Rye House V Somerset 3/5/15

[cityrebel]

Well despite no topic being started for this meeting, I thought I would get the ball rolling after the farcical events at the launch pad yesterday. Although I was at kent and thankfully missed this meeting, I know friends that were there who were highly critical of the events that led to the second match being abandoned because of dust. There is a very frank interview with Andrew silver on the herts mercury website that makes very interesting reading for any rye regulars.

[Triple.H.]

Spill the beans

[cityrebel]

Spill the beans

read the article on the website, or check out what Luke chessell has to say on Facebook!

[Shadders]

Here's the link to the Herts Mercury article:

 

http://m.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Farcical-scenes-Rye-House-Raiders-meeting/story-26439651-detail/story.html

[steven101]

I went up, mostly for the eagles match, which was disappointment, but the PL match was actually not that bad bit dusty and blue groove but nothing like NL races, thought young kasper rode terrificly and was my outstanding performer from the 13 riders, turbo was quick and never looked like being beaten aswell.

[Bagpuss]

Why on earth would Eastie want it called off on the basis of being behind, when they were only trailing by two points with nine heats left?

 

From that article it sounds like Len needs to pack up and let Andrew take the reins.

[Shadders]

Why on earth would Eastie want it called off on the basis of being behind, when they were only trailing by two points with nine heats left?

 

From that article it sounds like Len needs to pack up and let Andrew take the reins.

Some of the things Len Silver comes out with are embarrassing. I had a lot of respect for him, but he's slowly losing the plot unfortunately.

I'm thousands of miles away sunning it up, so can't dig around and find out what's really going on, have to put up with Facebook & Twitter, but it looks to me very similar to the Peterborough/Stoke Easter Monday meeting where the track wasn't watered or graded during the entire first half, leaving Andrew to try and prepare what remnants of track there was left for the second half.

I'm led to believe the track for the Kent meeting last Saturday was pretty decent.

The Rye House track simply can't handle double headers, that's the bottom line unfortunately

Edited May 6, 2015 by Shads

[Bagpuss]

Just noticed that Eastbourne were actually 13-11 UP when it was called off, the only point at which they were behind was 2-4 after heat one.

 

A double header on a sunny day needs lots of dirt to begin with or some carefully adding between matches and regular grading and watering. Popular opinion is that Rye is too tight for lots of muck from the beginning and it sounds like Andrew could have managed the situation with regular track attention had he been in charge. Not ideal for the paying customer but better than what did come to pass.

[Shadders]

Just noticed that Eastbourne were actually 13-11 UP when it was called off, the only point at which they were behind was 2-4 after heat one.

 

A double header on a sunny day needs lots of dirt to begin with or some carefully adding between matches and regular grading and watering. Popular opinion is that Rye is too tight for lots of muck from the beginning and it sounds like Andrew could have managed the situation with regular track attention had he been in charge. Not ideal for the paying customer but better than what did come to pass.

The way I see it is that they're on a hiding to nothing. If they grade and water too often the meeting would drag on for over 4 hours, people will complain. Do nothing to run the meetings through quickly and people will still complain.

The only way I can see this resolved is to scrap the double header idea and run them as two separate meetings, say at 2pm & 6pm, giving Andrew a couple of hours to prepare the track for the Raiders.

There are downsides to this... I can see most unwilling to hang around for two hours between meetings and then there's the issue of the referee having to do the same and a very long day for track staff etc..

There aren't enough free Saturdays to run separate Rockets & Raiders meetings, so I can't see another way round this in the present situation.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Shads

[SCB]

Reading this as an outsider is a right hoot. So to Len and Andrew not get on? Why is Len trying to ruin Andrews attempts at continuing the running of Rye House? Why can't the new owner just sack Len Silver?

[Phil Silvers]

First visit this season and although half decent PL meeting (racing wise) wasn't planning to stay for the NL meeting anyway so looks like I didn't miss much.

 

• Track was watered after the heat 2 delay through Benji Compton's injury
• Track was watered *cough* after heat 5 although the watering mechanism was only letting out about a cup full on each bend - farcical
• Track was *cough* graded after heat 5 by graded I mean dragging around an old iron fence panel behind the tractor for 4 laps - don't quite see what this achieved.
• Track was watered *cough* after heat 10 although the watering mechanism was only letting out about a cup full on each bend - farcical
• Track was *cough* graded after heat 10 by graded I mean dragging around an old iron fence panel behind the tractor for 4 laps - don't quite see what this achieved.
• By heat 13 the dust was so thick it was like watching speedway in a sauna
• By heat 13 the blue groove was at least 12 inches wide going into turn 1
• All in all not a great advertisement for track prep I'm afraid.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Phil Silvers

[Brian]

I thought the track for the Saturday meeting with Kent was well prepared. Andrew had a lot of shale down and it was very well watered.

Apart from what appears to be family politics, Len prepares a slick track and hardly ever waters so the second meeting had no chance. Maybe why I gave it a miss and will do the same for all double headers at Rye.

[Alan_Jones]

Reading this as an outsider is a right hoot. So to Len and Andrew not get on? Why is Len trying to ruin Andrews attempts at continuing the running of Rye House? Why can't the new owner just sack Len Silver?

No more than they've had to, stubbornness and he needs an experienced co-promoter until the end of the season. I feel really sorry for Warren, he's bought into a far steeper learning curve than he expected. I'm sure he was expecting to be dealing with Plato v. Turkington this season and not Silver v. Silver. When Andrew took on the Raiders on condition that he had sole control I'd assumed the agreement was with Len but it now looks like Warren was for and Len against.

I thought the track for the Saturday meeting with Kent was well prepared. Andrew had a lot of shale down and it was very well watered.

Apart from what appears to be family politics, Len prepares a slick track and hardly ever waters so the second meeting had no chance. Maybe why I gave it a miss and will do the same for all double headers at Rye.

Both Raiders only tracks have been well prepared by Andrew. I originally said that I'd give them one more chance on Monday with afternoon meetings but was prepared to give a 2nd "last chance" with the change to 5pm for the 2 June Sunday meetings. It now depends on whether a satisfactory answer is found to the family feud.

[Lord Skid]

You forget, it's "Len's way or no way". Good luck to him, you can see why the dinosaur ended up in s### creek.

I can solve all the problems with the track in two minutes, put Steve Naylor in charge of it, and keep Len out of the way on match days, he's now a pain in the butt.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Lord Skid

[cityrebel]

The only way around it is to run the rockets on Saturdays and the raiders on Sundays. Unless a discounted double ticket was sold, I doubt that many fans would attend both meetings.

[Cliffeboy]

What's the deal on the abandoned match then, get in free for the re match?

[TheScotsman]

A fiver off I think I read somewhere.

[Alan_Jones]

What's the deal on the abandoned match then, get in free for the re match?

 

A ticket for £5 off any meeting this or next season or, for the benefit of Eastbourne supporters, a fiver in your sky. For some reason I was handed the fiver.

[Shadders]

The only way around it is to run the rockets on Saturdays and the raiders on Sundays. Unless a discounted double ticket was sold, I doubt that many fans would attend both meetings.

Sounds a decent idea in theory, but I think Andrew still runs a Sunday training school on Sundays. I agree with you that you won't get many attending both meetings.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Shads

[Cliffeboy]

As no one has really commented on the match, here goes.

For Rye a cracking guest in Steve Worrell who definitely scored more than Boxall would have, and being able to have every rider bar Kennett as R/R was a plus all round. My first sight of Jakobsen and he looked quite tasty,his best moment was heat 13 when he got past Brady to secure a 5-1 behind the impressive Kennett. With the exception of Mellgren who was still feeling the effects of his tumble at the OTA and Greenwood the Rockets look quite solid and will take some stopping at home I feel, however a quick look at the scorers shows R/R for Aspergen gleaned paid 10 and as previously stated paid 13 for Boxall`s guest Worrall. Considering the Rebels didn`t get any advantage from their tactical to lose by just 8 was not a bad effort.

For the Rebels it was a game of 2 halves, poor in the first half, much better in the second. Every Rebel had at least one good moment which kept it close. Brady continues to impress whenever I see him, he was beaten up at the second running of the first heat after a good start in the first when Kennett came down taking Brady with him. Ritchie finished with two paid wins and Charlie beat the impressive Steve Worrall in heat 14 and had Starkes steel shoe not come off when the Rebels were on a comfortable 5-1 the Rebs may have nicked a point.

Good to meet up with the Somerset chaps as usual and Sid but off course missed Shads, hope you are enjoying your holiday.