Raiders V Lynn Young Stars Sat 2nd June

[Great Central]

Pity your trip to Mildenhall has had to be cancelled today since it looked like being a close meeting and keep banging the drum of support for the Young Stars and NL racing.

As waco said, a good all round performance from the Raiders, who it has to be said that on the night were worthy of their win. That's not knocking the gallant efforts of what is a somewhat battle weary King's Lynn side at the moment, and I returned home to Norfolk, happy with the efforts my team had put in.

 

For the second 'Young Stars' meeting in a row, I've had to go to the referee's box at the conclusion of the meeting, and advise them that they've declared incorrect results in Heat 15 of both matches.

 

At Scunthorpe last Sunday, Tom Stokes was announced as finishing third in the race, even though he didn't ride in it, the rider in question was Adam Lowe. (Stokes wears dark kevlars and Lowe wears red, so they should be easily recognisable to trained officials).

 

Last night, Lewis Kerr and James Cockle were both announced as being in the incorrect gate positions, and then duly given the wrong points at the completition of the race. Lewis Kerr must be one of the easiest riders on this planet at the moment to recognise, as his kevlars/leathers and machinery look like an advert for Dulux Brilliant White Silk emulsion. Come the time of reading out the riders scores, nobody but nobody in the box had realised the mistake!!

 

Fair do to the officials on both occassions though, because following my request that they contact the Clerk of the Course to clarify/confirm what I was implying was fact, they did without hesitation, and took the necessary steps to backtrack and correct the results. What worries me is how many times a season around the country this sort of thing probably happens, which is ultimately going to affect a riders average, and I would imagine his pay packet too. As we all know, 0.01 of a point can make a difference between a rider being eligible or otherwise for a job when teams are building their sides, both at the start of the season, then during the campaign when alterations need to be made through rider injury or loss of form.

 

A different type of gripe I have that happened all evening at Rye House, and is a fairly regular feature at King's Lynn too, is the fact that music continues to play when announcements are being made......WHY??

 

As expected the crowd was sparse, which many of us say on these NL forums is such a shame, because the racing is as good as what you see at the so called higher levels, just a little slower that's all. When did speed necessarily make a good race?

When Len tossed his £2 coin onto the dog track when doing his pre-meeting introductions, one adult strolled up to pick it up and put it in his pocket, with the promoter duly inviting him to spend it on a cup of tea (expensive tea that!!). He went on to ask if there were any fans there from King's Lynn......dead silence.....well I wasn't going to shout out, as I think I was most probably the sole representative!! His quip was "No it doesn't look like there is, followed by "It doesn't look like there are any from Hoddesdon either". He was right again!! So with rain forecast, a brisk start was made to meeting, and full marks to referee Margaret Vardy who had her finger on the two-minute button the moment the result from the previous race had been relayed to the three men/ladies and their dogs.....oh.....and me.

A full 15-heat league match plus a 6-heat Anglia Junior League match all done and dusted in under 2-hours, something ALL clubs should strive to achieve.

Just as well that she was regimental, because as the last race finished, the rain started, so once again, well done Margaret Vardy.

 

Okay, I'm beginning to bore myself now, and you people reading it have probably already scrolled down to the results anyway...LOL!

 

RYE HOUSE 51

1, David Mason (1*-2-3-2*) = 8+2

2. Shane Hazelden (2-1*-3-1) = 7+1

3. Ben Morley (3-3-3-3-EF) = 12

4. Luke Chessell (2*-2*-1-3) = 8+2

5. James Sarjeant (3-1*-3-3-3) = 13+1

6. Nick Laurence (1-2-0-0) = 3 (DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS IS TREATED AS A GUEST APPEARANCE AS HE'S NOT IN THE RAIDERS DECLARED LINE-UP)

7. Danno Verge (0-0-0-FD) = 0 (DITTO THE ENQUIRY ABOUT NICK LAURENCE)

(Team manager: - John Sampford)

KING'S LYNN 39

1. James Cockle (3-0-2-1*-1-2) = 9+1

2. Rider Replacement

3. Lewis Kerr (1-1-3-0-2-1*) = 8+1

4. Brendan Johnson (0-FD-FD-2-2) = 4

5. Adam Lowe (2-0-2-2-0) = 6

6. Tom Stokes (3-3-F-1*) = 7+1

7. Scott Campos (2*-1*-1*-1*) = 5+4

(Team manager: - Wayne Dunworth)

 

1. Cockle, Hazelden, Mason, Johnson 60.7 3-3, 3-3

2. Stokes, Campos, Laurence, Verge 60.1 1-5, 4-8

3. Morley, Chessell, Kerr, Johnson (FD) 59.3 5-1, 9-9

4. Sarjeant, Lowe, Campos, Verge 60.5 3-3, 12-12

5. Morley, Chessell, Kerr, Cockle 59.8 5-1, 17-13

6. Stokes, Mason, Hazelden, Lowe 60.3 3-3, 20-16

7. Kerr, Laurence, Sarjeant, Johnson (FD) 60.8 3-3, 23-19

8. Hazelden, Cockle, Campos, Verge 60.5 3-3, 26-22

9. Morley, Lowe, Chessell, Stokes (Fell) 59.9 4-2, 30-24

10. Mason, Johnson, Hazelden, Kerr 60.0 4-2, 34-26

11. Sarjeant, Lowe, Cockle, Laurence 60.3 3-3, 37-29

12. Morley, Kerr, Stokes, Verge (FD) 59.9 3-3, 40-32

13. Sarjeant, Mason, Cockle, Lowe, 59.3 5-1, 45-33

14. Chessell, Johnson, Campos, Laurence 61.5 3-3, 48-36

15. Sarjeant, Cockle, Kerr, Morley (EF) 59.6 3-3, 51-39

 

Well I was hoping to go to the Mildenhall v Stoke fixture this afternoon, but it's simply p**ing down, so I think it'll have to be the River Thames Pageant on the telly instead.

 

Whatever you're all doing, enjoy the Jubilee Weekend, we don't get to see many of them.

Mike,

I actually read the whole post, not just the results and as always thanks for the comprehensive comments and results. You make some valid points and it really does look like Rye are suffering big time with the crowds. It isn't that long ago that crowds of over 1000 were present for NL matches and there is usually some exciting racing dished up by youngsters trying their hardest to break into speedway. Mind you from what I heard the PL crowds are not that good either.

With regards to the inclusion of Nick Laurence and Danno Verge as guest riders, if a reserve is missing they can be replaced by riders from the "Emergency List" which in 2011 was riders whose average was no more than 3.00. That rule is still there but I think Nick finished with an average higher than 3 in 2011 so maybe the criteria have been altered for this year. There is no definition of "Emergency Riders" in the SCB Rules as far as I can see.

Pity your trip to Mildenhall has had to be cancelled today since it looked like being a close meeting but keep banging the drum of support for the Young Stars and NL racing.

Martin

Edited June 3, 2012 by Great Central

[Mimmo]

Mike,

I actually read the whole post, not just the results and as always thanks for the comprehensive results. You make some valid points and it really does look like Rye are suffering big time with the crowds. It isn't that long ago that crowds of over 1000 were present for NL matches and there is usually some exciting racing dished up by youngsters trying their hardest to break into speedway. Mind you from what I heard the PL crowds are not that good either.

Pity your trip to Mildenhall has had to be cancelled today since it looked like being a close meeting and keep banging the drum of support for the Young Stars and NL racing.

Martin

 

Nice to hear from you Martin, it's been a while since we've been in touch.

 

It's only very recently that I learned of the bad injury to Chris, how is he now?

 

What with all the worry I have over my wifes health, I completely forgot to enquire about your worries.....sorry.

 

Have no fear, I'll never stop banging the drum for the Young Stars or any NL team come to that, although we both know I'm wasting my time. Shall I get started on the Amateur Racing scene next

 

Best wishes to you all in the Midlands.

 

Mike

[cityrebel]

Good all round performance from the Raiders. Won 51-39.....Always in front after an early reverse in heat two with James Sarjeant and Ben Morley looking in commanding form.. Sarjeant dropped his points with a fall while challenging Lewis Kerr in heat 7 finished on 13+1 ...While Morley on a 4 ride max had to pull out with a machine problem in heat 15. scored 12....Gary Chessel 8 +2 ,,,David Mason 8+1..Shane Hazelden 7 +1 all with solid contributions backing the top two..At reserve Nick Lee broke down on route his place was taken by rookie Danno Verge..Nick Lawrence covered for the injured Braddock and picked up 3 points but niether were on the pace and we will need Lee and Braddock back as soon as possible ..it wont be this easy against Mildenhall on monday afternoon even if we beat the rain forcast.....

i saw quite a few rockets fans at lakeside last night complete with team colours, should they have been at hoddesdon supporting the raiders, maybe!. i also noticed the rye house pits marshall working on the track staff, some divided loyalties going on at arena i think!

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

6. Nick Laurence (1-2-0-0) = 3 (DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS IS TREATED AS A GUEST APPEARANCE AS HE'S NOT IN THE RAIDERS DECLARED LINE-UP)

7. Danno Verge (0-0-0-FD) = 0 (DITTO THE ENQUIRY ABOUT NICK LAURENCE)

 

 

Well Danno is a regular in the RH Pocket Rockets AJL side, so seems to make perfect sense to step up when the chance presents itself into the Raiders side - certainly NOT therefore classified in any way as a 'guest'.

 

And surely the same in respect of Nick though he MIGHT possibly be a Mildenhall asset (not sure if he is or not...) so it MAY be that he could at a stretch be classified as a 'guest'..

 

In NL terms at reserve/3.00 av. level how is a 'guest' actually defined..?

[Great Central]

Nice to hear from you Martin, it's been a while since we've been in touch.

 

It's only very recently that I learned of the bad injury to Chris, how is he now?

 

What with all the worry I have over my wifes health, I completely forgot to enquire about your worries.....sorry.

 

Have no fear, I'll never stop banging the drum for the Young Stars or any NL team come to that, although we both know I'm wasting my time. Shall I get started on the Amateur Racing scene next

 

Best wishes to you all in the Midlands.

 

Mike

Mike,

Thanks for asking about Chris - he is on the mend after what was quite a dramatic end to an inoccuous accident. He is now making a list of ambulances that he has rides in!! Hopefully the list is not going to get any bigger.

He had a steady and uneventful runout yesterday at Mildenhall and came through that with no problems. Hopefully he will be back racing soon.

[KenB1]

Very notable meeting with heat 11 the pick of several very good races, well done to both teams.