The Heathens V Mildenhall 2nd Leg

[TMW]

Tom Woolley in for the injured Josh Bates tomorrow night.

 

Here's hoping Tom does well and does himself the justice he deserves !!!!!!!!!!!

[21st century heathen]

I don't know anything about Tom so this may be a foolish comment, but I rather suspect he is going to be in for a tough night with two very strong teams putting out good riders in each race.

 

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

 

I'm really looking forward to this meeting tonight. Mildenhall have put together a very good team, and straight from the off they have two potential heat winners in Heeps and Jacobs in heat one. The middle order is solid and in Stoneman they have an exciting young reserve. The track shape and size should hold no fears for the visitors. And who could forget that stunning Monmore debut by Heeps last season? 20 points from seven rides, only a stunning effort by Perry denied him an incredible full maximum after a monumental 4 lap scrap between the two.

 

We're only looking for a 46-44 win to take the silverware but just have a funny felling that facing the league leaders might expose a few cracks if our boys are anything but at their absolute best.

[TonyK39]

I am looking forward to a close one tonight. Having 7 riders in both teams will be nice for a change. Cautiously optimistic about the result but keep remembering our recent home record versus Mildenhall.

[Heathen1984]

Mildy ommered. Could of easily been more with roynon makin two mistakes while leading both and morris falling. Big loss in jacobs, hope he is gona be ok an also very impressed with stoneman and neilsen. Heeps looked a bit off tonight aswell. Very good team mildenhall and will be up at the top in the league anyway.

[greyhoundp]

great meeting some excellent racing, i wouldnt say The Fen Tigers were Ommered, they were beat, but not beaten, in the early stages the Heathens built up a useful lead, but led by Nathan Stoneman, people rave about 15 year old Cameron Heeps, but boy this kid aint far behind, not afraid to get stuck in, one for the future most definately. The Fen Tigers gradually pegged back the Heathens, kept the tie alive right up until the last few heats.

 

Cant do a full report, Im cream crackered finished a 12 hour shift,shot over to Monmore, but well done to both Teams, and hope JJ aint to badly injured.

[womble53]

Another terrific outing for Nathan Stoneman tonight, wish I'd have gone tonight, was thinking I might earlier today, instead I worked late........DOH !!

 

Great showing Nate, keep on piling in the points

[shad176]

first time i saw nathan ride was last night...that kid has got some ba**s 3 of his rides were fantastic to see, he has a great will to win and a good style, he wo,nt be at reserve for too long..well done nathan you did yourself and mildy proud also stefan i have seen him 4 times now and i really like him, immaculate kit, and a real trier, finally my best wishes to joe..hope you get well soon

[21st century heathen]

What a cracking advert for speedway this one proved to be. There was plenty of action, thrills and spills. The only downer was the injury to Joe Jacobs. Best wishes to Joe for a speedy recovery. Hopefully he'll be back sooner than later.

 

Unusually the Heathens hit them hard early on. Generally we're sluggish early on in meetings and end having to push on more and more as the meeting progresses. It would be easy to suggest that it was Mildenhall being poor early on, but I don't think that would give our boys credit where it's due. It wasn't all from the gate in those first five heat. A few of our lads were picking up good points from the back.

 

Pick of the bunch for the Heathens was Ritchings in my opinion. He earned his points the hard way. He's got such a lovely smooth and controlled style. He's not always the quickest from the start and certainly doesn't have the quickest bikes out there, but he will use all the lines and stalk his prey before picking his moment. I see on FB today that he rode an engine borrowed off Morris last night. Morris is happy to sell and Ritchings would like to buy, but can't afford it. To all in our extended Promotional team - the large crowd that you're forever praising must be raising considerable profit. Please do the right thing and finance the deal for Darryl to purchase Ash's engine on the strict understanding that every penny Ash gets is put back in to improving/maintaining his own set up. I don't think there's a Heathens fan out there that would disagree with me.

 

For the visitors Nathan Stoneman was very good value indeed. What a cracking prospect he is. He was quick and showed controlled aggression at times to assert his position on the race track. Heat 8 (?) to dive inside Greenwood and move him out off his line was a perfect example of his control. He even had the cheek to try it with Royno.

 

I did the updates so I'll leave it there rather than go over ever race again. I will repeat one of my final comments on last nights meeting though. Watching Royno should come with a health warning!

[martin_t]

 

. I see on FB today that he rode an engine borrowed off Morris last night. Morris is happy to sell and Ritchings would like to buy, but can't afford it. To all in our extended Promotional team - the large crowd that you're forever praising must be raising considerable profit. Please do the right thing and finance the deal for Darryl to purchase Ash's engine on the strict understanding that every penny Ash gets is put back in to improving/maintaining his own set up. I don't think there's a Heathens fan out there that would disagree with me.

 

 

 

I agree

[greyhoundp]

I will repeat again it seems that its definately Time for The Heathens management,to consider investing in a Track spare, Dan, only has one bike, Darryl cant afford better equipment, jeez just look at the crowds again this season, reguarly 1000 I wish they could try to help the riders out rather than giving it to the Tax man. Whilst i have my opinions, We are eternally grateful for CVS and Gary, Nigel P, and Wolverhampton Speedway, without whom we wouldnt have any Speedway to watch.

Edited May 30, 2012 by greyhoundp

[Midland Robin]

Darryl is a great lad and the promotion, riders and supporters all warmed to him from the moment he joined the club in 2010. That was never more evident than when he won rider of the year last season.

 

However, unlike most speedway riders he is a shy lad who doesn't like to ask for help. If you ask him if everything is ok he'll tell you that it is while secretly be churning up inside. A consequence of his kit always looking so immaculate is that you assume everything is all ok. He's my asset at Swindon and if it's anyone's fault for not identifying that it's mine. Forgive me if my mind has been elsewhere these last couple of weeks. #RICO

 

It has been clear though that the lad hasn't yet achieved the level that he reached last season, although he is not far off. I've already enlisted the help of Alun Rossiter to help him with set-up advice amongst other things and u can expect to see him from time to time alongside Darryl. Darryl and I have have chatted this afternoon and I've told him that I'd rather know than not if he has problems and if you don't ask you don't get. I think, therefore that I can safely say we have reached a watershed. I have already given him an engine that was being used in the Elite League last year (no wise cracks about Swindon 2011 please) and moves are afoot to purchase the engine from Ash that he used last night.

 

Please believe me when I say it's difficult to gauge how much help you can give the riders. What you do for one rider you have to expect to do for all of them. We also have to respect the ethos of the National League and the position that puts us in with the other clubs if we are seen to be spending excessively. Most importantly this club was born with the intention of raising the profile of the search for a site for a new track and the ultimate success of that search being the long term objective. That will require substantial investment and we have to be ready for that eventuality as and when it happens.

[21st century heathen]

That is a very fair, well balanced and much appreciated response. It's nice to have people like you and Will around to interact with the fans through the Forum when something is put to you in the right way. I've been on here a long time now and I've long since lost count of the number of times some clubs' fans raise questions in a polite, reasonable manner and are just ignored.

 

We all understand the last couple of weeks have been very hard on a lot of people, and in the circumstance nobody can blame anyone in the sport if they've taken their eye off the ball, so-to-speak, on some aspects.

 

It sounds as though an issue has been identified and action is being taken. I agree with you that it's a little difficult from your point of view to strike the right balance between doing what is right for the NL as a whole (ie the big picture), for the Heathens' long-term future (ie the big picture) and for right now (the punters paying their hard-earned and the riders putting it on the line for us right now not somewhere down the line). However, the later really should not be overlooked. With the best will in the world we all know there's no guarantee about the future. We are where we are right now, and that's giving riders like Darryl a chance to race and hopefully develop into a rider that goes on to move up the leagues and at least earn a full time living out of the sport, if not more than that.

 

If not taking steps to help him how would you feel in five years time if we still didn't have our own track, we (meaning the club) had a healthy bank balance but Darryl had never secured the funds to make his way in the sport? That's rhetorical, I wouldn't expect a direct reply, but I think you'd regret not putting at least some of the profit back in to the club through its NL riders, particularly and perhaps even specifically the youngest members just starting out.

 

I think everyone will be delighted to hear that you've managed to arrange significant help for Darryl, both on and off track (with the engine/s and the advice on set-up). I also think people would understand your point that you don't want to be seen to be favouring one rider over any other, particularly as by pure coincidence the rider in this case happens to be a Swindon asset. I think people would also understand that it could be considered somewhat against the general principles of the NL if ever a situation arose whereby you started to throw EL money at our riders and other clubs couldn't compete with it. We're not talking about going to that extreme though. What I was calling for, and appears to be happening, is for the club to facilitate a relatively small transaction that helps two of its own riders, though technically not the Heathens' own riders.

 

I stick by my stipulation that it should be done on the strict understanding that the money Ash receives is put back into his own set-up, every single penny of it. I don't think anyone from the other clubs would have a problem with two young riders being helped out in this way. After all, it's riders like Darryl and Ash that the NL is all about.

 

I really like Darryl as a rider. Since the first time I saw him ride I thought what a classic smooth, stylish, safe and controlled rider is. He's got a really good racing brain as well. As I said he stalks a rider when he's looking for a pass. He's always working out where he needs to be to keep his momentum up and rarely if ever gets involved in any incidents. I can't remember the last time I even saw him get out of shape. What's clear is that he's just not fast enough to be scoring big points at the moment. Often a less well settled rider can hold him off with bike speed rather than pure skill even if he's making a few mistakes. I would dearly love to see Darryl kick on now.

[Heathen1984]

Did i hear right when i heard nath stonemans double ride shudnt of of been allowed cause it wasnt a programmed ride. Luckily wasnt a crucial mistake made by management. Hope jacobs has a speedy recovery

[martin_t]

Did i hear right when i heard nath stonemans double ride shudnt of of been allowed cause it wasnt a programmed ride. Luckily wasnt a crucial mistake made by management. Hope jacobs has a speedy recovery

 

A tactical ride can be used for a R/R.

[Midland Robin]

A tactical ride can be used for a R/R.

 

Rider replacement yes, but only once. Not as a reserve replacement. I had it confirmed after the meeting that the tactical ride shouldnt have been taken by Nathan. At the time the referee was adamant it was ok, despite my objections.

[martin_t]

Rider replacement yes, but only once. Not as a reserve replacement. I had it confirmed after the meeting that the tactical ride shouldnt have been taken by Nathan. At the time the referee was adamant it was ok, despite my objections.

Good job it didn`t matter in the end

[Fourentee]

Some interesting analysis by 21CH and MR there. I'm sure we're always grateful when officials on the managerial side of the fence give us some insight (that's not you, 21CH, to head off any delusions of grandeur. Still interesting, though ).

I either recall (or, possibly dreamt) that the hard-working Heathens Speedway Supporters Club were moving at one point towards funding a track spare. Perhaps someone from HSSC could let us know if that's the case and how things are going.

Very impressed, in passing, with the effort that HSSC puts in both in front of and behind the scenes.

[greyhoundp]

Firstly i would like to thank Midland Robin for taking the time to give his explanation above.

 

Financial support for riders is difficult to implement, especially at NL level, because as MR pointed out, it is not wise to give this to a particular rider as other riders could maybe think why is he favoured over me?. Then the Club could also say we support him because he is OUR asset.

 

Track Spare is where i would see the best form of help available to all the riders, and not an overly expensive cost at that, especially when set off against Tax, and we have good guy out there to set it up in Janno.

 

As i said elsewhere it is all well and good if a rider borrows a bike from another rider ie Ashley Morris lent Daniel Greenwood his for a race, but what happens if the said borrowed Bike is damaged ?, then the unlucky rider has not only his bike to repair, but the Bike he borrowed to repair also, now if it were a track spare, then the repair and upkeep can be carried by The Promotion or whoever. The rider concerned can invest his spare cash into his own No1 machinery knowing full well there is a track spare available, and he doesnt have to split his hard earned cash between buying and maintaining two bikes, which he can possibly ill afford to do.

 

The advantage of a Track spare is also that it is available to ALL the riders, is not seen as favouritism, and other tracks cant possibly view it as The Heathens throwing money around to buy whatever success they may or may not achieve, indeed it is giving valuable additional support to there riders on Track, in helping the Heathens riders to achieve the points return that there talents deserve, and giving success to the supporters without whom none of it would be achievable.

 

Yes, HSSC do a fantastic job, and i am sure supporters and riders alike appreciate all of the hard work put in throughout the 12 months of the year.

Edited June 2, 2012 by greyhoundp

[english roundabout]

Darryl is a great lad and the promotion, riders and supporters all warmed to him from the moment he joined the club in 2010. That was never more evident than when he won rider of the year last season.

 

However, unlike most speedway riders he is a shy lad who doesn't like to ask for help. If you ask him if everything is ok he'll tell you that it is while secretly be churning up inside. A consequence of his kit always looking so immaculate is that you assume everything is all ok. He's my asset at Swindon and if it's anyone's fault for not identifying that it's mine. Forgive me if my mind has been elsewhere these last couple of weeks. #RICO

 

It has been clear though that the lad hasn't yet achieved the level that he reached last season, although he is not far off. I've already enlisted the help of Alun Rossiter to help him with set-up advice amongst other things and u can expect to see him from time to time alongside Darryl. Darryl and I have have chatted this afternoon and I've told him that I'd rather know than not if he has problems and if you don't ask you don't get. I think, therefore that I can safely say we have reached a watershed. I have already given him an engine that was being used in the Elite League last year (no wise cracks about Swindon 2011 please) and moves are afoot to purchase the engine from Ash that he used last night.

 

Please believe me when I say it's difficult to gauge how much help you can give the riders. What you do for one rider you have to expect to do for all of them. We also have to respect the ethos of the National League and the position that puts us in with the other clubs if we are seen to be spending excessively. Most importantly this club was born with the intention of raising the profile of the search for a site for a new track and the ultimate success of that search being the long term objective. That will require substantial investment and we have to be ready for that eventuality as and when it happens.

 

Came on here this evening to find out how darryl is doing this season. I've watched him as a 15 year old on the centre green track at blunsdon. Always thought he had a neat and tidy style. Seem to recall the great leigh adams giving praise also. Has darryl progressed much from last year? Good to hear patch\rosco providing support.