Custom House Kid Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 (edited) I can understand why people who made the journey to Swindon for the match yesterday will have felt angry and frustrated that it was called off apparently quite late in the day. As a member of the track staff who had been there since 8.30am (two members of the staff had been there for most of Thursday as well getting as much done as possible), I can tell you that we tried out utmost to get the meeting on. The track was in good condition, one puddle on the main staright apart, throughout the morning. By the time that the greyhounds had finished the sky was brightening and it was warming up (slightly). The weather forecasts that we consulted were very contradictory - rain thoughout the afternoon - no rain until 5pm - no rain until 10pm. We watched the clouds and the wind direction and, by mid afternoon, as the riders began to arrive, I was sure we would be OK. Most of the riders seemed surprised by the state of the track and vans were unpacked. And then the drizzle started, a drizzle that steadily grew heavier and heavier. The track surface started to shine and after an hour's worth of rain it was clear that the meeting could not go ahead - it would have been a mudbath. I can tell you, that going around, unpinning the air fence, at 6pm in the pouring rain, just about finished it for me and the rest of the lads who'd battled all day to get the match on. Soaked to the skin, aching from a full day's work and frustrated by not a single wheel turning, it was a day that will not linger long in my memory. We could have called it off at 9am. It was raining then and the weather forecasters were saying that it would rain on until 4pm. If we had given in we could all have spent a day with our families, or even in work. You can't win! All I can say is that we tried - that's everyone involved with Swindon speedway. We tried to get a meeting on but were beaten by the weather - sorry! I'm sure all speedway fans across the country appreciate the time an effort put in by track staff and promotions trying to get a meeting on so you will hear no criticism from me. If you are a speedway fan a rain off is part of the sport sadly it is dictated by weather conditions. I understand it is annoying but no one is at fault. Edited April 4, 2015 by Custom House Kid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van wolfswinkel Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 I can understand why people who made the journey to Swindon for the match yesterday will have felt angry and frustrated that it was called off apparently quite late in the day. As a member of the track staff who had been there since 8.30am (two members of the staff had been there for most of Thursday as well getting as much done as possible), I can tell you that we tried out utmost to get the meeting on. The track was in good condition, one puddle on the main staright apart, throughout the morning. By the time that the greyhounds had finished the sky was brightening and it was warming up (slightly). The weather forecasts that we consulted were very contradictory - rain thoughout the afternoon - no rain until 5pm - no rain until 10pm. We watched the clouds and the wind direction and, by mid afternoon, as the riders began to arrive, I was sure we would be OK. Most of the riders seemed surprised by the state of the track and vans were unpacked. And then the drizzle started, a drizzle that steadily grew heavier and heavier. The track surface started to shine and after an hour's worth of rain it was clear that the meeting could not go ahead - it would have been a mudbath. I can tell you, that going around, unpinning the air fence, at 6pm in the pouring rain, just about finished it for me and the rest of the lads who'd battled all day to get the match on. Soaked to the skin, aching from a full day's work and frustrated by not a single wheel turning, it was a day that will not linger long in my memory. We could have called it off at 9am. It was raining then and the weather forecasters were saying that it would rain on until 4pm. If we had given in we could all have spent a day with our families, or even in work. You can't win! All I can say is that we tried - that's everyone involved with Swindon speedway. We tried to get a meeting on but were beaten by the weather - sorry! Well done you and the othr unpaid volunteers for giving up your time for free matey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poole Quay 7 Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Under the circumstances, you and the rest of the ground staff did the best you could ghcooke - so thanks for trying to give us a speedway meeting. Here's hoping for a rain free meeting on Monday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 (edited) I can understand why people who made the journey to Swindon for the match yesterday will have felt angry and frustrated that it was called off apparently quite late in the day. As a member of the track staff who had been there since 8.30am (two members of the staff had been there for most of Thursday as well getting as much done as possible), I can tell you that we tried out utmost to get the meeting on. The track was in good condition, one puddle on the main staright apart, throughout the morning. By the time that the greyhounds had finished the sky was brightening and it was warming up (slightly). The weather forecasts that we consulted were very contradictory - rain thoughout the afternoon - no rain until 5pm - no rain until 10pm. We watched the clouds and the wind direction and, by mid afternoon, as the riders began to arrive, I was sure we would be OK. Most of the riders seemed surprised by the state of the track and vans were unpacked. And then the drizzle started, a drizzle that steadily grew heavier and heavier. The track surface started to shine and after an hour's worth of rain it was clear that the meeting could not go ahead - it would have been a mudbath. I can tell you, that going around, unpinning the air fence, at 6pm in the pouring rain, just about finished it for me and the rest of the lads who'd battled all day to get the match on. Soaked to the skin, aching from a full day's work and frustrated by not a single wheel turning, it was a day that will not linger long in my memory. We could have called it off at 9am. It was raining then and the weather forecasters were saying that it would rain on until 4pm. If we had given in we could all have spent a day with our families, or even in work. You can't win! All I can say is that we tried - that's everyone involved with Swindon speedway. We tried to get a meeting on but were beaten by the weather - sorry! Well done to you and the other men/women,its people like yourself that keep speedway going the weather won again thats nature.I am glad it was off i am not interested in watching follow the leader and the greater risk of a rider getting injured. Edited April 4, 2015 by sidney 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 I can understand why people who made the journey to Swindon for the match yesterday will have felt angry and frustrated that it was called off apparently quite late in the day. As a member of the track staff who had been there since 8.30am (two members of the staff had been there for most of Thursday as well getting as much done as possible), I can tell you that we tried out utmost to get the meeting on. The track was in good condition, one puddle on the main staright apart, throughout the morning. By the time that the greyhounds had finished the sky was brightening and it was warming up (slightly). The weather forecasts that we consulted were very contradictory - rain thoughout the afternoon - no rain until 5pm - no rain until 10pm. We watched the clouds and the wind direction and, by mid afternoon, as the riders began to arrive, I was sure we would be OK. Most of the riders seemed surprised by the state of the track and vans were unpacked. And then the drizzle started, a drizzle that steadily grew heavier and heavier. The track surface started to shine and after an hour's worth of rain it was clear that the meeting could not go ahead - it would have been a mudbath. I can tell you, that going around, unpinning the air fence, at 6pm in the pouring rain, just about finished it for me and the rest of the lads who'd battled all day to get the match on. Soaked to the skin, aching from a full day's work and frustrated by not a single wheel turning, it was a day that will not linger long in my memory. We could have called it off at 9am. It was raining then and the weather forecasters were saying that it would rain on until 4pm. If we had given in we could all have spent a day with our families, or even in work. You can't win! All I can say is that we tried - that's everyone involved with Swindon speedway. We tried to get a meeting on but were beaten by the weather - sorry! Well ten out of ten for all your hard work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Agree with above, many thanks for your and the volunteers hard work G Cooke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghcooke Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 The sad tale of our soggy efforts at Blunsdon yesterday is available here: http://blunsdonblog.co.uk/?page_id=9000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milney Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Ghcooke one of many unpaid, unsung heroes of the sport. Giving it the personal touch will help us all remember the sacrifices people make and give lots of us pause for thought before criticising on/off decisions ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Should have watched the weather forecast Starman!!! You could have saved all that petrol money & moaning I'm going on Monday when it won't rain... well, let's hope it won't! Moaning, you show me where I was moaning ? I'm sure the people of Poole all turn up at 6pm for a 7.30 start for home meetings too! They do, but you wouldn't know that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagonshocker Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 I can understand why people who made the journey to Swindon for the match yesterday will have felt angry and frustrated that it was called off apparently quite late in the day. As a member of the track staff who had been there since 8.30am (two members of the staff had been there for most of Thursday as well getting as much done as possible), I can tell you that we tried out utmost to get the meeting on. The track was in good condition, one puddle on the main staright apart, throughout the morning. By the time that the greyhounds had finished the sky was brightening and it was warming up (slightly). The weather forecasts that we consulted were very contradictory - rain thoughout the afternoon - no rain until 5pm - no rain until 10pm. We watched the clouds and the wind direction and, by mid afternoon, as the riders began to arrive, I was sure we would be OK. Most of the riders seemed surprised by the state of the track and vans were unpacked. And then the drizzle started, a drizzle that steadily grew heavier and heavier. The track surface started to shine and after an hour's worth of rain it was clear that the meeting could not go ahead - it would have been a mudbath. I can tell you, that going around, unpinning the air fence, at 6pm in the pouring rain, just about finished it for me and the rest of the lads who'd battled all day to get the match on. Soaked to the skin, aching from a full day's work and frustrated by not a single wheel turning, it was a day that will not linger long in my memory. We could have called it off at 9am. It was raining then and the weather forecasters were saying that it would rain on until 4pm. If we had given in we could all have spent a day with our families, or even in work. You can't win! All I can say is that we tried - that's everyone involved with Swindon speedway. We tried to get a meeting on but were beaten by the weather - sorry! I can understand why people who made the journey to Swindon for the match yesterday will have felt angry and frustrated that it was called off apparently quite late in the day. As a member of the track staff who had been there since 8.30am (two members of the staff had been there for most of Thursday as well getting as much done as possible), I can tell you that we tried out utmost to get the meeting on. The track was in good condition, one puddle on the main staright apart, throughout the morning. By the time that the greyhounds had finished the sky was brightening and it was warming up (slightly). The weather forecasts that we consulted were very contradictory - rain thoughout the afternoon - no rain until 5pm - no rain until 10pm. We watched the clouds and the wind direction and, by mid afternoon, as the riders began to arrive, I was sure we would be OK. Most of the riders seemed surprised by the state of the track and vans were unpacked. And then the drizzle started, a drizzle that steadily grew heavier and heavier. The track surface started to shine and after an hour's worth of rain it was clear that the meeting could not go ahead - it would have been a mudbath. I can tell you, that going around, unpinning the air fence, at 6pm in the pouring rain, just about finished it for me and the rest of the lads who'd battled all day to get the match on. Soaked to the skin, aching from a full day's work and frustrated by not a single wheel turning, it was a day that will not linger long in my memory. We could have called it off at 9am. It was raining then and the weather forecasters were saying that it would rain on until 4pm. If we had given in we could all have spent a day with our families, or even in work. You can't win! All I can say is that we tried - that's everyone involved with Swindon speedway. We tried to get a meeting on but were beaten by the weather - sorry! Top banana Graham and the boys always deserve much credit for the brilliant work they put in..oh and Ronnie! lol keep it up but just think a bit less ground to cover next year! Moaning, you show me where I was moaning ? They do, but you wouldn't know that They have to ..to get a parking space! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Are you for real? Most people were sat in their cars waiting to see if the rain was going to stop, was too wet to see who had what tops on. !!!! Yep, all 30 of them... Shame both meetings went the way of the weather, they would have both been crackers. And we would have been very happy to take 6 points from the two meetings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluPanther Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Yep, all 30 of them... Shame both meetings went the way of the weather, they would have both been crackers. And we would have been very happy to take 6 points from the two meetings... Seven points surely ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YerRopes Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 And we would have been very happy to take 6 points from the two meetings... I'd be very happy to win the lottery too.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 (edited) Yep, all 30 of them... Shame both meetings went the way of the weather, they would have both been crackers. And we would have been very happy to take 6 points from the two meetings... Living in fantasy land I see, Starman Edited April 4, 2015 by A ORLOV 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreverblue Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Living in fantasy land I see, Starman Nothing new there then!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LagutaRacingFan Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Swindon are going to get hammered. This could be 30-60 territory. I did say... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdmc82 Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 I did say... Don't think the win would be as big though if Swindon hadn't been down to 5 riders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve0 Posted April 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Don't think the win would be as big though if Swindon hadn't been down to 5 riders Don't feed the troll! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Don't think the win would be as big though if Swindon hadn't been down to 5 riders 4 riders!! Meeting abandoned result stands 33-47 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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