Iow V Dudley

[Bryn]

Surprised there's no thread yet for this. Anyone 'abroad' on the IOW can give us a weather update please?

[stressed]

Surprised there's no thread yet for this. Anyone 'abroad' on the IOW can give us a weather update please?

 

Just had this through;

 

Tonight's National League speedway match between the Isle of Wight and Dudley is on, the track is dry and it's all go. first race 7.30pm

Edited August 10, 2010 by stressed

[21st century heathen]

Good news after a night and morning of heavy rain for so many paces around the UK.

 

From the Heathens website:

 

HEATHENS HEAD SOUTH

MONDAY 09 AUGUST 2010

DUDLEY Heathens continue their surge towards the National League play-offs with a southern tour starting on Tuesday.

 

The former Cradley club are taking big numbers of loyal fans to the Isle of Wight on Tuesday and then Poole on Wednesday for the meeting with Bournemouth.

 

Heathens hand a debut to Barrie Evans after signing him as cover for the injured Jon Armstrong.

 

Boss Will Pottinger said: "Our big win over the Isle of Wight at Perry Barr will count for nothing as they are a different side on their big home track. "Bournemouth have added Jerran Hart which makes them stronger at the top end of their team so we are expecting two very tough away matches but we'll give it our best shot and look to come away from each meeting with at least a point.

 

"I know there's a lot of Heathens supporters travelling south which should be great motivation for our boys so hopefully we can pick up some points and make it a worthwhile journey for them."

 

ISLE OF WIGHT: Nick Simmons, Lee Smethills, Danny Warwick, Brendan Johnson, Ben Hopwood, Dean Felton, Tom Hill.

 

DUDLEY: Lee Smart, Micky Dyer, Tom Perry, Jake Anderson, Barrie Evans, Ashley Morris, Richard Franklin.

I would like to think that the Heathens can continue their run of good form and season-long strong away performances this week. A point from each meeting would be perfectly acceptable, but a win from one of them and the odd point from the other to put us top would be very nice indeed.

[rhidassa]

Updates will be available here. Thread may not be open/anything happening til nearer the start time, but never fear, I have an appointment and some food shopping to do beforehand.. I'll be there before it starts, guaranteed

[wightlink flyer]

Not too sure Ben will be riding tonight?

I live on the coast opposite IOW and weather here is horrible.Very wet,very windy.

[rhidassa]

No idea on line-ups but I think Ben was hoping to be able to race tonight, though may be wrong as not heard anything recently.

[greyhoundp]

I am surprised this meeting is still on, raining all day in Boscombe..and even now at 6-00 pm..if it goes ahead good luck guys..better forcast for tomorrow, so maybe i will see you there, at Poole.

Edited August 10, 2010 by greyhoundp

[stressed]

It's dry in the refs box

 

But no ref as yet

 

Still light drizzle

 

Riders walking the track, majority in shorts

Edited August 10, 2010 by stressed

[greyhoundp]

[

It's dry in the refs box

 

Riders walking the track, majority in shorts

 

So maybe they will have a swim in there shorts or even do a swimming meeting without the bikes.. but for double points to the winners..

[stressed]

Ref has looked at the track and a decision will be made after 7.00pm

[Dekker]

I would like to think that the Heathens can continue their run of good form and season-long strong away performances this week.

Nor would i, must be costing them a fortune to put out that team.

[stressed]

Meeting has been called off

[greyhoundp]

Feel sorry for the fairly large contingent <by NL standards> of fans that have travelled down there,not an inexpensive trip for them around £150 and that was only for the travel and Hotels, and i must admit i was very tempted to go, but studied the forcast for today and it was a Sh*te forcast, however tomorrows another day, and i may well be tempted to make that journey,to Poole.

[Cagey]

Meeting has been called off

Very interesting statement, where did you get this information? I was at the track and we weren't told it was off until around 7.15.

[BobC]

Very interesting statement, where did you get this information? I was at the track and we weren't told it was off until around 7.15.

Uummmm,Stressed is the track announcer over there!

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Meeting has been called off

 

Oh dear, I feel shockingly guilty now..

I wrote in my programme notes for tomorrow's Buccs' meeting that it'll be Barrie Evans' Heathens' debut; then realised that in fact, that won't be the case coz of the IoW match the evening before...

I'm sorry that in the end my words have proven correct after all...

 

Forecast better for tomorrow (I hope...)..

[Sandie]

Annoyingly the correct decision!

 

We arrived on the Island at lunchtime and it rained / drizzled on and off all day. The low cloud that settled over the track was not going to budge leaving a fine mizzle that was there for the duration. (Or at least 8pm when we left the bar!)

 

First rain off on the Island for me, so its not too bad. Huge shame due to the big turn out but correct decision but one that could have been made earlier.

[stressed]

Very interesting statement, where did you get this information? I was at the track and we weren't told it was off until around 7.15.

 

As Bobc posted for all my sins I do the announcing and my mobile broadband was working for a change

 

The Clerk of the course told everyone who was situated around the refs box first hand as soon as the ref had made his decision.

[21st century heathen]

Nor would i, must be costing them a fortune to put out that team.

 

By NL standards it probably is. Attendances have been good though so having got ourselves into a strong position I think the guys have made the right decision in thinking we might as well go for it now. If it costs a bit more and trims the profit margins then so-be-it. Newport are still the stronger team on paper. Our home league meeting against them could be a cracker and very telling. They're the only team to beat us easily but it was a weakened team that went down there a couple of months ago.

 

----------------------------------------------

 

I'm a bit gutted for everyone that made the trip down. But the ref has a job to do and can't take into consideration who has had to travel from where. Safety first etc.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

By NL standards it probably is. Attendances have been good though so having got ourselves into a strong position I think the guys have made the right decision in thinking we might as well go for it now. If it costs a bit more and trims the profit margins then so-be-it. Newport are still the stronger team on paper. Our home league meeting against them could be a cracker and very telling. They're the only team to beat us easily but it was a weakened team that went down there a couple of months ago.

 

Hmm, but only as an indicator to what might happen in the Play-offs. This season is a perfect example of what's wrong with the P/O system. It could (and should) be an incredibly exciting end to the league season with some crucial matches to go which would be massive thrillers in connection with who tops the division and claims the championship... But instead it's really irrelevant who finishes top and in fact the excitement's actually about the battle for 4th.

 

The Play-off apologists will step in and say I'm wrong but this is the reality of the situation.

 

Don't get me wrong, as a Buccs' fan I'll take 4th. and then a strengthened (hopefully...! ) Bournemouth "doing a Weymouth '08" and winning the P/Os; but even though I'd celebrate that, it doesn't prevent me from thinking that it would be a whole lot better (and fairer and yes, more exciting as it happens... ) for the team who finishes top (which may well be Dudley...) to be crowned champs...