolverhampton the following day and alot of the riders will be in the country.

Reading this thread and you would think Middleditch was the one that had been done for drugs,drink and other offences.The only thing he seems guilty of his a daft comment he made in the local papers. Its Darcy Ward thats the drug taking plonky.

Wonder who the other two will be.

It was mentioned earlier in the winter that six riders with either current or past GP experience were being lined up to appear at Berwick,hopefully some of those six will still be there.

Your right time is running out but theres still one or two spaces go fill.

Id hope the riders will be giving their time for free. Im sure "bigger names" will be added closer to the time,but surely the meaning behind the meeting should be reasing enough to get people along to Shielfield on March 9th.Obviously a GP rider or two will help increase the gate.

Arent we making a bit to much of this,apart from the local rag and the Speedway Star Id be surprised if this story made any of the national papers.